The Nebelung is a long-haired breed developed from domestic cats descended from Russian Blues. The foundation cats, Siegfried (1984) and Brunhilde (1985), were born to a longhaired black domestic and a Russian Blue. Breeder Cora Cobb of Colorado established the breed; TICA recognized the Nebelung in 1987. CFA, GCCF, and FIFe have not published separate Nebelung standards. The standard describes a long, elegant, blue-coated cat with vivid green eyes.
Quick facts
- Origin country
- United States
- Origin period
- 1984 (Cora Cobb; long-haired Russian Blue descendants Siegfried and Brunhilde); TICA recognition 1987
- Coat type
- Long
- Coat colors
- Blue (blue-grey — the only recognized colour)
- Size category
- Medium
- Average lifespan
- 11-16 years
- Recognition
- TICA 1987
Origin
Cora Cobb of Denver, Colorado received a black domestic female named Elsa; Elsa mated with a Russian Blue male and produced a long-haired blue male kitten, Siegfried, in 1984. A second litter produced a long-haired blue female, Brunhilde, in 1985. Cobb established the Nebelung breed from these siblings. The breed name is taken from the German word 'Nebel' (mist), referencing the silvery-blue colour and the German medieval epic Nibelungenlied — whose heroes share the cats' names.
Recognition
TICA recognized the Nebelung in 1987. The TICA standard mirrors the Russian Blue standard in all points except coat length, which is long and silky. CFA, GCCF, and FIFe have not published separate Nebelung standards as of the mid-2020s. The breed is primarily shown in North America and through TICA-affiliated bodies.
Standard
The TICA standard describes a long, fine-boned, elegant cat with a long body, long legs, and a long tail. The head is a modified wedge with a flat skull and vivid green eyes — as vivid and intense as the Russian Blue's. The coat is medium-long, fine, and silky, with a dense undercoat. The silver-tipped blue guard hairs produce the same silvery sheen as the Russian Blue's short coat. The only recognized colour is blue (blue-grey); no other colour is accepted. The Nebelung is sometimes described as a long-haired Russian Blue, though the two breeds are maintained as distinct by TICA.
Sources & further reading (3)
- tica-standard — accessed 2026-04-30
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-04-30
- breed-club — accessed 2026-04-30
Frequently asked questions
Is the Nebelung a long-haired Russian Blue?
The Nebelung shares the Russian Blue's blue coat, vivid green eyes, and overall conformation, and TICA's Nebelung standard parallels the Russian Blue standard except for coat length. However, TICA maintains the two as distinct breeds. CFA treats long-haired Russian Blue kittens that appear in Russian Blue litters as variants rather than as Nebelungs, and does not recognize the Nebelung separately.
When was the Nebelung recognized?
TICA recognized the Nebelung in 1987. CFA, GCCF, and FIFe have not published separate Nebelung standards.
What does the name Nebelung mean?
Nebelung comes from the German word 'Nebel' (mist), referencing the breed's bluish-grey coat colour. The name also alludes to the Nibelungenlied, the medieval German epic, whose heroes Siegfried and Brunhilde share their names with the breed's two founding cats.
