5 Things to Know About Russian Blue Cats
These cats are happy to entertain themselves, making them a great choice for families with busy schedules.
1. Key Characteristics of Russian Blue Cats
- Weight: 10–14 pounds
- Life Expectancy: 15–20 years
The Russian Blue is a medium-sized, graceful cat with a blue coat and beautiful green eyes.
The short coat has silver-tipped blue fur, and the cats' deep, vivid emerald eyes are quite piercing.
Large, flared ears flank the wedge-shaped head.
2. Where Russian Blue Cats Came From
Russian Blue cats originated from the Russian port of Arkhangelsk. For this reason, they're also known as the Archangel cats.
At the port, the cats boarded boats with sailors and saw the sights of Europe.
The Russian Blue was at the first cat shows in England around 1880 and showed up in the United States in the early 1900s.
The number of Russian Blue cats dwindled during World War II, but breeders in England, Finland and Scandinavia crossed in different cats to try to preserve the breed.
3. How Friendly Are Russian Blue Cats?
Russian Blues are intelligent cats. They are playful and like to play fetch.
Less needy than other cat breeds, Russian Blues can be reserved with strangers, but once they approve of you they will be very affectionate.
While not chatterboxes, Russian Blues will respond when talked to. They get along with other pets and children.
They may be sensitive to tone of voice and mood, so keep this in mind during training and everyday interaction.
4. Is This the Right Cat for You?
Exercise Needs
MEDIUM:
Despite having elegant and sophisticated movement, the Russian Blue loves to play and fetch, similar to the Manx cat breed. Give them a scratching post and keep them indoors. Also, be sure to regulate food intake to prevent obesity.
Russian Blue cats don’t have specific exercise needs in addition to those of regular cats.
Grooming Needs
LOW:
This cat breed only needs minimal grooming. Brush them 1–2 times a week to maintain the coat and remove dead fur.
The Russian Blue cat can be particular about a dirty litter box, so be sure to keep it clean. As always, brush the teeth, trim the nails and clean the ears.
Health Problems
LOW:
Russian Blue cats are super healthy, with no notable inherited genetic problems.
Watch Herbie, a Russian Blue cat, interact with another Russian Blue:
5. Where to Adopt a Russian Blue Cat
Purebred cats can and do end up in shelters and rescues. Start with our adoptable pet searchor check your local rescues and shelters.
If you do decide to check out breeders, get to know them and ensure they're not operating a kitten mill.
Additional Resources
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Kristine Lacoste has been researching dog and cat breeds for nearly a decade and has observed the animals up close at dog shows in both the United States and the United Kingdom. She is the author of the book One Unforgettable Journey, which was named as a finalist for a Maxwell Award from the Dog Writers Association of America, and was host of a weekly pet news segment on the National K-9 Academy Radio Show. In addition, she was the New Orleans coordinator for Dogs on Deployment, a nonprofit that helps military members and their pets, for 3 years. Kristine has researched and written about pet behaviors and care for many years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, another bachelor’s degree in English and a Master of Business Administration degree.
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