About the Breed
"The Russian is the closest thing you'll find to 'purrfect' in any cat!"
That pretty much sums it up in my personal opinion!
Let me take a few moments to explain. But first, it's noteworthy to tell you I will be referring to them as "Russians" in the paragraphs that follow because I breed not only Russian Blue, but also other colors they come in which includes White, Blue Point or "Pointed", and Black. Think of color as you would when buying a car or an appliance. Now think of your favorite BRAND of those items. The brand is the same regardless of the color. Thus, the breed (Russian) is the same regardless of color. The Russian White and Black have had CFA championship breed status for several years now. Russian White, Blue Point and Black are all registered with TICA and we have been told they expect the Russian White to have championship status in the next couple of years (which we suspect will also include the other colors).
Russians are among the most loving, healthiest, longest living cat breeds you'll ever find. It is not uncommon for them to follow their owner from room to room, even if that happens to be the bathroom! They bond very closely with their family. It may appear at times they favor one person over another, and you can actually encourage them to bond with one person if that is your goal, or you can encourage them to love everyone by socialization. They are lap cats by nature and do very well with children and other pets. If you have a lively home with people coming and going, the Russian will often be among the first to greet them when they walk in. However, it is not unusual for them to be shy around new people or places, especially if they are not raised with this type of interaction, so they may make themselves scarce until they warm up. They do not require attention, making them wonderful pets for the working family, but they will shower you with love and affection upon returning home, ready for playtime or a warm lap in which to purr. Some Russians like water and will gladly join you in the shower! They are normally a very quiet breed unless you teach them to talk or if they can't get to you, whether you're in a room with the door closed or they're in a cat carrier. They love to be right with you!
Genetically, the Russian has no known predispositions to disease. Food plays a very important role in the health of your cat and we discourage allowing them to be outside since there are many things in the environment that can also affect health. They generally live long lives, some living into their 20's. The only thing to be aware of is the fact that they LOVE food! The Russian will often swear to you he's still hungry even after eating his meal, so we always stress the importance of considering a feeding schedule after spaying or neutering to prevent them from becoming overweight. Each cat is different with regard to this. With the Russian White, because they have white fur and pink skin, it's important not to allow them to literally "sunbathe" due to increased risk of getting a sunburn.
Russians are incredibly smart! So smart, that they may try to do things that don't work out so well for them! They will watch everything you do in order to learn more about the world around them. They often play games of fetch on their own. They can learn how to open doors and how to turn lights on/off. Don't teach them how to flush the toilet! They can even be toilet trained!
Almost every single person we speak with is looking for a Russian Blue or White for one reason... ALLERGIES. They have read the Russian is "hypoallergenic", but most do not understand what that word means. It means "lower allergens". So what are you allergic to exactly? Is is the dander or saliva or fur? It's the whole cat! That's because it's "glycoproteins" that are responsible for the allergy. Fel d 1 being the most common responsible, and Fel d 2 to a lesser extent. While there is no such thing as an "allergy free" domestic cat, there are those which appear to affect people with allergies less or none. The Russian is one such breed. But you also need to understand allergies are very individual. One person may have a completely different allergy level than another! We do not make any guarantees with regard to cat allergies because of the above. However, I will tell you what I believe to be true regarding allergies based on both experience as well as reading about the subject. It is said the lowest allergens in the Russian breed will likely be found in females and lightest colors. It has also been said that neutering a male is supposed to greatly lower allergens. We do sell small blankets for $25 that have been around specific cats. While this certainly isn't bullet proof, it would at least give you the opportunity to see if you have a reaction that way.
Russians are absolutely gorgeous! They tend to be longer, slender and elegant. Their tales are longer... their ears larger... and sometimes it may appear their head is smaller than the rest of them. Their head has a triangular shape to it. However, when you look at the Russian facing directly in front of you, many of them almost have a "cobra" appearance. This is especially true of males. The ears of a Russian kitten begin at the side of their head at birth, working their way to sitting more on top of the head at adulthood. My Russians do not have "Yoda" looking ears. They have a thick double coat with minimal seasonal shedding spring and fall. Food plays a role in the amount of shedding. The guard hairs of their fur, meaning the longer strands that stick out, are all silver tipped. This gives the Russian Blue a "silver" blue look or sheen. Russian Black also have that sheen. Because Russian White is white, it's harder to see but it's still there. Yes, the Russian Blue definitely has a blue cast to the fur! Certain lighting and backgrounds really bring that blue out! Russian Blue kittens often have a ghost tabby pattern to their fur which disappears as they grow. Russian White kittens often have a "kitten cap" (spot or spots) on top of their head between their ears, which can be black or blue and can be comprised of one spot or several small spots. These spots disappear completely as they grow into adulthood. Every dark tipped hair that is shed from the "kitten cap" is replaced by a solid white one.
Russian Blues always have green eyes at maturity. They don't start out that way though, and it can take over a year for their eyes to settle into their permanent color as well as having the green completely fill the iris. As a Russian Blue kitten grows, you'll see a green ring form around the pupil that will slowly overtake the eye. Not all Russians have the vivid, deep, emerald, green color that is so highly coveted. Russian White, on the other hand, can have any eye color. While most of them end up having green eyes, they can also have amber, gold, blue or heterochromia (odd eyed). As a breeder, I will be able to tell if your kitten has one or both blue eyes generally by 6 weeks old. Russian Black normally have green eyes but can also have gold or amber. The Russian Blue Point or Pointed Russian always has blue eyes.