Russian Blue basic information

The dainty Russian Blue cat is distinct from all other breeds. The truest criterion is its soft, lustrous, bright blue double coat. Handling a Russian Blue feels like running a silk scarf through your hands. Gentle and shy, often playful in manner, its voice (if any) is soft and sweet. They prefer gentle but firm handling and are easily startled.

Head and Neck: Forehead high, top of skull flat and narrow, smoothly curving into back of neck. Face broad at eye level looks broader due to thick fur at side of head. Medium length straight nose looks upturned from almost any view except profile due to light reflection. Neck is long but does not appear so in repose, due again to thick fur.

Ears: Rather large, almost as wide at base as they are tall and set far apart as much into side as top of head. Ears look pointed as hair tufts finish off where slightly rounded tips stop. Inside furnishings cover approximately one-half of the otherwise bare, translucent ear area. Outside of ears completely covered with short, fine hair.

Eyes: Almost round, just oval enough to show oriental slant. Set one eye width or more apart. As vividly green as possible at maturity. Russian Blue kitten eyes change rapidly through yellow to green. By four months a green ring should appear around pupil. Cats whose eyes are not completely vivid green should be penalized, the amount determined by the quantity and vividness of green as well as by the age of the cat.

Body: Fine boned, long, svelte and graceful. Appears heavier in repose due to supple skin and lie of thick coat. Muscular in the manner of a swimmer rather than that of a wrestler.

Tail: Straight, rather long, tapering from rather thick base.

Legs and Feet: Long, fine-boned legs with small, neat, well rounded feet. Cat appears to stand and walk on tiptoes.