Nebelung

Temperament

The Nebelung is a one-person or one-family cat. With its own people it is affectionate and devoted: it follows them around the house, climbs into laps and enjoys lounging together in the evening. It treats strangers and small, noisy children with great reserve, often disappearing into a hiding place when guests arrive, and it needs time to trust. It values routine, regular mealtimes and peace and quiet, and it takes changes to its surroundings harder than many other breeds. It is playful and curious, but not overly energetic; a few wand-toy hunting sessions a day are enough. It usually gets along well with other cats and calm dogs. It meows very little. Left alone for long hours, it may feel lonely, though it does not wreck the house.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Talkativeness

quietchatterbox

Indoor-only life

needs outdoor accessgreat

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Nebelung for?

The Nebelung suits calm homes: singles, couples and families with older children who respect a cat's space. It does well in an apartment and is a good choice for a first-time owner who accepts regular combing. It is less suited to homes with small children, constant visitors and frequent changes, because a shy cat may then live under stress.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

The Nebelung's semi-long double coat is soft and water-resistant, but it needs regular combing, especially on the belly, behind the ears and on the britches. WebMD recommends a few minutes of brushing a day; in practice, if the coat is in good condition, 2–3 times a week is enough, and more often during shedding. The full coat can take up to two years to develop. Check the ears weekly, trim the nails every few weeks and brush the teeth with cat toothpaste. A Nebelung needs a quiet corner to rest and a hiding place to retreat to when the house gets busy. Introduce changes such as a move or a new household member slowly. Portion control and daily play protect it from weight gain.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Nebelung is considered a sturdy breed with no specific inherited diseases described. WebMD does, however, list common feline problems that can occur in it: vomiting from various causes, asthma, which affects about 1–5% of cats, kidney disease, especially in older animals, and digestive disorders. Because the Nebelung is calm and enjoys its food, keep an eye on its weight, since excess weight raises the risk of diabetes and joint disease. TICA gives a life expectancy of 11–16+ years and notes that eighteen years is nothing unusual for this breed. Given the small population, ask the breeder about the ancestors' health and have an older cat's blood and urine checked regularly.

• no known breed-specific diseasesSources describe no specific genetic diseases; it is subject to common feline conditions.
• kidney and urinary tract diseaseListed among common feline problems, especially in older cats.
• asthmaA disease affecting about 1–5% of cats, also listed for Nebelungs.
• excess weightA laid-back lifestyle makes weight gain easy; excess weight raises the risk of diabetes and joint disease.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The Nebelung was developed in the United States in the 1980s. Cora Cobb of Nebelheim cattery noticed that a litter from Elsa, a black shorthaired domestic female, and a blue longhaired male produced a longhaired blue male named Siegfried in 1984, followed a year later by a female, Brunhilde. She took the names from the Germanic saga of the Nibelungs. On the advice of TICA geneticist Dr. Solveig Pflueger, Cobb wrote a standard modeled on the Russian Blue but with a semi-long coat; after objections from Russian Blue breeders, the standard was revised to describe a distinct breed. TICA gave Nebelungs new breed status in 1987 and full championship status in 1997. The breed remains small in number to this day.

Fun facts

• The name Nebelung comes from the German word Nebel, meaning mist or fog.
• The first Nebelungs, Siegfried and Brunhilde, were named after characters in the saga of the Nibelungs.
• A Nebelung's full coat can take up to two years to develop.
• WCF describes the breed as a longhaired Russian Blue.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Long-haired cat breeds

Sources

1. 1TICA – Nebelung breedtica.org
2. 2WebMD – What to know about Nebelung catswebmd.com
3. 3Wikipedia – Nebelungen.wikipedia.org
4. 4World Cat Congress – Nebelung comparison among member organisationsworldcatcongress.org
5. 5FIFe – Breedsfifeweb.org
6. 6WCF – Breed standards semi-longhairwcf.de

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.