10 Blue Cat Breeds: Info, Pictures, History & Facts

Are blue cats even blue? Yes and no. These kitties are actually gray, but they 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.¹

The coat color of these gorgeous cats can range from light gray to darker steel grey, and their eyes tend to be copper, gold, yellow, or green.

Here, we present 10 blue cat breeds in order of “blueness.” The first four only come in blue, and the rest come in multiple colors, including blue.

The 10 Blue Cat Breeds

1. Russian Blue

The Russian Blue comes in a range of blue colors. The fur is tipped in silver and can range from a light bluish-silver to a deep slate blue. The coat is short and thick, and these cats 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 kitties that 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

Nebel is German for fog or mist, which is where Nebelungs get their name due to their beautiful mist-like fur. They have a double coat of medium-length fur that is gray and tipped with silver, giving them that famous blue color. These cats 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 with young children and strangers. They are affectionate and gentle cats that need a quiet home with a lot of stability.

3. Chartreux

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 to golden and orange in color.

The Chartreux enjoys climbing and is quite playful and highly intelligent. Due to their calm and easygoing nature, they do quite well with people of all ages and other pets and do just fine when alone in the home.

4. Korat

The Korat originated in ancient Siam (known now as Thailand) and is a playful, inquisitive cat that is people-oriented. They have short fur that is light blue at the roots, turns darker along the shaft of the hair, and ends with silver tips. Their eyes start off amber in color while young, but by 2 to 4 years of age, they turn a beautiful green.

These cats are social and enjoy attention from people, particularly their family. The downside is that 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 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.

5. British Shorthair

British Shorthairs come in quite a wide variety of colors but are best known for having blue fur. These large cats have thick, dense coats that can be light to medium blue, and they typically have copper-colored eyes. They are known to be quiet and easygoing felines, with loads of patience, which makes the British Shorthair 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 don’t like 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 is quite similar to the Shorthair, with the exception of size (the Longhair is slightly larger) and length of coat.

6. Oriental Shorthair

The Oriental Shorthair is quite striking in appearance with their slender body, 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 to a deeper and darker slate blue-gray, in addition to having a number of patterns (such as tabby, pointed, silver, and smoke). Their eye color tends to be copper, yellow, or green.

Oriental Shorthairs are 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

The Burmese does come in a wide range of colors but sports a warm medium blue coat and can be tortoiseshell. Their short and silky fur is 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 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 that they get the right amount of attention.

8. Persian

The Persian comes in quite a variety of colors and patterns but can be blue or blue-cream in color. Persians are famous for their extraordinarily thick, long coats that require brushing every day. Their eyes can be several colors, but most solid-colored Persians that are not white tend to have copper-colored eyes.

Persians are 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, are adaptable, and sometimes might enjoy a snooze on your lap.

9. American Shorthair

The American Shorthair 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, or hazel.

The American Shorthair gets along with people of all ages, as they are 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

The Norwegian Forest Cat is famous for their dense, long-haired coat and large size. They come in pretty much every color, including blue, and have copper, gold, and green eyes. Given how long and thick their fur is, you might be rather surprised to find out that they only need grooming once a week!

These cats are 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 many different appearances and personalities among 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 in order to bring home a new blue kitten (or rescue cat) that will be perfect for your family.

Featured Image Credit: Elisa Putti, Shutterstock