Russian Blues 101

Ancestry: Russian domestic cats
Place of Origin: Russia
Size: Small to medium
Coat Length: Short hair, not hypoallergenic, they do shed
Body Type: Fine-boned
Grooming Requirement: Combing - infrequently
Talkativeness: Generally quiet unless encouraged
Activity Level: Average to somewhat active
Affection: Very affectionate with people they know
Usually Good With: Adults, seniors, and children (8+)
Time Alone: 8-10 hours per day
Attention: Needs average attention

History
The Russian Blue’s origins are based largely on conjecture and legend. The tale most commonly told is that Russian Blues originated in northern Russia and were Russian ship cats with the job of eradicating rodents. In the 1860s, Russian Blues arrived in Great Britain on merchant vessels from the port city of Archangelsk.  This is the reason the breed was once called the Archangel Blue.  According to fanciers, similar cats can be found today in the colder regions of Russia.

The documented history of the breed began in the late 1800s in Great Britain. Russian Blues were first shown in 1875 at London’s Crystal Palace in under the name Archangel Cat. A newspaper writer of the time dubbed the breed "a very handsome cat, coming from Archangel . . . particularly furry.  They resemble mostly the common wild gray rabbit."

Finally in 1912, the British registry GCCF recognized the Russian Blue as a separate breed and granted it a class of its own, described as "Blue Foreign type." Interest in the breed rekindled and the Russian Blue made good progress until World War II, when the breed nearly ceased to exist, as did many other breeds in Europe. During the war, few British fanciers had enough resources to preserve their breeds.

After the war, independent groups of breeders in Britain, Sweden, Finland and Denmark worked to bring the Blue back from the brink. Since so few purebred Russian Blues remained, they accomplished this by crossbreeding. In Britain, the remaining Russian Blues were crossed with blue point Siamese and British Blues. In the Scandinavian countries, breeders crossed blue cats from Finland with Siamese in an attempt to recreate the breed. Because of this, the coat, body and head type varied, sometimes vastly, depending upon the breeders and where they lived.

The first Russian Blues arrived in America in the early 1900s, but it wasn’t until after World War II that recorded breeding programs began there. British and Swedish breeders provided much of the foundation stock. In 1949, CFA accepted the Russian Blue for registration. However, the breed didn’t catch on immediately because of inconsistency in the breeding cats.  In the 1960s, to achieve a consistent body, head and coat type, breeders shared their lines and worked together to combine the plush, silver-tipped pale blue coats and refined boning of the British bloodlines with the emerald green eyes, attractive head type and elegant bodies of the Scandinavian bloodlines.

All North American cat associations now accept the breed for championship competition. Even though its numbers are still relatively small, the Russian Blue has a loyal following and does well in shows. The comparatively small group of North American Russian Blue breeders is close-knit and possessive of their breed and are dedicated to protecting the breed they’ve worked so hard to perfect.

Personality
Intelligent and devoted, often with sweet, quiet voices, Russian Blues are gentle, considerate cats. They are not as clingy as are some breeds but they do like to hang out with their people and will take an active interest in anything you are doing.

It takes some time to develop a relationship with a Russian Blue. Shy with strangers; visitors tend to see only a blue streak going by. Blues don't quickly give their trust and affection. You must earn it, but the extra effort is extremely well rewarded. Once a Russian Blue learns you can be trusted and accepts you as his family, you'll have a constant, faithful companion, unobtrusive but ever-present, one who will give you all of his devotion and love.

This reservation around unfamiliar humans is a sign of their extreme intelligence, say fanciers; Blues know better than to talk to strangers. Around friends they are playful, self-assured and loads of fun to watch, particularly as kittens.  And they remain playful throughout their lives. Moderately active, Russian Blues love interactive toys best (flying feathery toys are favorites), but Blues will happily entertain themselves by pouncing on catnip mice or merely gazing out sunny windows if their preferred people aren't available to join the fun. A variety of toys will keep them from getting bored. If you spend a lot of time away from home, a compatible cat companion can keep your Russian from getting lonely.

