Russian Blue Cat Breed Standard And Characteristics

Russian Blue Cat Breed Standard And Characteristics

If you are into intelligent cats, you should undeniably go for a Russian blue cat breed. There are various imposters in the market of Russian blue cats. Since they are pretty famous among cat-lovers, some of the cats in the market are even made imposters.

If you are worried about how you could get the standard Russian blue cat, this article is your exact stop. You should look for overall features from head to toe so that you would not have to regret your decision later. It is even more essential for people who are looking for hypoallergenic cats. Besides, you would undeniably not want to get allergies from a fake Russian blue cat.

Stick to the end of this article to know every standard of the Russian blue cat. You might even find answers to frequently asked questions. Moreover, getting a standard Russian blue cat will help you to decrease the risks of health issues of the cat.

Description Of The Russian Blue Cat Breed

Russian Blue Cats are intelligent, sweet-tempered, elegant, gentle, loving, and loyal animals. These cats are quite attractive with a dense fur coat. Moreover, these feline creatures will follow you everywhere when you are around. However, it does enjoy some alone time as well.

So, you will not have to worry if you are a working parent who requires to be out for work. Russian Blue Cats are gentle and friendly with all the family members as well as other pets if you have any.

Besides, the furry friend also requires some playtime and exercise. They are pretty energetic and enjoy keeping themselves clean. I, myself, own a Russian Blue Cat, “Mocha.”

From my experience, my Mocha is extremely easy to train and is understanding. Moreover, she is very observant and learns pretty quickly. You will not have to think twice if you want a companion instead of a pet.

These cats have fewer allergens in their body, which add up to the plus points of having them in your house!

Russian Blue Cats originate from Russia and are also known as Archangel cats for the same reason. They were also taken to Europe in the 1800s for the first cat shows ever!

Body Standards Of The Russian Blue Cat Breed

A Russian Blue Cat has a good physical condition. The feline creature has a firm muscle tone and is pretty alert. Moreover, it has a dense coat of fur, which makes it appear a little heavier as well as larger than it is in general. Learn more about Russian Blue Cat Breed Standard down below.

General

The body of the Russian Blue cat is unique. The furry friends have a semi-foreign body type, which is short and compact. Besides, you will find it more associated with similar natured breeds like Siamese and Persian cats.

A Russian Blue is medium-sized and has an average weight of 7 to 12 pounds based on its gender. The women are lighter up to 7 to 10 pounds, while men are heavier from 10 to 12 pounds.

Head and Neck

The head is wedge-shaped. It is medium-sized as the body and is smooth. Moreover, the head is neither elongated and tapering nor short and huge.

Next, its neck is quite long. However, it is covered up by thick fur due to which it appears shorter than it is in general. The slender neck is placed highly on its shoulder blades.

Body Type

The body type of the Russian Blue cat is sturdy and firm. It can even come with some hint of stripes, which are referred to as ghost stripes, as it is not much visible. These stripes may also fade away with age.

Moreover, the furry animals are fine bones as well as muscular. They have a graceful outline.

Besides, Russian Blues are quite attractive without having a tube-shaped body.

Legs

A Russian Blue Cat has long and fine-boned legs. The legs support its whole body structure and make it look elegant.

Paws

The paws of Russian Blue cats are slightly rounded and small. The long legs are finely presented with the rounded paw, which adds up to its cuteness.

Tail

The tail is quite long and has a thick base. However, it complements its body very well.

Toes

Unlike human beings, cats are pretty different. The Russian Blue cat has five toes at the front. It should have the same amount of toes in the behind, right? You are wrong in this case. It has only four toes in the legs behind. Pretty interesting, isn’t it?

Head Of The Russian Blue Cat Breed

You can identify a Russian Blue by its triangular head. The top of its skull is long as well as flat. These generally descend slightly above the eyes while coming to an angle downwards. Hence, forming a triangular shape.

You will not see any nose break. Since Russian Blues have a wedge-shaped head, the length of the nose should be smaller than that of the length of the top of the head. Russian Blue cats have a broad face with wide eyes, which is enhanced by its thick fur.

Ears

Russian Blue cats have large ears with a broad base. The ears have a thin and translucent tint to it with some furnishing inside.

These ears have tips that are pointed rather than rounded. You will find that the short fine hairs tuck in the outer skin of the ears.

