Russian Blue Kittens: Everything You Should Know

Russian Blue Kittens

Are you craving the company of a furry little kitten that is not high maintenance and looks elegant as it moves gracefully around your house? Or have you recently added a particular silvery blue-gray coated kitten to your home, and want to know everything about him or her?

Either way, a Russian Blue kitten fits the description perfectly, and I have answers to all of your questions about this fascinating breed of cats! On top of being graceful and sociable, they also do not require a lot of attention or taking care of. Hence, if they are so easy to care for and independent, why doesn’t every cat lover opt to have a Russian Blue kitten in their house?

Hence, let us find out what really sets them apart from the numerous other cat breeds. Are they truly friendly with everyone, even strangers? What kind of toys do they like to play with? Is mental stimulation extremely important for them to remain content? So many questions and the answers are right below!

Origin of Russian Blues

To begin understanding what makes a Russian Blue kitten so unique first you will need to know where they originated. So, when and where did this cat breed’s story begin?

Russian Blues were first recorded in history in the port of Arkhangelsk or Archangel Isles in Russia in 1875. This is also why Russian Blues are sometimes called Archangel Blues.

Then, they were taken to other parts of Northern Europe, including the UK, where they grew in numbers up until the end of World War II. However, once the war ended their numbers started to decrease significantly. This eventually led breeders to crossbreed Russian Blues with Siamese cats and British Shorthairs.

However, over the decades since the war ended, breeders in the U.S. and Britain bred Russian Blues again and restored them back to their original breed.

Nonetheless, the crossbreeding led to the present day, where there are three sub-breeds of Russian Blues with distinct personality traits. These sub-breeds are Siberian/Scandinavian Blues, American Blues, and British Blues.

Moreover, with only slight physical distinctions, it may be hard to differentiate between these sub-breeds and an actual Russian Blue. So, it is important to remain aware of the existence of such sub-breeds when choosing to adopt or purchase a Russian Blue kitten!

Interesting Facts about Russian Blue Kittens

Now let us move on to look at some interesting facts that not only make Russian Blue kittens a great addition to your home but also a great topic for discussion during social gatherings and such.

  1. The eyes of a Russian Blue kitten is yellow while they are young. However, when they reach about four months of age, a bright green ring forms around the pupil. Eventually, as the cat matures, the eye color changes to its distinctive bright vivid green!
  2. Russian Blues are not only called Archangel Blues, but also Foreign Blues or Maltese Cats.
  3. Russian Blues actually come in a range of bluish-gray colors, anywhere from light silver to a deep slate. And yet, we call them Russian BLUES!
  4. According to ancient folklore, people put Russian Blues in chambers with newborns to chase away evil spirits!
  5. Russian Blues are considered “royal” as legend says that this cat breed comes from royalty.
  6. If you like to sleep in in the morning, it might be better to train your Russian Blue to wait for whenever you wake up, to be fed. They love routine and will definitely notice if you happen to be a little late one morning. On the bright side, they may prove to be great alarm clocks!
  7. Tom from ‘Tom and Jerry’ is said to have been inspired by a Russian Blue with its grey fur and bright green eyes.

Should You Get a Russian Blue Kitten?

Now, you know some interesting facts about Russian Blues along with where they originated. So let us then figure out whether a Russian Blue kitten is a perfect fit for you. How much time will you have to set aside for your kitten? Is your home environment the best for a Russian Blue kitten?

Are they Difficult to Take Care Of?

Russian Blue kittens are easy to take care of and there are a few reasons why.

First, this cat breed is known to enjoy staying clean. Hence, they keep themselves from getting dirty or “grooming themselves”, for the most part, by licking or scratching themselves.

Moreover, they enjoy mental stimulation, which means that they need toys to keep them mentally stimulated. This will further ensure that they will not go around your home looking for other ways of entertaining themselves.

Hence, with a few key purchases, like interactive toys, scratching posts, a litter box, and such, your Russian Blue kitten will be as happy as can be! I have also listed more of these essentials down below for your reference!

As for cleaning and grooming them, you will need to take some necessary measures regularly to keep them healthy. I have listed these below for your reference too.

Does your Home Provide the Best Environment for a Russian Blue Kitten?

The next question to ask yourself is, is your home the best place for a Russian Blue kitten?

I understand your concern about a new kitten being too destructive due to their curious natures and high energy. Or you may even be worried about providing the best home for your new kitten. Either way, the following are some of the things to keep in mind when deciding whether your home provides the ideal environment for a Russian Blue kitten.

