Nebelung.

Nebelung. Nebelung, longhaired version of the Russian Blue breed of cat. The fur of the medium blue nebelung is tipped with silver, giving the animal a luminous, misty sheen. Its name is derived from this effect--in German, nebelung means "creature of the mist." The nebelung male is larger than the female. Each has a long, slender body with lithe muscles. The long legs make this cat appear to be walking on tiptoe. The shoulders are broad, and the long neck supports a wedge-shaped head. The medium-sized muzzle ends with a straight nose, and the corners of the mouth turn upward slightly, giving the cat a smiling expression. Large, green eyes are slightly oval in shape. Large, pointed ears, as wide at the base as they are high, sit as much on the top of the head as on the side. The long, straight tail has a thick base and tapers to a slender tip. A dense fur coat makes the nebelung appear chunkier than its actual size. The medium-to-long fur is soft and silky, and long, fluffy hair grows on the tail. Several, but not all, cat associations recognize the nebelung. Breeding programs have been started in Europe and Russia, in addition to the United States. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.