The Russian Blue is one of the most elegant and striking domestic cats. While it is famous for its plush silver tipped, pale blue coat, there are also brains behind this beauty. The Russian Blue is an intelligent, affectionate cat that has been loved by many for generations.

The Russian Blue is a shy, gentle, loving creature. They get along very well with other pets and children. They are, however, often prone to flightiness, which can cause problems in homes with young children. The Russian Blue is an athletic cat with extreme intelligence. They have been known to fetch toys and open doors, inviting themselves into every room of the house. One favorite activity of this breed is to drink water from running faucets. In spite of their often, playful nature they are a quiet, unassuming breed. They are known for their cleanliness, often described by some as "fastidious" in nature. Even though the Russian Blue is shy, this does not prevent it from developing close emotional ties to his owners. They are deeply affectionate to those they love and show great devotion. The Russian Blue is not a demanding breed and is quite content to entertain himself when you are unable to be with it in the daytime. The Russian Blue can be very entertaining. Because of their great intelligence, the Russian Blue is very in tune with the moods of those they love and will make moves to cheer its owners up whenever they are hit with the "blues."

A stunning breed, the Russian Blue is most recognized for its soft, luxurious coat and brilliant emerald eyes. Its coat is lustrous, plush and dense, making it extremely tempting to pet it for hours and hours on end. The thickness of this coat is so extreme that it lies away from the body, standing out to such a degree that you can trace patterns in it with your finger. These patterns will stay until you smooth its coat out for it. This coat has been so prized that it is said that the Russian Blue has been in peril from trappers in the past. The head of the Russian blue is broad and wedge shaped. Its rounded vivid green eyes are large and wide set. Its profile is relatively flat. It has been described by some as always carrying a smile. Its body is firmly muscled, but maintains much grace, as it is finely boned. Its graceful carriage and clean lines add to the already regal appearance of this stunning breed.

A cat of many aliases, these are several of the many names the Russian Blue has been known to go by: Archangel Cat, Multese Blue, Spanish Blue, Russian Shorthair, American Blue, Multese, Archangel Blue, Blue Russia, Chartreuse Blue, Foreign Blue, and Russi-American Blue. The exact history of this breed is largely unknown. It is believed by many that the Russian Blue is a naturally occurring breed, which originated in the Archangel Isles of northern Russia. Some legends maintain that the Russian Blue was the royal cat beloved by Russian Czars, and was even the treasured pet of Queen Victoria. In the 1860's the British brought some of these fine cats back to Europe from Russia. The Americans have been importing lines from both the Europeans and Scandinavians since after the Second World War and have had terrific results. These crossings have combined the best traits from both lines; the stunning emerald eyes of the Scandinavian lines combined with the gorgeous European's coats, produces an extraordinary Russian Blue.

This cat has minimal special care requirements, needing only a bi-weekly brushing to remove old fur. Russian Blues have a hardy appetite, and are thus prone to putting on excess weight. With adult Russians, it is best to limit food availability.

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