Russian Blues, Can anyone tell me????

diego

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I just noticed today that my wee Diego has a couple of stripes on his tail, dark gray they are. anyway my question is, is this normal in a pure breed RB or is it likely he isn't pure breed after all?

No stripes anywhere else just his tail.

Heres a pic so you can see.


It almost looks as if they are where each join would be on his tail bone except some gaps are large
 

carolpetunia

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I remember hearing somewhere that nearly all cats actually have some tabby in them, and it often shows up as very faint markings like that. My Clyde is a bicolor (white with black), and I would have sworn his black areas were perfectly solid... but in bright sunlight, I can see very, very faint red tabby stripes on his tail!

Not sure whether any of that relates to purebreds, though...
 
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diego

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Hi all, um I tried a similar thread under general forums but didn't get many replies. In fact just 1.
I need answers from people who have owned a few RB's or even breeders.
Today I noticed stripes on my Diego's tail and I'm worried I have been sold a x breed RB under the pretense he was pure.

Is it normal for a pure breed RB to have stripes on its tail?
or have I been sold a cat that somewhere in its heritage there is an impurity?
Will the stripes disappear as he gets older? or will the become more defined/bold.

I really need to know ASAP to put my mind at ease, of course I'm going to keep him, regardless but if he is impure then I want some of my money back, he wasn't cheap as you can imagine.

Thanks all
 
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diego

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Originally Posted by Kai Bengals

Check out this link:
http://www.russianbluebc.org/

These are champion cats. They have rings on their tails as well. I would think this is fairly common and OK.
Thanks heaps, they are so cute. The pics I had seen (years ago I might add) didn't have any stripes, hence the panic.
 

missymotus

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The standard over here allows for tabby markings on kittens only, on adults it is a fault.
 
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diego

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Originally Posted by sarahp

Do you have pedigree papers for him?
No not yet, they were supposed to be in the post last week, but then when I contacted them on Wednesday so see why they hadn't arrived yet. They tell me the registration place will send them out, but it may take a few months coz its breeding season now, so they are snowed under.
I don't know what to make of that, I would have thought even if I did buy him from a pet store, that the papers would already be there with the cat. Otherwise how do they know for sure its a pure breed.
 

sharky

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Originally Posted by DIEGO

No not yet, they were supposed to be in the post last week, but then when I contacted them on Wednesday so see why they hadn't arrived yet. They tell me the registration place will send them out, but it may take a few months coz its breeding season now, so they are snowed under.
I don't know what to make of that, I would have thought even if I did buy him from a pet store, that the papers would already be there with the cat. Otherwise how do they know for sure its a pure breed.
Many breeders keep the "papers " till proof of spay or neuter .... I hate to warn you but you may get "papers" from a paper mill of registrys
 

StefanZ

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Originally Posted by missymotus

The standard over here allows for tabby markings on kittens only, on adults it is a fault.
So is also for the european / Scandinavian RB. Although, in some light, you do see shadows of the stripes also on grown up cats.

Im talking about first rate cats, show-class cats as most of the scandinavians are.
 

goldenkitty45

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Many RB kittens show some ghost tabby markings in the first few months - they usually disappear by 6 months old. So don't worry. Can we see pictures of your kitten? I used to own and breed/show RB's when I started in purebred cats. How old is your kitten?
 

renovia

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Stoli has three stripes on his tail - they haven't gone away yet so it is a fault but if you ask others who have seen his pictures and heard his antics - I would think they would tell you that stoli is a pure bred.
 
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diego

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Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

Many RB kittens show some ghost tabby markings in the first few months - they usually disappear by 6 months old. So don't worry. Can we see pictures of your kitten? I used to own and breed/show RB's when I started in purebred cats. How old is your kitten?
Some photo's are here http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=132849

I can post some more soon if need be, just right now my internet connection is a bit slow. (always having a slow day recently even for broadband).

I know since I bought him at a petshop he could be faulty. I hope he's not.

This probably isn't the right place to ask, but what makes a cat show quality?
Is it not just the looks and behaviour?

Thanks for your help.

He's 5mths old. Born Jan 27
 

kitytize

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Originally Posted by DIEGO

This probably isn't the right place to ask, but what makes a cat show quality?
Is it not just the looks and behaviour?
A show cat is a cat that does not have any disqualifying marks and is a cat that fits the standard of their breed. Not sure what registry your kitten is registered with but here is the link for the RB CFA standard

http://www.cfa.org/breeds/standards/russian.html

Most likely since your kitten was purchased from a pet shop it will not be show quality.
 

sharky

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Originally Posted by DIEGO

What does this mean exactly?
There are MANY MNAY registries ,....

Some of them require NO PROOF of bloodlines or pedigree they just say heres you registration... I registered a NON pedigreed fish on one...
 
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diego

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Originally Posted by sharky

There are MANY MNAY registries ,....

Some of them require NO PROOF of bloodlines or pedigree they just say heres you registration... I registered a NON pedigreed fish on one...
So does that mean, even if it were a breeder I bought him from, they could charge more because they got a registration with no proof of bloodline?

Just out of curiosity how much could one expect to pay for an RB thats like mine?, (not of show quality)

So basically even buying from a breeder it could be buyer beware?

A breeder itself needs to be registered right? so can they get a registration even if they were what you call a backyard breeder?

I'm happy with Diego, I had only seen pics of adults with no stripes on their tails that why i got agitated and started this thread.
I think you said the same thing I have quoted you on, on another of my threads, sorry you had to repeat yourself.

Thanks for all your help.
 

kitytize

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Originally Posted by DIEGO

So does that mean, even if it were a breeder I bought him from, they could charge more because they got a registration with no proof of bloodline?

Just out of curiosity how much could one expect to pay for an RB thats like mine?, (not of show quality)

So basically even buying from a breeder it could be buyer beware?

A breeder itself needs to be registered right? so can they get a registration even if they were what you call a backyard breeder?
If he is registered with a top registry like CFA or TICA then his pedigree (which you can purchase from the registry) would be proof of his bloodlines. I am not sure on prices of RBs. It depends if the parents carry titles or not. Yes you still need to beware of breeders. Responsible breeders show their cats, only sell cats on contracts, vaccinate and spay/neuter kittens before they leave for new homes, and some even microchip all their kittens. Responsible breeders also check their breeding cats for genetic health problems. And no a breeder does not need to be registered. They can however purchase a cattery name from a registry which then means all their kittens will carry that name and it cannot be removed. And yes a backyard breeder can acquire a cattery name.
 

sharky

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See CFA and TICA are the main and respected registrys but I dont want you to be shocked if you get a paper from another one that is common for backyard breeders to use ... Truthfully NO good breeder would sell to a pet shop
 

renovia

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i second sharky, no good breeder would sell to a pet shop. but your pictures really tell me you have a beautiful russian blue. Pet quality purebreds can go anywhere from 500 to 800 dollars, I would say. Nial (Kai Bengals) has 'pet quality' Bengals around that price and they are absolutely beautiful.

in your original post you were wondering if you had a purebred or if someone over charged you for a non-purebred...

your cat looks like a beautiful russian blue but we can't tell what his blood lines and genetics are like. i would say he's a purebred of pet quality, which is what stoli is.
 
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