Characteristics of the Russian blue cat - character, and habits
The Russian blue cat (it is also called the Arkhangelsk blue cat, and abroad - the Russian blue cat) is a balanced, calm creature. She is not particularly dependent on the owner, calmly endures loneliness, is able to entertain herself on her own. However, she will not avoid stroking either - why? After all, this is her beloved master, her own family. True, with other people she can be shy, even fearful - she often runs away, hides, does not allow strangers to stroke herself.
Interestingly, due to its calm temperament, the Russian blue cat steadfastly endures children's pranks. Where an animal with a less balanced temperament has already begun to protect honor and dignity, this animal stoically endures encroachments on personal space. The balanced, calm character of the pet is a definite plus.
It is difficult to call this beauty active and sociable. This is a rather phlegmatic animal, occupying the position of a contemplator in life. However, she still loves to play - this is how she realizes her hunting instincts. Likes to hunt insects, small rodents, birds. Therefore, it is important not to leave your pet in a room with open windows without screens - it can end in tragedy. The Russian blue cat loves height, while its dimensions are quite impressive, so it is better to remove everything that can break from the height.
So, the Russian blue cat is a calm, balanced, restrained pet. It is perfect for your family if you are against obsessive pets, for which there is more care than for children, but at the same time, you want to have a living creature nearby that you can pet, you can take care of.
Description of the breed
Appearance - what does a Russian blue look like
Russian blue cat looks like ... Cat. She can be called the ideal representative of the noble feline family - strong, healthy, graceful, unspoiled by inventors-breeders, fluffy, gray, phlegmatic, she seemed to have descended from the illustration of some fairy tale about Kotofey Ivanovich.
Without metaphors, there are three different phenotypes of the Russian blue cat.
American type
It is characterized by a more elongated head shape. His ears are larger, pointed in shape, and the coat is thicker, brighter (the color is rich blue-gray), and the skeleton is lighter and more graceful. This type is also called "oriental".
European type
The head is flatter, the coat is silvery. The undercoat and the coat itself are the same lengths, so the coat seems very thick and elastic. Rounded ears.
English type
The head is shorter in shape, the coat is lighter than that of other phenotypes, with "silvering" - a slight silvery sheen.
As for the proportions: the head should be slightly elongated, flat, the nose without a hump, the forehead without pronounced hills and curves, but the brow ridges are well defined, and the chin is "strong-willed", rounded. Large eyes are round (not almond-shaped), set wide apart. The ears are large, thin, resilient; there is little hair on the inner side of the ear. The neck and body are elongated, graceful, muscular, the legs and tail are long and strong. The paw pads in the European type are darker, lilac, lighter, with a beige tint in the American.
The size
On average 60 centimeters in length from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail. In height - about 25 centimeters.
Weight
Up to five and a half kilograms.
Wool
It is a long-haired breed. The coat lags well behind the body. One of the defects is just a tight-fitting coat.
Colors
Bright blue, gray-blue, with a silvery bloom ("silvering", or "tipping").
According to the breed standard, the coat should be monochromatic, but it happens that even an absolutely healthy cat gives birth to kittens, for example, with white breasts, white spots, or with yellow eyes. It is impossible to predict, it just happens even if the breeder is as decent as possible. However, such kittens are sold cheaper, but they have all the features of the breed for which the owners appreciate it so much.
Life expectancy - how long do Russian blue cats live?
Up to twenty years old. With good care, even longer - up to twenty-five.
Are Russian blue cats hypoallergenic or not? How often do they shed?
In fact, they are not hypoallergenic, as their coat structure is absolutely standard for cats and will cause an allergic reaction. But the allergic reaction will be weaker because the substances that cause the allergy are released into the air (and therefore inhaled by the allergic person) less than in other breeds because the coat is very dense.
Sheds seasonally, twice a year.
Is the Russian Blue a friendly breed?
Not particularly. They accept caresses and hugs, but they will not demand them constantly, sitting next to the owner around the clock. They become shy with strangers, often run away, hide, do not allow themselves to be stroked.
Attitude towards children
Stoic. The Russian Blue has a surprisingly calm, stable temperament, so she will not show aggression towards children to the last. But leaving any cat, even the calmest one, alone with a small child is unsafe: the child still does not understand how to handle the animal so as not to hurt him, and the animal does not understand that the child does not hurt him on purpose, so it can get scared and show aggression.
Relationship to other animals
Phlegmatic. The Russian blue is quite capable of making friends with another cat or even with a dog, but for rodents, small birds, insects, she will have a hunting instinct that is quite natural for a cat.
Playfulness
Average. The Russian blue cat loves to play, "to hunt", but at the same time, it is rather lazy.
How does loneliness endure
Very calm without any problem. The Russian blue is an independent breed, it does not need the constant presence of a person, this compares favorably with, for example, a social sphinx or an Abyssinian cat. However, leaving it alone for a day, of course, is impossible: any living creature needs attention.
Potential health problems
The Russian blue is a breed that has not been spoiled by breeders, therefore they do not have genetic diseases. Most often, the diseases of these animals are associated with breathing or digestion: due to improper feeding, gastritis may develop, or the cat may be allergic to any product. With age, the cat naturally begins to move less, and her eating habits are the same, so she can gain weight. This needs to be monitored.
