The Russian Blue is a medium-sized, short-haired cat. It is fine boned, and it has graceful lines. The coat is, of course, blue -- with silver tipping on each hair that gives a lustrous appearance -- and the coat is thick and plush. The eyes are green.

Russian Blue cats are intelligent, quiet, and sensitive. They are clean and shed very little. They love to play with small toys around the house, and they enjoy jumping and climbing, but -- unlike some other playful breeds -- Russians are rarely destructive. Because they are intelligent, they can train their people to perform simple tasks such as throwing toys so that the Russians can retrieve them. They are agile, light-footed cats that may seem to fly around the house with the grace of a dancer.
Russian Blues easily bond with their people and are loyal to those who love them -- frequently following them from room to room to be near them. Russians show their affection in a variety of ways. Some enjoy leaping onto the shoulder of their person and riding there. Other Russians are eager to butt heads with their person. These sensitive cats seem genuinely hurt when they come to their people to show affection and are put aside.

Because the basic temperament of Russian Blues ranges from slightly reserved to quietly shy, they may be cautious or nervous around strangers. Russians prefer to take their time to investigate new people. In addition, although they are basically gentle cats, neglected or stressed Russians may become fearful and temperamental.

It pays off to put time into developing an affectionate relationship with a Russian Blue. People who have known other breeds often remark on the special close and deep bonding that they feel with their Russians.

The Russian Blue is a natural breed (that is, it is not the result of crossings with other breeds). As its name suggests, the Russian Blue is believed to have originally come from Russia. Since the cat was thought to have been brought to England on ships that left the Russian port on Archangel Isle, the breed has been called the Archangel cat. Although evidence of its Russian origin is anecdotal, its dense coat is consistent with a northern climate. In England in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the Russian Blue was sometimes known as the Foreign Blue because its body type resembles that of foreign (European) breeds; it has also been called the Maltese cat.

russianblue.com

russianblue.net

Shadow as a kitten...

Fuzzy little monster isn't he...

Shadow was a little pudgeball as a kitten...

And was always ready to play...