The precise origins of the Russian Blue cat breed are unknown, but many believe they hail from Russia which is backed up by their double coat which means they can withstand cooler temperatures than most other cats. It's believed that their arrival in England and Europe was likely to have been in the mid-1800’s.
Like some other breeds, World War 2 nearly wiped Russian Blues out entirely, but they were revitalised using other breeds like the Siamese and the British Blue cats. This crossbreeding means they took on some traits of the other breeds including a shorter coat. Thankfully, determined breeders have managed to get the breed back to what we know today thanks to some clever breeding with cats with plush, silvery coats, and Scandinavian bloodlines.
Their appearance can be described as a medium sized smart, elegant and slender cat with a velvety soft blue coat and incredible green eyes. Their wedge-shaped head is often described as cobra like, and they have pointed ears, prominent whisker pads and a slightly upturned mouth, giving them the impression of smiling.
The Russian Blue is a gentle, quiet cat who may seem shy thanks to their reserved nature, but they love to play and enjoy jumping or climbing to high places where they can study people and situations and contemplate whether to join in.
This highly intelligent breed is more sensitive than most, so they do not like to be ignored and not showing them the same attention that they’re showing you will genuinely hurt them.
This isn't a breed that will get out of their hiding place to welcome your guests as visitors will only get attention, or even see them, if the cat decides it’s what they want. Despite their indifference towards strangers, once they’ve bonded with someone, they are very loyal and affectionate.
They love routine almost as much as they love food, so you can expect a feline alarm clock every morning, so they don’t miss breakfast.
Unlike some other intelligent breeds, or those that are more active, they aren’t usually destructive and move with the grace of a ballerina.
Russian Blues are a good choice for elderly people and families, thanks to their gentle and quiet nature, but one thing they do need is a stable and calm environment that doesn’t change too much.
Unlike many breeds, they are happy to be left at home during the day as they will happily entertain themselves and otherwise sleep through the day and won’t be destructive like other more active and intelligent cats. So, if you know you will leave the house for long periods each day, a Russian Blue is a good choice.
To own a Russian Blue you don't necessarily need a large house, but they do need plenty of places to climb to or hide.
The Russian Blue's thick fur doesn’t shed constantly, so they only need combing once or twice a week to keep their coat soft and shiny, making them a good choice for someone who doesn't want to commit to daily grooming.
Trim the nails as needed, which is usually weekly to prevent them painfully breaking if/when they get caught in carpet or furniture. Make this job easier for both you and your cat by getting them used to having their nails clipped when they're a kitten.
Check their ears weekly for infection which will show itself as unusual redness, bad odour and sometimes discharge, among other symptoms. To avoid infection, clean them with a cotton ball dampened with a gentle cleanser recommended by your vet.
Finally, to reduce the risk of trips to the veterinary clinic for costly dental treatment, brush their teeth frequently to avoid tartar build up and gum disease.
They’re a generally healthy breed, though their hearty appetite can lead to obesity if left unchecked, so in addition to providing them with plenty of exercise through play time, you should consider selecting a weight-management formula for their food.
Glaucoma is a condition that causes pressure on the eye, causing inadequate fluid drainage in the eye. If untreated, or it becomes chronic, it can cause permanent damage to the optic nerve, eventually resulting in blindness.
Unfortunately, 40% of cats with Glaucoma become blind in the affected eye within the first year, regardless of treatment.
Cataracts is generally inherited and is described as cloudiness of the crystalline lens of the eye, which varies from partial to complete opacity.
Cloudiness of the crystalline lens prevents light from passing through the retina, which will often cause some loss of vision.
Symptoms generally relate to the degree of vision impairment. For example, those with only a small level of cloudiness may not show any symptoms, however those with high opacity will suffer from loss of vision.
Cataracts is a progressive disorder that may lead to your cat becoming completely blind if not treated quickly. One method of treatment is surgery, but that is only usually recommended for hereditary forms.
Other forms of treatment are phacoemulsification which involves emulsification of the eye's lens with an ultrasonic handpiece. Once the lens is emulsified and aspirated, aspired fluids are replaced with a balanced salt solution.
Most cases are inherited, however it can be caused by a few other things including electric shock, diabetes mellitus, old age, inflammation of the eye or abnormal levels of calcium in the blood.
Kidney disease is very common in cats, especially at an older age.
The disease is when your kidneys fail to efficiently separates chemicals that are needed from those that are not. This is usually caused by decreased blood flow to the kidneys, or a high level of destroyed nephrons.
The first symptom you may notice is your cat starting to drink excessive amounts of water. This is because the kidneys are essentially screaming out for more water.
Other symptoms include increased urination, weight loss, vomiting and decreased appetite.
Sadly, once a cat has kidney disease it cannot be reversed. The best you can do for your cat once diagnosed is follow your vets advise fully to manage the disease as best as you can.
As the disease cannot be reversed, and because of the increased risk, it is important to have regular blood screening done on older cats to check kidney function.
Treatment will depend on the severity of the cat’s disease, but it will likely be one of the following; hospitalisation for intravenous fluids, a prescribed diet, antibiotics, blood pressure medication, phosphorus binding agents, and even kidney transplants in extreme cases.
Cystitis is very common in cats and can thankfully be easily treated with anti-inflammatory medication.
It’s not a cause for serious concern, but it can be very uncomfortable for your cat, so you will want to speak to your vet for advice
The main symptoms are straining to urinate, bloody urine, weeing in unusual places, and licking the urinary opening.
Stress is thought to be the most common cause of cystitis, so there are many things owners can do to reduce symptoms or even avoid flare ups just by reducing their cats stress levels.