Russian Blue kittens tend to suffer from anxiety. Hence, keeping them indoors is the best bet. In other words, keeping them away from loud noises will work out better for them. This will also help develop their mental health too.

Furthermore, a Russian Blue kitten will be happier if exposure to stimuli that may startle them regularly is non-existent. Hence, if you have younger children who may act impulsively, then you may want to stick around when they are around your kitten. Otherwise, one thing may lead to another and one of them could end up getting hurt.

Finally, due to their high energy, it is important to give them access to places that they can climb. However, their occasional need for downtime will also require a private corner where they can doze off. So, make sure that your valuables are not lying around on top of a shelf or cupboard where your kitten could easily climb up!

Are They Clingy?

Russian Blue kittens, though energetic, love to spend time with their favorite humans! However, this does not mean that they will follow you around everywhere you go or even make it difficult for you to leave them whenever you have to step outside your home.

Additionally, do keep in mind that as long as they have toys lying around to keep them mentally occupied, they will be able to keep themselves entertained for hours on end! This is not because they do not like spending time with you; it is because they are very independent!

Do They Meow a Lot?

This is a simple question with an even simpler answer. No, they do not meow a lot.

However, your kitten will let you know if they want some attention, or want to eat or even snuggle! Hence, if your Russian Blue kitten is meowing a lot, he or she is simply trying to get your attention for some specific reason.

Russian Blue Kittens Temperament and Characteristics

Russian Blue kittens are playful and sociable kittens. They love to be around people, but only those that they know!

For instance, if you have guests over at your house, chances are very high that your Russian Blue kitten will turn around and leave the room. This is not necessarily because they do not like to be around new people though. It is simply because they need some time to warm up to strangers! And once they do, they will go back to being their affectionate selves again.

As mentioned earlier, leaving your kitten in places, for prolonged periods, where there might be loud noises. Too much exposure to such noises could eventually lead to your Russian Blue kitten developing anxiety.

Furthermore, they are also considered one of the most intelligent and independent kittens. Hence, with the right toys to keep them occupied, you could leave them alone for hours if necessary!

How Aggressive are Russian Blue Kittens?

Russian Blue kittens are known for their affectionate and loving natures. Hence, they are normally not aggressive with anybody they interact with.

However, if left alone with strangers a.k.a. people they are not comfortable around, they might get aggressive. Therefore, it is best to stick around until your Russian Blue kitten feels more comfortable so that any avoidable, unpleasant incidents do not take place.

What Products Do You Need for Taking Care of a Russian Blue Kitten?

With a better understanding of their personality traits, we can now move on to looking at the products that will best equip you for your journey of taking care of a Russian Blue kitten. This journey can be either pleasant or very tedious. However, with the right collection of products, it is sure to be the former!

Here, it is important to note down the essentials first. Then, as you read along, you can note down which type of these essentials will be best suited for your Russian Blue kitten. Hence, the following are some of the items that are absolute must-haves!

  1. Toys (especially interactive toys or food dispenser toys)
  2. Litter box and cat litter
  3. A litter box scooper
  4. Food bowl and water bowl
  5. Cat-friendly toothpaste and toothbrush
  6. Cat brush
  7. Cat-friendly shampoo
  8. Cleaning solutions (for eyes and ears)
  9. Scratching posts
  10. Sharp-edged nail cutter

What are the Best Toys for Your Russian Blue Kitten?

Before we look at what the best toys are for your Russian Blue kitten, let us first look at why kittens love to play so much and what are the benefits of letting them play.

Why Do Kittens Love to Play?

Your Russian Blue kitten will probably start playing at about four weeks old. This will involve them wrestling with other kittens (if there are other kittens around), or simply them trying to figure out the world around them and see where they themselves stand.

Then, when they are around seven-eight weeks old, they will become more predatory towards inanimate objects.

These are simply their instincts guiding them. Hence, what appears as “play” to you is simply just your kitten learning survival skills such as how to follow, chase, and trap prey.

Benefits of Your Kitten Playing

There are many benefits to your Russian Blue kitten playing from a very young age.

First, playing will allow your kitten to express his or her natural hunting instincts, which in turn is a great way to stimulate their mind and a great form of physical exercise too. Hence, the best first toys for your kitten are Cat Charmers, Crinkle Balls, or Laser Pointers (read below for more information).

