Submitted by Leanne Hewitt - Azreal Russians.
Breeding Russians since 2004.
History
Liquid silk, a connoisseur’s cat that will ignite your heart, let your self be mesmerised by the eyes that will look at you with a hundred years of breeding behind them. She will smile at you and place her delicate paw on your hand telling you stories of Cossacks, Queens and Empresses, of journeys over seas with sailors in a quiet voice.
Steeped in mystery and myth this cat comes with a reviered past, linking it to many a folk tale in Russia involving good luck to the home. Is it any wonder that these cats were taken aboard Russian ships.
Thought to have originated from the Archangelsk port of Northern Russia it became known originally in England as the Archangel cat and is documented as one of the oldest known natural breeds in today’s cat fancy.
The Russians we now know in South Africa can trace their pedigree’s back to England and Northern Europe, perhaps even to those first seen at a cat show held in England in 1875.
Although having a relatively long history in the cat fancy the Russian remains a fairly rare breed with only a hand full of breeding cats here in South Africa and world wide only a few hundred registered breeders.
Appearance
Known for their athletic elegant build (likened to a swimmer or dancer) they are a medium sized cat with the females being smaller in size to the males, however they all give the impression of walking on egg shells with their dainty feet. The first thing that you will notice about the Russian is its plush short thick silver coat, found on no other breed. Each hair is a medium blue tipped in silver giving it a shimmer, its double coat ideal for cold conditions stands at 45 degrees away from its body and if you trace your fingers through the fur the marks made will remain until groomed away. The almond shaped eyes are the next thing you will notice; they are a vivid green and set wide apart. The profile is straight ending with the chin firm and muzzle being prominent. The ears are large and set on top of the head, the expression is referred to as the “drunken donkey look” in the cat fancy and I do believe the smile these cats always seem to have is that of this intelligent breed’s private joke of being anything but. The Russian is mainly seen in Blue but they are also found in Black, White and Tabby. The Russian White is pure white magic and the tipping gives it the look of sparkling crystal or perhaps frost on snow. The Russian Black shimmers like a raven’s wing, the panther of the breed. The Russian Tabby is simply a delight to behold with their unusual markings.
Personality, Health & Habits
Addictive is probably the best way to describe their personality. The Russian will take your heart captive and hold it to ransom and the result will be another Russian, for once you have come to know one your house will not be the same with out another. They are very sensitive to your mood and know exactly what you need whether it be a purr and a head butt or to hang upside down from a scratch pole to make you laugh. Gentle and quiet they will talk to you in the tiniest little meow’s.
How ever be warned, as a kitten they can be quite a handful having been described as naughty with their inquisitiveness getting them into constant trouble. Rescuing one off the top of a door, you will wonder how on earth they got there. But who can be angered by a cat that comes running when you call it or sits waiting at the door when you return home from work?
The Russian is a healthy hearty breed known to live into their mid to late teens given the right environment and nutrition. They are a very playful breed being knows as clowns and even in later years will exude kittenish behaviour. They love to play fetch and will train their humans to throw toys for them, bringing the object back over and over again and placing it in your hand. The Russian is very adaptable and although known to be *fairly reserved they will settle into and accept most environments. They tend to be very sociable and will get on with pretty much all breeds of cats especially loving kittens or playful breeds like themselves. The Russian is exceptionally gentle and will not scratch or bite maliciously. To sum up a Russian in just a few hundred words is near impossible the only way to get to know the multifaceted, intelligent, loyal, loving and gentle breed is to own one and then you will understand what a true aristocrat is all about.
*Testimonials from Russian owners here in South Africa show them to be anything but reserved.
