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Breed Profile: the Russian Dr David Richardson August 2005 Contact Australian Russian Breeders
History of the Russian Blue
Russian blues are probably a very old breed of cat from Northland Russia. In the past they have been described as the Archangel cat, the Maltese blue and the Spanish blue. They were exhibited in England in the 1850s. They may have come to Britain either carried by Russian trading ships or some say that one was given to Queen Victoria by her cousin, Nicholas Czar of Russia. They were recognised as a separate breed in 1912. The breed was also almost decimated in World War II, and was gradually recreated after this by our breeding to Siamese lines. The distinctive double coat was not well re-established until the 1960s.
Description of the Russian
In WNCA, Russians are shown in blue, black and white. The Russian is an elegant cat of foreign type with an extremely plush double coat with the texture of silk. It has a vivid almond shaped, green eyes, a straight profile, and the modified wedge shape of skull can be described as a series of planes. It has a high flat forehead leading to a flat skull. It has a medium length muzzle with no whisker pinch (break). The strong chin leading to the nose area makes another flat plane. The angle of the mouth is setting to a permanent smile.
Russian kittens are born with blue eyes which then become the yellow, these gradually assume a green central ring which should spread to become the vivid green eyes of the adult cat.
The ears of the Russian are rather large with rounded tips and vertically placed on the head. They are held open and have little furnishing.
The thick plush double coat in the blue varieties has a distinct silver sheen caused by lightening of the hair ends. The thick coat makes the elegant cat seem more thick in the body than it really is. The long tapering legs lead to small oval shaped paws. The tail of the Russian is long and elegant.
Russians are often described as rather quiet shy cats, very faithful to one owner and well-suited to living in home units.
What I Am Looking for When Judging the Russian Breed of Cat
I am looking for an elegant, green eyed cat off
foreign type with a distinctive plush double coat which is silky to
the feel. The cat must be either blue, which should have a silver
sheen, or all white or black. I am looking for a cat with a cobra
shaped head, the shape of which makes a series of planes.
Scoring the Russian Breed of Cat
Head, neck, nose, ears and eyes are worth 35 points, body legs, paws and tail are worth 30 points and coat is worth 30 points.
Young blue-eyed Russian kitten
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