MONASTERY QUEEN - A RARE BREED

 

I often  write of our dogs- I am a dog, not a cat person- but at present we have a cat that deserves mention.  She is a rare NEBELUNG, who came to us from Orcas Island when the owner was moving and could not take her.  Neighbors heard of her and contacted Mother Catarina, who had recently lost her beloved Toby.

Nebelungs have long bodies, wide-set green eyes, long and dense fur, and mild dispositions. The name Nebelung is derived from the German translation for "creature of the mist."

The American foundation of this cat breed was laid by the cats Siegfried (1984) and Brunhilde (1985). Cora Cobb, the owner of Siegfried and Brunhilde, was very impressed by the beauty of her blue-grey cats. Siegfried and Brunhilde looked like a Russian Blue   but with a semi-long coat. To find out if it was possible to start a new breed with these cats, Cora got in touch with the geneticist of the American Cat Association.

 This geneticist, Solveig Pfleuger, said that the breed was best defined as semi-long haired Russian Blue. Supported by Pfleuger, Cobb wrote the breeding standard according to the Russian Blue, but with a difference: its coat length.

Russian Blue breeders from The International Cat Association (TICA), however, objected to this, and the breed standard was thus revised to describe a unique breed, resembling blue-grey cats that had been imported from Russia in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

TICA was the first association to recognize the Nebelung and provides the breed standard. The goal of the Nebelung breeding program is to produce a blue cat with the same type as those early Russian imports and to combine this type with a thick shimmering coat of medium length. The body and tail are long, the ears large in proportion to the head, and the eyes range in color from yellowish green to green.

Size is medium and the body well-muscled. The coat is medium long on the body and longer on the tail, with lighter colored guard hairs. The soft double coat feels fine and silky; it is gray in color and is tipped with silver. The fur on the tail is longer than that on the body. Tufts of fur are found behind the ears and in between the toes, and the hind legs sport pantaloons. 

Nebelung cats are lively, playful, affectionate, good-natured, and intelligent. The cat's mild-mannered state and personality may not always reflect the relatively high level of intelligence often found in the breed.

Nebelungs prefer their own families and often keep a distance from strangers. They tend to bond with a select few humans and stay loving and devoted throughout their lives. It is, however, a cat that gladly accepts company of its people or of another cat.

 Nebelungs are very good communicators and will remind their owners of problems.  (see below) This happens often since Nebelungs can be very picky about things such as litter cleanliness and their food. (Don't we know).

Many owners of Nebelung cats say that they can act more like dogs at times, being extremely loyal to their owner and family. They are also known for being easily leash trained with use of a proper harness. The breed is also very playful and is known to learn to fetch and retrieve toys when thrown.

 Better than toys, our Zarah loves the hunt. Just when we think we have seen the last shrew on Shaw, we look out to see the front of the chapel lines with more. 

Not only is our Zahara a rare breed but she is a rare character.  She likes to go for walks daily and woe is Mother Cat (as she is affectionally called) if she forgets.  No, she does not need a lead, as she likes to lead, and take us where she wills!

All photos of OLRs "Zarah"  Top photo Mother Prioress Noella

others  by Mother Catarina