According to one of the legends, all cats are descended from love between a lioness and a monkey. From such a union, intelligent and intelligent (like a father) and aristocratic and noble (like a mother) animals appeared. The beautiful character of the Russian blue cat is combined with refinement of manners, modest and low-key beauty.
It is the combination of such qualities that made this breed so popular, especially recently. The article will look at when and where this breed appeared, what is its character and features.
Breed history
Among the felinologists (scientists studying the characteristics of cats) there is a common version that looks more like a fairy tale or legend, according to which cats from the Arkhangelsk and other northern Russian regions were the ancestors of the “Russian Blue” breed. According to archival documents that have come down to our day, many Russian rulers, beginning with Peter I, as well as high-ranking nobles, had cats of this breed. According to archival documents, in spite of the fact that Catherine II preferred dogs, namely, the IGs, she bestowed on kittens of the breed Russian blue royal surnames and rulers of foreign states as a sign of imperial disposition. It is believed that part of the "official" representatives of this breed came to the UK in this way. In addition, another part of the "official" Russian blue cats and cats was taken out of Arkhangelsk in 1893 by an Englishwoman, breeder Carew Cox. But unofficially, the “blue archangels,” as the British called these cats, “sailed” to London on ships carrying goods from Russia to the United Kingdom.
Modern history
The unusual color and grace, as well as the rather calm and even character of the Russian blue cat, impressed the Europeans, but especially the British, who in 1935 included this breed in the pedigree book of Great Britain.
Until this time, cats with similar color were known in European countries and they were called either Maltese or Spanish. Since 1939, the name “Russian Blue” has finally been assigned to the breed, and now it is recognized by all felinological organizations of the international level.
During World War II, it was only thanks to the efforts of amateurs who crossed its representatives with Siamese cats that the breed was preserved. That is how the “Russian Blue” cat breed was preserved; fortunately, under the influence of Siamese “blood”, it did not change for the worse.
In the postwar years, this breed is becoming increasingly popular, as evidenced by the discovery in 1967 in the UK and in 1979 in Germany by societies of its fans. Up until the 80s of the past century, there was practically no popularity among the Russian blue cat.
Appearance
As a rule, Russian blue cats are medium, rarely large, with a flexible and graceful body, while their forelimbs are shorter than the hind ones. Paws are small, round or oval. The neck is rather thin and long, but because of the thick fur with undercoat it looks rather short. The tail is elongated, tapering from the base to the tip. The head of the representatives of this breed is wedge-shaped, with a flat and narrow skull and protruding forehead and strong chin. The ears of Russian blue cats are wide at the base and large, sharpened to the tips and decorated with “tassels” or “bristles”. Large, widely spaced and almond-shaped eyes of all shades of green are a feature of this breed. Nose and paw pads are painted in gray-blue shades.
A similar color is also found in other breeds, but only the short hair of Russian blue is dense, soft silver-blue or almost blue, with a silver “tint”. According to the breed standard, no spots or stripes in color are allowed, with the exception of stripes on the tail of kittens and young animals that disappear as the animal matures. The wool of the Russian blue is very soft and thick, with undercoat, and feels like plush to the touch.
Character traits
Just like any Russian, blue cat character has a difficult, but quite friendly and open. Many of the phenologists, both amateurs and professionals, call this graceful and charming animal the intellectual of the feline world.
First of all, it should be noted that the majority of representatives of this breed are introverts. They rather easily endure short loneliness and are able to occupy themselves - and these are special features of character! Russian blue cats are not so friendly to recognize in any of your buddy partner to communicate and try to just get away from the imposed contact. Also, they do not like big noisy companies of unfamiliar people. As a rule, the owner, who decides to brag to his pet's friends, does not find him until all outsiders leave the house.
Representatives of this breed are building a calm and even relationship with all family members, including other animals. The exceptions are rodents and birds that awaken a hunting instinct in a quiet and intelligent cat.
The highest level of cleanliness and accuracy - these are the features of the breed. Russian blue cats take care of their luxurious “fur coat” and its cleanliness for a considerable part of their time. In addition, they are extremely demanding to the purity of their pans and trays. The animal will suffer from hunger and thirst, but from the dirty, in his opinion, there will be no dishes.
