Russian Blue

The Russian Blue is a cat breed that stands out for its elegant and slender body, its short and dense blue-gray coat, and its bright green eyes. They are intelligent and playful animals, forming a strong bond with their owner in particular, although they are receptive to the whole family.

General details

Russian Blue cats are medium-sized, with males typically weighing between 4 and 6 kilograms and females between 3 and 4.5 kilograms. They are approximately 20 to 25 centimeters tall and have a body length of about 30 to 35 centimeters. Under normal conditions, they can live between 15 and 20 years. This breed is recognized by associations such as the International Cat Association (TICA) and the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA).

Breed history in brief

Russian Blue has its origins in Russia, where it is believed to have existed for centuries. They were brought to England and other European countries in the 19th century, around 1860. The coat shows that their origin is in northern regions. The first official records of this breed are from 1875. During World War II, the breed was near extinction, but thanks to the efforts of dedicated breeders, it was recovered by crossing the few remaining specimens with other breeds such as the Siamese and the British Shorthair. Because of these crosses, you can find cats of this breed that are white or black in color. Since then, the Russian Blue has regained its popularity and is appreciated all over the world.

Breed characteristics

The Russian Blue is a medium-sized breed with a slender, elegant and muscular body. Their eyes are large, almond-shaped and bright green, giving them a unique, piercing expression. The ears are large and pointed, accentuating their refined appearance. The coat of the Russian Blue is short, dense and silky, with a silvery sheen. It is the only breed to have an outer coat and an undercoat of equal lengths. This double coat is not found in any other cat. Typical coat colors are blue-gray, with variations in tone ranging from light to dark blue. Due to the crossbreeding that was done to maintain the breed, some animals can be found in white or black. Russian Blues are known to be calm, quiet, affectionate and intelligent cats. They are somewhat reserved and need time to establish trust with people. They are extremely curious and love to explore their environment and engage in interactive play.

Common health problems

The Russian Blue is one of the healthiest cat breeds, without any genetic predisposition of the breed. That is why they are also one of the longest-lived breeds.