Russian Blue

Russian Blues are believed to come from the Archangel Isles in northern Russia, though there's little written history before the late 1800s ^[1]. Russian folklore casts them as good-luck charms ^[1]. They're thought to have reached England with sailors, and they competed at the early English shows as "Archangel Cats" alongside every other solid blue cat ^[1]. From the early 20th century until World War II, Scandinavian breeders led the breed's development. After the war, US breeders imported cats from Europe and combined English and Scandinavian lines into the Russian Blue we know today ^[1]. FIFe has recognised the breed since its founding in 1949 ^[2].

• Coat: short, very dense and plush, with silver tips. Run your fingers through it and you leave little "footprints" ^[1].
• Eyes: green, deepening with age ^[1].
• Head: a modified wedge with a two-plane profile; large ears, broad at the base and set far apart ^[1].
• Body: medium-long and graceful ^[1].
• Colour: CFA accepts only blue; GCCF also accepts black and white ^[3].
• Weight: males rarely exceed 10 lb, and females range from 5 to 8 lb ^[1].

Russians are very intelligent, with real mechanical aptitude: closed cabinets, drawers and lidded jars are all fair game ^[1]. Puzzle toys and interactive games are a good outlet ^[1]. They're loving companions that will seek out your lap or ride around on your shoulder ^[1]. A Russian will often hide under the sofa when guests arrive, until curiosity gets the better of it ^[1]. They're sensitive to their people's moods and suit older children who'll be patient with them ^[1].

• Combing two or three times a month is plenty; also trim claws and keep eyes and ears clean ^[1].
• If the coat gets oily, a bath can help; ask your breeder about products ^[1].
• Play interactively and watch portions, because Russians are big eaters and can put on weight ^[1].

• No known breed-specific genetic problems, according to CFA, though some believe the relatively small gene pool could make the cats more susceptible to certain diseases ^[1].
• Obesity is the main risk CFA flags ^[1]. Across all cats, a non-ideal weight is linked to shorter lives ^[7].
• Lifespan: GCCF estimates 12–15 years ^[3]. We found no breed-specific longevity study.

Keep an eye on your cat's weight, and talk to your vet about any specific concern.

Don't confuse with…

• Korat: also silver-tipped blue with green eyes, but with a heart-shaped head and a glossy, fine coat ^[5].
• British Shorthair (blue): cobby, with a big round head and round cheeks ^[6].
• Chartreux: another blue breed, with a dense, short, woolly coat ^[3].

• Your fingers leave "footprints" in a Russian's dense coat ^[1].
• In early English shows they were called Archangel Cats ^[1].
• Russians are notorious for opening cabinets, drawers and jars ^[1].
• The breed is one of FIFe's originals from 1949 ^[2].