Elegance with a history. Blue cats have been known in Russia and Northern Scandinavia since the VIIIth century. The first celebrity of the breed was "Vadka", the Russian Tsar’s favorite cat in 1850. Following him, in the coming decades, these beautiful cats appeared in many royal, imperial and princely courts of Europe. In 1902 the Queen Victoria was offered a couple of "Russian cats".  And they conquered the hearts of the English aristocracy.

It was thank to the devotion of the English breeders that despite of its rarity, the breed did not become extinct during the Second World War.

Sophisticated charm. Physically the Russian Blue is very distinctive. It is a slim and graceful cat with long, fine legs, long tail and an elegant silhouette. It has a harmonious body frame; more muscular than the typical Oriental Siamese cats. Its gait and movements resemble that of the wild African cats.

The coat is short and very dense, in uniform blue-grey color. It is velvety soft and unparalleled in touch compared to the coat of any other cat. This makes for a very pleasant ‘feel’ when petting the Russian Blue.

The paw pads are mauve colored instead of the usual grey pads of most cats.

It is the eyes that stand out most in the Russian Blue. The eyes are vibrant green and spaced wide on the face. The face itself is wedge shaped and is accented by large, wide-based ears.

Due to its specific double coat, the Russian Blue cat is registered as a hypoallergenic breed, meaning that it is better tolerated by people with light to medium allergies. This breed produces less Fel d1 glykoprotein, one of the sources of allergic reactions. Thick fur also keeps the majority of allergens close to the skin.

The typology of the breed. Several types developed in the history of the breed:

- English type (standard GCCF). Stronger body structure, closer set ears and a moderately active temperament.

- Siberian / Scandinavian type. Coat in darker shades of grey.  Extremely shy.

- American type (standard TICA / CFA). Very small and slender, with a clear silver coat. Very widely set ears and round, big eyes. The least shy.

- European type (standard FIFe). Harmonious silhouette, medium sized ears - large but not placed on the sides of the head. Almond-shaped eyes. Medium blue colour. Character described as intermediate between the above types.

In addition to these rigidly defined categories, the Russian Blue cat comes in mixture of the above types, which is desirable for its genotype.

Blue happiness. Russian Blue cats have been regarded as the symbol of happiness and at the Tsar's court they were placed in baby chambers to expel evil spirits. Undoubtedly, this was due to the mild, warm nature of these cats who faithfully accompanied their owners and were famous for their ability to read human emotions.

The nature of the Russian blue is defined as quiet, shy and highly intelligent. They build extremely strong bonds with their carers and they are very devoted. Strangers, however, do not enjoy their great esteem - with their innate gentleness they rather tolerate than enjoy the company of those who they do not know. They gracefully run away when bothered with too much attention. They do not like noise and nervousness.

Cats of this breed are full of joy and desire to play with their family - their human or feline companion. They know how to fetch and they bring their favorite toys to bed with them.

Though unobtrusive, they are very sensitive and loving. They miss their family and suffer when left alone at home. Therefore, people working most of the day outside their house should consider having two cats. Although their human friend remains the most  important for them, Russian Blue cats would love a company of another cat. It is also a joy for the owners to witness how they play together and how they show their affection to each other.

Health

The breed is a natural breed, which means that it occurs in nature and was not cross-bred by a man. Accordingly, it is also known as strong and healthy, having no identified genetic diseases or handicaps. The average age for this breed is determined for 15 years, although a 20-year old Russian Blue is not uncommon.

author: Lucie Miara, LL.M, Holistic Breeder,

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