Machbagral vs Chartreux - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

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.

This is an experimental cat breed – a wildcat hybrid. It seems as though this cat was also developed in the United States like many of the other hybrid cats.

Also known as Bagral, Tthe Machbagral came about by crossing the wild Fishing cat – also known as the Asian Fishing cat and a Bengal cat or melanistic tabby spotted domestic cat.

Once again, humans wanted a cat that would look like a wild cat but that could be domesticated.

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 Machbaral is a medium to large-sized cat and can weigh up to 7kg. It is described as a stocky cat. The head is large with fairly small ears. The fur of the Machbagral will be dense and medium length with a thick fluffy tail. The color is black with lighter tips.

Temperament:

The Machbagral cat is very friendly and intelligent and like so many hybrid cats he loves playing in water. If you have an outside cage for him, it should have a small pool.

He is a cat that loves his human family and behaves much like a dog. You can teach this cat to walk on a leash.

You need to bear in mind that because of the wildness in the Machbagral, there will no doubt be some aggression. They can also be quite solitary by nature and may never adjust to being in a social setting. These cats are also not 100% predictable.

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.

The Machbagral, just like some of the other hybrid cats there are, can be wonderful to own. But sadly these hybrids should be discouraged as pets.

They can make wonderful pets no doubt, but there is always that unpredictable behavior with them.

There are so many cats in shelters today, many of them are hybrids because people had no idea that the wild side of the hybrid such as the Machbagral is always lurking there, ready to come out.

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.

You need to know that interbreeding wild cats with domestic cats still has wildness in a cat.

The truth is, there are behavioral complaints from owners of these hybrid cats.

No matter how wonderful the Machbagral seems to be as a pet, at some time or other he will display aggression and also failure to use a litter box.

These hybrids usually mark their territory by urination and spraying and often can’t learn to use a litter box. Unlike with a proper domestic cat, neutering or spaying a hybrid cat won’t really change their behavior of urinating inside your house.

Also, because hybrid cats such as the Machbagral are unnatural breeding, there can be health issues. One of the more common illnesses among hybrid cats include digestive issues, of which IBD is one. This is a bowel disease and it can cause chronic diarrhea with your cat.

Another medical issue is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Also, another concern is that while regular cat vaccines protect your regular cat from some deadly cat diseases, they may not be approved for use in hybrid cats, and if they are approved, they may not be effective.

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.

Most cat owners with basic cat care knowledge will be able to take care of their Machbagral. You could say that there is a little bit more specialized care with these hybrid cats as they will require an outside cage as they are cats with a wild side.

Feline hybrids are larger than domestic cats and can exhibit a wild temperament, so you have to bear in mind they require careful and different handling to a regular cat.

A diet of commercial pet food may not be sufficient for a hybrid such as the Machbagral and your vet may well be able to advise you on the feeding requirments of these hybrids.

Since cats are carnivorous, they will need to be fed food that is high in protein. You need to understand how to read labels on commercially manufactured cat foods and to avoid those that have more carbohydrates in them and less meat. Feeding you cat such a diet will ensure health issues later on.

Provide your pet with all the things needed to make him content as can be. Food and water bowls, paddling pool, toys, sleeping area. You want to surely invest in collar and tag as these cats often try to get away.

You want to make sure you have an outdoor enclosure for your Machbagral. These hybrids are indoor- and outdoor cats. Because they often don’t learn to use a litter box they need to be outside in an enclosure for some of the time. They are certainly not indoor cats.