There is another quality that the character of the Russian blue cat does not determine, but the owners really like it - a very quiet voice. So quiet that most owners simply do not notice the onset of "spring" in the representatives of both sexes of this breed.
Behavioral features
- Representatives of the Russian blue breed quietly get along on the same territory as with cats of other breeds, and with dogs.
- The "male" part of this breed, unlike the others, does not mark the territory, so there is no unpleasant smell.
- Seasonal molt is practically absent in Russian blue cats, and wool is not an allergen.
- These are loyal and faithful animals that can express their emotions by “hugging” and “kissing” their beloved master.
- Despite the infinite love of the owner, the character of the Russian blue cat is such that it will calmly endure separation and loneliness while the person is working.
Who is she suitable for?
Animals of this breed are quite simple and easy to adapt in almost any conditions offered to them by people. Russian blue cat with pleasure "listens" and will make the company a lonely person. A cat or a cat will calmly and faithfully wait for his master while he is away, watching what is happening outside the window or exploring his home ownership. Pets of this breed will also be happy to accompany the owner on short walks, sitting comfortably on his shoulder.
Couples who have pets of this breed will tell you with confidence that they not only read minds, but also understand the language (including Russian). Blue cat's character and intuition is simply awesome and can shift people's attention from the beginning conflict to other problems created by soft paws.
Families with young children can easily start a pet of this breed, as it will never harm babies. Cats will patiently demolish the research activities of the child, but the charter, they simply "disappear", hiding from the little annoying in a secluded place.
Disadvantages: like any cat, Russian blue has a character
Such advantages of this breed as cleanliness and neatness are sometimes perceived by the owners as the capriciousness of the animal. When planting a Russian blue cat, it is worth remembering that it will not eat and drink from one bowl twice. An uncleaned tray will cause dissatisfaction and finding a cleaner and looser place in your house. In addition, all pets of this breed love comfort. And if you think that the cat on the bed next to you is not the place, she will not resist, and will humbly sleep in a silk blouse or a new fur coat.
Where to buy and how much?
Buy a kitten breed "Russian Blue" can be in all major cities. Practically in each of them there are nurseries or breeders work. The price for kittens of this breed varies from 7,500 to 40,000 rubles, depending on the pedigree, color variant and some other factors. When buying a pet of this particular breed, be sure to check all the documents about the animal, including its pedigree. As a rule, breeders sell kittens at lower prices than nurseries.
Here it is, the Russian blue cat. Breed description, character, price - we considered all these aspects. Whether such a pet is right for you and your family is up to you!
The history of the breed
The appearance of the Russian blue cat has undergone some changes over time. Breeders crossed them with representatives of other breeds - the Siamese, the British, to obtain the ideal pedigree data. This was done to ensure that the breed received a stronger health and the most attractive appearance. With the help of the British, blue cats got a more beautiful coat. But crossing with the Siamese played a cruel joke with the breeders, increasing the negative qualities in both breeds. Therefore, the breeders agreed - to stop the breeding experiments and make maximum efforts to return the Russian blue cats to their original form.
This cat gained the greatest popularity in the twentieth century. Russian and rulers, Nicholas 2 and Queen Victoria appreciated this breed of cats. It was their representatives that they preferred to keep as pets.
Breed standards and its features
Breed standards of Russian blue established over the centuries. Breeders are well aware that through generations of breeding, the appearance of representatives of the breed accepts some changes and becomes more attractive to humans. Animal health is also getting stronger.
Today, the Russian blue cat must meet the following breed standards:
- Torso. Cats of this breed are of medium size. The body looks somewhat elongated and graceful. Cats of this breed should be graceful and aristocratic. Individuals with extra pounds are often disqualified at exhibitions and removed from breeding.
- Head. Triangular regular shape. Extended and elongated.
- Muzzle. The profile should be straight and the forehead flat. When viewed from the front, the nose and chin of a cat should be on the same vertical line, without deviating to one side or the other. Malocclusion is an indicator of the animal to be excluded from breeding.
