Often known as the gentlemen of the cat world, they have gentle natures to match their gentle voices. Their serene look makes them look ever deep in thought, making them the perfect breed for a family or elderly owners. The facts Temperament: loyal, gentle and affectionate Average Life Span: 15 – 16 years Coat… Read more »
Often known as the gentlemen of the cat world, they have gentle natures to match their gentle voices. Their serene look makes them look ever deep in thought, making them the perfect breed for a family or elderly owners.
The facts
- Temperament: loyal, gentle and affectionate
- Average Life Span: 15 – 16 years
- Coat length: Short
- Grooming required: Russian Blues enjoy being groomed as part of bonding
The Look
As the name suggests Russian Blues have a thick silverly-blue coat, which has the feel of velvet. Their almond shaped eyes are almost always green and they have high set pointed ears. Their physique is muscular and long to match their graceful nature.
History
Russian Blue was first shipped to the UK back in 1860 by British sailors returning from the Russian port of Archangel, so they were known as Archangel cats. The breed was given its own class in 1912 and was renamed Russian Revolution five years later, finally given the name Russian Blue in 1948. Originally, the breed was outcrossed with Siamese (this was discontinued in the 1960s) and British Shorthairs to expand the gene pool.
Health
All have varying incidences of health problems that may be genetic. Problems that may affect the Russian Blue include the following:
- Cystitis
- Respiratory tract disorders
Fun Fact
A Russian Blue cat helped inspire the Internet’s most famous 8-bit animated feline – Nyan Cat!