Russian Blue

Temperament

The Russian Blue has two faces: when guests arrive it often vanishes under the bed, and once the house empties out it comes back to follow its person step by step. It is tuned in to its owner's moods and likes a steady daily rhythm and quiet surroundings, although many cats get used to a noisier home over time. It speaks very little, and softly. It is clever and dexterous: it can open doors and drawers and take puzzle toys apart, so it is worth giving it tasks. It likes to fetch and play with people, but it does not demand attention all the time. It gets along well with older, calm children and warms up to a dog gradually. It usually sleeps through its owner's workday just fine, as long as it gets its share of attention and play in the evening.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Talkativeness

quietchatterbox

Indoor-only life

needs outdoor accessgreat

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Russian Blue for?

The Russian Blue is a good choice for a person or couple with a calm home who work outside it and want a cat that is devoted but not clingy. It works for a first-time owner who will keep an eye on portion sizes. It is less suited to a home with constant visitors, loud young children or frequent moves, because a shy cat may then live under stress.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

The Russian Blue's dense double coat hardly ever mats and sheds moderately. Combing it a few times a month, or simply petting it every day, is enough, and during the seasonal coat change you can use a soft brush. A bath is needed only if the coat gets greasy. Weight control matters more than grooming: this cat has a huge appetite and quickly gains weight without measured portions. Several small meals, snuffle mats, food puzzle toys and 2–3 daily play sessions with a wand toy or a ball all help. The Russian Blue likes high lookout spots and hiding places where it can retreat when the house gets busy. Introduce changes to its surroundings gradually.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Russian Blue is considered one of the healthiest breeds: the CFA and the GCCF note no serious inherited diseases, and TICA gives a life expectancy of 10–20 years. Two things are worth knowing, though. In a large Swedish study of insured cats, Russian Blues, along with Burmese, had a clearly higher risk of diabetes: an incidence of 44.1 per 10,000 cat-years compared with 11.6 for all cats, although the sample for this breed was small. The second issue is a tendency to put on weight, which raises the diabetes risk even further. In the UK, white breeding cats of this breed are checked for deafness with a BAER test. The small gene pool makes it worth asking the breeder about the health of the ancestors.

• diabetesIn a Swedish study of insured cats, Russian Blues had an incidence several times the average (small sample, wide confidence interval).
• obesityThe breed has a big appetite; without portion control and play it gains weight easily, which raises the risk of diabetes.
• deafness in white catsAffects the white variety recognized by the GCCF; breeding cats are checked with a BAER test.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

According to tradition, the breed's ancestors lived on the Archangel Islands in northern Russia and came to England with sailors in the 19th century. At the first English cat shows they were exhibited as Archangel cats, alongside other solid blue cats. There are practically no written sources from before the late 19th century. In the first half of the 20th century, the breed was developed mainly by Scandinavian breeders, and World War II nearly brought breeding to a halt. After the war, European breeders painstakingly rebuilt the population from the few cats that survived. American breeders then combined English and Scandinavian lines, creating the breed's modern type.

Fun facts

• At the first English cat shows, Russian Blues were exhibited as Archangel cats.
• The silvery sheen of the coat comes from the tips of the guard hairs, which are lighter than the rest of the hair.
• Kittens are often born with yellow eyes, which turn green with age.
• The longhaired version of the Russian Blue is the Nebelung.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. 1CFA – Russian Bluecfa.org
2. 2TICA – Russian Blue breedtica.org
3. 3VCA Animal Hospitals – Russian Bluevcahospitals.com
4. 4GCCF – Russiangccfcats.org
5. 5Öhlund et al. 2015 – Incidence of diabetes mellitus in insured Swedish cats (JVIM)pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
6. 6FIFe – Breedsfifeweb.org
7. 7WCF – Breed standards shorthairwcf.de

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.