Chartreux vs Bristol - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Bristol cat hails from Texas and was developed during the 1980s, using a south American wild cat and domestic cats.

The Bristol cat isn’t well-known and in fact, its origins are shrouded in mystery.

The cat was recognized and admitted into the TICA (The International Cat Association. It is looked upon as a hybrid breed or a designer cat.

Nobody seems to know when the first Bristol cat was even bred. Because of its exotic nature, it is believed to be a cross between the American Shorthair and the margay or similar breed.

Hailing from France, the Chartreux cat is a rare cat breed but is still recognized by a number of cat registries around the world.

It’s not a new breed of cat, and in fact, the Chartreux is mentioned for the first time in 1558 in a poem and later on in paintings. There are quite a few legends as to the origins of the Chartreux and while some believe that the cats were brought to France by monks others believe that the Chartreux's ancestors were feral mountain cats from Syria.

European breeders kept the breed from extinction, especially after the 2nd world war, and the first Chartreux were brought to the United States in 1971. In 1987 the Cat Fancier’s Asociation advanced the Chartreux breed to championship status.

Bristol cats are medium-sized and muscular, powerful cats. They are much like Bengal cats. They have a smokey charcoal appearance while others have quite a bit of white on them.

They also have rosettes and small rounded ears. The origins of the Bristol breed are uncertain but it seems a multi-colored cat was adopted by a United States Army captain in Australia.

The cat was so adored it was brought back when they returned to the United States. The cat was already pregnant and she gave birth to 2 kittens. The coats are shiny and short-haired with spots and lines of fawn, grey and brown mostly with the eyes being green.

Temperament:

The Bristol cat has a very pleasing disposition – being amicable, playful, and loving. They’re intelligent cats too but they need to spend time in solitude as well.

They definitely don’t respond and bond to everyone in the human family but tend to respond to only one person.

These Bristol cats are cunning and self-confident and because of their wild side, they will need a large area to roam. This is definitely not a cat for city life.

The Chartreux is a large, strong, stocky, muscular cat that can weigh anything between 4 to 7kg while some can weigh as much as 9kg.

He has short legs when compared to the large body. He is known for his blue-like, silver-gray coat. In fact, the color can be any shade in the region of blue-grey. The coat is short, dense and double-coated and he has gold or copper-colored eyes.

People who have owned these cats say that they can take 3 to 4 years to reach maturity. Some people get mixed up and think this cat is very similar to the British Blue but they are two different breeds altogether.

Temperament:

The Chartreux is a real lap-cat just loving being able to settle down into his human owner's lap. It’s a cat with a 'smiling’ face because of the structure of his muzzle.

He is a very affectionate cat and will follow his people much like a dog. He is very intelligent and quiet and adapts well to a new situation. It's a cat that loves to climb so you will need to invest in a climbing tree for him as well as a scratching pole.

He is a good cat for first-time cat owners as well as being a good friend in homes with well brought up children. He is able to be friendly with other pets in the house.

The Bristol cat is beautiful all right, but once again humans should just leave wild cats alone in the bush.

Mixing them with domestic cats doesn’t work in the long run, and many of these cats land up in shelters because of unruly behavior. The Bristol cat is part wild and it doesn’t seem to have a future although there isn’ enough information online to really know what its future is.

Although this is a large, strong cat, he is actually a gentle feline in nature and he doesn’t like being part of any bickering among his human family, preferring to run away. He also doesn’t like being spoken harshly to when he has done something wrong.

This cat isn’t an extrovert by any means but he isn’t particularly shy either and enjoys spending time with his human family.

He isn’t a demanding cat but is easy-going, just wanting to get on in life and he promises to make you a steady, loyal companion.

Not much information on the health of this particular cat, but as with other cat breeds, lifestyle and nutrition play a huge role in the health of a cat.

Every cat, regardless of age, size, and energy levels will require top quality foods high in proteins, as cats are carnivores.

These cats are particularly prone to dental problems. The reason for this is that their incisors are closely set together and small.

Because of the heaviness of this cat, the Chartreux is also prone to a disease known as patellar luxation or kneecap displacement. This problem can eventually lead to lameness. One way to avoid this particular problem is to rather get your kittens from reputable breeders.

These cats are much inclined towards weightiness so you have to be watching his diet carefully, more so because the cat is prone to patellar luxation.

Diet:

The diet of a cat such as the Bristol will include small rodents, however once domesticated, these cats will need a diet high in protein. The cat is a carnivore and to be healthy it will require high-quality premium commercial cat food that is appropriate for the age of your cat and his health status.

The best cat food has taurine in it, an essential protein that cats can only obtain through quality food. Your adult Bristol cat may prefer eating several smaller meals and this is actually a good idea as smaller frequent meals help towards greater urinary tract health.

If you want a healthy cat, you have to be diligent with providing such a cat with good food that is high in protein. If you aren’t sure, your veterinarian will be able to advise you on what to feed your new cat or kitten.

Factors such as age, size, activity levels, and health make a difference to what you feed your cat, how much and how frequently.

Get into a habit of reading and understanding the labels on the cat food packaging. Certainly, every cat requires taurine, an essential amino acid. You will also need to ensure fresh, cool water day and night.

Always take your pet to the veterinarian if he is lethargic ad disinterested in his food.

Grooming:

Most cats are clean, but you should brush or comb your Bristol cat regularly as the brushing helps keep your cat's coat shiny and also reduces the amount of hair during shedding.

General:

Provide your Bristol cat with a dry, warm sleeping area and keep the bedding clean.

Your Bristol cat needs to wear a safety collar and an ID tag. These ID tags or an implanted microchip can help ensure that your Bristol cat is returned if he becomes lost.

Cats scratch, and cutting your cat’s nails will keep the nails blunt. Nonetheless, to prevent your furniture from being scratched, provide your cat with a strong scratching post covered with a rough material such as sisal or tree bark.

Bristol cats are independent and they don’t require any kind of special care. Certainly, they require large areas for their active lifestyle as well as a shallow pool for swimming.

Your Chartreux cat’s dense, double coat will require brushing once or twice a week, especially in the cat’s seasonal shedding period.

This cat doesn't take well to changes in his diet, particularly when he finds a type of food that he likes, then he wants to stick to that. You want to feed your cat a top-quality food to encourage good health but you want to avoid overfeeding as obesity in cats comes with lots of problems. A cat is a carnivore and you therefore need to feed your cat a diet rich in protein. Speak to your vet or another cat expert who can advise you on feeding your cat if you are in any kind of doubt. Make sure your kitty kat has a never-ending supply of fresh, cool water.

Always make a point of checking inside your cat's ears as well as inside his mouth for bad teeth. Bad teeth can cause terrible pain and your pet has no way of communicating this to you.

Have your cat neutered or spayed if you don't want your cat to have kittens.