Cobb mated Siegfried and Brunhilde, and their first litter was born in 1986. The offspring of Siegfried and Brunhilde were eventually out-crossed to natural Russian Blues in order to replicate the Russian Blue type. Although the Nebelung is sometimes called a long haired Russian Blue, it is actually a different breed, as the Russian Blue does not produce longhaired offspring. The Nebelung will produce both longhair and shorthair offspring in the same litter.
The breed was officially recognised by The International Cat Association (TICA) in 1987 under the 'new breeds' category, and achieved full recognition as a Championship breed in 1997. They are not recognised as a breed in the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), in North America. The Nebelung is recognised by many smaller cat registries/associations throughout Europe and also the World Cat Federation (WCF), as they mimic the natural, long established Russian Blue except for coat length.
Nebelung in German means 'creature of the mist'. These cats are judged in TICA on the same standard as a Russian Blue with the exception of their coat, which is mid-length with a dense plumy tail. They have green eyes, and their fur must be 'blue' tipped with silver. When Nebelung kittens are born, they have blue eyes, but their eyes change to a yellowish colour before they reach the full intensity green
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