The Nebelung is a rare and beautiful cat breed. Its name means 'creature of the mist' in German and the breed is recognized as unique by the TICA.
The goal when humans first started breeding Nebelungs the aim of the breeding program was to produce cats that had a long tail and fur body, ears proportional to the head, and an eye color that varied from yellowish green to green.
The size of the cat's body was supposed to be neither large nor small and the body type was to be muscular.
If you are interested in rare cat breeds like the Nebelung, don’t forget to check out our guide to two more fascinating and lovely breeds, the Japanese bobtail and the Maine coon.
Nebelung Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a Nebelung?
The Nebelung with green eyes is a relatively new and rare breed of cat. It almost looks like a Russian blue feline, but it has a unique fur coat.
What class of animal does a Nebelung belong to?
The Nebelung belongs to the Mammalia class of the Animalia family.
How many Nebelungs are there in the world?
This rare breed of cats is hard to find and their exact population is unknown. One of the reasons for this could be that they are a costly and new breed.
Where does a Nebelung live?
They are domestic cats that live in households. It is rare to find a stray Nebelung (unless lost or abandoned by its owner).
What is a Nebelung's habitat?
A Nebelung is suitable for city life since it is a domestic cat. They can live in apartments and flats as they aren’t very demanding and they can adjust to almost any environment.
Who do Nebelung cats live with?
Since they are social animals, Nebelung cats can easily live amongst humans and other pets. They can get on well with children, mainly older children, strangers, adults, and other pet animals. They are excellent family cats who are very friendly and mild-mannered. They tend to become affectionate immediately with their family members.
How long does a Nebelung live?
The Nebelung is said to have a life span similar to that of a Russian feline. They live for approximately 16 or more years.
How do they reproduce?
Like other cats, they reproduce when a male cat mates with a female cat. The female cat stays pregnant for two months and gives birth to more than three to four kittens in one litter.
What is their conservation status?
Since this green-eyed cat is a mixed and new breed, their conservation status is Not Listed.
Nebelung Fun Facts
What do Nebelungs look like?
As a close relative of the Russian blue (which can be found in long-haired varieties), these cats have green eyes, big pointed ears that are proportional to their face, and a flat nose. They are slightly longer and more muscular than the Russian blue.
They also have a long, shiny coat, fine and silky hair, and a soft double coat of fur which is gray with a hint of silver to it.
They have a long hair blue coat on their body as well as behind their ears and between their toes which develops completely two years after birth. The blue coat on their tail is longer than the rest.
How cute are they?
These long-haired cats are a very cute cat breed. While adults have long and muscular bodies like the Russian blue and gorgeous long hair, kittens of this breed are even more adorable with their bulging greenish-yellow eyes.
Their adorable silky hair and long coat length only add to their beauty. On top of this the Nebelung temperament is friendly and affectionate, two more wonderful characteristics!
How do they communicate?
A Nebelung communicates through actions and noises. They express emotions of love, anger, and excitement by wagging their tails, running, licking our faces, caressing, meowing, purring, hissing, and moving around in circles. Like other blue cats, they meow and make strange noises to express anger or communicate with other cats.
How big is a Nebelung?
A Nebelung cat is longer than a Russian blue cat. It has longer legs, a bigger tail, a longer neck, and body! Moreover, the coat length of a Nebelung is longer than that of a Russian blue. The average height of a Nebelung is approximately 9-13 in (22- 33 cm) so it can be classified as a medium-sized cat.
How fast can a Nebelung run?
A Nebelung can run at a speed of about 30 mph (48 kph). Although the cat is not a very fast runner, it is very energetic, playful, sporty, and filled with excitement, so it tends to run around a lot. Although the Nebelung is highly active it can still adjust indoors.
How much does a Nebelung weigh?
A Nebelung weighs between 7.11–14.5 lb (3.5–6.5 kg). They are medium and lightweight cats.
What are their male and female names of the species?
A Nebelung cat is simply known as a Nebelung, whether male or female.
What would you call a baby Nebelung?
A baby Nebelung is called a Nebelung kitten. Nebelung kittens are super cute, have you ever seen one?
What do they eat?
They eat cat food that is rich in protein and fat. One or two cups of high-quality cat food with a high protein content twice a day is enough food for them. They need to be fed according to their size and age to avoid obesity.
Are they slobbery?
The Nebelung cat breed does not drool much at all. They can sometimes drool a small amount at the sight or smell of food and in some cases, they can drool as a result of stress or fear caused by loud noises. But overall, a Nebelung is not slobbery at all.
Would they make a good pet?
This cat is a fantastic pet to have with many wonderful characteristics. As a pet, they are warm, loveable, playful, and like lots of attention from family members.
Socialization is a must for this cat breed. A Nebelung pet cat gets along well with other pets, especially with other cats. Furthermore, Nebelungs are extremely loyal to their owner and tend to bond with one specific person even more than others.
Did you know...
The Nebelung cat is a beautiful breed that was recognized by the TICA in 1987. The breed was developed by Cora Cobb and its name was given to it by Cora. It means 'creature of the mist' in German.
Interestingly, male Nebelungs are bigger than female Nebelungs in both height and weight. Most people think that the biggest difference between male and female cats is regarding their temperament, but this is all about how they are trained.
Nebelungs can be extremely affectionate and bond on a deep level with their owner.
The Animal Planet show 'Cats 101' featured this breed of cat. It has also been featured in several movies like the 'Pound Puppies And The Legend Of Big Paw' and 'Garden State'.
Do you know which cat breed has the longest legs? Whilst the Nebelung has relatively long legs, they are not the longest of all cats. The Serval cat and the Savannah cat (recorded as the world’s tallest cat) have the longest legs which allow them to jump higher than the average cat!
Characteristics and health issues
Nebelungs are said to be slightly healthier than more common types of cats. They are a new breed and do not have a lot of inherited conditions so they tend to live longer than the average cat. Other cats live for up to 16 years but Nebelungs can live for up to 18 years!
Despite this, Nebelungs can develop obesity easily. Therefore, it is advised that you do not feed your cat more than required.
If fed the required amount in small portions then they are likely to stay healthy and muscular. You don’t want your cat to develop any health problems related to obesity and this is a risk, even though these cats are selective about their food preferences.
They tend to gain weight once they start liking a particular food item, so it is advised not to spoil them (no matter how cute they are!) as it can cause long-term adverse effects on their health.
Like other cats, the Nebelung cat can also develop periodontal disease. This disease is a common type of disease found in cats. To avoid this it is essential to maintain a healthy dental routine for your Nebelung cat.
Getting your own Nebelung
The average cost of a pet Nebelung cat ranges from $600 to $1200.Once you get a Nebelung, owners must be sure to take proper care of it. The fluffy gray cat breed is intelligent and affectionate and requires lots of love!
Regular pet health check-ups, cleaning of their ears, and maintaining oral hygiene are also necessary for a Nebelung. The breed has a soft long coat that sheds a lot in summer and grows thick in winter.
Their coat of hair must be brushed at least three times a week to maintain this beautiful coat.
They can also be given a bath once or twice a month, but no more than that. You probably don't need to get your Nebelung cats a winter coat to wear in cold weather since they already have a natural double coat.
The best living conditions for Nebelung cats are places with moderate temperatures, that are not too hot or too cold. They cannot bear extreme temperatures and may get cranky if the environment is not suitable for them.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals including the ragdoll, or Canada lynx.
You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our cute cat coloring pages.