- Ears. Should be widely spaced, large in size and of sufficient length, with a broad base and sharp tips. The ear shells should be pink.
- Paws. Should be long, slim and muscular. Part of the paws with pads of medium size and looks subtle in relation to the body of a cat.
- Neck. Should not be too narrow or wide. Be sure to even.
- Eyes. Must necessarily have a green color, be widely planted and large, almond-shaped.
- Tail. Enough long length with a tight coat. Must have a sharp tip.
- Dimensions and weight. Russian blue cats are of medium size, the weight of the female is about 3.5 kg on average, the cat is about 5.
The standards of the breed and its description may have some differences for different systems of evaluation of the breed characteristics, while observing the main features of the Russian blue cat. Today, breeders have priority in preserving the breed in its original form.
Characteristics of wool cover
Cats of this breed have wool, well-groomed in appearance from nature. It should be smooth, silky and healthy. Hair dense texture. Wool should be the same length throughout the body of the animal with the presence of a thick undercoat. It is needed to maintain the desired body temperature of the cat and protect it from moisture. Hair undercoat should match the color with a shade of the entire hairline of the animal.
Russian blue cat most often corresponds to its name, so the main tone of the fur of these animals is blue. It can be very bright and almost dark. It is not a big deal, as long as it is blue. Many breeders are engaged in breeding ideal in their opinion shade of wool in cats of this breed.
Russian blue cats and children
The positive distinctive feature of this feline breed is that they are just great for children. The cat of breed Russian blue is very patient and indulgent. Therefore, she is not only a loyal friend of her master, but also a very good nurse for small children.
Often, domestic cats perceive human children as well as the kittens of their relatives. The animal is clearly aware that in front of him is a child. But, of course, there are exceptions. It all depends on the individual characteristics of the nature of the pet. Nevertheless, cats of the Russian Blue breed are notable for their special patience, calmness and balance. There is no better friend for cats for a baby than a Russian blue cat.
Features of maintenance and care
Russian blue cat is unpretentious in maintenance and care. She has a short coat that does not require complex care. It is enough to bathe it every six months (no more) or as extreme as necessary. Cats of this breed are clean enough and can independently keep themselves in proper form.
It is necessary to comb a cat in order to remove loose hairs by yourself. This will not only help the animal, but also contribute to the maintenance of cleanliness in the house. This should be done with a soft or silicone brush, as well as a comb with fine teeth.
To protect your pet from possible infection with parasites and fleas, you can purchase a special collar. For prophylactic purposes, de-worming should be carried out about once every 6 months, with the help of drugs of complex action (namely, on round and tapeworms). This should be done with the help of special preparations purchased at a veterinary pharmacy, in compliance with the dosage, based on the weight of the pet. Some mistakenly believe that a cat that lives in a house or apartment without going outside cannot become infected with worms. However, this opinion is very wrong. Parasites can enter the body of an animal from poorly heat-treated meat, fish, from other animals, and even from the host itself.
The teeth of the cat must also be cleaned. This should be done once or twice a week with a special paste and brush. Teaching a kitten to brush your teeth is necessary from a very early age, but you can teach a cat to grow up. For this you need to take the paste and brush. Moisten the brush with water and apply a very small amount of special cat paste on it. Kota fix with one hand, gently holding his mouth open with your fingers. Use your other hand to brush the hygiene procedures. Sweeping movements with a light touch you need to clean the fangs first, and then all the other teeth. Special attention should be paid to teeth located in the corners of the mouth. If an animal is very indignant when brushing its teeth, then you should not blame it for its nasty temper, perhaps it has just sensitive teeth.
Health features
Thanks to competent centuries-old selection and good conditions of detention, the Russian blue cat has good health and good life expectancy. Representatives of this breed very rarely have genetic pathologies and diseases.
Unfortunately, the Russian blue cat loves to eat very much. Therefore, it is necessary to control the quality and quantity of food consumed by it, in order to avoid problems with overweight. Excess weight has not yet made anyone more attractive and healthy, Russian blue cats, including.
