Nebelung

Grooming:

Exercise Level:

Trainability:

Good with Children:

Good with other pets:

Affectionate:

Life Expectancy: 15 - 18 Years

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Introduction

The nebelung pronunciation is always a question to people who first hear the name. “Ne” will be pronounced as “Nay,” making it sound like “naybelung.” Nebelung is a German word, wherein when literally translated it means “creature of the mist.” Its name takes credit from its smooth blue coat tipped with silver.

It may look like a Russian Blue, but a nebelung cat is a separate breed. With its distinctive beauty, the nebelung gained popularity outside of its native home, America. However, it remains rare in the UK considering that it is relatively a new breed.

History

The nebelung cat is one of the new breeds developed in the United States. Cora Cobb became a breeder by accident when Elsa, a black domestic shorthair cat, birthed two litters of kittens with the Russian Blue features except for its semi-long coat. It stimulated Cora’s interest and tested if it was possible to create a new breed with these cats. With the help of Dr. Solveig Pfleuger, a geneticist from the American Cat Association, they were able to officially initiate the breeding. Siegfried (1984), from the first litter and Brunhilde (1985), from the second one had the features of a longhaired Russian Blue lookalike. Both names were derived from an epic Germanic poem entitled “Nibelungenlied” (English translation from the song of the Nibelungs). These cats were the first registered felines of the breed. In 1986, these cats were able to produce their own litter. With the influence of Dr. Pfleuger, Cora Cobb made the breeding standard in line with the Russian Blue, but with the difference of their coat length. The breed was then named as the “nebelung.”

Through the successive years, the breed gained popularity fast. The International Cat Association (TICA) was the first formal breed association to accept and recognise a breeding standard for this variety. The breed’s goal is to produce felines with shimmering medium-length coat. In 1997, TICA recognised the breed for a championship competition. In October 2011, the nebelung made its first appearance in the UK at a special exhibition of the Russian Blue Show.

Appearance and Grooming

As elegant as the Russian Blue, the nebelung is a medium-sized feline that weighs 3.5 to 7.5 kgs. The nebelung’s body built is muscular, firm, and long, furnishing a foreign look, with long and slender legs and rounded paws that appears smooth. Its tapering, well-furnished, plumed tail completes the look of exquisiteness.

Another distinguishing feature is its eyes. It has large almond-shaped eyes that are rather large and set widely apart. It usually has the eye colour of vivid green, but for kittens, they may have yellow and should eventually change with maturity. The shape of its head is a modified medium wedge with high and broad cheeks. Its neck appears heavier because of the slight ruff gathered on its neck. The ears of a nebelung may appear pointed with a wide base and is fairly tall with sparse hair on the inside.

The nebelung has a lovely semi-longhaired coat, which is the prominent difference that separates it from the Russian Blue cat. Its coat is dense, but is not coarse; instead, it is soft and silky when touched. The nebelung male can have more ruff than its female counterpart. Its undercoat is covered with thick guard hairs with a much thicker outercoat. However, the desired coat may take two years to fully develop. This breed only has one accepted coat colour; it should be an even and clear medium blue, though ghost tabby markings are accepted for kittens. An adult should have silver tipping that emits a gleaming look.

Considering the nebelung’s thick layer of fur, grooming of this breed requires effort. It should follow regular brushing a couple of times a week or can be daily to prevent the hair from being matted and knotted. It is important to include the roots of the fur as well. Complete grooming with the basics such as nail trimming, teeth brushing, and ear cleaning. The earlier the grooming routine is introduced, the better.

Temperament and Intelligence

The nebelung cat is not only famous for its looks, but also for its pleasant nature. This is a rather shy breed that would take time to settle in a new home. As such, it should be given to having its own advances to its new family. With time and attention that you will give, the nebelung will soon find its comfort in your lap and would often ask for petting from you. After all, it is an affectionate feline that will most likely follow its owner around the house. It forms an exceptional bond with humans that attend to its needs; however, it would be wary around visiting guests.

Further, the nebelung is a smart and energetic cat that would enjoy exploring the environment, marking its territory. It can adapt well as an indoor pet only when provided with plenty of toys or activities to be occupied with. Like other breeds, the nebelung enjoys napping through the day. As such, it is wise to provide an area to snuggle when the mood takes in.

Nutrition and Feeding

The nebelung cat should be given a nutritious diet that fulfils its nutritional needs. It should be consistently given the same food following the same feeding schedule. If there are changes to its diet, those must be done gradually to prevent digestive problems.

The serving portions should depend on the cat’s weight, age, and activity level. Its diet must include at least 25 per cent protein and just 5 per cent carbohydrates.

Health and Exercise

The Nebelung cat has an average lifespan of 15 to 18 years. As she is a relatively new breed, genetically-acquired health conditions are yet to be discovered. The breed is decently healthy, but she can be susceptible to obesity as she tends to overeat. The Nebelung can also contract diseases that are common to other cat breeds. To avoid health issues, pay attention to her diet and take her regularly to the vet for health check-ups.

The Nebelung is a reserved and quiet cat, but she is quite playful. Although she is not clingy like some other cat breeds, she enjoys receiving attention from her humans. She is an active and athletic cat, but has low exercise needs. To prevent boredom, keep the Nebelung cat entertained with different interactive toys that can stimulate her mind. Prevent her from gaining excess weight by dedicating time to play every day. Keeping her physically active to help burning off those calories.

Cost of Ownership

The price range for a healthy and well-bred purebred Nebelung is around £100–£200. Her diet should consist of high-quality cat food that contains every nutrient she requires to grow normally. The monthly cost of her cat food is between £20–£55.

Adding a new pet to your home means providing her with her basic necessities such as a cat carrier, litter tray, and scratch posts. The overall expenses for these items may run up to £50–£400.

Nebelung kittens require vaccination to protect their fragile bodies from catching infectious diseases. Vaccine shots cost approximately £40–100.

Parasite infestations expose your pet to several feline ailments. Protect her from these dangers by administering preventatives. You may need to spend £50–£60 for tick and flea treatments whilst £60–£120 for heartworm treatments.

Bring your Nebelung to the vet for check-ups to monitor his health and detect any illnesses in their early stages. You will be charged around £30–£60 for each session.

To prevent vet bills from stacking up, get a pet insurance. A time-limited coverage will have a monthly fee ranging from £6–£15. On the other hand, a lifetime coverage will cost you over £10 a month.

Nebelung Breed Highlights

A nebelung is a shy breed that is soft-spoken and has a gentle nature.
It is reserved around strangers or unfamiliar guests.
It is very affectionate to selective humans, mainly to those who attend to its care.
As this feline belongs to longhaired cats, grooming requires a couple of times a week or almost daily brushing.