Russian Blue

The Russian Blue is a natural breed thought to have originated in northern Russia. An old name for the cat is the Archangel Cat, because it is thought to have come from the port city of Archangelsk. It is believed that a Russian Blue took place in the very first organized cat show in England in 1871. It is noted for its short, plush, silvery blue coat, brilliant green eyes, and semi-foreign body type with long legs and body. This is a graceful, playful breed with a quiet, somewhat shy temperament. Some Russian Blues are born with colorpoint pattern, light stripes, or completely white. While not able to be shown in most associations, these are expected variations in some lines. The American and European types have come to differ somewhat; traditional Scandanavian-type Russian Blues tend to be larger and more heavily built than American Russian Blues. The Russian Blue is accepted in all major cat registries. In the Australian Cat Federation (ACF), the "Russian" is accepted in blue, white, and black.