What made me melt when I saw a Russian Blue cat for the first time?

Look
I have always been fascinated by this breed and much of its beauty comes from its silver shining fur which is so soft to touch and their big almond shaped green eyes that light up their smiling face. Yes it is actually true, Russians Blue cats are smiling! Some people say that they have a smiling face like Mona Lisa. The Russian Blue cat is a slender, muscular short haired cat, which will not leave you unmoved when it has entered your life; a family member and a friend with whom you will share everything!

Behaviour
Books describe the Russian Blue as friendly, playful, independent, affectionate and that it can be reserved towards strangers – but this is not the case with our little Russian girl, as she is very curious about everybody and everything that enters our front door. Sure she can watch with a salubrious caution in the beginning, but if the visitor is calm and not too loud it usually goes well. It is a cat that fits well in an apartment, even though they appreciate a corralled terrace or going for a walk with leash and harness.

Affectionate and social
Towards the family they are very affectionate, as well with people that they know, and they have a good memory for people. As for us, we experience our cat as very convivial and curious; she likes to sit on the TV when we are watching, lay on the armrest beside us, by the keyboard when we are sitting in front of the computer or under the blanket with us in bed. She is curious about everything we are doing and likes to participate and help out in the domestic work. She is not afraid of dogs, nor seeing the vet, where she will climb up on his shoulder or go to the basin and sit and wait for him to turn the water on so she can drink from the tap. She likes to go with us in the car, but of course this can vary from cat to cat. The Russian, as they are sometimes called, loves their family, and often will choose a favourite family member - but that won’t stop others in the family from getting part of their affection and talk, playtimes and kisses. We have met Russian Blue cats that are very affectionate, that butt their head towards you to get caressed, that are completely fearless of strangers, though this is probably not something you should always expect.

6th sense and a friend
With a Russian Blue cat at home you also have a friend. They will usually know when you are happy or sad and will willingly come to you to give you comfort, kisses, butt you and tell you that she is there. Russian Blues have a very good remembrance for people and remember friends even if it’s a long time between the visits. Most of the time they will also remember people that they like less, then they can refuse to come out and great them, and they will hide under the bed or the sofa. The Russians can also easily feel the moods in the house and they understand when something special is going on. Sometimes we also think that they can understand what you are saying, since we can’t keep anything a secret from her! If we are going on a cat show she can all of a sudden completely disappear when it is time to put her in her transport cage, but at other times she'll go sit in our suitcase when we're packing as if to tell us she doesn't want us to go away.

Curious and participating
What we think is typical with our Russian Blue is that not only is she so affable, but also her kind and considerate way, the affection, the big interest in what is going on. She gladly participates in whatever is going on at home, helping out with the cooking, cleaning, changing sheets, computer work, reading the paper and ironing – like willingly lying on the shirt I'm ironing and soaking up the warmth!

Water and sun
Heat is something that a Russian Blue cats really likes, for example to sleep in a warm and cosy radiator hammock, to lay under the blanket with you in bed or in the newly made guest bed or on a warm window sill in the hot sun. Their curiosity is also very typical, the Russian will follow you in what you are doing, it will be with you all the time, will run gladly into the bathroom in the morning to sit on the basin to get some water form the tap, follow you to the kitchen to get food in the morning, sits and waits for you when you are taking a shower, and thereafter will go into the shower and drink some more water when you are finished.

Present and demanding
They will sit in the window and look at birds and insects when you are sitting next to the computer, lie down on your hands when you are writing, or sit in front of the screen so you can’t see anything. They will jump up on your back when you are tying your shoes, and then sit on your shoulders to get a better view. When you are coming home you are greeted by the door. In the morning the Russian will come gladly and wake you up with small alert jumps in your bed or by purring in your ear, or even rather push down some things form the night table, just to make you get up. You just have to choose if you want to try to go to sleep again or to get up and give food and water…

Playful and intelligent
The Russian Blue is a playful cat, even high up in age. They will amuse themselves with small things they find on the floor, and the favourite toy for our cat is a fringy bow made of shiny newspaper, with a long string attached to it. It is not necessary to have a lot of fancy expensive cat toys, which have a tendency to disappear anyway. A piece of fur, a ball made of aluminium foil or creased post-it paper bits, will work just as well. Some Russian Blue cats like to retrieve, and we have noticed that this is the case with our little girl, but many times she might also just sit and wait for us to go and bring the toy back to her, just to show us that we also need to exercise! Russians like to sit high up too, for example on a climbing tree, on top of a wardrobe or why not on our shoulders to get a free ride when we are moving around the house.

Cuddly and discreet
They love to be caressed on the head and many likes to sit on your shoulders, butting their head against yours or give you kisses. They “talk” discretely; a little meow that asks you where you are, or that they want you to come and play with them, or a little meow to greet you when you come home.

Welcome
We hope that with this description you have gotten to know more about the Russian Blue cat, and hope there are more people who discover this green-eyed, silver shining elegant cat, who will be devoted to you and follow you loyally whatever you will do, a friend for life who will never let you down. Moreover they often reach high age, and they are cats that get more and more beautiful and personal as the years goes by.

© S*Catullus' Russian Blue

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