An adult male Chartreux is muscular and robust, with medium proportions. The legs have strong muscles but may appear thin compared to the rest of the body. The feet are round, and the pads are blue-gray. The female Chartreux is typically smaller and narrower in the chest. When viewed from the front, the head of a Chartreux resembles an inverted trapezoid with rounded edges, especially in males. The nose is slate gray, and the jaw is powerful, often with chubby cheeks. The facial structure gives the breed a characteristic smile, leading to the nickname "the smile of the cat of France." The chin is firm, and the ears are medium-sized, set high on the head, and slightly rounded. The eyes of a Chartreux are round, large, and expressive.
The coat of the Chartreux is shiny and dense, resembling that of an otter. The color of the coat can vary from yellow to orange, but the only acceptable color in the breed standard is blue in all shades from blue-gray to gray-blue. The coat must be uniform in color from the tip of the hair to the roots.
