Russian blue cat: description, nature and rules of care

general information

• Breed name: Russian blue cat.
• Country of origin: Russia.
• Weight: 4-7 kg.
• Height at withers: up to 25 cm.
• Average life expectancy: up to 14-16 years old and more.
• Average price: from 3,000 to 35,000 rubles and more.

What do Russian blue cats look like?

The birthplace of this breed is the northern city of Arkhangelsk. It was from there, at the end of the 19th century, that an English breeder took out a couple of animals, which are believed to have laid the foundation for breeding. During the wartime of the first half of the 20th century, the breed was practically on the verge of extinction. Crossbreeding with Siamese and other cats helped to save her.

Russian blue catsRussian Blue - animals of medium size. The body is graceful, but at the same time strong and muscular enough. The tail is long. The head is not too large, in proportion to the size of the body. The eyes are large and oval, green, and the color is finally established by the end of the first year of life.

The coat of the breed is short, dense, silky and almost plush to the touch. The axial hair in it is about the same length as the undercoat. The color is uniform gray-blue with a silvery sheen.

What is the character of Russian blue cats

Animals of this breed Russian blue smart, peaceful and calm, but at the same time they do not mind sometimes frolic and chase after real or toy prey.

How Russian blue cats get along with adults

Such pets love human society and willingly spend time with the whole family, participating in everything that happens and willingly basking in their arms. They cannot be called intrusive: it is not at all in the nature of the representatives of the breed to insist on demanding attention. They usually do not differ in a loud voice either. As for outsiders, blue Russians are more wary and suspicious of them.

These cats endure short loneliness quite calmly and always find something to do with themselves. At the same time, they are very neat and never arrange pogroms in the apartment, even if they are actively exploring all cabinets, shelves and other high surfaces. And the return of family members is always welcomed.

How Russian blue cats get along with children

Affectionate animals enjoy spending time in the company of younger family members. Russian blues are not inclined to show aggression and usually do not rush to use their claws, even if the kids literally jammed them. Scratches can only be expected from kittens who participate in games with all their enthusiasm.

How Russian blue cats get along with other animals

Pets of this breed live quietly under the same roof with cats and dogs and do not show hostility towards them. Of course, when a new pet appears in the house, some difficulties may arise, but over time the animals will get used to each other and the situation will improve.

What conditions of detention are required for Russian blue cats

Set up your pet's own sleeping and resting place. A soft bed, a basket or a closed house is suitable for this.

The cat will surely appreciate it if you set up a whole game complex specially for him with shelves, ladders and posts, along which you can climb and jump. Although the curious beast will still explore all corners of the dwelling and will not miss a single closet.

Russian blue cats are not averse to hunting, so they will surely like different toys - balls or soft mice. When choosing such things, make sure that they are of high quality materials and do not have small, poorly fixed parts that the cat can accidentally choke on.

You will also need a handy litter tray that you can place in the bathroom or elsewhere. It should be borne in mind that representatives of the breed are usually very sensitive to its purity. So it's better not to delay the cleaning.

It is advisable to install special protective screens on the windows of the apartment in which the Russian blue cat lives. This will save the pet from falling if it decides to hunt for birds or falling leaves. Such protection will not be superfluous even for the residents of the first floors.

Having fallen out of a window from a small height, the animal, of course, will not receive serious injuries, but it will certainly be frightened and can run away. Other animals, cars and even people are just as dangerous for a cat left unattended on the street.

How to feed Russian blue cats

The diet for the pet can be formed at your discretion. The easiest option is ready-made feed. Moreover, it is better to dwell on the products of well-known and well-established brands. The lines of such manufacturers usually include complete dry and canned food for kittens and adult animals. You can also choose a special treat both for cats during pregnancy and lactation, and for animals suffering from various diseases.

Natural food prepared especially for them based on meat, offal and vegetables is also suitable for Russian blue cats. At the same time, it is worth making sure that, along with the daily diet, the pet receives all the nutrients and useful substances necessary for its health in full.

Do not feed your pet the same food that you eat yourself. Many of the dishes we are used to are simply dangerous for the feline body. It is especially not recommended to treat the animal with sweet, spicy, smoked, salty and spicy dishes.

When buying a kitten, be sure to check with the breeder to what food the baby is accustomed to. Of course, over time, the diet can be changed and the animal can be transferred from factory feed to natural feed or vice versa. But this should be done gradually so that the pet gets used to the new food without any problems.

In addition, regardless of the type of food chosen, the cat should always have a bowl of clean drinking water that needs to be changed every day or at least once every couple of days.

And be sure to make sure your pet doesn't overeat. Russian blue cats are often prone toRussiann blue obesity, which does not affect their health in the best way.

How to care for Russian blue cats

Brush your pet every week and a half. During the period of seasonal molting, which occurs in spring and autumn, this procedure can be carried out more often: a couple of times every 7 days. To make the fur shiny and glossy, after combing it out, you can wipe it with a suede or silk rag.

As for bathing, it is better to refuse it without special need: a clean animal will cope well with this without your help. If, for example, your pet is very dirty, you need to wash it using special shampoos and conditioners, which are sold in pet stores. Localized impurities are easier to remove with a powder that acts like a dry shampoo.

About once a month trim the pet has claws, even if he actively uses the scratching post. This simple procedure will help keep your cat safe from potential injuries and keep your furniture safe from animal intrusion. Also check your pet's ears at least once a week. If dirt has accumulated in them, remove it with special products such as lotions.

What Russian blue cats are sick with

In animals that belong to this breedRussian blue, good health and practically no predisposition to genetic diseases. But this does not mean that they do not get sick at all. Like cats of other breeds, Russian blues can have problems with the digestion and genitourinary system, suffer from infectious diseases, parasites and obesity.

Despite the good physical shape of the representatives of this breed, with suspicions of ailments and sudden changes in behavior, it is imperative to consult with a specialist from the veterinary clinics. Diagnosing diseases at an early stage will help to take timely measures and avoid serious complications.

What to look for when buying a Russian blue cat

When choosing a kitten, first decide on your plans. Ordinary pets can be chosen from the most budget class, which is called "pet". Such Russian blue cats are completely healthy, but not intended for breeding and do not reach the standard, which is highly valued at exhibitions. To obtain "quality" offspring, it is better to focus on the "breed" class, in which potential producers are represented.

If you dream of an exhibition career for your pet and want him to become the owner of different titles, pay attention to animals of the "show" class. The price for them is higher than for all the others, however, these animals fully comply with breed standards and have excellent external data.

Before buying, take a close look at the future pet. The kid should look healthy, be active, moderately well-fed, playful, not show aggression and make contact. If the kitten looks weak and sickly, does not show activity or, on the contrary, is too hostile, it is better to refrain from buying. Also evaluate the conditions of its keeping and be sure to ask about the vaccinations that should be done in accordance with the age of the animal.

As for the documents, together with the kitten, you must be given a purchase and sale agreement, a veterinary passport, where all data on vaccinations are entered, and the metric (in fact, this is a birth certificate), on the basis of which pedigree.

Of course, you can buy a kitten without any documents at all, for example, through advertisements or at the poultry market. But then you will not be able to be sure of the pet's health, its heredity and even its origin. Therefore, when purchasing such an animal, first of all, you need to make him a veterinary passport and take care of vaccinations. As for the pedigree, it will not work to get it for a cat, even if it visually fits the breed standards.