Lifespan	15 – 20 years
Height (at the withers)	Males and Females: 20cm – 25cm
Weight	Males: 4.5kg – 5.4kg, Females: 3.2kg – 4.5kg
Coat	Double coat with a short, dense undercoat that feels soft and fine
Colour	Blue, black, white
Eye colour	Yellow with green rims as a kitten that become bright green as an adult
Common health issues	Weight related problems, progressive retinal atrophy, polycystic kidney disease, feline lower urinary tract disease
Other Names	Archangel Blue, Archangel Cat, Foreign Blues, Maltese Cats

The Russian Blue is a sweet, gentle and affectionate cat that will happily follow their people everywhere. While these kitties are generally loyal, social creatures who enjoy playtime with their owners, they're also quite reserved until they're comfortable with you. The Russian Blue will likely shy away from visitors and may seek out a quiet place during large gatherings. Elegant and reserved, this cat can be described as affectionate – without being overly clingy.

Once these kitties are used to your company, they tend to become playful and loving companions that aren't likely to turn down a game of fetch! While they don't mind being left at home if you're at work all day, they'll expect a good amount of playtime when you return.

In the home you'd be likely to find your Russian Blue jumping and climbing to the highest place in order to study all the goings-on around them, quietly observing and debating whether to get involved. Russian Blues aren't especially vocal, however they'll respond if you talk to them using their soft, quiet voice and because they're intelligent kitties, they can learn the meaning of many words.

It's believed that the Russian Blue first arrived in the UK in 1860 with British soldiers returning from the Russian port of Arkhangel'sk (Archangel), so they became known as Archangel cats. They've also been known as the Maltese Cat and the Spanish Cat, particularly in the US. However, there's strong evidence that links the cat with Russia – as its name might suggest!

A large number of cats with similar coat colours are found living in Scandinavia, with their dense coats indicating them living in a cold northern climate. The first recorded appearance out of Russia was in 1875 when the Russian Blue competed at the Crystal Palace in England as the Archangel Cat.

The Russian Blue competed in a class including other blue cats until 1912, when it was given its own class. The breed was mainly developed in England and Scandinavia until after the second World War. Although blue is considered the typical colour of this breed, black and white Russians are also known. These colours likely arose during World War II, when the last remaining Russian Blues were crossed with the Siamese and the British Blue to help maintain numbers.