The Russian Blue cat breed is named for their iconic coat, which is short, thick, and plush. They are highly intelligent, quite docile and loving to family. A medium sized cat, the Russian Blue can be up to 12 pounds in weight, and tends to have fairly good health.
There are two commonly recognized variants of Russian Blue, differentiated by their size and body type. The large and stocky European Russian Blue cat and the leaner, lithe American Russian Blue Cat
Never demanding, always attentive, loyal and kind, it is no wonder Russian Blue cats are steadily becoming better known and more popular all around the world!
The History
Just in case you aren’t already fascinated with the enigmatic Russian Blue cat breed, did you know their most famous nickname is “Archangel cat?”
This nickname arose not because of an otherworldly encounter, however, but because the first Russian Blue cats originated in the Russian port city of Archangel.
However, they were clearly born to travel. They quickly made their way to other areas around Europe, courtesy of sailors who doubtless gave them free passage in exchange for their services on the shipside “rat patrol.”
It is thought the first Russian Blue cats arrived in the U.K. around 1860.
Personality Traits
The Russian blue cat personality is equally as lovely as its appearance. These cats will become intensely bonded with their owners, often subtly following them around with what some owners describe as a sweet “smile” on their furry feline faces.
Some Russian Blue cat lovers even call this breed the “Mona Lisa” of cats for their enigmatic smiles.
Russian Blue cats are great “family cats” and can sometimes act more like people than felines – even learning to open and close doors on their own!
But they also love to play and jump and climb and just be a fun-loving cat.
The high intelligence of Russian Blue cats can sometimes manifest as shyness or extreme caution at first. But they are really just keen observers!
For this reason, your Russian Blue cat may not warm up to strangers (human or animal) instantly, but given a bit of time and patience, these sweet cats will welcome new pets and people into their life fully.
Temperament
While your Russian Blue cat won’t ever demand that you pay attention to him or pet him constantly, and may even be happy without a lot of physical contact, these cats really need your company and may grow quite lonely if left alone for long periods of time frequently.
So when you are going through the Russian blue cat adoption process, you may want to consider bringing home two Russian Blue kittens or cats instead of just one cat.
This isn’t necessary if you can provide lots of one-to-one time with your new kitten or cat, but can make for a much happier Russian Blue pet cat if you will be gone a lot!
These cats tend to be very playful. And they may be avid hunters if they are allowed to go outside. So don’t be surprised if they bring you presents of birds and mice!
Size and Stature
A purebred Russian Blue cat can range in size from 8 to 12 pounds, or 3.5 to 5.5 kg. This places the Russian Blue cat in the “medium sized cat breed” category.
Their structure will largely depend on which type they are.
Colors and Coats
The traditional colors of a purebred Russian blue are quite uniform, according to the Cat Fanciers Association.
Purebred Russian Blue kittens have yellow eyes and may have what breeders like to call “ghost stripes” that are a lighter shade than the underlying grey-blue coat color.
Any kitten-esque stripes will fade into the elegant grey-blue-silver coat color of a full-grown purebred Russian Blue cat.
The litmus test comes at breeding time. If you breed two purebred Russian Blue cats, you will always get kittens with yellow eyes and the blue-grey coat, with or without temporary stripes.
Traditional Russian Blues have short, plush coats. The Russian Blue cat long hair breed is the Nebelung. This musical word is of German origin and it translates to mean “creature of the mist.” While the Nebelung was initially classed as a semi-long haired Russian Blue in the 1980s, traditional Russian Blue breeders objected. The end result was that the Nebelung was later classed as a unique breed.
Other than the difference in length of coat, the Nebelung purebred cat line shares the same basic personality and temperament characteristics as its shorter-haired cousins.
Are Russian Blues Hypoallergenic?
All cats shed. The difference is in how much. And the Russian Blue sheds less than many other breeds. But that isn’t the only concern.
Contrary to what many allergy sufferers still believe, it isn’t actually cat hair that produces an allergy to cats. It is a protein called “Fel d 1” that causes all the trouble.
Luckily, not all cats produce sufficient quantities of this protein to cause the allergic response. In fact, the Russian Blue cat is known to produce less Fel d 1 protein than most other cat breeds. So if you are worried about experiencing Russian blue cat allergies, you have a better chance than average of not reacting.
Potential Health Problems
The Russian Blue breed history suggests that this breed is remarkably free from inherited diseases and drug sensitivities. However, these cats do have known and documented predispositions to the following diseases and health issues:
- Renal failure. Russian Blue cats have an increased risk estimated at double that of other cat breeds.
- Urolithiasis. The term “urolith” means “stone.” Urolithiasis is the development of crystalized mineral stones in the bladder, kidneys or urethra/ureter. Russian Blue cats have an increased risk for developing this condition.