However, the leather is visible to the naked eye. The triangular-shaped head adds up to the feature of having ears that are widely spread.

But, in such a way that the ears are as much on the top of the head as they are on the sides.

Eyes

The set of eyes are set apart from each other. Moreover, Russian Blues have attractive green eyes that are round in shape.

Chin

The chin is perpendicular to the nose-end and with a level under the chin. This characteristic complements its medium-shaped head. Furthermore, you can see that the chin does not recede or is not excessively huge.

Muzzle

You will adore the Russian Blue Cat for its visible whisker pads or whisper pinches that appear on a relatively smooth, flowing wedge.

Nose

Although Russian Blues have an illusion that the nose is longer because of their triangle-shaped face, the nose is usually medium in length.

Coat Of The Russian Blue Cat Breed

If you show interest in a Russian Blue, you must probably know by now that they have thick coats of fur but short hair. You can even say so by the pictures available on the internet that the furry animal has a dense coat.

Thickness

The coat of a Russian Blue cat is thick but short. The hairs are fine and plush, giving the ones who pet a distinguishable soft and silky feel!

You would undeniably want to run your hands through your cat’s dense fur coat. Due to its thick coat, it even looks double the size than it is in general.

Shedding

Shedding of the fur depends on how much you are looking after your cat. Though, if you comb its hair once a week properly and give attention to its diet, it is one of the cats that will not shed much in comparison.

However, due to the dense coat, it does shed a little. Considering other cats, it still sheds a lot less.

More About Russian Blue Cat: Breed Characteristics

Along with the appearance of the Russian Blue Cat, you can learn a lot from the characteristics of the breed.

What amazes you is that they are different and unique from other cats by the way they act around people. I have explained some of the distinct characteristics below:

Affectionate with Family

If you have had cats as a pet before, you know that they are not so attached to the family or people in general. However, Russian blue cats are very affectionate and close to its owner.

Russian Blue is even good in behavior with other family members. These cats follow you almost everywhere you go in the house.

Blue does enjoy alone time, but it also will wait for you at the door when you come home!

Hence, it is the perfect blend of space and love, which will make you fall for it even more.

Amount of Shedding

In comparison to the amount of hair it has, it sheds low. However, you will find some cat hairs on the sofa and other furniture your cat sits on. To avoid such an occurrence, you can add beautiful furniture covers. These will enhance your room’s beauty as well as make it easy to clean.

General Health

The health of a Russian blue cat is nothing to worry about. As you are ready to take in a royal breed, I assume you are also ready for the responsibility of a proper diet and hygiene.

As required for any pet, you need to brush off the hair once a week, brush its teeth with toothpaste and a toothbrush meant for its teeth, and give it the necessary cat food and treats.

You need to give extra care to its food as these cats are very fond of it and might eat everything you give them. Obesity can cause them some urine infections as well as laziness.

Though, you do not need to worry if you take care of it abundantly.

Potential for Playfulness

As an intelligent cat, a Russian Blue cat will love to play with you. It requires daily exercise and plays time. It is not a big deal because it can be happy while playing alone.

However, you will also be equally enthusiastic about playing with this elegant and lovely cat! It learns pretty fast and gains your attention.

You can buy a fishing rod with a toy or even soft toys to play with it. If you have seen the videos on YouTube about owners playing with their cats with lasers, this is your chance to live your fantasy.

Kid-Friendly

Russian Blue cats are very affectionate with people.

So, its behavior goes similar to the kids. Moreover, it will even put up with the official bonks by the kids, which are not so friendly in itself. Russian Blues are considerate of young souls and their innocence.

You can learn more about it from the temperament and personality of Russian Blue cats.

Friendly Toward Strangers

Although it is shy with visitors or new people into the house, you will find it easy to bond with a Russian blue cat once it becomes familiar.

If you have people at your home, a Russian blue cat will go and hide under the table. After it examines and observes all the activities, it will come out. You have to make it comfortable, though.

Difficult to Groom

These cats are difficult to groom because of their luscious hair. Russian Blue Cats have thick fur and require you to brush the hair at least once a week. It helps to avoid shedding excessively. However, you can find de-shedding tools from Amazon at low prices to make your task easy.