Since all three of these toys encourage your kitten to chase and pounce on the toys, they are great options for your kitten to develop its natural hunting instincts.

Moreover, keep in mind that your kitten needs at least 20 minutes of playtime with you. This will enable both of you to create a stronger bond and allow your kitten to build trust in you. Hence, remember that this trust needs to be formed in order for your kitten to feel safe around you.

Furthermore, it is obvious that physical exercise is important and playing will help them stay fit physically. However, mental stimulation is of equal importance, especially in Russian Blue kittens because of their high level of intelligence.

Why are Interactive Toys So Important for Them?

Russian Blue kittens are one of the most intelligent amongst all cat breeds. Hence, interactive toys are very important to them. These interactive toys could come in the form of food dispenser toys or toys that reward the kitten with treats if he or she is able to solve a puzzle within the food dispenser.

Moreover, simple games like hide and seek could also prove to be great in mentally stimulating your Russian Blue kitten. This means that instead of simply shoving a bowl of food under their nose might become boring soon. Instead, making your kitten “hunt” for the food might make an otherwise simple mealtime, much more satisfying.

Best Toys for Your Russian Blue Kitten

Finally, let us now look at a list of the best toys for your Russian Blue kitten.

1. Cat Charmer or Cat Teaser:

As mentioned earlier, Cat Charmers or Cat Teasers are great first toys for your Russian Blue kitten. This will help them to realize and develop their natural hunting instincts.

Although hunting is not necessarily a pleasant habit in a pet, it is better to let your kitten show this behavior during playtime. Since this natural instinct will display itself at one point or another, it is better to have them show it harmlessly, when they are playing.

However, make sure that your kitten is not left alone with a Cat Charmer as it could be harmful to your kitten. For instance, the feather at the end of the Cat Charmer could prove to be a choking hazard if your kitten decides to try to bite and swallow it.

Similarly, the fabric at the end of the wand or stick could also wrap around your kitten’s neck and suffocate it. Hence, make sure that your kitten plays with a Cat Charmer only in your presence!

2. Laser Pointer

A classic choice as a toy for your kitten would be a laser pointer. There is no doubt that your kitten will love this toy as it is a great way of realizing his or her natural hunting instincts, and also expending all of that energy!

However, since your kitten’s eyes, along with other parts of its body, is still developing, make sure that you do not point the laser directly into your kitten’s eyes. If you neglect this caution one too many times, the laser beam could seriously damage your kitten’s eyes.

3. Crinkle Balls or Fur Balls

Crinkle Balls or Fur Balls are, again, great options as the first toy for your Russian Blue kitten.

Crinkle Balls are the best for playing fetch or hide and seek. Furthermore, the best part about this is that you will not have to monitor your kitten when they are playing with these. Therefore, if you need to leave them at home, unmonitored, then leaving them with these little toys will keep them entertained for hours!

Moreover, Crinkle Balls are one of the cheapest cat toys that you can find in the market. However, be aware of toys that are cheap as they can prove to be harmful to your kitten. For instance, there might be parts of the toy that easily break off because of the cheap quality. And if your kitten tried swallowing it, it could prove to be a serious choking hazard!

4. Interactive Toy and Food Dispenser:

As mentioned earlier, an interactive toy and food dispenser is a must-have for your Russian Blue kitten. This toy will be a great addition to the collection as it allows your kitten to get exercise, get fed, and also improve its attention span all at the same time!

Furthermore, this toy also enables your kitten to enjoy mealtime. Additionally, something noteworthy here is that obesity is a common health problem amongst cats. Hence, if there is a toy that feeds your kitten AND enables it to get some physical exercise AND get mentally stimulated, then your kitten absolutely needs this toy!

5. DIY Catnip Toys

DIY Catnip toys are the easiest and most affordable of all cat toys.

All you need to do is to put some of the herb Catnip inside a paper bag and crumple it up to form a ball. Then, you can simply let your kitten smell it, get enticed by it, and then play with it. Simple, right? Then go try it!

Do Russian Blue Kittens Get Sick A Lot?

Like most other cat breeds, Russian Blue kittens are in danger of being infected by bacteria and viruses. Although most of these infections are preventable by vaccinating your kitten, it is likely that they will get sick if you neglect taking care of them. This is especially true in kittens as compared to full-grown cats!

To avoid getting them sick, it is your responsibility to be vigilant and monitor their health frequently. Furthermore, this also includes maintaining good hygiene and grooming them regularly.

