Your guide to finding and caring for a Chartreux in Birmingham
Chartreux cats suit Birmingham's apartment neighborhoods, since they're calm and content with a window perch. In Highland Park, where historic apartments sit beside newer condos, a Chartreux can settle in with a cat tree, a few short bursts of play with a wand toy and an owner who's home in the evening. They chirp more than they meow, so they rarely bother neighbors through a shared wall. Their coat does shed heavily twice a year, so keep a brush handy.
Say hello to your Chartreux
While we don't have enough cats near Birmingham, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
M, 1 y., 247 miles
Chartreux, American Bobtail
F, 1 y., 351 miles
Russian Blue, Chartreux
F, 6 mo., 351 miles
Russian Blue, Chartreux
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 336 miles
Chartreux
M, 1 y., 1782 miles
Chartreux
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 1804 miles
Chartreux
F, 0-6 mo., 866 miles
Chartreux, Domestic Short Hair
M, 0-6 mo., 866 miles
Chartreux, Domestic Short Hair
M, 3-7 y., 1157 miles
Chartreux, Russian Blue
M, 0-6 mo., 1157 miles
Russian Blue, Chartreux
The Chartreux is an old French breed of blue-gray cat. It nearly disappeared after World War I and was rebuilt in the 1920s from natural colonies of blue cats. Adults usually weigh 7 to 14 pounds, with a sturdy, muscular body on fairly short legs, a dense, woolly, water-resistant coat and gold to copper eyes. They mature slowly, often over three to five years.
Many Chartreux are calm, gentle and quietly devoted, and some follow a favorite person from room to room. Play comes in short bursts, often with hunting-style toys. In Birmingham's humid climate, expect heavier shedding in spring and fall, so regular brushing helps. Measured meals and daily play matter too, because the breed gains weight easily.
Having a Chartreux in Birmingham
Chartreux are sturdy, plush-coated cats with a quiet voice and a steady routine. Short bursts of hunting play, a tendency to gain weight and seasonal shedding shape what daily care looks like, whether in a Birmingham apartment or a house.
Chartreux are often calm, gentle and loyal, and some pick one favorite person to follow around. Many do well with respectful children and calm pets after gradual introductions, though they often watch newcomers before engaging. Each cat's comfort level matters more than breed generalizations, so spend time with the cat before deciding.
Expect short, intense play sessions with wand toys, feathers and toy mice, followed by long naps. In a Birmingham apartment, a tall cat tree and a window perch add climbing and bird-watching. Daily play and food puzzles matter because this sturdy breed gains weight easily, and some Chartreux need encouragement to get moving.
Chartreux are generally hardy, but patellar luxation, a slipping kneecap, is documented in the breed. Watch for skipping steps or reluctance to jump, and have a veterinarian check the knees. Weight gain and dental disease are also common, so measured meals, play and regular checkups help. Year-round flea prevention makes sense in Birmingham's humid climate.
A Chartreux adapts well to Birmingham's apartments, condos and houses alike. Vertical space and window perches keep it content, and indoor life protects it from traffic and from the coyotes sighted in some neighborhoods. This breed tolerates time alone better than very social cats, but it still wants company and a steady routine.
| 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 Birmingham.
Birmingham's shelters and rescues list cats of every kind here, and Chartreux or similar blue cats may appear over time. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Birmingham area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Chartreux is coming in.
Yes. Birmingham has no known breed-specific rules for cats, so a Chartreux is treated like any other cat: rabies vaccination, a city license once the cat is four months old, and landlord approval if you rent. Because the breed is uncommon, watch the listings on this page and save a search to hear about new cats.
Yes, a Chartreux usually does well in an apartment. The breed is quiet, chirping more than meowing, and plays in short bursts rather than racing around. Give the cat a tall cat tree, a window perch and daily wand-toy play, and get your landlord's pet policy in writing before you sign.
A Chartreux fits Birmingham well if you want a calm, indoor companion and can provide daily play. The breed tolerates some time alone, but it bonds closely and gains weight easily, so a steady routine of play and measured meals matters. Keep a carrier and a safe interior room ready for spring storms.
Yes, as long as the cat lives indoors with air conditioning. Birmingham summers are long and humid, with about 65 days a year reaching 90°F. A Chartreux's dense coat holds heat, so keep fresh water in several spots, brush out loose undercoat and never leave the cat in a parked car.
Not on MAX fixed-route buses, which generally don't allow animals other than service animals. MAX On-Demand shared rides do allow pets in an airline-approved carrier, so a Chartreux can travel to a vet visit that way. Birmingham has no subway or rail, so a carrier and a car or rideshare are the other options.
Plan on brushing a Chartreux about once a week, and a few times a week during the heavy spring and fall sheds. Birmingham's humidity doesn't change the routine, and baths are rarely needed. Brushing supplies are covered in the Other line of the cost table, and professional grooming is seldom necessary.
Probably not. Alabama's outdoor-dining law lets participating restaurants welcome dogs on patios, but it is written for dogs, so don't count on a cat being allowed. Most Chartreux are happiest at home anyway. If you do travel with the cat, use a secure carrier and skip dining out.
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.
Expect roughly $1,200 to $2,700 a year for a Chartreux in Birmingham. 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 other costs of $450 to $1,150 a year, including litter. The adoption fee appears on each listing.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Birmingham.
