Your guide to finding and caring for a Chartreux in Charleston
A Chartreux fits Charleston's older East End apartments and Edgewood houses well, since it's quiet and happy indoors. The brick buildings near Quarrier and Greenbrier streets have plenty of window ledges, and a cat tree by the glass gives it birds to watch without any noise complaints from neighbors. In wooded South Hills, where deer and even black bears wander through, an indoor Chartreux gets the show from a safe distance. Expect a calm cat that follows its favorite person from room to room.
Say hello to your Chartreux
While we don't have enough cats near Charleston, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
M, 3-7 y., 1473 miles
Russian Blue, Chartreux
F, 1 y., 2031 miles
Chartreux, Domestic Short Hair
M, 6 mo., 2031 miles
Chartreux, Domestic Short Hair
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 2055 miles
Russian Blue, Chartreux
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 2058 miles
Chartreux
M, 3-7 y., 2175 miles
Chartreux, Domestic Short Hair
The Chartreux is a French breed whose blue-gray ancestors appear in sixteenth-century writing. It nearly disappeared after World War I and was rebuilt in the 1920s from natural colonies of blue cats, which is part of why 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.
In Charleston, that calm nature suits quiet apartments and homes where someone is around in the evenings. Expect soft chirps rather than loud meows, short bursts of play with wand toys, and heavier shedding as the seasons turn, so weekly brushing helps. Chartreux mature slowly, over several years, and gain weight easily, so measured meals and daily play matter. Each cat's personality varies, so spend time with a cat before deciding.
Having a Chartreux in Charleston
Chartreux are sturdy, quiet cats with a plush blue coat. Their short bursts of play, easy weight gain and adaptable nature mean they do well in Charleston apartments or houses, given a steady routine, measured meals and a window to watch.
Many Chartreux are calm and gentle, and some choose one favorite person to follow around the house. They often watch newcomers before warming up, which suits quiet Charleston apartments and homes with respectful children. Personalities vary, so how a particular cat behaves matters more than the breed label.
Plan on a few short, lively play sessions a day with wand toys, feather teasers or toy mice. Food puzzles add mental work. A tall cat tree by a window gives an indoor Charleston cat a view of birds, and regular play keeps this sturdy breed from gaining weight.
Patellar luxation, where the kneecap slips out of place, is documented in Chartreux, and weight gain and dental disease are also common concerns. A veterinarian can check the knees and teeth at the first visit. Charleston requires rabies vaccination for cats six months and older.
A Chartreux adapts well to Charleston's apartments and houses alike, from East End flats to hillside homes. Keep it indoors, add a cat tree and window perch, and stick to steady routines. Most tolerate some time alone, though they still want company in the evening.
| 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 Charleston.
Charleston's Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association has served the city since 1935, and its adoptions include spay/neuter, vaccines and a microchip. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Charleston area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Chartreux is coming in.
Yes, you can get a Chartreux in Charleston. The city has no known breed-specific rules, and cats need a rabies vaccination at six months and older. Chartreux are uncommon, so availability changes often: watch the listings on this page, browse similar breeds and nearby cities, or save a search to hear about new cats.
Yes, a Chartreux usually does well in an apartment. Its soft chirps rarely bother neighbors, and a cat tree and window perch cover much of its entertainment. In Charleston's older East End buildings, read the lease for pet terms first. Plan daily wand-toy play, since this sturdy breed gains weight easily.
Mostly yes, for an indoor cat. The dense coat copes well with Charleston's cold, snowy winters, and summers reach the mid-80s with about 24 days at 90°F. Keep the cat inside with fans and fresh water in summer, and have a carrier and supplies ready for ice storms and power outages.
It can be, for a calm household. Chartreux suit people who are home in the evenings and want a quiet companion. Keeping the cat indoors also avoids Charleston's hillside wildlife, including black bears and coyotes. Cats vary, so spend time with a cat first, and plan a quiet room for July 4 fireworks.
Plan on brushing a Chartreux about once a week, and a few times a week during the spring and fall sheds as Charleston's seasons change. Professional grooming is rarely needed. Brushing supplies are part of the yearly Other costs shown on this page, so budget a small amount rather than regular salon visits.
No, Charleston's KRT bus rules say no pets, so a Chartreux can't ride along. Service animals are an exception under federal law. Charleston has no subway or light rail. For vet visits, plan on a car with a secure carrier, and get your cat used to the carrier early.
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.
Most Chartreux owners in Charleston can expect 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 about $450 to $1,150 a year in other costs such as litter and dental care.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Charleston.