Intelligence

These cats are intelligent creatures. For a cat species, it is observant and quick learning. If you decide on training your Russian Blue, you can do it in significantly less time than you actually thought.

Many owners will even say that the cats teach them instead of them leading the cats. I am myself, a prominent example of this.

I am much more organized and careful now with my Russian Blue!

Pet Friendly

Russian Blue cats are also pet-friendly. The cats gel well with all people and pets quickly unless the other animals attack it first.

I, personally, find my Russian blue very calm and composed. She is friendly, even with my dog. My fears of making the wrong decision to have a dog and cat in the same house were ruled out when they grew out to be best friends instead!

When Should You Disqualify A Russian Blue Cat Breed?

Since there are a lot of confused owners who still doubt if they have an actual Russian Blue cat, I present you with a list of items that you must check to figure things out.

If you are going to bring a Russian Blue cat breed home, then it will be even more useful to you.

  • Check its tail. Russian Blue cats do not have kinked or abnormal tails.
  • Check the number of toes. Five toes at the front and four toes at the back is standard.
  • Discard if the color of the skin is anything other than blue.
  • A long fur coat is not standard in a Russian blue cat. So, probably you are looking at a Siamese or a crossbreed.
  • Eyes other than vivid green for adult Russian Blue cats and yellow or green for kittens is not acceptable.

Suppose you have checked all of these and find it correctly ticked in all boxes, congratulations. You have found yourself a genuine Russian Blue cat.

Russian Blue Cat Breed Point Score

Here is a table representing the Russian Blue’s score for the various parts and types according to its standard.

Parts Score
Head and neck 20
Body type 20
Eye shape 5
Ears 5
Coat 20
Color 20
Eye Color 10

Should You Allow Russian Blue Cat To Outcross Breeds?

No, a Russian Blue cat is a rare breed. Even though the rumors have it that Russian Blues have crossed with the Siamese during the European war, this is why the pure breed is difficult to find.

These breeds should not be allowed to outcross breeds. It is because they are pure blue breeds. Besides, complications might occur if Russian blue mates with other breeds outside their classification.

Though you can now find various cross breeds spread all over the world, the Russian Blues lose the true essence of having thick fur and a high-class intelligence.

What Are The Acceptable Color Standards Of A Russian Blue Cat?

Russian Blue cats are unique because of their widely accepted color, which is the same for all species under their classification. Unlike other cats, most Russian Blue Cats look the same.

Skin Color

Since Russian Blue cats are called ‘blue,’ they are blue. However, you do not have to be confused. The blue here means a subtle black color.

Light shades of blue skin color are more acceptable in the Russian Blue Cat’s case.

Coat Color

The hair of Russian Blue is a different case, though. Hence, the coat Color is distinctively silver. The cat looks vintage and royal due to its lustrous silvery outlook.

To be sure if the cat is genuine, you should look for a different contrast between the tippings and the ground colors. There should be no other tabby markings in its body.

Nose Leather

Your Russian Blue will have a slate gray nose leather.

Eye Color

The eye color is a bright green color. Russian Blues have distinct green eyes, which help to differentiate them from their imposters. However, if you find your Russian blue kitten with yellow eyes, you do not have to worry. Their eyes will change color when they grow up. As they reach maturity, you will gradually view the eye color to be a yellow circled by green outward.

Paw Pads

The paw pads have a distinct lavender pink. To be more specific, you can say that the paw pads are mauve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Does My Russian Blue Have Yellow Eyes?

Some Russian Blue cats do have yellow eyes, but it is the only standard in kittens. They gradually develop the tint of green as they grow with a little bit of yellow circling their insides.

If this does not happen, you can safely assume that these are not Russian Blue cats. However, there are other things you can take into consideration if you want to bring a pure breed home like its coat, face, head, etc.

What Is The Rarest Color Of Russian Blue Cat?

The rarest color of the Russian Blue cat is a pure blue one. There are mixtures all around the world after the great European revolution since these cats mixed up with Siamese cats.

If you find a pure blue Russian Blue cat, then consider yourself lucky to have the royal cat once tamed by Russian Czars!

Last Words

Russian Blue Cats have specific standards that make it unique from other breeds of cats. By this article, you must have become familiar with what to look for in a Russian blue cat and what standards you need to maintain to either qualify or disqualify it as a pet!

Happy cat petting!

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