Your guide to finding and caring for a Chartreux in SLC
Chartreux cats fit apartment life in the Avenues and Central City well. They're quiet, chirping more than they meow, and happy with a window perch above a steep street and a few bursts of wand play each day. Salt Lake City's long winters mean plenty of indoor months, which suits a cat that doesn't need to roam. Most Chartreux bond closely with one person, so a household with a steady evening routine tends to be a good match.
Say hello to your Chartreux
While we don't have enough cats near Salt Lake City, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
M, 3-7 y., 645 miles
Chartreux, Russian Blue
M, 0-6 mo., 645 miles
Russian Blue, Chartreux
M, 3-7 y., 645 miles
Russian Blue, Chartreux
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 1129 miles
Chartreux
F, 0-6 mo., 1948 miles
Chartreux, Domestic Short Hair
M, 0-6 mo., 1948 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. It nearly disappeared after World War I and was rebuilt in the 1920s from natural colonies of blue cats. It remains uncommon in the US. Every Chartreux is blue, with a dense, woolly, water-resistant coat, gold to copper eyes and a sturdy, muscular body on fairly short legs. Adults usually weigh 7 to 14 pounds.
Many Chartreux are calm, gentle and quietly devoted, though each cat differs. Expect slow maturity, a cat that gains weight easily without play and measured meals, and a thick coat that sheds in seasonal waves. Regular brushing keeps loose fur under control, which matters in a small apartment.
Having a Chartreux in SLC
In a Salt Lake City apartment, a Chartreux offers a sturdy build, 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 this breed.
Chartreux are often calm, gentle and loyal, and some choose one favorite person to follow from room to room. Many watch newcomers before warming up, so gradual introductions to visitors, children and other pets help. A cat's own personality and comfort level count for more than breed averages.
Expect short, intense play sessions rather than long workouts. Wand toys, feathers and toy mice satisfy the hunting instinct, and food puzzles add mental exercise. Since snowy Salt Lake City winters keep everyone inside, plan daily play and give the cat a tall tree and window perches to climb and watch from.
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 and daily play help keep a Chartreux lean. Schedule a veterinary checkup soon after adoption so the vet can assess the knees, teeth and weight.
A Chartreux adapts well to apartments and houses, which suits Salt Lake City's mix of Avenues apartment buildings and Victorian-era homes. Many handle time alone better than very social breeds, but they still like steady routines and evening company. A cat tree, a scratcher and a window perch cover most needs.
| 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* | $475 to $1,200 per year | $475 to $1,200 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,225 to $2,750 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Litter, the Salt Lake City cat license ($25 sterilized, $50 unsterilized), 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 Salt Lake City.
Salt Lake City's shelters and rescue groups work to match cats of all ages with new homes across the valley. Here are the rescues & shelters in the SLC area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Chartreux is coming in.
Salt Lake City
511 West 3900 South, Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City
Yes, you can get a Chartreux in Salt Lake City. Utah bars breed-specific rules, so no city rule singles out the breed, and Salt Lake City sets no cap on licensed cats, though your lease may. Chartreux are uncommon, so watch the listings on this page and save a search to hear about new cats.
Yes, a Chartreux usually does well in a Salt Lake City apartment. The breed tends to be quiet, and play comes in short bursts that suit small spaces. Give the cat a tall cat tree, a window perch and daily wand play, keep window screens secure, and read your lease for pet terms before adopting.
Yes, most Chartreux handle Salt Lake City summers well when they live indoors. July's normal high is 94°F and 100°F stretches are possible, so the dense coat needs help. Close blinds by day, run fans, offer fresh water, brush out loose undercoat, and never leave a cat in a parked car.
Yes, a Chartreux can ride UTA buses, TRAX trains and FrontRunner if it's securely contained in a cage, kennel, carrier or container. UTA staff can't carry or assist with the carrier. Since adults can weigh up to 14 pounds, choose a sturdy, roomy carrier that you can hold comfortably on your lap.
Plan on weekly brushing, and a few times a week during the heavy spring and fall sheds. Salt Lake City's four seasons make those sheds noticeable, and dry summers don't change the routine. Professional grooming is rarely necessary, so brushing supplies fit within the yearly Other costs shown on this page.
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.
No, Chartreux cats are not hypoallergenic. They produce the same main cat allergen, a protein called Fel d 1, as other cats, and their dense double coat sheds seasonally. People with cat allergies are likely to react. Spending time with a specific cat before adopting is the best way to judge how you'll respond.
Plan on roughly $1,225 to $2,750 a year for a Chartreux in Salt Lake City. 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 about $475 to $1,200 in other yearly costs such as litter, parasite prevention, dental care and the license.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Salt Lake City.