Possible Threats of Parasites

For instance, heartworms, whipworms, hookworms, and roundworms are some of the harmful parasites that could infect your kitten. This could happen simply by your kitten being near contaminated soil, drinking contaminated water, or even being bitten by harmful insects.

Moreover, less severe parasites such as ticks, fleas, or ear mites, may also lead to serious illnesses in your kitten.

Furthermore, kittens may be at higher risk because they have not developed their immune system yet, or because have not received all the necessary vaccinations, you need to be extra careful. Hence, it is of utmost importance to remain vigilant and opt for treatment right away if the relevant symptoms show up in your kitten.

Cleaning and Grooming a Russian Blue Kitten

Now that we know that Russian Blue kittens are at greater risk of infection by parasites, the next step you need to take is to clean and groom them regularly! Not only will this keep your furry little friend happy, but it will also greatly reduce the chances of him or her getting seriously ill too!

Bathing (is it enough?)

This may seem easy at first thought, but once you get your hands wet or rather try to get your kitten wet, you might realize that it is not that easy after all. This is because most kittens do NOT enjoy the process of bathing.

However, by remaining patient and following some basic guidelines, the entire experience could be enjoyable for you both. Hence, the first thing to be cautious about is not to scare your kitten off with unpleasant conditions.

For instance, make sure that you are using warm water to wet your kitten first.

Then using a cat-friendly shampoo with essential oils, massage the shampoo gently into your kitten’s body. Here, you need to make sure that you are using one part shampoo and five parts of water. While doing this, make sure that you do not get any of the shampoo into your kitten’s ears, eyes, or mouth.

Once this step is done move on to rinse off the shampoo with warm water again. Then, use a hairdryer or towel to pat them dry.

Finally, remember that it is not necessary to bathe your kitten more frequently than once every 4-6 weeks. If you do, it will simply rid your kitten’s fur of all the natural oils that make his or her coat look shiny and beautiful.

Hair Brush or No Hair Brush?

Another important step to maintain your kitten’s looks and hygiene is to brush out their fur. However, is it necessary for you to use a hairbrush every time? The answer is no.

You can simply wet your hands and use them to massage your kitten’s body gently. This will not only smooth out its hair but will also enable you to feel any rashes or bumps that may have formed on your kitten’s body. If there are any such rashes or bumps, then you will be able to take the necessary measures.

However, once this step has been done, you may want to use a short brush or comb designed especially for cats, to brush out their fur. This will help in getting rid of any knots or dirt stuck in your kitten’s fur, and will also distribute the natural oils that remain on their fur throughout their coat!

Cleaning Their Teeth

Before you even begin reading the rest of this, let me tell you that I know this step seems tedious. Because it is. However, cleaning their teeth is also an extremely important step that just cannot be skipped.

The entire teething process is relatively rapid in kittens. However, it is crucial that you clean their teeth regularly to ensure that no food is stuck in their teeth for too long. Hence, to do this, you will need to buy a cat-friendly toothbrush and toothpaste and brush their teeth at least twice a week.

However, an alternative option (but not the ideal option) would be to give your kitten dental treats!

Also, keep in mind that dental diseases are dangerous for your kittens. So, you will need to keep an eye out for the following telling signs of serious dental issues.

  • Bad breath
  • Loose or discolored teeth
  • Inflamed or bleeding gums

Therefore, if these signs are prevalent in your kitten then it is best to schedule a visit to your vet’s clinic as soon as possible!

Cleaning Their Eyes

Cleaning your Russian Blue kitten’s eyes will be effortless once you have had to deal with some of the aforementioned steps. However, it is important to get rid of any dirt or debris that is stuck around your kitten’s eyes.

This step simply requires you to take a cotton ball, dip it in a lubricant (ex: water or Hydrogen Peroxide), and gently wipe the corners of your kitten’s eyes. Once this is done, your kitten might just give you an adorable little meow as a way of saying thanks!

Cleaning Their Ears

Again, cleaning your kitten’s ears is of utmost importance, as ear mites are a serious problem with extremely dire consequences! Also, ear mites are more likely to severely affect your kitten than a full-grown Blue.

So, to clean your kitten’s ears, take a cotton gauze and dip it in some cleaning solution. Then, taking the wet gauze gently wipe the inside of your kitten’s ears by slowly moving it around. Finally, use another piece of the cotton gauze to wipe it dry at the end.

However, do keep an eye out for the most obvious sign of an ear infection, which is excessive scratching of the ears!

