Cat Breeds: Russian Blue

  The Russian Blue's name tells a lot about it - it is a breed of cat from Russia with a distinctive blue coat. Here is a breed profile of this intelligent and loving cat. The Russian Blue is a shorthaired domestic cat breed that originated in Russia and is known for its distinctive blue coat. These cats are much sought after as companion pets for their playful and intelligent nature.

Breed history
The Russian Blue is a breed that occurred naturally and was first mentioned around the port of Arkhangelsk, giving them their alternative name the Archangel Blues. It is thought that sailors were responsible for spreading the breed around the world, taking them to Northern Europe and the UK in the 1860s. The first mention of them outside Russia was in the Crystal Palace cat show of 1875 when they began competing against other cats of blue colouring until they were given their own class in 1912.

The breed was then worked on in Scandinavia and England until after the Second World War. Due to the lack of numbers, cross breeding with Siamese was needed to keep the breed strong. It also made an increasing appearance in the US after the war and these cats were combined with their Scandinavian cousins to create the breed we know today. The modern breed has almost no Siamese traits but their blue colour can often occur in cross breed cats.

Description
Russian Blues are shorthaired cats that normally have bright green eyes and have been the basis for a number of other breeds including the Havana Brown and to alter other breeds such as the Nebelung. Variations have also been developed including the Russian White and the Russian Black, the former developed in the UK in the 1960s and the latter in Australia in the 1970s. These two breeds are now accepted by some cat registries in Australia and South Africa.

The blue grey colour of the coat is actually a dilute version of the black coat of many cats but are recessive so parents with two sets of the genes will always produce a blue cat. Their coat is a double layer with a soft and downy undercoat and guard hairs of an equal length with silvery tips. There is sometimes very faint stripes on the tail. The coat is unique to this and the French Chartreux breed of cat and the silver tips give a shimmering appearance.

Russian Blues are a distinct breed from the British Blue – the latter is a type of the British Shorthair that has a blue coat while the Russian Blue is a breed in its own right. Nor is it related to either the Chartreux or the Korat, the two other blue cats.

Personality
Breeders of the Russian Blue say that they are very intelligent and curious cats who are friendly and affectionate with their owners but somewhat shy of strangers. They can learn tricks such as fetching a ball and love to play with toys, especially when with their humans. They develop a strong bond with their owners and are very sensitive to their emotions. Generally, these cats live well with both children and other animals and are quiet compared with some breeds. They are also very adept hunters, catching small mammals and birds if given the opportunity.