Your guide to finding and caring for a Chartreux in OKC
A Chartreux suits a quiet loft or apartment in Oklahoma City, where it can watch the street from a window perch. Picture an Automobile Alley loft or a Deep Deuce townhome: these cats are calm, barely make a sound, and often pick a favorite person to follow from room to room. They're uncommon, so keep an eye on the listings here. A few minutes of wand-toy play each day keeps a Chartreux lean, and spring thunderstorms are worth a plan since many cats hate them.
Say hello to your Chartreux
While we don't have enough cats near Oklahoma City, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
M, 6 mo., 1168 miles
Chartreux, Domestic Short Hair
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 1181 miles
Russian Blue, Chartreux
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 1190 miles
Chartreux
F, 0-6 mo., 1312 miles
Chartreux, Domestic Short Hair
M, 0-6 mo., 1312 miles
Chartreux, Domestic Short Hair
M, 3-7 y., 1352 miles
Chartreux, Domestic Short Hair
The Chartreux is a French breed whose blue-gray ancestors show up in writing as far back as the sixteenth century. It nearly disappeared after World War I and was rebuilt in the 1920s from natural colonies of blue cats. 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 communicate with soft chirps rather than meows. Most play in short bursts and love hunting toys. Expect slow maturity, seasonal shedding, and a cat that gains weight easily without play and measured meals. In OKC, that means weekly brushing and indoor routines that keep a solid cat active.
Having a Chartreux in OKC
A Chartreux is a medium, muscular cat with a plush coat and a quiet voice. Short bursts of play, a tendency to gain weight and a liking for steady routines shape the home that suits one, whether that's an apartment or a house.
Chartreux are often calm, gentle and loyal, and some choose one favorite person. Many do well with respectful children and calm pets after slow introductions, and they tend to watch newcomers before engaging. Each cat differs, so a cat's own comfort level matters more than breed generalizations, especially in a busy OKC household.
Expect short, intense play sessions followed by long rests. Wand toys, feathers and toy mice suit their hunting instinct, and food puzzles add mental work. Because the breed gains weight easily, daily play matters for an indoor cat in an OKC apartment. A tall cat tree by a window adds climbing and bird-watching.
Chartreux are generally hardy, but patellar luxation, a kneecap that slips out of place, is documented in the breed. Weight gain and dental disease are also concerns. Measured meals, regular play and routine checkups help. A veterinarian can check the kneecaps and teeth after adoption and keep rabies and other vaccinations current.
A Chartreux usually adapts well to a loft, an apartment or a house. Give it a cat tree, window perches and a quiet corner to retreat to. Indoor living keeps it safe from traffic, coyotes and storms. Chartreux tolerate time alone better than very social breeds, but they still appreciate company and steady routines.
| 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* | $450 to $1,150 per year | $450 to $1,150 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,200 to $2,700 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Litter, parasite prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys and scratchers, and brushing supplies for seasonal shedding of the dense coat.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have cats available in and near Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City's shelter and rescue groups place cats of every age and breed, and the listings below change often. Here are the rescues & shelters in the OKC area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Chartreux is coming in.
2811 SE 29th Street, Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
9733 NW 4th St, Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
Yes, for many households. A Chartreux's quiet voice and calm nature suit OKC apartments and houses alike, and it does best with someone home often enough to offer daily play and company. Plan on indoor living, since storms, ice and coyotes make the outdoors risky. A cat's own personality matters more than breed, so browse the listings on this page.
Yes. Oklahoma law prohibits cities from banning breeds, and OKC has no Chartreux restrictions. Cats 4 months and older need a rabies vaccination and a current tag, and a household can have up to four cats over six months old. Keep the microchip registration current in case your cat slips out during a storm.
Mostly yes, as an indoor cat. OKC summers average a high near 91°F, with about 12 to 13 days over 100°F, and winters bring roughly 72 freezing nights. A Chartreux's dense coat copes with cold, and air conditioning handles the heat. Brush more during spring and fall sheds, and set up a storm hiding spot.
Yes. A Chartreux is calm, quiet and moderately active, which suits apartments and lofts in areas like Deep Deuce or Midtown. Give it a cat tree, a window perch and short daily play so it stays lean. Read your lease for pet rent and deposits, since Oklahoma doesn't cap them, and stay within the four-cat household limit.
A Chartreux needs weekly brushing most of the year and two or three sessions a week during spring and fall sheds, when the dense, woolly coat thins out. Professional grooming is rarely needed, so brushing supplies fit within the yearly $450 to $1,150 for litter, parasite prevention, dental care and supplies. OKC's hot summers don't call for a shave.
Possibly, but check first. EMBARK runs buses and the OKC Streetcar rather than a subway, and its rider policy clearly covers trained service animals. For a pet in a carrier, confirm EMBARK's current rules before you ride. Use a secure, ventilated carrier either way, and keep trips short, since Chartreux generally prefer calm surroundings.
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.
A Chartreux typically costs about $100 to $225 a month all in, or roughly $1,200 to $2,700 a year. That covers food at $25 to $50 a month, insurance at $25 to $50 a month, routine vet care at $150 to $350 a year, and $450 to $1,150 a year for litter, parasite prevention, dental care and supplies.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Oklahoma City.