- Overweight/obesity. Russian Blue cats have a known tendency to over-feed, which can in turn increase the risk for renal failure and urolithiasis as well as other weight-related health issues. (They are also known to beg for seconds at mealtimes, feigning genuine hunger to convince their owners to give them more food!)
There is no genetic test currently available to verify in advance an increased risk for the above Russian Blue cat health conditions. However, you can ask the breeder for a parental health history. Also ask your veterinarian for help with guarding against these health risks on an ongoing basis.
Lifespan
The average pet cat can expect to live anywhere from 9 to 12 years depending on breed, care, and life circumstances.
Happily, the estimated Russian Blue cat lifespan is far longer than that. A Russian Blue cat’s typical lifespan is between 15 and 20 years old!
The Nebelung cat, the Russian blue cat long hair breed, has a lifespan between 15 and 18 years old, so it can live nearly as long as its short-haired cousin!
Are Russian Blues Good Pets?
Due to their overall good health and longevity, coupled with their sweet and loving personalities, we do recommend this breed as a family pet. Keep in mind that Russian Blues are attached to their humans, and don’t do well on their own for long periods of time.
Russian Blues are generally hardy enough to handle being played with by children, and will remove themselves if they feel the play gets too rough. But we always recommend supervising small children with pets, especially kittens.
This breed may be a bit aloof at first if other pets are introduced to the household. But given time, they will come around and see the new pet as part of their own family.
Breeders
Choosing a single Russian Blue kitten out of a whole litter of cute Russian Blue kittens certainly won’t be the easiest challenge you will ever face! If you are like most cat lovers, you’ll likely want to pick the whole litter!
These guidelines can help you select the Russian Blue kitten with the best potential to be healthy, active, well-adjusted, and happy in his new home with you:
- Select a Russian Blue cat breeder in your local area just in case there are any issues later. Ask your veterinarian or the local cat association for referrals.
- If at all possible, meet the kitten’s parents and verify their good health and pedigree before deciding to purchase from Russian blue cat breeders.
- Choose a kitten with bright clear eyes and ears. In particular, check carefully to be sure the kitten’s ears are free from mites.
- Pick a kitten with a shiny, healthy looking coat. Don’t worry if your new kitten’s coat has striped markings (called “ghost stripes” by some breeders) that look somewhat like a tabby cat. This is common in kittens and usually resolves in adulthood.
- Pick an active kitten who is playful and curious and engaged with you, his litter mates and his environment.
- Be sure to handle the kitten you are considering and make sure he is comfortable and does not shy away from you in general or from making eye contact with you.
- If he does shy away, this can mean he wasn’t handled enough by the breeder early on and may never get fully used to human company as an adult.
- Also, avoid pet stores at all costs. They frequently sacrifice the health of their animals in the name of making money.
Rescuing a Russian Blue
Finding Russian blue cats for rehoming is not as common as with many other breeds of cat. This is because the Russian Blue purebred line is still a rarer breed of cat overall. It is far more likely that you might find a Russian Blue mix cat at a shelter, since an intact purebred
Russian Blue male might have snuck out to make kittens with a feral intact mixed or different breed female here or there.
A shelter may advertise that they have a Russian Blue cat rescue available, but keep in mind that there are several cat breeds that can also feature grey-blue-silver fur and yellow-green eyes.
The only way to verify that the rescue kitty you are considering is a purebred Russian Blue is to receive a certificate from a purebred breeder. But if your most important goal is to give a shelter kitty a lovely new home, and the certificate is not important to you, then you can just admire your new fur baby’s beautiful fur and go home to cuddle and enjoy life together!
Should I Get A Russian Blue?
The Russian Blue purebred cat has a very distinct appearance and an equally distinct personality.
So if you have never been up close and personal with a Russian Blue kitten or cat before, it is always a great idea to spend some quality time getting to know this breed before deciding if the Russian Blue is “the cat” for you.
It is also a great idea to take a step back and look at your home life and environment as well as the amount of time you have to offer your new feline sidekick. Russian Blue cats will thrive in a relatively quiet home environment where they can enjoy a regular and consistent daily routine.
A Russian Blue pet cat will appreciate the companionship of another feline if you have to be out of the home a lot, but ideally the Russian Blue cat loves spending lots of time in your company.
Overall, the Russian Blue cat breed is known to be beautiful, intelligent, elegant, long-lived, healthy, non-demanding, quiet, and easy to care for. Best of all, the Russian Blue cat is one of the few hypoallergenic cats that many cat-allergic owners can keep safely.
If you do decide to bring home a Russian Blue cat, we would love to hear about your experience and why you chose this unique cat breed!
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