Russian Blue Cat Breed

This breed belongs to an old, beautiful and comparatively rare breed that has enjoyed limited popularity during the last 90 years. Russian Blues probably originated in Russia and were first called "Archangel Blues" after the Russian port from which they were first brought to Britain, perhaps as early as 1600s. They were exhibited at the early cat shows in the same class as the Blue British Shorthair, but later were grouped separately. First registered in the United States in 1900, black and white forms have been developed in recent years, mainly in Australia and New Zealand. These cats were also found in the Scandinavian countries, where a few still flourish. However, cats with blue fur have also been called Spanish, Maltese, or American cats.

In type, Russian Blue cats are quite different from the British Blue, having longer, thinner bodies, long and narrow tails, green eyes, slender legs, small oval feet and prominent whisker pads. The coat is very short, silky and of medium-blue shade. Special distinguished features of the Russian Blue are their prominent whisker pads; they stand out like pincushions and are very distinctive. The true Russian Blue cat should have large, thinly-furred ears. Another feature is their small, silvery feet.

The Russian Blue has much to recommend it. It is an easy cat to manage, it has a "small" voice and it is not usually demanding. The breed is quiet and clean and has a good constitution. It is rather shy, home-loving and affectionate, and will walk on a leash. Despite a superficial resemblance, there is no reason to confuse it with the Blue Burmese, as the type, color of the eyes and texture of the coat are quite differenet.

Russian Blues are not prolific breeders, the average number of kittens in a litter being 3 to 4. Queens usually have their kittens without trouble, and they are good mothers. The kittens are very sweet, but these cats should live in quiet homes as they respond most readily to gentle and soft-voiced people, and are seen at their best in such surroundings. The males are bigger than females; when type is good they are handsome and elegant cats and can be extremely companionable pets when neutered. The Russian Blue is considered by many fanciers to be the perfect indoor cat and one of the least destructive one. It makes an elegant companion but it is not suited to active family life. Being a little shy, it does not cope very well with change. The Russian Blue requires minimum grooming. Some breeders say the coat looks best if it is never brushed or combed at all.

Fur Colors and Patterns

The traditional Russian Blue is a blue cat with a silvery sheen to its coat. The fur of the Russian Blue has a unique, seallike texture. The nose and paws are also blue, except in the case of kittens.

The influence of the Siamese in keeping the Russian Blue going as a breed would lead you to suspect that the Russian has inherited a great many character traits from its Oriental relatives, but it is not true. The temperament of the Russian Blue is unlike that of any other cat. Although they sometimes can be very playful and will remain so until they are quite old, they are essentially quiet by nature.

Russian Blues like their comforts and will happily spend hours lying in the same place. preferably on a lap belonging to a member of the family. Most Russian Blues hate noise and fuss, and they can find life exceedingly trying in a house with small children. They will usually disappear if there are visitors and they do not appreciate being stroked or picked up by strangers. They are highly unlikely to lash out with their claws— they are far too gentle for that.

Russian Blue Breeders Cossack Blues (USA) www.cossackblues.com HeatherWynd (USA) www.heatherwynd.com/rb_cats/index.html Rubanthom Cattery (USA) www.geocities.com/rubanthom CzarCatz (USA) www.czarcatz.com The Russian Blues of Petergof (USA) www.petergofblues.com Kiksant Azules Rusos (Spain) www.kiksant-russianblue.com Blue Wind (Italy) www.bluewindcattery.it Blue Lighthouse (Italy) www.bluelighthouse.it Leoni Alati (Italy) www.geocities.com/leonialati2007/

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