Your guide to finding and caring for a Chartreux in Seattle
A Chartreux is a good match for a Seattle apartment, despite its sturdy build. Most are quiet cats, so a Belltown high-rise with thin walls isn't much of a problem, and a window perch over the street gives them plenty to watch on a gray, drizzly afternoon. They bond closely with their people but usually cope with a workday alone, which helps if you commute on Link. Plan on a plush blue coat that sheds heavily twice a year.
Say hello to your Chartreux
While we don't have enough cats near Seattle, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
M, 1 y., 956 miles
Chartreux
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 968 miles
Chartreux
F, 1 y., 1791 miles
Russian Blue, Chartreux
F, 6 mo., 1791 miles
Russian Blue, Chartreux
M, 1 y., 2004 miles
Chartreux, American Bobtail
M, 3-7 y., 711 miles
Chartreux, Domestic Short Hair
F, 1 y., 918 miles
Chartreux, Domestic Short Hair
M, 6 mo., 918 miles
Chartreux, Domestic Short Hair
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 948 miles
Chartreux
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 982 miles
Russian Blue, Chartreux
The Chartreux is a medium-sized French breed with a dense, woolly blue-gray coat that sheds water, gold to copper eyes and a muscular body set on fairly short legs. Males can reach 14 pounds, and the cats take three to five years to fully mature. In Seattle's damp climate, that coat is well suited to the weather, though it needs regular brushing.
Temperament runs calm and watchful. Many Chartreux play in short, intense bursts, love a feather wand and then settle down beside their favorite person. They're also a breed that gains weight easily, so measured meals and daily play matter more than fancy gear. Because each cat is different, treat these as tendencies, not promises, and let how a particular cat behaves in your home guide your decision.
Having a Chartreux in Seattle
Chartreux are calm, quiet cats with a sturdy build and a thick, water-resistant coat. In Seattle, that mix fits indoor apartment life well, as long as daily play and measured meals keep their weight in check.
Many Chartreux are gentle and devoted, often following one favorite person from room to room. They tend to watch newcomers before warming up, so give a new cat a quiet room and some time in a busy Seattle household. Breed averages only go so far; how the cat behaves in your home matters more.
Short bursts of play suit this breed. Wand toys, feathers and food puzzles work well on rainy Seattle days when everyone's indoors. Aim for a couple of play sessions daily, since Chartreux gain weight easily. A tall cat tree by a window adds climbing and bird-watching without ever leaving the apartment.
Patellar luxation, where the kneecap slips out of place, is documented in the breed, and weight gain and dental disease are common concerns. Measured meals, daily play and yearly checkups help catch problems early. A veterinarian can check the knees and teeth soon after adoption and set up a routine.
A Chartreux usually adapts to apartments and houses alike, which suits a city where most households rent. Give it a cat tree, window perches and a steady routine. Indoor living also keeps it away from the coyotes reported in several Seattle neighborhoods. Most tolerate workdays alone but 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* | $480 to $1,230 per year | $480 to $1,230 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,230 to $2,780 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* The Seattle cat license ($30 altered, $80 unaltered), 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 Seattle.
Seattle's adoption community includes the city shelter and nonprofit rescues, listed below along with the cats they currently have available. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Seattle area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Chartreux is coming in.
Yes, Seattle has no breed bans, and Washington law limits them statewide. You'll need a city cat license, $30 if the cat is spayed or neutered and $80 if not, plus a current rabies vaccination. A typical city lot is limited to three dogs and cats combined, so count any pets you already have before adopting.
Yes, a Chartreux is usually comfortable in an apartment. Most are quiet, moderately active and content with a cat tree and window perch. Check your lease first: Seattle caps pet deposits at 25 percent of the first month's rent, allows one deposit per household and bans nonrefundable pet fees, but landlords may charge pet rent.
Yes, as long as the cat is in a carrier. King County Metro requires pets other than dogs to ride in a carrier, with no fare, and Sound Transit allows pets in small containers on Link light rail. The Water Taxi also takes cats in enclosed carriers. Pick one a 14-pound cat can turn around in.
Yes, for an indoor cat it's a comfortable climate. Winters are cool and damp, summers are short and mild, and the Chartreux's dense, water-resistant coat handles it well. The main risks are rare heat waves, windstorm power outages and smoky late-summer days, so keep water, a carrier and a cool resting spot ready.
Plan on brushing a Chartreux about once a week, and more often during the spring and fall sheds, when the dense undercoat comes out in clumps. Seattle's damp weather doesn't change much for an indoor cat. Professional grooming is rarely needed, and brushing supplies are already counted in the Other cost line.
Often, yes, especially for someone who works away from home some days and wants a calm, affectionate cat. Chartreux tend to tolerate alone time and enjoy watching rain from a window, but they need daily play to stay lean. If you want a cat that's loud and constantly social, spend time with a particular cat first.
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.
Expect roughly $25 to $50 a month for food and $25 to $50 for insurance, plus about $150 to $350 a year for routine vet care. Other yearly costs, including litter, the city license, parasite prevention and dental care, run about $480 to $1,230. Adoption fees depend on the listing and aren't included.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Seattle.
