Size and Appearance
The Russian Blue is a medium-sized, short-haired
cat. It is fine boned, and it has graceful
lines. The coat is blue with silver tipping on
each hair that gives a lustrous appearance and
the coat is thick and plush. The eyes are green.
The ears are on top of the head and not to the
side. As for size, there is no standard size
just as long as the cat is in proportion.
Personality and Temperament
Russian Blues easily bond with their people and
are loyal to those who love them -- frequently
following them from room to room to be near
them. Russians show their affection in a variety
of ways. Some enjoy leaping onto the shoulder of
their person and riding there. Other Russians
are eager to butt heads with their person. These
sensitive cats seem genuinely hurt when they
come to their people to show affection and are
put aside.
Russian Blues have a very intuitive nature that
seems to make them aware that a well-mannered
child has no intention of hurting them.
Consequently, they seem to be more tolerant of
the rougher handling of small children. When
they've had enough, they'll leave and hide.
However, it's imperative that children be taught
to handle any cat with respect and gentleness.
History
The Russian Blue is a natural breed (that is, it
is not the result of crossings with other
breeds). As its name suggests, the Russian Blue
is believed to have originally come from Russia . Since the cat was thought to
have been brought to
England
on ships that left the Russian port on Archangel
Isle, the breed has been called the
Archangel cat. Although evidence of
its Russian origin is anecdotal, its dense coat
is consistent with a northern climate. In England in the late nineteenth and
early twentieth centuries, the Russian Blue was
sometimes known as the Foreign Blue because its
body type resembles that of foreign (European)
breeds; it has also been called the Maltese cat.
Health
Typically, Russian Blues are hearty, healthy
cats, and with proper diet, exercise, veterinary
care, and affection, they are capable of living
well into their teens and beyond. There are no
genetic problems associated specifically with
the Russian Blue, and as a breed they are not
prone to any particular illnesses, but, as with
any breed, some lines may be prone to certain
health problems. Russians are good eaters, and
therefore it is easy for them to gain weight and
become much too heavy; it may be advisable to
measure and limit the food intake of adult
Russians.
Life Span
The Russian Blue, as any pedigreed cat, has an
average life span of 10-15 years. Like humans,
some will have shorter or longer lives than the
average.