Mary Allen
The Russian Blue is small to a medium-sized domestic cat with short, plush hair. As the name suggests, the coat color is always blue or blue-gray. Your name suggests Russian ancestry.
Origin and Breed History
According to legend, it is said to come from the city of Arkhangelsk in northern Russia. From there it is said to have been imported to England by sailors as early as 1850. But there is no solid evidence for this legend. One thing is certain: the Russian Blue comes at least to a large extent from the large pool of blue shorthair cats, as does the British Shorthair in its blue form, British Blue, and the Carthusian cat.
There have always been breeders eager to shape their own specifics. This is how the Russian Blue was created starting in the 1930s and establishing itself as an independent pedigree cat after the Second World War. The Russian Blue was officially recognized by the Fédération Internationale Féline in 1949. In the meantime, three lines of Russian blue have developed in the breeding process: The English type, which is stronger with a medium blue coat color, the Siberian / Scandinavian type, which is slightly smaller and shows a much darker coat, and the American type. The American-type Russian blue is said to be the most elegant and shows a very light coat. From the point of view of the health of this cat breed, however, a division into three lines is to be regarded as problematic.
Description
The Russian Blue is small to the medium-sized pedigree cat. She has a slim, long build. It should appear graceful, the legs fine and high, the neck long and straight. Size and weight will vary greatly depending on the type or line in which she was bred. Hangovers weigh 3 to 6 kilograms, cats 2.5 to 4 kilograms. It has a double coat, standing up like a plush, soft, and silky. This is what the standard demands. Only shades of blue are allowed as colors, but all of them. These can range from a light to a dark blue-gray. In any case, the fur must be of a single color. The eyes should be very big. The eye color of the Russian blue is green, ideally lively and emerald colored. Your ears should be large and pointed. The tail should be quite long and pointed.
Temperament and Essence
The adult Russian Blue is a very balanced, calm cat. She can develop a close bond here. She is a real family cat. Russian blue like to move around in nature, but their urge to do so is not so strongly developed. But she really likes to play. Suitable cat toys such as a game rod or a feather stick are a must. She is very cuddly and you especially like to stroke and cuddle her just because of her lovely appearance and her fluffy fur. She likes that too. Russian Blue are sociable and get on well with other animal housemates – provided that both sides have had the chance to get used to each other.
Attitude
The Russian Blue is a calm house cat. It is very suitable for the home. The Russian Blue doesn’t have to be outdoors to feel good. She is intelligent and watches her surroundings closely. The otherwise calm Russian Blue amazes at its great jumping ability. So she can easily open the handle of a door. You have to keep that in mind when keeping them. Otherwise, it is undemanding and frugal with regard to its keeping conditions. But she needs an intimate relationship with her two-legged friends. She loves the common experience with people or the animal partners in her family.
Upbringing
The Russian Blue is easy to train. Sometimes quite stormy and cheeky in youth, it becomes much calmer after a year. If she comes from a reputable breeder who has looked after and socialized parent animals and puppies well, she will fit into the rules and habits of her family by herself. With a little guidance, she can be house-trained quickly and easily.
Care and Health
Grooming
The fur of the Russian Blue only needs to be brushed from time to time. With a little feeling and skill, brushing fur can be turned into a ritual of social bonding that is emotionally good for cats and people alike.
Diseases Typical of the Breed
Inbreeding is a big problem. The rather small gene pool of the Russian Blue becomes even smaller due to the further divided into three types (the English, Siberian / Scandinavian, and American type). Further hereditary diseases typical in pedigree cats can also occur in the Russian blue.
Nutrition / Feed
The Russian Blue is usually a problem-free border for a cat. Due to inbreeding, dietary nutrition may be necessary.
Life Expectancy
A Russian Blue can live to be 12 years old. Inbreeding drastically shortens life expectancy.
Buy Russian Blue
If you want to get a Russian Blue, you can first look around in animal shelters. At the breeder’s site, you should make sure that parent animals and puppies grow up in good circumstances, especially with a close social connection to the human family. You should look at the family tree. No ancestor should appear twice here in order to rule out excessive inbreeding. Both parents should definitely be tested negative for the hereditary diseases common in pedigree cats. Reputable breeders indicate this on their own in their advertisements. Of course, the kittens should be vaccinated, dewormed, and chipped several times. A seriously bred Russian Blue puppy should cost around 700 euros.