Russian Blue

Also called Archangel Blue.

Always blue-grey, always green-eyed, always slender. The silver tipping gives the coat a distinct shimmer that no other grey cat has.

Coat
Short
Build
Long and fine-boned
Head
Wedge
Weight
3–5.5 kg
Origin
Russia

What it looks like

Fine-boned and elegant with a short dense double coat in even blue-grey, each hair tipped with silver, and vivid green eyes.

The characters that confirm it

  • Vivid green eyes. A grey cat with copper eyes is not a Russian Blue.
  • Silver-tipped guard hairs producing a visible sheen.
  • A double coat so dense it stands out from the body, on a fine-boned frame.
  • A wedge head with a flat top and prominent whisker pads that give a faint smile.

Temperament

Reserved with strangers, devoted to its own household, and quiet.

Health

Among the healthier pedigree breeds, with no strong breed-specific predispositions. Prone to obesity if overfed.

Confused with

Cobby, heavy, round-headed and copper-eyed. The Russian Blue is slim and green-eyed.

Korat

A heart-shaped face and a single coat without silver tipping. Also green-eyed, and genuinely difficult.

Questions about this breed

How do you recognise a Russian Blue?

Vivid green eyes. A grey cat with copper eyes is not a Russian Blue. Silver-tipped guard hairs producing a visible sheen.

What is a Russian Blue like to live with?

Reserved with strangers, devoted to its own household, and quiet.

What health problems do Russian Blues have?

Among the healthier pedigree breeds, with no strong breed-specific predispositions. Prone to obesity if overfed.