We ’ve ogle theBritish blue shorthairand admired the plushy gray pelt of theChartreuxfrom France . Now , it ’s time for a crash course on Russia ’s sleekest , most aristocratic - bet feline : the Russian blue .
1. The Russian blue likely hails from Northern Russia.
The Russian blue ’s hereditary rootsare misplace in time . Some the great unwashed mull that they ’re fall from the pet cats of Russian czars , but there ’s probably more trueness to the title that the strain originated in NW Russia . According to legend , the gray kitties lived in the wild and were appreciate — and sadly hunted — for their dense , quick fur . Today , it ’s said that gray cats resemble the Russian blue still live in the state ’s dusty regions .
It ’s believe that sailor brought the Russian blue sky from the port metropolis ofArkhangelsk — which sits on the Northern Dvina River in the northwest part of the country — to Great Britain and Northern Europe in the 1860s . The city was one of the most important port in the Russian Empire . Its name intend Archangel in English , which may excuse why the Russian blue was once known as the Archangel blue . ( Other former monikersinclude the Maltese and Foreign amobarbital sodium . )
2. Russian blues were shown at one of the world’s first cat shows.
The “ Archangel Cat ” made an show atone of the world ’s first cat show , held atLondon ’s Crystal Palace in 1875 . The strain reportedly drew praise from one author in attending , whodescribed it as"a very handsome cat , coming from Archangel … particularly furry … . They resemble mostly the vulgar crazy gray hare . "
Sadly , the Russian blue did n’t win any prizes : Harrison Weir — the show ’s beginner who ’s today remembered as “ the Father of the Church of the computerized tomography fancy”—grouped all the short - haired spicy cat into one family , andhe preferredthe thickset , round - face British blue .
3. The Russian blue nearly disappeared during World War II.
Britain ’s Governing Council of the Cat Fancy ( GCCF ) recognized the Russian blue as a trenchant breed in 1912 . The bozo was often referred to as a " patrician Foreign type ” or the " Foreign blue air . " ButWorld War IIeventually broke out , and many stock breeder no longer had the resource to continue the kitty ’s bloodline . The Russian bluing dwindled in number , but after the war terminate , Caterpillar lover in land include Britain , Sweden , Finland , and Denmark bring through the blue by crossbreeding it with other feline types .
Today , the Russian blue ’s visual aspect varies around Europe . Scandinavians mate the cat with Tai cats , leave in a longer , more angulate look . And in Britain , the kitty was crossbred with bluepoint Tai computed tomography and British blueness , so they developed a stockier silhouette .
Russian blues first arrived in Americasometime in the 1900s , but it was n’t until much later that the country ’s cat enthusiast started breed them in sincere . They imported Russian blue angel from Scandinavia and England , and over time , combined their unique features into the blue - furred , green - eyed cat we bonk and love today .
4. A Russian blue inspired Nyan Cat.
A Russian blue cat helped inspire the net ’s most famous 8 - minute animated feline . Nyan Cat — the YouTube picture - work - viral Internet - meme of a computed tomography - Pop Tart hybrid flying through quad , pass on a rainbow track in its wake — was created in 2011by then-25 - twelvemonth - old illustrator Chris Torres , who have a Russian blue name Marty .
Torres was participating in a Red Cross donation drive , andreceived conflicting suggestionson what to draw off . One person wanted him to outline a cat ; another , a Pop Tart . Torres ended up drawing a hybrid of both , but if you look nearly , you ’ll notice that the feline portion of Nyan Cat strongly resemble Torres ’s beloved cat .
5. The Russian blue isn’t totally hypoallergenic.
Some people say that the Russian amobarbital sodium is a dependable positron emission tomography for masses with allergies . Itdoesn’t moult a muckle , plus the white-haired kitten allegedly produces lower levels of Fel d 1 protein , the allergenic protein in cat saliva and skin secretions that makes your peel itch and eye water . But even small amounts of Fel d 1 can have you to suffer an hypersensitive reaction — plus , Russian blue devil still have dander . There are plenty of understanding to desire the gray cat ; just keep in judgement that it wo n’t bethe solution to your allergic reaction woes .
6. The Russian blue is different from other “blue” cats.
With its slate - colourise fur , the Russian blue resemble other “ blue ” short - haired computed axial tomography like the Chartreux and the British blue . But if you look closely , you ’ll see subtle differences between the three stock . For one , the Russian blue air has green centre , whereas the Chartreux hasbrilliant orange tree schoolchild , and the British blue devil ’s are atomic number 79 , copper , or blue - super acid . Also , the Russian blueness and Chartreux haveround facesand stocky ( if not slightly lumpy ) bodies , while the Russian blue is much more elongate and lithe , with a grinder - shape header . Finally , the Russian blue devil ’s thick , double - layered coat is silken to the touch . In direct contrast , the British blue ’s lush pelt feels slightly curt , and the Chartreux ’s is tufted and wooly .
7. The Russian blue is a loving (but shy) feline.
If you ’re await for a calm cat with a pleasant disposition , consider the Russian blue . The kitty is timid around strangers , but affectionate with owners . It savor sitting quietly by the side of its favourite humans — but it ’s also down for a playful game of fetch .
8. The Russian blue gets its hue from a unique gene.
The Russian bluegets its silvery furfrom a dilute version of the gene that ’s responsible for black hairs . If you couple two Russian blues together , they ’ll develop a litter of all - gray kittens . But if the Russian blue is bred with another cat eccentric , the black Russian Shorthair , the union will ensue in a premix of blue and black kittens . ( Mate the Russian blueness with a white feline , and their children will be white , blue , andblack . )
A variant of this story originally ran in 2016 ; it has been update for 2022 .
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