Trimming Their Nails

You may have seen nasty red marks on other cat owners’ bodies and considered declawing as a great option for your own kitten. However, it is not necessary to do so!

You can simply opt for regular nail trimming by starting this process at a mere four weeks of age. This will ensure that your kitten gets used to the process at an early age. This will also guarantee that your kitten does not get fidgety every time it is time to trim his or her nails, as they get older.

Moreover, if you want to trim your kitten’s nails yourself, you will need a sharp-edged nail cutter. Then, you will need to locate the actual nail in its claw, and then cut the part of the nail that looks yellowed and old.

However, if this task is too tedious for you, you can always take your kitten to a cat-grooming salon and get the job done there!

Is a Scratching Post Really Necessary?

YES! A scratching post is not only fun to have around for your kitten because they can climb on it and sleep on it; it is a great addition for you too! This is simply because the scratching post acts as a spot where your kitten can go to well, scratch itself.

Although this may sound impractical, it is actually very useful. This is because the act of your kitten scratching against the scratching post will get rid of dirt and such from their claws. Hence, investing in a scratching post could mean that some of your kitten cleaning and grooming duties will be reduced because your kitten will do it himself or herself!

Cleaning Their Litter Box

Always make sure that your kitten’s litter box is clean and ready for use. If not, they may decide to go relieve themselves in some other part of your house!

It is also important to train your kitten at a very young age to use the litter box the proper way. In order to train them, you can simply pick them up and place them on the litter box any time it looks like they are about to relieve themselves. Soon enough, they will know where to go whenever they need to go!

Moreover, it is important to purchase a high-sided litter box for your kitten so that the litter does not spill over.

Finally, having a clean litter box is not only important to ensure that your kitten actually uses it and not some other part of your house. It is also important because a dirty litter box could cause Toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasmosis is a disease, which comes from being exposed to infected cat feces. This disease often causes Influenza-like symptoms and is better when left alone!

Are Russian Blues Hypoallergenic?

This extremely important question might be playing in many of your minds, as cat allergies are very common. However, when it comes to Russian Blue kittens, you may just be in luck!

Although Russian Blue kittens (or adult Russian Blues for that matter) are not hypoallergenic, they may be tolerable by many who only have mild to moderate allergies.

Furthermore, there are two main reasons for them not inducing strong allergic reactions. First, because of their thick double coat, the allergens may be trapped closer to the kitten’s skin. Second, they do not shed as much of their fur as many other cats.

However, before you decide to keep a Russian Blue kitten with someone who is allergic to them, make sure to get a second opinion from an allergist. Since prolonged exposure to cats could make their allergies worse in some cases!

When Should You Start Training Russian Blue Kittens?

If you want your Russian Blue kitten to have good manners when they get older, you should begin training them at a very young age. This means that you can start socializing them at just 2 weeks old.

Furthermore, introducing them to a variety of people at a young age will make them more comfortable around people in general. Additionally, spending quality time with your kitten will also give him or her the opportunity to learn to trust people that he or she sees on a daily basis.

As for more tips on training your Russian Blue kitten, refer below!

Are Russian Blue Kittens Easy To Train?

A Russian Blue kitten’s high level of intelligence is precisely what makes training them very easy. However, they have a few other attributes that make them easy to command and a lot of fun to train too!

Intelligence

As Russian Blue kittens are considered highly intelligent, they are able to notice even subtle hints when you train them. These training sessions could entail a simple command such as asking them to sit, use their litter box, stop doing something, etc.

However, if you want to train them to perform advanced tricks or such, then this is possible too! Again, it all comes down to these little kittens being very intelligent and extremely receptive to simple and advanced commands!

Sociable and Friendly

Once your Russian Blue kitten builds trust in you, your kitten will become very comfortable around you. This means that during training sessions with your little kitty, he or she will not be cautious of what you are trying to teach him or her. And in turn, you will not have to be cautious around your kitty either.

However, if you plan to include someone your kitten does not recognize, think again!

Although Russian Blues are very friendly and affectionate with their owners, they are definitely known to shy away from strangers. Hence, if your kitten’s personality changes from its usual friendly demeanor when a stranger shows up, do not be alarmed! Just give him or her time to warm up to them.

However, after a few days of practice, your kitten is sure to know that that little cozy corner in your living room is not a bathroom after all!

Mild-mannered

This is an important personality trait that makes Russian Blue kittens especially easy to train. Because of their mild nature, you will easily be able to persuade them to learn the easiest of commands, such as sitting, waiting, etc.

