🐾 Russian Blue

Russian Blue

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Who it is

• Scientific name: Felis catus
• Family & relatives: A domestic cat breed in the family Felidae; all pet cats share the wildcat as their ancestor.
• How to spot it: A slender, elegant cat with a plush blue-gray coat and bright, sparkling green eyes.

Its body & abilities

• Size: About 25 cm tall at the shoulder and up to 50 cm long, not counting the tail.
• Weight: Usually about 3 to 5.5 kg (7 to 12 lb).
• Body & adaptations: Its double coat is thick and soft, and it has a slight smiling mouth shape and fine, graceful bones.
• Top speed: Quick and nimble, it can sprint and leap with surprising speed around the house.
• Strength: Light but athletic, it can jump many times its own height onto high shelves.
• Senses: Sharp night vision, keen hearing, and a fine sense of smell like all cats.
• Growing up: Born as a tiny kitten with closed eyes, it opens them at about ten days and grows up by around a year.

Where it lives

• Habitat: Cozy indoor homes, where it enjoys quiet, warmth, and comfy resting spots.
• Where in the world: Kept as a pet all over the world; the breed is said to come from northern Russia.
• Territory: It likes its own familiar space at home and can be shy with strangers at first.

What it eats

• Diet: A carnivore that eats meat-based cat food and always needs a bowl of fresh water.
• Favorite foods: Good-quality cat food made mostly of meat or fish, plus occasional healthy treats.
• How it hunts: Its wild instinct shows in play; it loves to stalk and pounce on toys and feather wands.

How it behaves

• How it moves: Walks softly on padded paws, climbs, and leaps gracefully onto high perches.
• When it is active: Most playful around dawn and dusk, it naps for much of the day like other cats.
• Family life: A gentle, loyal cat that bonds closely with its family; a group of cats is called a clowder.
• How it talks: Communicates with soft meows, purrs, and slow blinks that show it feels safe and happy.
• Babies: After about 65 days a mother cat gives birth to a litter of around four kittens that she nurses and grooms.

Its place in nature

• Role in nature: A calm, affectionate companion; indoors it is safe and helps keep away household mice.
• Conservation: A domestic breed that is popular worldwide and not at risk.
• Dangers: Health risks are few, but like all cats it needs vet checkups and a safe home.

Life & legacy

• How long it lives: About 15 to 20 years, one of the longer-lived cat breeds.
• In our culture: A legend says Russian Blues were once ships' cats and even favorites of Russian czars.
• Where to see it: Family homes and cat shows around the world, where its silvery coat stands out.
• Fun fact: The tips of its silvery fur catch the light, making a Russian Blue look like it is gently shimmering.