Russian Blue Cat Vs Domestic Shorthair [Full Comparison]

Russian Blue Cat Vs Domestic Shorthair

Cats are one of the loving pets. Talking about the Russian Blue and Domestic Shorthair cat, they both are combinations of great looks and wonderful characters. Both cats have their own history and unique features. Also, they do have some differences. Based on the size, characteristics, health, lifestyle, etc. both of the cats have their own dissimilarity.

In this article, you will get to know some differences between the Domestic Shorthair breed and the Russian Blue breed. Along with it, you will get to know how can you differentiate between Russian Blue and Domestic Short haired.

Russian Blue Cats and Domestic Shorthair

Russian Blue cat, a highly loyal and sweet-tempered cat, is one of the best pet cats for you. Originated from Northern Russian, specifically the Archangel Isles, they are also known as Archangel Blue. They are often known for their natural Smile and astonishing green eyes along with the luxurious silvery coats.

A cat of mixed ancestry, domestic shorthair doesn’t belong to any particular car breed. These cats are often referred to as Moggies in British English. Though they do not belong to a particular breed, some domestic shorthair may look like feline breeds. Any alikeness is more a coincidence than a genetic identification. And, the most important thing to consider is, do not mistaken between the Domestic Shorthair and other short-haired such as British Short Haired or American Short Haired.

Russian Blue Cats originated from Northern Russia, but nothing much is known clearly about these cat breeds. Likewise, according to the Cat Fanciers Association, the Russian Blue breed came from the cats kept by Russian Czars. Moreover, via ship, it is assumed to migrate to Europe in the mid-1860s.

Going back to history, Domestic Shorthaired history is rooted back to the beginning of North American settlement. They were considered working cats and highly dedicated to rat-catching. Also, these cats worked hard for protecting the barns and food storage free from rats’ in exchange for good meals and space.

Chart: Russian Blue vs Domestic Shorthair at a Glance

Russian Blue Grey Domestic Short Haired
Weight Male: 10-12 pounds

Female: 7-10 pounds

Male: 15  lbs +

Female: 12 lbs +

Eye color Kitten: Yellow with green rims

Adult: Green

Green, blue, gold, hazel
Life Expectation 15-20 years 15-20 years
Social Needs Low Moderate
Coat Length Short Short
Nature of Coat Straight, double-coat Sleek, soft
Less Allergenic Yes No
Grooming Needs Low Low
Coal Color Dark gray tipped with silver Various
Pattern None

Russian Blue Cat Vs Domestic Shorthair

Though they both are a breed of cats, there are several differences among them. Apart from the place of origin and breed they belong to, they vary from one another in terms of physical appearance as well as their behavior. Similar to human beings, they have their own space and lifestyle. Their physical traits, personalities, health are different from each other.

Characteristic

Talking about the characteristics, Russian blue is a sweet-tempered, loyal cat. They are highly social with their family members. So do not be surprised to see your Russian Blue welcomes you at the gate. Also, it is said that Russian Blue trains their owner rather than the owner training them. If you want to train a Russian blue cat personally then you may want interested in tips and tricks to train Russian blues. Besides,  this breed is gentle and appreciates lap time and snuggles with the favorite person. You must know that your Russian Blue is very fond of climbing. Som they prefer to be on the top of bookshelves as well.

Now, when you look at the domestic shorthair cats, they are different than your Russsian Blue. This cat varies as per their appearance Domestic shorthair cat is quiet and reserved, quirky and fun, strong and independent, sweet and clingy, daring and adventurous. The cat’s behavior depends on the mood you catch them in. Also, she is gentle, cute, and loving in nature. Being non-aggressive in nature, these cats are a great companion for children and seniors as well.

Physical Traits

Russian blue comes in a variety of greys. Though we call them blue, they come anywhere from light silver to a deep slate. In addition to it, tier vivid green eyes and pinkish paws are perfect accents. When you look for the build, Russian Blues are lean and fine-boned. With triangular heads and pointed ears and wide round green eyes, they have a curious expression. They have a dense double-layered coat with a soft and downy undercoat. But, their outer layer is even-colored with silver tips. It is also said that the Russian Blue’s fir is so thick and velvety that you can trace patterns in it with the fingers.

Talking about your Domestic short hair, they can come in an infinite number of colors and patterns. You can find them in brown, tan, white, black, red, orange, and many more. Also, their eyes are of a variety of colors such as blue, green, brown, hazel, or even two different colors. They also have a muscular physique.

Size

A Russian Blue is a medium-sized cat breed. They weight between 7 to 12 pounds Generally, the female is somewhat smaller than males when they are fully mature. The Russian Blue kitten grows rapidly with occasional growth sports. Likewise, once they are fully grown, they become muscular, unlike the Domestic shorthair. Also, their physique has seen them as “the Doberman pinscher” of the cat world. They can grow around 70 centimeters long. Moreover, these cats appear to be larger than she is because of their extra key dense, soft double coat.

More, When Do Russian Blue Stop Growing?

Domestic shorthair wight between 10-15 lbs. Despite the difference between Russian blue and domestic short-haired, they do share similarities where both of their male counterparts are larger than females.

Health

A Russian Blue is one of the healthy cats. They are free of the issues that plague many pedigree cats. With a life span of 15-20 years, this breed has no particular proneness to heritable conditions and diseased. But Russian blue does suffer from some diseases which you need to look after. So, they require the same care as you would give to another cat. So, here are the tips to care for Russian blue. However, obesity seems to be a major problem for these cats. Thus, do care for their diet at an early age else you won’t be able to manage its diet.