Certain abnormalities may occur on the part of the bones and teeth of the cat. To avoid this, the diet of the animal must be balanced and complete. If it is not possible to prepare your pet high-quality food yourself, then you need to choose high-quality food with vitamin-mineral complexes.
When feeding cats with natural food, food may not always be balanced and useful. In this case, it is better to add complex vitamins to the diet in order to maintain the health of the pet in good condition.
How many Russian blue cats live?
Russian blue cat - cat long-liver. Representatives of this breed live long enough and can live even up to twenty years on condition of good nutrition and living conditions. Since they have good health, they remain active until the last days of life. В среднем, продолжительность жизни русской голубой кошки составляет около 17-ти лет.
Где можно купить русскую голубую кошку?
Of course, it is better to buy a purebred kitten in a specialized nursery or at exhibitions. Due to the prevalence of the breed in the post-Soviet countries - finding a kitten is unlikely to arise. Breeders of Russian blue cats are in almost all major cities of Russia and Ukraine.
However, if the future owner did not find a baby of this breed in the city of residence, you should not buy an animal remotely. It is better to visit the nursery on your own to see the conditions in which the cats are kept, to see all the documents and to carefully examine the future pet before purchasing. Perhaps this will require a little time and additional costs. Nevertheless, a personal meeting with the sellers during the transaction will make it possible to know whether it is worth buying a kitten from him.
Selection defects
After the October Revolution, tribal work was extremely difficult. An iron curtain fell in front of the breeders, and the purebred breeding was deadlocked. The word “Russian” was removed from the name of the breed, replacing it with the adjective “foreign”: it was not until 1939 that the original name, “Russian blue,” was returned to the breed.
And European breeders had no choice but to use similar breeds for crossing. In the guise of Russian blue, strongly modified by Siamese genes, distinct oriental features began to appear:
- Wedge-shaped head with straight profile.
- Big ears set wide apart.
- Stretched limbs.
- Short coat with little developed undercoat.
It is interesting! Noticeably deteriorated and character. Cats have acquired an unusual style of yelling, and cats have learned to mark the corners, which the real Russian blue have never done. Active mixing of the native Archangelsk cats with Siamese was continued by the Americans in the middle of the last century.
The British decided to get rid of their own breeding mistakes, focusing on the British shorthair. By removing the Siamese traits, the breeders awarded the Russian blue with other alien characteristics - a large skeleton and an impressive mass.
Homecoming
It took place only in the mid-80s of the last century. The first Russian blue for breeding were brought to their historic homeland from Czechoslovakia.
The appearance of these cats, tainted by Siamese blood, needed to be adjusted. The breeders were faced with the task of ridding the Russian blue of the signs introduced:
- Oriental profile,
- not enough thick undercoat,
- wool, devoid of silvery sheen.
Breeding breeding became impossible without domestic Russian blue catswhich are more than foreign gays, met (by phenotype) breed standard. Our Russian blue had such features as:
- round eyes,
- characteristic angular profile,
- protruding whiskers,
- longer hair,
- tight undercoat
- silver blue color.
But, most importantly, our cats had an ideal disposition, unlike the character of wild Siamese.
Species species
Now four types of Russian blue cats are known:
- American - with pronounced oriental features and early color of the iris. The eyes become saturated green by the 4th month.
- European - without dubbed wool, with a peculiar color.
- Scandinavian - with a rounded head and a massive body covered with double wool.
- Russian - this type of Russian blue cat could be considered a reference if it were not for the protracted process of turning the eyes and the unsatisfactory length of the coat.
Appearance of the blue archangel
This is a toned and elegant animal of medium size (up to 5 kg), covered with dense double wool, similar to the fur of British cats. Thick fur visually shortens a long cat's neck.
Limbs elongated (front slightly shorter than hind ones), oval legs, tail not particularly long. On wedge-shaped head of the Russian blue are large ears and a straight nose. Strongly pronounced whisker pads.
The special charm of these cats give the eyes - almond-shaped, widely spaced and certainly green. True, the iris can be painted in all shades of green, including emerald, lime, jade and mint.
