Russian Blue Cat

The Russian Blue breed is well known for its coat, which is a striking silvery blue. The fur is very dense; when touched, indentations are left in the coat. A beautiful feline breed, Russian Blue is said to have originated from Archangel islands in Russia a long time ago. There it was highly valued for its lustrous fur and unique personality before it was brought over by sailors to Britain in the later half of nineteenth century. Formal recognition was received by the Russian Blue in coming years and soon it was found all over Europe, including Scandinavia where the cat had a slightly different physical appearance. In United States though formal breeding was undertaken nearly a century later, when breeders started crossing Scandinavian and British variants to produce the modern Russian Blue. As it has moved through time and places, Russian Blue has had several names including Archangel cat, Foreign Blue and Maltese.

Russian Blues have striking green eyes and an expression that makes it look as if they are always smiling. They have a solid slivery blue coat that is short and thick and feels silky. In fact, it is this legendary silkiness that caused Russian Blues to be hunted for the fur at one point. Some Russian Blues are born with 'ghost stripes' that fade by adulthood.

An extremely important fact about the Russian Blue Cats is their hardiness and resistance to health aliments that other different cat breeds often fall prey to. The majority of breeders and those in the know contribute this to their genetic background.