Russian Blue

Russian Blue
Russian Blue cat Russian Blue, male, 1 year old
Country of origin
Russia
Breed standards (external links)
AACE, CFA, ACFA, TICA, CCA, ACF, FIFe, GCCF
Notes
The ACF and GCCF also recognize Russians in white and black, however the CFA does not.

The Russian Blue is a type or breed of cat that has a very unique coat that is a silver blue. These cats are known to be highly intelligent and playful but tend to be timid around strangers. They also develop close bonds with their human companions and are highly sought after due to their personalities and unique coat. The Russian Blue is also believed to be Hypoallergenic.

Origin

Unlike so many modern cat breeds, the Russian Blue is a naturally occurring breed which is believed to have originated in the port of Arkhangelsk, Russia, although the evidence for this is purely anecdotal. They are also sometimes called Archangel Blues. It is believed that the first Russian Blue's were first brought from the Archangel Isles to England and Northern Europe in the 1860s by sailors. The first recorded showing of the breed was in 1875 at the Crystal Palace in England as the Archangel Cat. The Russian Blue competed in a class including all other blue cats, until 1912, when it was given its own class.

The breed was developed mainly in England and Scandinavia until after World War II. During and following World War II, due to a lack of numbers of Russian Blues, some people started cross breeding it with the Siamese. Although the breed was in America before the war, it wasn't until after World War II that American Breeders created what is known as the modern Russian Blue that we see today. This was done by combining the bloodlines of both the Scandinavian and English Russian Blue's. The Siamese traits have now been largely bred out.

Although they have been used on a limited basis to create other breeds (such as the Havana Brown) or add type to a breed in creation (the Nebelung), Russian Blues themselves are short-haired, blue-grey cats.

During the early 1970s, Mavis Jones a woman who breeds Russian Blues in Australia, mated a domestic white cat with a Russian Blue with the intent to create a solid white Russian Blue (called the Russian White). By the late 1970s, the Russian White and Russian Black colors were accepted by cat fanciers in Australia as Russian cats. However, Cat Fanciers Association, does not recognize either variations of the Russian Blue.

Physical characteristics

The Russian Blue has a lean medium-sized body and a short, plush, blue-grey coat. The color is a bluish-grey that is the dilute expression of the black gene. The coat is unique to the breed as it is a double coat, with the undercoat being soft and downy, and the longer guard hairs an even blue with silver tips. The tips give the coat a shimmering appearance. Its eyes are almost always a dark and vivid green. Unique characteristics include yellow eyes, white patches on the underside and dark banding on the tail. The Russian Blue has been known by breeders and owners to be Hypoallergenic, however no scientific data has verified this.

Russian Blues should not be confused with British Blues (which are not a distinct breed but rather a British Shorthair with a blue coat), nor the Chartreux or Korat which are two other naturally occurring breeds of blue cats, although they have astoundingly similar traits.

Behavioral characteristics

The Russian Blue is known for being very intelligent and active animals. They have been known to open doors/windows, play fetch, and are sensitive to basic human emotions. They enjoy playing with a variety of toys and develop extremely loyal bonds to their loved ones. The Russian Blue is also known for getting along very well with other pets and children in a household. They are known also for being quiet and clean animals that are normally shy around strangers, unless they are brought up in an very active household. The males are known to be more active and outgoing then the females according to many breeders.

External links

• Russian Blues - Collaborative efforts of breeders in US and Japan
• Russianblue.org
• CFA Russian Blue Breed Council
• Russian Blue Breeder List

References and Sources

• CFA Breed Profile
• FAQ's about the Breed