Kittens cost
23-28 thousand - the price in rubles for a pet-class kitten (that is, he cannot take part in exhibitions and breeding, he is bought only as a pet). A show-class kitten costs 40 thousand rubles. If you take a kitten from your hands, not from the cattery, then the price, of course, is lower - up to five thousand.
Russian blue cats cattery
Kennel "Rus" is located in St. Petersburg. It has been operating since 1990 and is registered with the RKF. Their cats are very beautiful, gray rather than blue, with bright green eyes. the owners of pets from this cattery speak of them extremely warm and with love.
Kennel "Razdolye", Moscow. Cats are supplied not only across Russia but also around the world, including, for example, Italy and Japan. Their pets actively participate in international exhibitions, take first prize places.
Blue Fantasy, also Moscow. It is curious that in addition to direct breeding and sale of pets, this nursery also provides informational assistance to novice owners, gives contacts to veterinarians.
The need for grooming (here about the specific needs of a particular breed)
In fact, one of the advantages of the Russian blue cat is precisely the fact that it requires almost no special care. All grooming activities are limited to the standard for all cats:
- Monitor the pet so that it does not climb anywhere, does not fall from anywhere, does not end up in danger;
- Examine eyes every day, clean with a napkin if dirty;
- Examination of ears, mouth, teeth - once a week;
- Claw trimming - once a month;
- If you want your Russian blue cat to look especially attractive, you should brush it once a week. Brush daily during molting.
- There is no need to bathe a Russian blue, only if it gets very dirty.
Maintenance cost
So, before you get a Russian blue cat, you should know that the maintenance of the animal will entail certain expenses. First of all, these are food and filler costs. Also, do not forget about preventive vaccinations and helminths. In addition, there will be associated costs for hair care products. Well, those who have purchased an exhibition kitten must remember that participation in an exhibition is a separate item of expenses, which includes not only the membership fee, but also the training of the cat, travel, and accommodation (if the event takes place in another city).
Nutrition
What to feed: either dry food or natural food.
Natural food includes lean meat (turkey, beef), cottage cheese, cereals (oatmeal, rice), vegetables as vitamin supplements. Do not give bones, fatty meat, cooked meat with spices, sweets, onions, garlic, liver, eggplants.
Dry food is always of the acceptance class. If you care about the beauty of your pet's fur coat, then exclude food that includes fish by-products, canned fish - they will affect the characteristic silvery tint of the Russian blue cat's fur coat.
The cost of organic food depends on the choice of food. A two-kilogram bag of dry food costs two thousand rubles. Additional costs may be incurred if your Russian Blue is allergic and has to select food.
Veterinary
The Russian blue is distinguished by enviable health, an annual preventive examination by a veterinarian is enough. The cost of his services depends on the specific specialist and the region where you live.
Grooming
Not required, just before exhibitions, but you can do it yourself.
Exhibitions
A show-class kitten costs from 40 thousand rubles. The cost of participation depends on the venue and prestige.
Pros and cons of the breed
+ Good health, long life expectancy;
+ Stable temperament, non-aggressive;
+ Calmly endures loneliness;
+ Attractive appearance;
+ High hunting instincts;
+ Universal, will feel great in any living conditions;
+ Causes less allergic reaction than other breeds.
- Shy with strangers, they can run away, hide, not give in to hands;
- Independence is not always a plus, perhaps you need a more affectionate pet;
- You need to make sure that you do not fall out of nowhere, do not fall out of the window;
- May be allergic (which means there will be costs for the selection of feed);
- Phlegmatic, not energetic.
History of the breed
The homeland of the Russian blue is Pomorie. It was from there that, once in the distant 18th century, Catherine II ordered to take several gray-blue purrs to send them with ambassadors to England. So Russian blues appeared in Europe. In the 19th century, Queen Victoria fell in love with them, and the descendants of "Catherine's" cats caught mice at the British court. At the end of the 19th century, the breed was already consciously taken up: an aristocrat, a representative of a rich and influential family, Karen Cox, went to the distant snow-covered Arkhangelsk to take from there several purebred Russian blue cats and develop on their basis a real breed registered according to all the rules. In 1912, this happened, the breed standard, its official description, appeared.
World War II mowed down many breeds, including the Russian blue, but the combined efforts of all the Nordic countries managed to restore the breed.
In Russia, the Russian blue returned to the 90s, and Russian breeders began to cross overseas guests with aboriginal representatives of the breed. So the Russian blue returned home.
Interesting facts about Russian blue cats
In addition to the "Russian blue", they are also called the Maltese, Spanish, American and Norwegian breed.
The unspoken name of the Arkhangelsk blue cat is "archangels".
They meow very quietly, therefore they are considered a quiet breed.
Owner reviews
“Our green-eyed monster does nothing but eat and sleep, haha) Typical cat. It is not she who lives with us, it is we with her, but she graciously allows us) She cannot be seen or heard, only she comes to sleep at my feet. "
"To be honest, I see no reason to buy this particular breed, we have five such Russian blues in each village."
“I just fell in love with this breed! A real beauty, a stunning steel shade of fur, huge green eyes ... I love it! And do not listen to anyone, they are not at all unsociable! Affectionate, friendly, gentle cats, beauties, aristocrats, honey! I have never had anyone better in my life)) I love my Marusenka! "