However, even as you move on to harder commands, their need for mental stimulation and their mild manners will make your job just as simple!

Tips for Training Your Russian Blue Kitten

When it comes time to actually begin training your Russian Blue kitten, you may feel as if nothing is working. Your kitten will have too much energy to pay attention to your commands every single time. Then, you will run out of patience too and will want to punish your “disobedient” kitten.

However, patience truly is a virtue in this case and you will need a lot of it, especially in the beginning. Hence, let us look at some of the tips for training that will help you raise a Russian Blue kitten into the most well-mannered Russian Blue cat!

Start Easy

It is easy to understand why starting with the easiest of commands is the best bet here.

However, keep in mind that even after your Russian Blue kitten has understood one of your commands and has done the task handed to him or her perfectly, you need to keep repeating this process a few more times. This will ensure that your kitten really understands what you want them to do.

Eventually, this will lead to your kitten picking up on even the slightest of your hints!

Always Use a Positive Reward to Reinforce Good Behavior

What would you want when you get home after you have had a hard, long day at work? A treat, of course.

So, what should you do if your kitten follows your command perfectly? Give them a treat too!

Using a positive reward to reinforce good behavior is a sure-fire way of ensuring that your kitten will repeat the good behavior every time you give out a particular command. Hence, whenever you start your training session, make sure that your kitty’s favorite treats are in your hand or pocket!

Gradually, once you have rewarded their good behavior multiple times, they will soon understand that good behavior equals yummy treats. And eventually, your kitten will follow your commands even if you stop handing out the treats at the end.

Finally, the positive reward does not always need to be a treat. It can be something much more personal and priceless: pats and praise!

Avoid Punishing Your Russian Blue Kitten

In my opinion, punishing your Russian Blue kitten or any pet/animal for that matter should be penalized.

Moreover, punishing your kitten for bad behavior will only make their bad behavior worse. Because when you punish them severely, they will begin to look at you, not as someone they trust but someone they fear. When this happens, your kitten will become more cautious around you. This might even lead them to become aggressive if he or she thinks that you might hurt him or her.

Furthermore, this may even lead them to become destructive and ruin your household items when you are not looking.

Hence, always remember that if they are behaving badly, the only way to make them behave well again is by reinforcing their good behavior every single time!

Keep Your Commands Short and ENUNCIATE!

Here, you need to remember that using long commands will only make following them harder for your little kitten.

Hence, if you want them to sit, you can simply say the word “Sit”. Finally, remember to enunciate!

Let Go of a Few Mishaps

Your Russian Blue kitten might be too excited or too hungry to sit before they can start eating. Or they might be in too much of a hurry to relieve themselves to get to their litter box in time. However, these little mishaps should not be looked at as bad behavior. Hence, the best bet is for you to simply let some of these mistakes go.

Do not remain under the impression that your kitty will follow your commands every single time. We all need a break sometimes, right?

Use a Powerful Voice

The use of a powerful voice is key in ensuring that your kitten actually listens to you. Hence, when giving out commands to your kitten, make sure that you use a firm and powerful voice!

Make Training Fun

Russian Blue kittens love to be mentally stimulated and love a challenge. Hence, it is the best scenario for them if you can make their training sessions fun and exciting. This will also ensure a higher chance of your kitten being more excited to participate in the training sessions. Furthermore, this additional interest displayed by your kitten will make the training sessions bring forth results even faster!

Remain Patient

As I have mentioned a few times before, patience is the key ingredient in making the training sessions with your kitten fruitful.

So, you need to make sure that you maintain your cool and remain patient. This will be especially necessary at the beginning of the training period when your kitten is still getting used to all the new commands.

Hence, remind yourself constantly that in a few weeks your kitten will be a well-trained, graceful, young adult cat!

How to Train Your Russian Blue Kitten?

Now that you have some basic guidelines and some handy tips on training Russian Blue kittens, let us now look at how to go about the actual training.

Here, you can opt for either of the two different approaches. One is home training, where you will be the trainer. Second is professional training, where professional trainers can take over the role of teaching your kitten everything from everyday manners to advanced tricks.

Home Training

Home training usually consists of training your kitten to learn everyday manners. This could include anything from sitting, waiting for you to feed him or her, using the litter box, etc.

Furthermore, below I have listed some of the methods that you can adopt to reinforce good behavior. In other words, you can use these methods to reward your kitten whenever he or she follows your command perfectly.

