Russian Blue

Russian Blue

This breed probably originated in the Russian port city of Archangel and was brought into Great Britain in the late 1800s aboard a Russian merchant ship. Similar cats are still found in that region today. But there remains confusion about the Russian Blue because of the many aliases it has traveled under. At first, it was known as the Archangel Blue.

The current name took hold in the 1940s. At various times the cat has also been known as the Maltese and the Spanish Blue. The Russian Blue is very quiet and shy and does best when living with people that share these traits. It is ever-eager to show its affection and to please its owners. The indoor life is preferred, and although the cat’s ancestry comes from a cold climate, it will seek warm spots in the house and spend many winter hours there.

A white variety was produced for a time in Great Britain but dropped from most breeding efforts due to a lack of interest. It is now very rare.

The fur of the Russian Blue is like that of the plush-covered toy. A heavy undercoat gives the fur the sheen of mink. Color ranges through all grey shades, although a blue-grey color is what originally gave theca its current name.

The body is long, slender, and muscular, with a long tail. The legs are thin, with small, round paws. The hind legs are slightly longer than the forelegs. The heads are egg-shaped with a medium nose, well-developed muzzle, and medium-sized, oval eyes. The ears are large and rounded at the tips, with skin that is almost transparent.

Regular brushing is recommended, and the hair should be brushed so that it remains upright and does not flatten. The Russian Blue needs a varied diet including meat, giblets, and cooked vegetables.

As this breed tends to deteriorate quickly, top-quality specimens are generally produced only by two pure parents. Both sexes are excellent feline parents.

Common standard faults are a head that is too wide, white hairs or spots, and overweight.

See more: Abyssinian Cat