Your guide to finding and caring for a Chartreux in Des Moines
A Chartreux suits Des Moines' older homes and apartments, where a quiet cat can claim a sunny window. In a Beaverdale brick cottage or a converted Victorian in Sherman Hill, this calm blue cat will watch squirrels from a window perch and follow you from room to room. It's rarely noisy, which helps in a building with thin walls. Long Iowa winters suit its dense coat and indoor routine.
Say hello to your Chartreux
While we don't have enough cats near Des Moines, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
M, 0-6 mo., 999 miles
Chartreux, Domestic Short Hair
F, 1 y., 1413 miles
Chartreux, Domestic Short Hair
M, 6 mo., 1413 miles
Chartreux, Domestic Short Hair
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 1443 miles
Chartreux
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 1446 miles
Russian Blue, Chartreux
M, 3-7 y., 1525 miles
Chartreux, Domestic Short Hair
The Chartreux is a French breed whose blue-gray ancestors turn up in writing as far back as the sixteenth century. The breed nearly vanished after World War I and was rebuilt in the 1920s from natural colonies of blue cats. It's still uncommon in the US. Every Chartreux is blue, with a dense, woolly, water-resistant coat, gold to copper eyes and a sturdy body on fairly short legs.
Many are calm, gentle and quietly devoted, and they tend to chirp rather than meow. Most play in short bursts and love hunting toys. They mature slowly, shed their thick coat seasonally and gain weight easily without play and measured meals. In Des Moines, where cold months keep cats indoors, that routine of daily play and brushing matters. Each cat differs, so a cat's own personality counts for more than the breed description.
Having a Chartreux in Des Moines
Quiet, sturdy and plush-coated, the Chartreux settles into an indoor routine easily. In Des Moines, the main things to plan around are daily play to keep weight in check, brushing through seasonal sheds, and a calm home with good window views.
Chartreux are often calm, gentle and loyal, and some pick a favorite person to follow around. Many do well with respectful children and calm pets after gradual introductions. That steady nature suits Des Moines apartments and older homes, though each cat's comfort level matters more than any breed generalization.
Expect short, intense play sessions with wand toys, feathers and toy mice, plus food puzzles for mental work. During Des Moines' long cold stretches, when windows stay closed, daily indoor play matters even more, since this sturdy breed gains weight easily and some cats need encouragement to move.
Patellar luxation, a kneecap that slips out of place, is documented in the breed, and weight gain and dental disease are common concerns. Measured meals, play and regular veterinary checkups help. A veterinarian can check a newly adopted cat's knees, teeth and weight and set up a preventive schedule.
A Chartreux adapts well to Des Moines apartments, bungalows and larger homes alike, as long as there's a cat tree and a window perch for watching birds. Keeping the cat indoors is safest, since coyotes live in city neighborhoods. Most tolerate time alone fairly well but still like steady routines and company.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Pet insurance | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Routine vet care | $150 to $350 per year | $150 to $350 |
| Other* | $465 to $1,165 per year | $465 to $1,165 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,215 to $2,715 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* The $15 Des Moines license for a spayed or neutered cat, litter, parasite prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys and scratchers, and brushing supplies for seasonal shedding.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have cats available in and near Des Moines.
The Animal Rescue League of Iowa runs Des Moines animal services and adoptions, helping local cats find homes. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Des Moines area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Chartreux is coming in.
Yes, you can own a Chartreux in Des Moines. The city requires every cat six months and older to be licensed, at $15 if spayed or neutered and $35 if not, and you'll need a current rabies vaccination certificate. Des Moines' breed-specific rules target certain dog breeds, not cats. Because Chartreux are uncommon, watch the listings on this page.
Yes, most handle it well indoors. Des Moines averages about 128 freezing nights a year and roughly 36 inches of snow, but a Chartreux's dense, woolly coat copes with cold comfortably. Keep the cat inside, offer a warm perch away from drafts, and keep up play on snowed-in days so winter doesn't add pounds.
Yes. Chartreux are quiet and moderately active, so they suit apartments in places like Sherman Hill or Drake. Provide a tall cat tree, a window perch and daily wand play. Before signing a lease, read the pet rent, fees and any weight or pet limits, since those vary by building.
No, not with a pet cat. DART is a bus-only system, and pets other than service animals aren't allowed on its vehicles, with no carrier exception listed. If you don't drive, arrange car rides for vet visits and use a sturdy, secure carrier for every trip.
A Chartreux fits Des Moines well if you want a calm indoor companion. Long winters mean plenty of time at home together, which this loyal, quiet cat enjoys. It's a weaker match if you're away for long days or want a very outgoing cat, since many bond closely with one person. Each cat's personality varies.
A Chartreux needs brushing about once a week, and more often during the spring and fall sheds, when Des Moines' big seasonal swings change the coat. A comb or slicker brush handles most of it. Most owners groom at home, with supplies counted in the Other cost line, and baths are rarely needed.
Yes, Chartreux cats are rare, especially outside France. Relatively few are registered each year in the United States, and they seldom appear in shelters. Many blue-gray shelter cats are domestic shorthairs or mixes rather than Chartreux. Breed rescues and cat rescues occasionally have adult Chartreux available, so watching listings regularly helps.
Chartreux is pronounced shar-TROO in French, and many English speakers say shar-TREW. The name may come from the Carthusian monks of the Grande Chartreuse monastery, though some historians link it to a Spanish wool. Whichever origin is true, the breed's name is tied to its French homeland.
You can identify a Chartreux by its solid blue-gray woolly coat, gold to copper eyes, sturdy muscular body on fairly short legs and a rounded head with a tapered muzzle that looks like a smile. Look-alikes include Russian Blues, which have green eyes and a sleeker coat, and British Shorthairs, which are rounder. Pedigree papers confirm a purebred.
Plan on roughly $25 to $50 a month for food, $25 to $50 a month for insurance, $150 to $350 a year for routine vet care, and $465 to $1,165 a year for other costs like litter, dental care and the city license. That comes to about $1,200 to $2,700 a year in total.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Des Moines.