  • Clicker Training
  • Reward Training
  • Target Training

Remember that your kitten is more receptive to your commands at a younger age. Hence, the sooner you begin training your kitten the better.

Professional Training

However, not all of you may be able to spend this extra time with your kitten to teach them basic everyday manners. If this is the case with you, you can always opt for professional training.

However, before you choose a professional trainer, you need to decide exactly what type of training you want your kitten to receive. Since professional training can range anywhere from behavioral training to learning advanced tricks, you need to be sure about what you want your kitten to learn first!

Furthermore, professional training sessions could leave your wallet feeling much lighter. Hence, if all you want is your kitten to learn some everyday good manners, then I would suggest that you opt for home training.

How to Teach Your Kitten Everyday Manners

Now, let us look at some of the basic everyday manners that your kitten must learn. This is especially necessary if you plan to keep your Russian Blue kitten indoors.

Litter Training

Litter training is the most basic yet most important training that your kitten needs. If your kitten receives the proper litter training in time, it will keep your house clean. But it will also help prevent some very infectious diseases from taking over your household. As I mentioned earlier, Toxoplasmosis is a disease, which causes Influenza-like symptoms, that originates from infected cat feces.

To begin litter training your kitten, you will first need to be extremely vigilant. For instance, if you notice them sniffing the ground or if it looks like they are about to relieve themselves, quickly pick them up and put them in the litter box.

You can also make your kitten learn to do this on his or her own by giving your kitten a treat every time he or she goes in the litter box to relieve himself or herself. You can reinforce this good behavior even more by not giving them any treats if they happen to go somewhere other than the litter box to relieve themselves!

Your kitten might take a few weeks or even months to learn this habit, so remain vigilant and patient!

Obedience Training

Obedience training is another very crucial training that your kitten should receive. Because once your kitten is trained to obey you, the manners learned during this time will stick with your kitten for its entire lifetime.

Hence, making sure that this early obedience training is rigorous and thorough is very important.

Below, I have listed some of the most popular methods of carrying out obedience training.

Squirt Gun Method

This is a very hands-on approach to training your kitten. However, it is extremely effective too.

All you will need to employ this method is a squirt gun, some water to put inside the squirt gun, and a kitten that is displaying bad behavior. In other words, any time your kitten does something that he or she is not supposed to do, you squirt a little water on him or her as punishment.

Double-sided Tape Method

The double-sided tape method is another easy approach to turn your kitten into an obedient cat.

For this, all you have to do is stick double-sided tape on strategic spots. These are simply spots where your kitten will try to go but also where it is not supposed to go. Then, leave the tape peeled so that when your kitty steps foot on the tape, his or her paw(s) is stuck on it.

This is a quick, easy, and most importantly, harmless way of discouraging your kitten’s bad behavior. The fact that it is harmless is probably why a lot of cat owners choose to use this method too.

Finally, with this method, you do not need to stick around to discipline your kitten. Every time he or she steps foot on that spot, they will learn their lesson right away. Hence, if you are someone who cannot monitor their kitten all the time, this method will suit you the best!

What Should You Feed Your Russian Blue Kitten?

It is of utmost importance to monitor what and how much your Russian Blue kitten eats. This is further emphasized by the fact that obesity is one of the leading health issues amongst cats. And even more so because obesity could lead to other diseases such as Arthritis and Diabetes.

The first thing to note here is that your kitten most likely weaned off his or her mother’s milk and started eating solid food at around 8 weeks old. Hence, by the time you adopt or purchase your kitten, your kitten should be eating solid canned food or kibble four times a day.

Eventually, your kitten will prefer to eat 10-15 times a day. However, you can control your kitten’s food intake by placing only an appropriate amount of food in the food bowl. This way, you will know exactly how much your kitten is eating every day. And it will enable you to adjust the amount of food, if necessary.

Necessary Nutrients to Include in Your Russian Blue Kitten’s Diet

When it comes to the ideal diet of your Russian Blue kitten, there are certain nutrients that should not be left out.

For instance, protein is an important macronutrient that helps in muscle development. In fact, protein should make up about 30% of your kitten’s daily diet.

Amino acids, minerals, some vitamins, fat, some fatty acids, and water are also very important for a kitten to grow into a healthy cat. Furthermore, I have listed 6 of the most essential nutrient that should be part of your Russian Blue kitten’s diet.

