diff --git a/lib/cartopy/feature/__init__.py b/lib/cartopy/feature/__init__.py
index 9804f5c7..cc0c7ecf 100644
--- a/lib/cartopy/feature/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/cartopy/feature/__init__.py
@@ -258,21 +258,32 @@ class NaturalEarthFeature(Feature):
             Keyword arguments to be used when drawing this feature.
 
         """
-        super().__init__(cartopy.crs.PlateCarree(), **kwargs)
-        self.category = category
-        self.name = name
-
+        # Don't set CRS yet - we'll determine it from the data when loading
+        self._category = category
+        self._name = name
+        
         # Cast the given scale to a (constant) Scaler if a string is passed.
         if isinstance(scale, str):
             scale = Scaler(scale)
 
-        self.scaler = scale
+        self._scaler = scale
         # Make sure this is a valid resolution
         self._validate_scale()
+        
+        # Initialize CRS to None - will be set when geometries are loaded
+        super().__init__(None, **kwargs)
 
+    @property
+    def category(self):
+        return self._category
+
+    @property
+    def name(self):
+        return self._name
+        
     @property
     def scale(self):
-        return self.scaler.scale
+        return self._scaler.scale
 
     def _validate_scale(self):
         if self.scale not in ('110m', '50m', '10m'):
@@ -291,8 +302,13 @@ class NaturalEarthFeature(Feature):
             path = shapereader.natural_earth(resolution=self.scale,
                                              category=self.category,
                                              name=self.name)
-            geometries = tuple(shapereader.Reader(path).geometries())
+            reader = shapereader.Reader(path)
+            geometries = tuple(reader.geometries())
             _NATURAL_EARTH_GEOM_CACHE[key] = geometries
+            
+            # Set the CRS on this feature if available from the reader
+            if reader.crs is not None and self.crs is None:
+                self._crs = reader.crs
         else:
             geometries = _NATURAL_EARTH_GEOM_CACHE[key]
 
@@ -305,7 +321,7 @@ class NaturalEarthFeature(Feature):
         The extent is assumed to be in the CRS of the feature.
         If extent is None, the method returns all geometries for this dataset.
         """
-        self.scaler.scale_from_extent(extent)
+        self._scaler.scale_from_extent(extent)
         return super().intersecting_geometries(extent)
 
     def with_scale(self, new_scale):
@@ -320,7 +336,7 @@ class NaturalEarthFeature(Feature):
             respectively.
 
         """
-        return NaturalEarthFeature(self.category, self.name, new_scale,
+        return NaturalEarthFeature(self._category, self._name, new_scale,
                                    **self.kwargs)
 
 
diff --git a/lib/cartopy/io/shapereader.py b/lib/cartopy/io/shapereader.py
index 704b2924..c28783ce 100644
--- a/lib/cartopy/io/shapereader.py
+++ b/lib/cartopy/io/shapereader.py
@@ -142,6 +142,26 @@ class BasicReader:
                              "in '%s'." % filename)
 
         self._fields = self._reader.fields
+        # Try to get CRS from accompanying .prj file
+        self._crs = None
+        prj_path = Path(filename).with_suffix('.prj')
+        if prj_path.exists():
+            try:
+                import cartopy.crs as ccrs
+                import pyproj
+                with open(prj_path, 'r') as prj_file:
+                    wkt = prj_file.read()
+                if wkt.strip():
+                    geographic_crs = pyproj.CRS.from_wkt(wkt)
+                    self._crs = ccrs.Projection(geographic_crs)
+            except Exception:
+                # If we can't parse the CRS, leave it as None
+                pass
+
+    @property
+    def crs(self):
+        """The cartopy CRS for the geometries in this shapefile, or None if not available."""
+        return self._crs
 
     def close(self):
         return self._reader.close()
@@ -224,6 +244,19 @@ class FionaReader:
                      if feature['geometry'] else None}
                 d.update(feature['properties'])
                 self._data.append(d)
+        
+        # Store CRS from fiona collection
+        try:
+            import cartopy.crs as ccrs
+            import pyproj
+            if hasattr(f, 'crs') and f.crs is not None:
+                geographic_crs = pyproj.CRS.from_wkt(f.crs.wkt)
+                self._crs = ccrs.Projection(geographic_crs)
+            else:
+                self._crs = None
+        except Exception:
+            # If we can't get or parse the CRS, leave it as None
+            self._crs = None
 
     def close(self):
         # TODO: Keep the Fiona handle open until this is called.
@@ -259,6 +292,11 @@ class FionaReader:
                               {key: value for key, value in
                                item.items() if key != 'geometry'})
 
+    @property
+    def crs(self):
+        """The cartopy CRS for the geometries in this shapefile, or None if not available."""
+        return self._crs
+
 
 Reader = FionaReader if _HAS_FIONA else BasicReader
 """