10 Blue Cat Breeds (with Pictures)
Are blue cats even blue? Yes and no. They are all actually gray but have a beautiful bluish hue to their coats. In order to have a gray coat, the cat needs to have two dilute genes, which is a genetic mutation that occurs naturally. Mutation never looked so good!
The coat color of these gorgeous cats can range from a light gray to a darker steel grey, and the eye color tends to be copper, gold, yellow, and green.
So, we present 10 blue cats in order of blueness. The first four cats only come in blue, and the rest come in multiple colors, which include blue.
The 10 Blue Cat Breeds
1. Russian Blue
| Lifespan: | 10 to 20+ years |
| Temperament: | Gentle, chatty, intelligent |
| Colors: | Blue |
| Size: | Medium |
The Russian Blue comes in a range of blue colors. The fur is tipped in silver and comes in everything from a light bluish-silver to a deep slate blue. The coat is short and thick, and they tend to have green eyes. Russian Blues can be quiet but will have a long conversation with you if you talk to them, and they are quite affectionate and playful.
These cats get along well with other pets and children and are sweet and loyal cats who prefer to spend a lot of time with their families. However, they are somewhat aloof around people they don’t know, and they don’t adapt well to change.
2. Nebelung
| Lifespan: | 11 to 16+ years |
| Temperament: | Playful, affectionate, gentle |
| Colors: | Blue |
| Size: | Medium |
Nebel is German for fog or mist, which is where Nebelungs get their name, thanks to their beautiful mist-like coats of fur. They have a double coat of medium-length fur that is gray and tipped with silver, giving them the famous blue color. They require regular grooming because of the length and thickness of their coats, and they tend to have green or yellowish-green eyes.
Nebelungs can be quite devoted to their family, but they tend to be pretty shy of young children and strangers. They are very affectionate and gentle cats that need a quiet home with a lot of stability.
3. Chartreux
| Lifespan: | 8 to 13+ years |
| Temperament: | Devoted, loving, easygoing |
| Colors: | Blue |
| Size: | Medium |
The Chartreux is one of a few cats that only come in the blue shade, ranging from pale ash to a darker slate gray-blue. While their coats are short, they are also quite thick and require regular brushing, and they have eyes that range from copper, golden, and orange in color.
The Chartreux enjoys climbing and is quite playful and highly intelligent. They do quite well with people of all ages as well as other pets thanks to their calm and easygoing nature and do just fine when alone in the home.
4. Korat
| Lifespan: | 15 to 20 years |
| Temperament: | Devoted, intelligent, curious |
| Colors: | Blue |
| Size: | Small to medium |
The Korat originated in ancient Siam (known now as Thailand) and are playful, inquisitive cats that are very people-oriented. They have short fur that is a lighter blue at the roots that turns darker along the shaft of the hair and ends with silver tips. Their eyes start off amber in color while young, but by two to four years of age, the eyes turn a beautiful green.
These cats are very social and enjoy attention from people, particularly their family. The downside of this is they don’t like to be left alone for long periods, and they need attention, or they will become depressed and withdrawn. This does make them very sweet lap cats, but they might become jealous when other pets have your attention. The Korat is playful and loving and will make a wonderful family cat.
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5. British Shorthair
| Lifespan: | 12 to 20 years |
| Temperament: | Quiet, calm, easygoing |
| Colors: | 37 recognized colors |
| Size: | Medium to large |
British Shorthairs come in quite a wide variety of colors but are best known for their blue fur. These large cats have very thick, dense coats that can be light to medium blue and typically have copper-colored eyes. They are known to be very quiet and easygoing cats, with loads of patience, which makes the British Shorthair very popular with families looking for a loyal and dignified cat.
They are intelligent but prefer to sleep next to you rather than on your lap and prefer not to be held or carried around. The British Shorthair makes the perfect cat for someone who goes out to work as they are independent and patient.
We should note that the British Longhair is also known to come in blue and are quite similar to the Shorthair with the exception of size (the Longhair is slightly larger) and length of coat.
