Group Classification: Short hair
Country of Origin: Russia
Date of Origin: pre-1800s
Weight (M): 9-12 lbs.
Weight (F): 6-9 lbs.
Life Expectancy: 16 years

History
In the late 1700s, blue cats were said to come from the Russian port of Archangel near the Arctic Circle and became known by that name. In 1871, the first Russian Blues were exhibited at England's Crystal Palace show. At that time, their eye color was yellow. Today, the breed standard calls for eyes as vividly green as possible, a change that occurred in 1933.

Beginning with the Russian Revolution in 1917, these cats were called Foreign Blues until 1948. The breed all but disappeared at that point, but was saved by breeders in Sweden and Great Britain. They used British Blues and Blue Point Siamese to revive the line.

General Description
The Russian Blue is a medium sized cat that has a sturdy grace. Their coat is double, with a very dense undercoat and fine hairs on top, probably resulting from their beginning as seafaring felines subjected to extreme cold. The texture of that coat is a stand-alone judging characteristic. Their legs are long, but not delicate, and their tails are thick with a slightly tapering end. They are muscular yet graceful since their bodies are not cobby or heavy. Their ears are large and vertically set. Slightly puffed whisker pads soften their expression, which is dominated by emerald green almond-shaped eyes.

Colors
Blue, black and white

(Black and white Russian Blues are a fairly new development)

Coat
This densely coated animal is known for the quality of its fur. It may appear silver, because the slate blue top hairs have translucent tips. The feel of the coat is as important as the color. The density should be such that you can trace your initial in the fur with your finger