Russian Blue cat breed: the elegant kitty whose love must be earned

The Russian Blue cat is an intelligent, loving and loyal kitty while maintaining its independence. Its appearance is extremely elegant and aristocratic. This breed only lets someone really close to them who is truly worthy of it.

The Russian Blue‘s shiny, velvety, silver-blue fur and bright green eyes immediately draw attention to this beautiful kitten. But their intelligent and playful disposition makes the breed a perfect pet that can thrive in most households.

History

Its exact origin fades into the mists of time, however, according to the most accepted theory, it appeared in the Russian port of Arkhangelsk, formed naturally, and reached England with the help of cargo ships. The sailors were happy to see these cats on board, as they proved to be very effective against the proliferating rodents. According to some sources, Tsar Michael I also noticed the cat’s beauty, which is how the breed came to the St. Petersburg court. But it is believed that Queen Victoria also had such a favorite. At first, the Russian Blue cat was called several names. It was called Archangel Blues, Foreign Blues, or Maltese Cats.

The breed was admired by many for its special beauty, but some also hunted it for its fur. It was already featured in one of the world’s first cat exhibitions in London in 1875, but it was only in 1912 that it was officially separated from other blue cats.

Since there were very few of them after the World War II, they were at one time crossed with other breeds such as Siamese and blue British Shorthairs in Great Britain. As a result, the Russian Blue lost the blue color of its fur and the emerald green color of its eyes. The situation has since been settled, and although even today it is sometimes difficult for an owner to-be to get hold of such a kitten, thanks to careful breeding, the Russian Blue has regained its original form.

Breed standard

The body of the Russian Blue cat is slender, graceful and supple. Its body structure is proportionate, its bones are fine. Its medium-sized body weighs about 2.5-5 kg. The head is short, wedge-shaped, the skull roof is flat, and the chin is pronounced. The ears are large, the ends are slightly rounded. Its eyes are almond-shaped, large, emerald green in color. The hind legs are longer than the front ones. Its limbs are long and thin, its paws are small and oval-shaped. Its special double-layered coat is thick, dense, short, shiny, flexible and slightly detached from the body. The Russian Blue’s colour is silvery blue, but sometimes there are also black and white variations. Its expected lifespan is 15-20 years.

Character

The Russian Blue is curious but calm, affectionate but not overly so, and very smart. At first it is difficult for it to settle, but once it is comfortable, it is playful and affectionate. Very sensitive to its owner’s mood, the Russian Blue greets you at the door, then finds a quiet place next to you, or even happily plays with you. In fact, one of its favourite pastimes is fetching!

A relatively quiet kitty (except maybe during meals) who appreciates petting and a window to watch the birds. Some consider its character to be shy or reserved, but the Russian Blue is very affectionate towards its owner, it just doesn’t easily share its love with strangers. It likes to carefully assess every situation, it is a thoughtful and careful cat. Sophisticated, elegant character, who, when settled, becomes devoted and affectionate. It entertains its owner with a good sense of humor and skill. Just make sure you laugh with it, not at it, because it has a strong self-esteem and does not like to be mocked. If you take the time to develop a relationship with a Russian Blue, you will be rewarded with a deep bond.

Ideal environment

This breed tolerates being alone relatively well, it is a really independent cat. It is important for it to have a quiet place to retreat. While the Russian Blue loves company, it can entertain itself during the day while its owner is at work. Unlike some active, intelligent breeds, it moves around the house not destructively, but with the lithe grace of a Russian ballerina.

It is a cat that thrives best in a quiet, stable environment. It does not like change, and it is especially important for it that the feeding time is observed exactly. Their future owner should expect them to be a faithful alarm clock in the morning.

Although happy in a family environment and even with other pets, the Russian Blue usually forms a deep bond with just one person. Once it bonds with someone, it’ll be very sensitive to their emotions – if you’re sad, don’t be surprised if the Russian Blue pats your face to cheer you up! It is tolerant of children if they treat it with kindness and respect. It even tolerates clumsy caresses from toddlers, as if it recognizes that they mean no harm. If its necessary, it walks away or climbs out of reach to avoid discomfort. However, the patient and gentle Russian Blue should always be protected from rough treatment, so always supervise small children when they want to pet the cat. The breed can also be kept with dogs, as long as they do not chase the peaceful, sophisticated cat.

Care

Its care does not require much effort, it is enough to comb its thick coat once or twice a week. The Russian Blue is extremely picky about a dirty litter tray, so try to keep it as clean as possible at all times. The cleanliness of the ears should be checked weekly. If they look dirty, wipe them with a cotton ball or a soft, damp cloth moistened with a 50-50 mixture of apple cider vinegar and warm water. Its claws should be cut if they grow too long, and its teeth should also be cleaned regularly. You should wipe its eyes from time to time with a soft, wet cloth. To avoid possible infections, use a separate area of the cloth for each eye.

Common health problems

Since this breed is especially loves its belly, it is worth paying more attention to the amount of its food, and snacking during the day should be avoided. The Russian Blue is a particularly healthy animal, obesity is the biggest threat to its health.

(Literature used: János Szinák – István Veress: Cat Guide, Jean-Luc Renck: The Cat, Laura Aceti – Viola Autieri: Our Best Friend, the Cat)