6. Oriental Shorthair
| Lifespan: | 10 to 20+ years |
| Temperament: | Intelligent, loving, playful |
| Colors: | 100s of colors and patterns |
| Size: | Medium |
The Oriental Shorthair is quite striking in appearance with their slender bodies, large ears, and almond-shaped eyes. They come in a wide variety of patterns and colors, but they do sport a blue coat that can be a soft gray up to a deeper and darker slate blue-gray, in addition to blue found in a number of patterns (such as tabby, pointed, silver, and smoke). The eye color tends to be copper, yellow, and green.
Oriental Shorthairs are very athletic and playful and love to play fetch. They tend to stay rather kittenish their entire lives. They do best in a household with other cats, get along quite well with children and dogs, and love a noisy, happy home. Oriental Shorthairs are all about activity and love.
Like the British Shorthair, the Oriental Shorthair also comes as a Longhair, which is similar in appearance, except for the length of the coat and personality.
7. Burmese
| Lifespan: | 12+ years |
| Temperament: | Social, playful, sweet |
| Colors: | Multiple colors – solid and tortoiseshell |
| Size: | Medium to large |
The Burmese does come in a wide range of colors but sports a warm and medium blue as well as a blue tortoiseshell. Their short and silky coats are easy to groom, and their eye color tends to be yellow or gold.
The Burmese is a lap cat through and through. They love most people and are very affectionate and playful. They are patient with young children who want to carry them around but do not like to be left alone for long. Burmese also get along well with other pets and enjoy lots of playtime. These are happy cats, provided they get the right amount of attention.
8. Persian
| Lifespan: | 8 to 10+ years |
| Temperament: | Quiet, sweet-natured, calm |
| Colors: | At least 13 as well as a variety of patterns |
| Size: | Medium |
The Persian comes in quite a variety of colors and patterns but can be a blue or blue-cream in color. Persians are famous for their extraordinarily thick, long coats that do require brushing every day. Their eyes can range in a number of colors, but most solid-colored Persians that are not white, tend to have copper-colored eyes.
Persians are very quiet and gentle cats that prefer a calm home. They are affectionate and easygoing and won’t do well with a lot of boisterous play, but they enjoy a certain amount of playtime. They are friendly with most people and are adaptable, and sometimes might enjoy a snooze on your lap.
9. American Shorthair
| Lifespan: | 15+ years |
| Temperament: | Inquisitive, easygoing, friendly |
| Colors: | Multiple colors and patterns |
| Size: | Medium |
The American Shorthair is another cat that comes in all kinds of colors and patterns, and while they are most commonly tabby cats, they can be blue (this also includes the American Wirehair, which is almost the same except for having a wiry coat). These medium-sized cats have large eyes that can be gold, green, blue, copper, and hazel.
The American Shorthair gets along with people of all ages as they are very people-oriented. They enjoy a good cuddle and are curious and intelligent cats that might get into everything. The American Shorthair gets along with a noisy family with other pets just as much as a single senior living on their own.
10. Norwegian Forest Cat
| Lifespan: | 13+ years |
| Temperament: | Intelligent, sweet, calm |
| Colors: | Most colors and patterns |
| Size: | Large |
The Norwegian Forest Cat is famous for a very dense, long-haired coat and large size. They come in pretty much every color, including blue, and have copper, gold, and green eyes. You might be rather surprised to find out that they only need grooming once a week, given how long and thick their fur is!
These cats are very playful and enjoy spending time with their family, and they are most definitely gentle giants. They won’t necessarily want to curl up on your lap, but they will enjoy sleeping next to you and will follow you around. Norwegian Forest Cats do well with children and other pets thanks to their gentle and calm nature.
Conclusion
So, if you’re interested in finding a blue cat to add to your household, you now have an idea about the very different appearances and personalities amongst them. While the Russian Blue, Chartreux, Korat, and Nebelung are the only cats that are “true blues,” many other breeds carry the blue gene. Not all blue cats are alike, either in appearance or temperament, so do your homework, and maybe you’ll bring a new blue kitten (or rescue cat) into your family.
Featured Image: Elisa Putti, Shutterstock
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