Russian Blue
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Description
The
Russian Blue is a natural breed thought to have originated in
northern Russia. An old name for the cat is the Archangel Cat,
because it is thought to have come from the port city of Archangelsk.
Much of the breed's early history is not known.
The first Russian Blues were imported to England in 1890. World
War II nearly ended this breed's existence, like so many other
breeds in England, and Siamese had to be used to broaden the gene
pool. As a result, it took years of careful breeding to restore
the Russian Blue's plush coat. The first Russian Blue appeared
in the stud books of CFA in 1949, from cats who had been imported
to the United States in 1947, but no Russian Blue achieved a Grand
Champion title until fifteen years later.
Russian Blues are noted for its short, plush,
silvery blue coat, brilliant green eyes, and semi-foreign body
type with long legs and body. This is a graceful, playful breed
with a quiet, somewhat shy temperament. They are generally reserved
with strangers, but fiercely loyal with family.
Some Russian Blues are born with "ghost
stripes" as kittens, but these generally fade with age to
the familiar, solid silvery blue of adulthood.
The American and European types have come to
differ somewhat; traditional Scandanavian-type Russian Blues tend
to be larger and more heavily built than American Russian Blues.
Australian and New Zealand associations accept different colors
(see Associations).
Associations: The Russian Blue is accepted
in all major cat registries, but only in the blue color. In the
Australian Cat Federation (ACF) and New Zealand Cat Fancy (NZCF),
this breed is simply termed the "Russian" and is accepted
in blue, white, and black.
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Breed Information
Show Standards
Clubs/Associations
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