Russian Blue

Like many other breeds, the Russian Blue was brought to England as a curiosity by far-ranging British seamen. From these small beginnings in the 1860s, the breed disseminated all over the western world but never in any large numbers. Despite its many sterling qualities, Russian Blues have one character trait that kept them from becoming more widespread.

They are notoriously reserved towards strangers and disruptions in their normal routine. This made them very poor raw material for the chaotic cat show venues that popularized various types of felines. Being nervous and skittish in such a public space discouraged many breeders from taking to the Russian Blue as a potential breeding or cross-breeding candidate.

See all of our expert product reviews.

They ended up missing a lot since the Russian Blue has many unique qualities in its mix of attributes. The most interesting of these is the eye color. Kittens have yellow eyes. As they reach adolescence, this yellow color becomes constricted by a ring of green, which gradually takes over until the cat’s eyes are fully green at maturity.

As with other British-centric cat breeds, the Russian Blue was badly depleted by World War II and only recovered very slowly thereafter. Breeders at first crossed it with some of its Siamese and European cousins, then later worked hard to breed these same introduced characteristics back out so that the breed could revert closer to its original mix of specifications. The result is that modern Russian Blues are not entirely pure with regards to their progenitors from the White Sea in far northern Russia but very close.

Types of Russian Blue Cats

There are three types of Russian blue cats that came about as the breed was exported and then developed in some central locations. The types are:

• The American Type – The American Russian Blue cat has a wedge-shaped, triangular head with a broad forehead. It most closely resembles the original breed.
• The British Type – In Great Britain, the Russian blue cat was cross-bred with their British Blue cats as well as the Bluepoint Siamese, resulting in a thicker, stockier type.
• The Scandinavian Type – In Sweden, Finland, and Denmark, Russian blue cats were cross-bred with Siamese cats, resulting in slightly longer and angular cats.

Breed History

The origin of the Russian blue cat is unknown as it was a naturally occurring breed, but evidence points to it originating in Russia. While some believe these cats descended from the pets of Russian czars, others think they lived in the wild and were hunted for their beautifully colored, thick fur coats.

In the 1860s, Russian sailors are said to have carried these cats aboard their ships as pets, especially in the port city of Arkhangelsk. Russian Blue cats received the nickname “Archangel Blues” after the name of that Russian city, which translates to “Archangel.” It’s accepted that these sailors helped to spread this unique breed throughout Europe.

Health and Entertainment for your Russian Blue

See all of our expert product reviews.

Russian blues were in the U.K. by 1875, appearing at the Crystal Palace in London, and earning the admiration of many. By 1912, they were recognized as a breed in the United States, where they had also been exported to and made a lasting impression.

Traits: What To Know Before You Buy

Russian Blue cats are homebodies. They are not at all fond of new experiences and people. It is common for them to hide when strangers come to call, allegedly as a survival reflex from the distant ages when they were hunted for their luxuriously thick fur coats.

They are also very fastidious and do not like anything except the most pristine cat box to do their business in. They are also well known for being friendly to their family group but having definite preferences towards an individual to whom they show special favor.

Personality

A very intelligent member of the feline family, Russian Blues love to play fetch and are both inquisitive and dexterous enough to get into things. This is balanced, however, by their ability to grasp that they are not wanted on some surfaces, and they will refrain from violating those boundaries once they understand what they are.

They are excellent cats when it comes to being left home alone, where they will simply sack out. They will quietly wait for everyone to come home rather than tearing things up out of sheer boredom or manic worry over being abandoned.

Boundaries are a two-way street to a Russian Blue. They will not do things you do not want them to do, but the things you do for them are expected to be done in a timely and routine manner. If dinner is late, they will let you hear about it. They love to talk and will communicate their needs and desires to you.

Russian Blues are also noted for the permanent smile inherent in the way in which their jawline is drawn. Although not a personality trait, it matches their affectionate and loving disposition toward those they are familiar with.

Size And Weight

Thanks to their thick fur, Russian Blues appear larger and beefier than they actually are. They are svelte, medium-sized males weighing around 10-12 pounds and females at 7-10 pounds.

Price

A Russian Blue can be had as a rescue cat for a very affordable price, but the breed’s rarity can reduce the number of them available for adoption. With regard to the price of a purebred kitten, the neutered pet price can start at around $400, while the price of a pedigreed kitten can start at around $800. The most notable feature of this breed’s exceptional adult cat is its eyes’ incredibly green color, which is more of a shamrock green than a cat’s eye green. For those kittens likely to produce this particular trait, the price can go up to $2500 and beyond.

Kittens

Russian Blue kittens exhibit several distinctive features that set them off from their parents and other breeds. Adult Russian Blues are a short-haired breed that has no striping of any sort on it. Yet their kittens may sometimes have some dark striping on their coats which fades away as they age.

The kitten has very distinctive yellow eyes, which is an easy way to distinguish this breed from other similarly-colored cats. As they grow older, they acquire a green rim around the yellow center. This eventually bleeds over until the entire eye is green.

Lifespan

Due to their very cautious nature and their excellent health, this is an extremely long-lived cat. The normal longevity range is up in the 15-20 year range. Even 25 years is not particularly uncommon for a well-cared-for member of the breed.

Coat

The Russian Blue is a cat with a solid color coat. This ranges anywhere from a darker grey to a more desirable light grey or silver color.

Although a short-haired breed, the coat of a Russian Blue is of exceptionally fine quality and thickness. It is a hallmark of the breed that one can trace patterns in their fur which will remain until taken away by grooming it back out again.

There are no other colors than grey or silver for the cat. It may show some tabby-style ghost markings as a kitten but these will fade away in adulthood, leaving a coat with no stripes visible at all.

1. Hill's Pet, Available here: https://www.hillspet.com/cat-care/cat-breeds/russian-blue
2. Pet MD, Available here: https://www.petmd.com/cat/breeds/c_ct_russian_blue
3. All About Cats, Available here: https://allaboutcats.com/cat-breeds/russian-blue
4. Petfinder, Available here: https://www.petfinder.com/cat-breeds/russian-blue/