The Russian Cat
Wednesday, August 27th, 2008Russian is a shorthair house cat. It resembles the Russian Blue cat in every attribute except for fur color.
A shorthair feline, the Russian resembles the classic Russian Blue
in every aspect apart for coat color. Russian is the term used to
include cats of white, black and tabby color. Genetic and anecdotal
evidence dictates that Russians used to exist alongside Russian Blues
in their native lands many centuries ago. However, the modern breeding
of Russians in non-blue colors started in nineteen seventies in
Australia when a domestic shorthair female of Siberian origin was
crossed with a Russian Blue male. The resulting litter included white
kittens of great beauty. These were developed with time to create the
modern Russian White. Today Russian Blacks and Russians in tabby color
also exist. Though not recognized universally, Russians are registered
in Australia and many countries of Europe as a distinct breed.