  • Animal proteins (ex: Turkey, Beef, Eggs, Chicken, Fish)
  • Animal fats (ex: foods that contain fatty acids like Omega 3 and Omega 6)
  • Carbohydrates (ex: wheat and rice which are usually included in canned cat foods)
  • Vitamins (ex: foods rich in Vitamin A, D, B1, B2, B3, B6)
  • Minerals (ex: foods rich in Iron, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Chloride)
  • Water

Moreover, you will find many brands selling different types of foods made especially for kittens. Amongst these, how will you choose which brand or which type of food is the best for your kitten? Hence, to make things easier for you, I have listed some of the brands that make the best cat food.

  • BLUE Wilderness
  • Nature’s Variety
  • IAMS Proactive Health Kitten
  • Royal Canin
  • Hill’s Science Diet
  • Wellness

However, you can always opt to make home-cooked meals for your kitten. Just keep in mind to include the above mentioned six essential nutrients and also veggies like carrots, asparagus, spinach, etc.

Finding the Right Russian Blue Breeder

If you are someone who has gone back and forth, on whether you should get a Russian Blue kitten simply because you do not know which breeder is the best, then I am here to help you!

It is very important to find a reputable breeder when choosing your Russian Blue kitten. This can easily be done by doing a quick online search. Then, once you have found a breeder that looks reputable, you can do some more research by looking at the reviews.

Furthermore, if you are purchasing a Russian Blue kitten in the US, you can look them up on the Fanciers Breeder Referral List. If you are purchasing the kitten in the UK, you can use the website for the Russian Blue Breeders’ Association.

On the other hand, you can also opt to look for Russian Blue kittens in local animal rescue centers, shelters, and humane societies. However, the kittens you find in the aforementioned places may not be purebred Russian Blues, as opposed to the ones you could get through reputable breeders.

Finally, be aware that Russian Blues are not cheap! Especially the purebred ones, which can cost around $600-$800. However, the average adoption cost ranges somewhere around $75-$150!

How Much Does it Cost to Own a Russian Blue?

You may have heard some of your family members or friends talk about how they just dropped a fortune at the vet’s clinic for their pet’s checkup, vaccination, etc.

However, it may be easier for you to decide whether owning a Russian Blue kitten will be too big of a strain on your wallet after you look at the actual numbers. Hence, below I have broken down the actual monthly cost of owning a Russian Blue.

How Many Vaccinations Do They Need?

With young pets, you need to be on top of things that determine whether they will grow into healthy cats. Hence, if you have a Russian Blue kittens, you will need to make sure that he or she is getting all the necessary vaccinations.

It might be helpful to note down that your kitten will need to start getting vaccinations at the age of just 8 weeks. For further reference, I have listed down the vaccines along with their prices below.

  • Upper respiratory and distemper vaccines once a month until they are 16 weeks old.
    Price: $25 – $50
  • Vaccine for Feline Leukemia Virus (especially important if your kitten will stay outdoors the majority of the time).
    Price: $25 – $50
  • Rabies vaccine
    Price: $25 – $50

Now that we know what vaccines are of utmost importance, let us remember that our vets will know better. Hence, do make sure to consult with a reputable vet, to decide what other vaccines your Russian Blue kitten will require. And also, remember that there are many vaccines that will require booster doses too.

What is the Monthly Cost of Owning a Russian Blue?

When you first get a Russian Blue kitten, it may seem that all you are doing is letting your wallet shed weight. With things like vaccinations, food, food bowls, litter boxes, toys, maybe a scratching post, and even a regular health checkup, it can become costly to own a Russian Blue.

Nonetheless, once your Russian Blue kittens turns into a Russian Blue cat, there will not be as many things that you need to spend money on. It will be more of refilling or replacing things that you already have.

Hence, a rough monthly cost estimation to own a Russian Blue cat is around $25 – $40. However, this estimation excludes replacing things like toys, hairbrushes, toothpaste, and other necessities that you do not have to buy too often.

Although, you can cut down on this cost by making your pet home-cooked meals since they are healthier anyway!

Final Words

With all of this information, it will now be easier for you to decide whether you should add a cute little Russian Blue kitten to your home. However, if you already have one at home, then I hope the above information has helped you to understand just how special your cuddly little friend is.

Finally, most Russian Blues have a life expectancy of 10-20 years but some have actually lived up to 25 years. Hence, with the proper measures taken, your Russian Blue kittens is here to stay with you for at least a whole decade!

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