They are athletic, too, and can usually be found perched on the highest point in the room. If that point is your shoulder, so much the better. Russian Blues are intelligent and relatively easy to train. Their intelligence can make them mischievousness at times; if they are on the "wrong" side of a closed door, they'll figure out how to get it open amazingly quickly. However, they understand the word "no" and if you treat them with love and consistency, they usually accommodate your reasonable requests.

Russian Blues travel very well in cars, perhaps due to their seafaring origins. They love to eat and some can become overweight if allowed to eat whenever they like. They are also particular about the cleanliness and placement of their litter box and will turn up their nose and find a secluded corner if the box isn’t up to their standards. They like consistency and quiet, which is one of the reasons this breed is recommended for households with no children or older ones. Even if your children are older, it's very important that they be taught how to handle these cats, or your Russian will hide under the bed when the kids want to play.

Adapting to new environments, people and animals (particularly large, boisterous, noisy dogs) requires time and patience. However, Blues can live peaceably with other cats and certain cat-friendly dogs; it depends a great deal on the temperament of the other animals and the human-assisted introduction process.

Health
Russian Blues are usually healthy, hardy, and long-lived cats with few health problems and no known breed-related inherited diseases. Russian Blue breeders have worked hard to keep the breed that way. That doesn't mean your Blue cannot develop illnesses or diseases to which all domestic cats are susceptible.  An annual checkup will help keep your Russian happy and healthy.  The average life expectancy for this breed is 16 years.

Russian Blue Breeders
Russian Blues are relatively rare, and many breeders maintain waiting lists. Blues usually have two to four kittens per litter. It's more important to find a good breeder than it is to find the first available kitten, since you want a breeder who is concerned with quality rather than quantity. Even if you have to wait a bit, it's worth it in the long run. Due to scarcity of quality Russian Blue kittens, "Kitten Mills" are abundant, supposedly offering registered Russians raised underfoot. A good rule of thumb is to ask when the breeder last exhibited a cat at a CFA show. The people running "Kitten Mills" never show their cats.

While all kittens need handling, Blues need more. It is important for any breeder to give the kittens lots of love, attention, and handling starting at a few days old, so they will grow into loving adults. Look for a breeder who raises the kittens "underfoot," and ask your chosen breeder how much handling and attention the kittens receive.

Appearance
The Russian Blue is a fine-boned, muscular cat known for its beautiful silver-tipped blue fur, dramatic emerald green eyes, and mysterious Mona Lisa smile. Combined with an elegant, refined body style, the Russian Blue is a strikingly beautiful breed.

The body is long, firm and muscular. The Blue is lithe and graceful in outline and carriage without being tubular in appearance. The legs are fine-boned and long, ending with small, slightly rounded paws. The tail is long but in proportion to the body and tapers from a moderately thick base. Adult males weigh 7 to 11 pounds; adult females weigh 5 to 8 pounds. No outcrosses are allowed.

The head is a smooth, medium wedge, neither long and tapering nor short and massive. The blunt muzzle is a smooth, flowing shape without prominent whisker pads, whisker pinches or whisker breaks. The upturned corners of the mouth form the unique smile. The top of the skull is long and flat in profile, gently descending to slightly above the eyes and continuing at a slight downward angle in a straight line to the tip of the nose. The medium length nose is without a break or stop. The face is broad across the eyes due to the wide-set eyes and the thick fur.

Their eyes are rounded and are a vivid green. The ears are rather large and wide at the base, with tips that are more pointed than rounded. They are set far apart, as much on the side as on the top of the head. The skin of the ears is thin and translucent, with little inside furnishings. The outside of the ear is scantily covered with short, very fine hair.

The short, double coat is dense and so plush that it stands out from the body. The texture is soft and silky, but it’s the silver-tipped blue color that catches the eye. The Russian Blue comes in one color only—blue (called gray outside the cat fancy). The blue is even and bright throughout, with lighter shades preferred. The guard hairs have silver tipping that reflects light, giving the coat a silvery sheen.