So, our pretty little cat showed up on our doorstep a few years ago. She was a stray, and looked like she had had a rough time. We took her in, looked for owners, never found any, so here she stays.
It’s been a few years, and until a few days ago we had no idea of what breed she was. Now, one of my cat-loving friends who had never met her before finally saw her, and basically went crazy. She said she looked exactly like a rare breed of cat called a Nebelung. After doing some research, lots of pictures, videos, and looking at the shows standards, I have to say she fits everything to a T. I have a couple pictures here:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-M2tou…
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MTv4G…
And here are some pictures of Nebelung cats I found on Google:
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/18/2370148…
http://pictures-of-cats.org/wp-content/u…
To me, they look exactly the same… Especially after watching videos, just the way the sit and hold themselves, they do the EXACT SAME things as her. It’s scary. Her personality and temperment also fit perfectly with breed standards. OK, I know this this next part is going to sound horrible, and it is: My cat isn’t spayed yet, even though she’s about 4 years old. I keep telling my dad, over and over, that he needs to get her spayed; it just never happens. However, she’s never gotten outside, so for now, everything’s OK. I know, it may not stay that way for long: that’s why I keep pushing my dad to get her spayed. I don’t want random mutt kittens that take the places of kittens that truly need a home.
Which I suppose leads to my question: because Nebelungs are so rare, and because they are such amazing, beautiful cats (the cat I currently own is by far the best cat I have ever owned, or known; she is so perfect, she’s playful, but loves to lay down with me and purrs like a machine) and really do deserve to be spread and enjoyed, would it be OK to breed her? I kind of draw back at the thought because, A), I’m afraid it might end up badly, and if it did, I could never forgive myself: and B), the idea of breeding a non-pedigree cat makes me think of the thousands of cats in shelters being put down. It seems needless, but at the same time, she does appear to be part of a rare breed and she is simply the best cat I’ve ever met. If we could breed her to a good stud (emphasis on GOOD; either a decent Russian Blue or another Nebelung mix), have good homes lined up for the kittens, and further the breed, it would be a good thing.
So I’m on the fence.
1. Can anybody more familiar with the Nebelung breed tell me if you definitely think she is or isn’t part of this breed, and if she is at least a mix, do you think it’s possible she’s a purebreed? I know it’s unlikely, which is why I’d rather get someone else’s opinion.
2. Would it be alright, under this circumstance, to breed her? (And please nobody just shout at me “NO you should NEVER do that!!!” because I am aware of the reasons why and why not; I would like your opinion on which has more weight in this situation)
✅ Answers
? Best Answer
It’s wrong on so many levels to breed her – no reputable breeder with a real, registered Nebelung or Russian Blue will breed to a domestic cat under any circumstances. And if you find someone claiming to have an unpapered cat – well, it’s a cat that resembles a breed, and you’ll get domestic blue (maybe) kittens out of the mating. Why contribute to the overwhelming number of randomly bred cats being born? And there is no guarantee that the offspring will in any way,shape or form have the personality that she does. Genetics just doesn’t work that way with domestic short/long hair cats – you have no idea what is really hidden in the genes.
Get your pretty girl spayed, and start attending cat shows in your area, and maybe you’ll be lucky enough to see some Nebelung breeders there. You can ask them questions about their cats, and if they ever have any show-quality alters for sale, and then you can start with the ‘real thing’ and showing and seeing if this is really something you want to pursue.
First off, there’s maybe half a dozen IF THAT Nebelung breeders in the entire country.
Secondly, they sell their kittens ALTERED. So there is way in hell this unaltered cat you found roaming the streets is a Nebelung. It’s just a blue domestic longhair – no breed at all just like over 97% of the cats on this planet.
Thirdly, even in the one in a million chance this cat was a Nebelung you have NOTHING to prove it. So why would you think that someone that has an unaltered Nebelung – which means, a reputable breeder of this VERY uncommon breed – would allow you to mate your cat with NO pedigree to theirs? They WOULDN’T because the kittens could NOT be registered as Nebelungs without BOTH parents pedigreed cats. Breeders also only use SHOW QUALITY cats for breeding.
So put the thought out of your mind. This cat needs to be spayed. Every month you’ve left her unaltered you’ve left her open to Pyometra – a deadline infection of the uterus. And are you entirely sure she isn’t already spayed? Has she shown signs of going into heat?
By the way, your “cat expert” is WRONG. This cat does NOT look like a Nebelung. Yes – it has a blue longhaired coat but that’s where the resemblance ends. The coat is FAR too dark to be a Nebelung. They are a very light, silvery gray like their shorthaired counterpart, the Russian Blue. THIS is what a Nebelung looks like http://ticanew.com/public/breeds/nb/nb_a… Notice how this cat’s fur is really only long on the tail? Your cat is long all over. Nebelungs don’t have a ruff like your DOMESTIC LONGHAIR has. Look at TICA, CFA or ACFA’s site is you want to see what breeds REALLY look like not random photos which are probably from people just like you with domestic longhairs they only ASSUME are a breed.
” I don’t want random mutt kittens that take the places of kittens that truly need a home.”
Then get her spayed because that’s all her kittens would be. And you’d be KILLING kittens at your local shelter since people will take your kittens instead of adopting.
edit: LOL! Sorry about the photo link. I’d just posted on Facebook about how Hawaii was flying shelter dogs back with tourists to the mainland so they had a better chance of being adopted and that was one of the dogs. Link has been edited.
My comments were “stinging” they were FACT. The odds of finding a stray unaltered pedigreed cat – especially of such an obscure breed are slim to none. You only WANT this cat to look like a Nebelung when it reality – it doesn’t. Any “breeder” sites you link to that have “Nebelungs” that don’t look like that pic I linked you to are simply backyard breeders selling no breed domestics. There’s LOTS of them out there.
Oh and one more thing – note the little black markings on your cat’s face? Those are “ghost” tabby markings that often appear in solid blue domestics but would NEVER appear in a solid blue adult cat of a particular breed. She may also have them on her legs.
Source(s):
I show in TICA and actually know cat breeds.
Personally I would say no it definately wouldnt be ok. As you mentioned there are thousands of stray cats out there (who would make wonde3rful companions) being put down for lack of good homes. If you breed and hand the out (or sell) the offspring to others you are then adding to the problem by filling up poitential good homes and are therefore contributing it rather than being part of the solution (desexing your cat, and making sure you always adopt rather than buy). Just becauwse an animal is a RARE BREED it doesnt mean we should keep breeding when there is an overpopulation problem, so really there is no real justification for breeding. Hope you make the right choice :).