Domestic shorthair is prone to sickness. When you bring a Domestic short-haired cat, make sure that you make your cat visit the veterinarian soon after you bring them. And if it’s a kitten, then you must take them to the veterinarian within the first week. They are also prone to overheating which can lead to obesity and a constellation of health problems.

Moreover, it can also lead to joint pain, back issues, liver and kidney problems, heart diseases, etc. All in all, look after their diet and avoid giving too much at one time. There are several health issues that these cats may face such as Hyperthyroidism, Tummy Upset, Kidney Diseases, Diabetes, Vomiting, etc.

Care and Maintenance

Care and maintenance for your cat are equally important for you. Brushing the teeth of your Russian Blue once a week is necessary for their gum protection and free from oral infection. Likewise, it is a good idea to comb their hair once or twice a week, this prevents hair fall. Learn, how to groom your Russian blue cat. Besides, do not allow your Russian Blue to overeat and ensure they get plenty of freshwaters. They need affection and attention from their parents. So, do spend time when you are around. Comparatively, these cats are more fond of physical activity than domestic short-haired. For thor proper healthcare, choose quality cat food and avoid extra treats.

Caring for your domestic shorthair is equally important as caring for any other pet. These cats are great family pets and they are low maintenance. Grooming is a vital part of a cat and they typically groom themselves with their short to medium length hair. So, you do not need to pay much more attention to their coat. However, brushing is important to keep their fur in a good shape. Needless to say, keep your cat inside a house where they remain safe from accidents, encounters, and other animals.

Lifestyle

Analyzing the lifestyle of both the cats, Russian Blue is hunting cats. They are highly intelligent and sometimes they require physical and mental stimulation as well. So, you can give them access to toys at any time. Your Russian Blue loves cleanliness so do invest in their toothbrush and cat toothpaste as well.  Besides that, your cat is also fond of spending time with you.

Similar to Russian Blue, Domestic short-haired also love hunting and play around with toys. Also, they are excellent family pets and are called “Alley Cats”.

Are Russian Blue More Social?

It is often considered that Russian Blue is more social than your Domestic Shorthair. They attach to one per parent but, she demonstrates affection with your whole family. Besides this, they also love having alone time. But, when it comes to the visitor and new people, they become she and go away from them. Thus, they hide in large gatherings. Although Domestic short hair is also among the social cat, they are not much attached to their parents as compared with the Russian Blue.

Domestic shorthair cats are playful and often love to play with the children and other pets in your house. And, for the first-time cat owner, I would suggest having Domestic Short haired. However, looking at overall traits, Russian Blue is more social than that of Domestic short hair.

Finding The Difference Between Russian Blue and Domestic Shorthair

It is difficult to differentiate between Russian Blue and Domestic short-haired just by looking after them. You will have to consider their features, their physical attributes, and many other traits to find theirs differentiates. Here are a few factors about how can you differentiate between each other:

Blue Genes

Without the presence of breed papers on hand, you can not differentiate between Russian Blue and Domestic Short Hair. If your cat has traits such as a short, dense coat, uniform grey fur, silvery tipping, and green eyes, then she is probably a domestic shorthair cat. Sometimes, the difference is only in the eyes or the coat.

Color

As already said, it is very difficult to find the difference between a Rusian Blue and Domestic Short Haired. However, there is two major feature that helps to separate with each other. If your cat has green eyes and a soft undercoat with white color, then it’s a Russian Blue.

Personality

Finding the difference based on physical appearance is difficult. In such a case, the personality of these cats can be considered for finding the difference. Generally, Russian Blue is shy with strangers but is very loyal and friendly to the family members.

Looking at the Kitten

You can tell the difference between Russain Blue and Domestic Shorthair by looking at their kitten. If the kitten is produced by pairing between Russian blue, then the offspring will be a Russian Blue. However, if the cross is between Russian Blue and Domestic short hair, then it will produce a mixed breed.

Which Is a Better Pet? Russian Blue or Domestic Shorthair?

Both of the breeds have their own unique features and personalities. One is relatively a rare breed while another is common. Generally, when you look around for most of the house, people have a domestic shorthair. Also, I personally prefer having a domestic shorthair than that of Russian blue. There are a few reasons why I prefer these cats:

Domestic Short Haired Comes in Every Shape, Size, and Color

Since they are mixed breed, they come in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Tuxedo, tabby, tortoiseshell, and calico are some of the coat types. Also, they can be of a variety of shapes and sizes. But generally, they have a rounded face, broad chest, and short coat that makes grooming minimal.

Social Cats

Although Russian blue is more familiar with the family members, these cats are also social cats. They are playful, affectionate, quiet, docile, and calm. Your children love playing with these cats as well.

They Make Wonderful Family Pets

Domestic short-haired is a wonderful pet cat for a first-time cat owner. Since they have a wide variety of looks and personalities, so it isn’t difficult to find a domestic shorthair that fits in well with our family.

Final Words

To conclude, Russian Blue and Domestic Shorthair both breeds is among the popular breed. Though they both look a bit similar, there are several differences between each other. If you are looking to having a cat, then I would suggest having Domestic short hair for a first-time cat owner. However, both breeds are wonderful domestic pets. Their friendliness, sociable nature make them good cat breeds.

All in all, which cat you want to have depended on your own preference. If you want a cat with more playful, strong, and in such an environment where fewer strangers come in, then Russian Blue is a good option. Else, you can go with a Domestic Short haired.

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