Nebelung History and Characteristics
Origin The first longhaired Blue cats from Russia which resembled Russian Blues were first shown at the cat show in the Crystal Palace in 1871. But these longhaired blue cats lost their place in the spotlight in the turbulent beginning of the cat fancy in the 20th century. At the same time more breeds almost got lost in cat fancy.
Recent history The recent history of the Nebelung started in the United States with the birth of Siegfried (born in 1984) and Brunhilde (born in 1985). Both kittens looked like a Russian blue with semi-long hair. Cora Cobb was very impressed by these kittens, and considered that this could possibly be the beginning of a new breed. Cora contacted the geneticist dr. Solveig Pfleuger associated with TICA. This geneticist advised that these cats were best defined as semi-longhaired Russian Blue cats. Supported by dr. Pfleuger, the breed standard was written based on the standard of the Russian Blue with only one difference; the hair length. Whereas in the United States breeders are busy with developing and showing the Nebelung, on the other side of the planet several events take place with long-haired kittens born from Russian Blue parents.
The Russian twist In 1993/1994, the first Nebelung in the Netherlands arrived. Not from the United States, as one might assume because of the recent history, but from Russia. A Dutch Russian blue breeder, Letty van den Broeck, purchased a Russian Blue kitten from a cattery in Russia. Totally unexpected this cat (Timofeus) turned out to be semi-longhaired Russian blue. At that time, Timofeus was the first known longhaired Russian blue stud in western-Europe. His name is not found in the pedigrees of the current Nebelung population, but his existence mattered. This longhaired Russian blue cat confirmed the possible presence of the longhair gene in Russian blue population (the longhair gene is recessive, therefore cats can carry the gene without it being known).
In this period of increasing communication with formerly closed Eastern-Europe it appeared that quite often long-haired Russians are being born. In 1995 Cora Cobb was contacted by a TICA judge who had seen a Russian Nebelung kitten in a home in Moscow, which was born from two Russians Blue parents. The first exchange of Nebelungen between Russia and the United States takes place soon after. Cora managed to contact the breeder of this Russian Nebelung and purchased the kitten, a Nebelung male called Winterday Georgin of Nebelheim. This Russian blue and Nebelung cattery in Moscow (called Zimnij Denn in Russian) has bred many Nebelungen over the years which in Russia have won many titles. Also the highest title in WCF, World Champion, has been won by a Nebelung from Winterday cattery.
Europe At the beginning of this century breeding of the Nebelung in Western-Europe started. Some Russian Blue breeders from Russia and their beloved cats come to Western Europe, among which are some Russians blue cats that carry the longhair gene. The longhaired kittens of these cats are registered as Nebelungen. And in the Netherlands the first Nebelung from America was imported for breeding.
At present At the moment Nebelung pedigrees are issued by the WCF for breeders in Russia, Poland, Germany and Belgium. LOOF, TICA and independent clubs in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands recognize the Nebelung. The number of Nebelung cats and breeders is increasing all over the world and Nebelungs are often shown at cat shows. Pedigrees are filled with Nebelungs and/or many Russians blue cats which earned their titles at cat shows.
Characteristics Nebvelung is descrybed a loving, playful, intellingent cat. Living indoors is not a problem at all for him. Even when getting old, he retains his playfulness. He loves his human and knows very well how to make himself understood. Like his cousin the Russian Blue, he prefers a calm household. He is also described as a cat shying away from strangers but actively participating to the household life. Those characteristics are really individual to each cat depending on their life.
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