12 Things You Did Not Know About the Russian Blue Cat

Alyona Jasminka, Maartje Schoenmaker (Netherlands) / Cats.com

Russian Blues are an exquisite, naturally occurring breed. While it’s tempting to call any gray cat a Russian Blue, these cats have a unique appearance and personality that endear them to devotees. Legend has it that the breed originated in the Archangelsk region of northern Russia and was brought to England by sailors. Queen Elizabeth I is said to have had a gray cat, and the young Romanov Tsarevich Alexei, who suffered from hemophilia, is said to have been comforted by a Russian Blue brought by a sailor.

1. Russian Blues were first exhibited at the Crystal Palace in England

Russian Blues were first exhibited at the Crystal Palace in England in 1875 under the name Archangel or Maltese cat. A blue cat, Bayard, was imported by Mrs. Carew-Cox. Russian Blues were not imported to North America until the early 1900s

2. Russian Blues were bred with Blue-Point Siamese after World War II to bolster the lines

Some Russian Blues are a throwback to Blue-Point Siamese that were used to re-establish the breed after World War II, leading to the famous Dunloe line; some blue domestic shorthairs were also used. Over the years, the lines were established and refined. In addition to Dunloe, Miribu, Molleby, Felinist, Finlandia, Nordic, and Katzenburg produced outstanding lines of Russian Blues; well-known catteries such as Velva and Wynterwynd are still active; and Donna Fuller of Tsar Blue died only recently. On a personal note, my Russian Blue, Katzenburg’s Tekla, was from the last litter bred by Ingeborg Urcia, and she was the last surviving kitty before we lost her in 2020 at the age of 17½.

Early “foundation” cats—those responsible for establishing the breed—included Pavel of Braheborg and Bayard, as well as Blue Moon of Molleby and Velva’s Williwinky.

3. Orange eyes were once acceptable in the Russian Blue appearance.

Katzenburg’s Tekla, Sally Bahner (U.S.) / Cats.com

But the standard quickly changed to green as the Russian Blue standards became more refined. The eyes of kittens are blue and gradually change to green, although some may have a yellow ring. Cats with lighter coats may have eyes that are a less vivid green.

4. Not all gray cats are Russian Blues.

Shelters and adoption organizations often label gray domestic shorthairs as Russian Blues to make them more marketable. Of course, the real way to determine whether a cat is a Russian Blue is to view a pedigree. A responsible (and the operative word here is “responsible”) breeder always includes the pedigree when a kitten or cat is sold. Because Russian Blues are considered a minority breed and are seldom left outside unsupervised, the chances of a Russian Blue “mix” are slim to none. Granted, look-alikes or “wannabes” abound, but once you’ve experienced the real thing, you’re hooked for life.

But wait—two other breeds do come attired exclusively in blue coats: the Chartreux and the Korat. However, British Shorthairs and Oriental Shorthairs also have blue coats among their other color varieties.

5. The coat of a Russian Blue is not solid gray

Look closely. The coat of a Russian Blue is distinguished by its silver tipping, which can be more apparent in a darker coat. The result is a silvery sheen that almost looks as if it were sprinkled with confectionery sugar. The cats are known for their thick “double coat,” a soft undercoat topped with a denser hair coat, resulting in a beautiful, plush feel.

6. Russian Blues also come in White and Black

Snezhny Dunoe (Snow), Yasmin Wijnands / Cats.com

Though not recognized in all cat associations, there are indeed White and Black Russian Blues. However, a white Siberian domestic was incorporated into a breeding program in Australia; Russian Whites and Blacks are very popular there. There are even Russian Blue Spotted Tabbies. The coat of a Russian Black is described as a dense, glossy black to the skin, with black nose leather and paw pads. They have the genes for a black coat, as well as special modifier genes to lighten the black.

Not all registries recognize all “Russian” cat colors or place them in the same category. For example, the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) and Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe) only recognize Russian Blues. The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF), the UK-based association, recognizes Russian White and Russian Black cats, and the American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) has distinct breed standards that separate Russian Blues from Russian Shorthairs in blue, white, and black colors. Some Russian Blacks and Whites are accepted on a “provisional” basis, pending acceptance into an association.

7. Different registries have different standards.

In the US and internationally, there are the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) and The International Cat Association (TICA). Within the US, there are the American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) and Cat Fanciers’ Federation (CFF). The Russian Blue has been a mainstay of recognized associations for many years.

The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) is UK-based; Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe) and World Cat Federation (WCF) are umbrellas for various national registries. The Federation for the Management of the Official Feline (LOOF) is the French state registry. In Australia, there’s the Russian Cat Council of Australia (RCCA). Nederlandse Raskatten Vereniging (NRKV) is one of many independents (not under any of the above umbrellas). According to Maartje Schoenmaker, Alyona Russian Blues, “Independent registries” exist all over Europe, but not all are recognized by the umbrella organizations.

8. There are generally two distinct “looks” to Russian Blues: the American/Scandinavian and European/English/Australian.

Barbara Metamorfoza*PL, Anna Stelmaszczyk (Poland) / Cats.com

The American/ Scandinavian “flavor” has a more refined build and lighter coat. Ears are set more to the side, and the muzzle is narrower. Variations depend on the standards of a given association.

The European “flavor” is stockier with a darker coat (better to show off that silver tipping), with more prominent whisker pads and higher-set ears. Again, there are differences among the associations,

9. Russian Blues are very intelligent and bond very closely with their people.

Russian Blues’ sweet nature makes them easy to live with. They quickly learn your routine and always acknowledge you with a bright chirp. They can be shy and react cautiously when the doorbell rings. As with all cats, proper nutrition and regular vet checks are critical to their well-being.

10. Russian Blues are a healthy breed.

A responsible breeder will carefully screen cats for any health issues and provide a health certificate upon purchase. Cats with any health concerns are not used for breeding.

11. Contrary to various claims, Russian Blues are not hypoallergenic.

Grey Silk Uslada, Marina Kovaleva (Russia) / Cats.com

However, they may be better tolerated by allergy sufferers due to lower levels of glycoprotein Fel d 1, which lessens the histamine reaction.

The real culprit in cat allergies is not the fur, but rather tiny allergen particles found in an animal’s dander (dead skin flakes), saliva, and urine. People with allergies and cats can co-exist by following some commonsense procedures: keep the cats out of the bedroom (yeah, a tough one…); bathe your cat regularly or use wipes or sprays designed to help with allergies; use a HEPA filter; wash your hands after petting (and avoid rubbing your eyes); and vacuum regularly using a double or micro-filter bag.

12. The definitive book on the Russian Blue breed is “This is the Russian Blue” by the late Ingeborg Urcia of Katzenburg cattery and its subsequent update, “The Russian Blue Cat.”

The books are chock-full of historical information about Russian Blues and include lots of older pedigrees and cattery mentions. They are both still available on Amazon, although rather pricy. Another good resource is “Russian Blue Cats As Pets: The Complete Owner’s Guide” by Karola Brecht.