It is interesting! All newborn kittens are born with blue eyes, and only over time the iris turns green: sometimes it takes not only months but also years.
Another highlight of the Russian blue is the silver-casting dense fur, for the double structure of which the guard hairs and down are responsible. The length of the wool and down match, so the first is not adjacent to the body and is very similar to the fur seal.
In the metallic sheen, the bleached ends of the guard hairs are “guilty”, due to which the wool acquires a silvery shimmer.
Felinologists refer to defects as a chunky constitution, a pronounced oriental type, a round or quadrangular head, an adjacent fur, round eyes, an disproportionately wide tail (at the base), yellowish inclusions in the standard color of the eyes, white stripes and spots on the hair.
Colors of the Russian blue cat
One of the breeds where it is impossible to get entangled in the variants, since from the ears to the paws (according to the standard), these tailed ones should be painted in a gray-blue color without stripes.
Sometimes on the tails of kittens you can see the "ring", often disappearing with age. But even if the pattern fails, it is not considered a disadvantage. Nose should be distinguished from a lighter coat.. Paw pads have a dark pink color.
Recently, pets with a light gray tinge of fur have become the most sought-after, although cats have recently been valued more darkly.
Russian blue will get along in any family - where there are small children or in the one that consists of one owner of advanced years. She knows how to listen to long monologues of old people, but, if necessary, she easily switches to dynamic communication with kids and teenagers.
When carelessly handling her, she knows how to keep herself “in the clutches” and not to let go of her claws: there is a single exception to this rule - for cocky dogs.
These cats are not vindictive and will not intentionally harm their owner. Russian blue is important intonation, gestures and words. Having understood what you are trying to achieve from her, the cat will do everything exactly, and if it “bucks”, it will be only for the view.
It is interesting! With all the love for the owner, the blue archangel will not allow himself to squeeze and will get used to a stranger for a long time until he is 100% trusted to him.
In Russian blue a vigilant hunter never falls asleep. In the absence of birds, she will hunt bugs, wherever they hide. Unlike other breeds, it will not lose interest in prey while it is in the field of view of the cat. She will definitely wait for the fly to descend a little lower in order to slam it with one deft throw.
Health and Care
If you buy Russian blue without admixture of oriental blood, the specific aroma of feline secretions will not hover in your apartment.
Another plus of the breed is almost non-falling hair. For this reason Russian blue is in the top 10 cats recommended for the content of allergies. Blue-gray coat requires an elementary combing no more than once a week.
Your pet does not need bath procedures: unless you gather with him to the exhibition. During periods of molting (twice a year), you can feed your baleen with grass or oats so that the stomach is quickly relieved of wool.
It is better to consult with the breeder or the veterinarian about the feed, as it has been observed that some industrial foods provoke darkening of the coat. In any case, the wet food in the diet should be no more than a quarter or even less.
These cats have excellent heredity, endowing them with good health. The average lifespan of a Russian blue is 15 years, but in the absence of stress and proper care, your pet will live much longer.
The price of the Russian blue cat
She, like the price of other pedigree cats, is determined by the class assigned to the kitten. From the hands, but without any guarantees, they will sell you a Russian blue kitten for only one thousand rubles.
Pat - their cost varies in the range from 5 to 17 thousand rubles. These animals are not suitable for exhibition shows, but nevertheless must have a veterinary passport with marks of vaccinations. Even in this category you can find a beautiful and cheerful kitten for the house.
Brid - these cats are suitable for breeding: they get a pedigree and cost from 17 to 25 thousand rubles.
Show - show kittens are rated as high as possible (from 25 to 35 thousand rubles). In order not to lose while buying, go to the cattery with a cat expert.
The Russian blue cat is loved abroad: among short-haired breeds, it has almost no equal in popularity. Trade in the blue archangels is especially brisk in Hungary, Norway, Slovakia, Finland, the Czech Republic and Sweden.
In these countries, Arkhangelsk purebred kittens are sold for $ 400-700. In Ukraine, kittens for home leisure can be purchased for 2.5 - 10 thousand rubles.
