Is It a True Russian Blue?

Hi all,

I have been doing a lot of research in cat breeds and I decided that I would like to adopt a Russian Blue kitten. I have talked to many breeders and I have gotten an offer to place a deposit for a female kitten.

The kitten is super cute.

I checked the breeder's website and looked at all her breeding cats. They all seem to have yellow eyes with green around the pupils. Is this normal for Russian blues or should I be concerned that they are not truly pure russian blues.

I thought russian blues are supposed to have vivid green eyes, not vivid yellow-green eyes.

I don't want to invest my money into buying a pure bred that is not really pure and does not have the classic characteristics of a pure bred. When I look at my kitten I want to see a russian blue as well as others who see my cat, to know that it is a russian blue.

I grew up with domestic short hair cats and I have loved them dearly. I know if I adopt the kitten I will love it regardless, but before investing $800 + I want to know I got what I paid for.

Could it have been the pictures? Or is it normal for russian blues to have green eyes with yellow trim?

Thank you all for the feed back it is greatly appreciated.

I'm no expert on Russian Blues, but the kittens should have emerald (dark green) eyes. It's possible that the pictures are shading the eyes in a different color. I would think the best way to check out a breeder is to ask what registry their cats are papered with? Then call the registry to verify.

Post a link to their website if they have one and I'm sure there are experts here to give an opinion also.

Did you find out what you needed to know?

I'm assuming you are in the US/Canada, but may not be. I'm in the UK and only familiar with system here but there should be many similarities.   And yes, I have a very endearing 2 1/2 year old 'pedigree' RB neuter boy.  I selected the people I got him from very carefully, and I met the breeders, both my cat's parents, most of their other cats, and of course my boy, before I confirmed that I wanted to adopt the baby Mouse.  Both Mouse's parents are Grand Champions here in the UK though I have to admit it doesn't stop my boy from being a major pest when he wants to be. 

Cats can look pretty identical to a 'pedigree' one such as a Russian Blue, what you do not have is the genetic history for the breed. There may be very similar appearance but greater variation in things such a coat quality, eye colour, body / head shape, or temperament.  These cats can look just as special but should not cost you anywhere near as much!  If they are the result of some not so careful breeding they may also have some not so desirable health issues that the seller doesn't tell you about. 

You mention eye colour: RBs should always have green eyes.  Mouse's eyes are not a vivid emerald green, more two tone rings of bluish olive green and olive green but they are still judged to be of championship quality in terms of both colour and shape.  There are plenty of photos of him on his Cat Page if you want to check him out. My current avatar doesn't really look like him.   He has a younger (full) sister with stunning emerald blue eyes!

If you are paying for a 'pedigree' cat of any sort then the 'pedigree' relates to written evidence, verified through your country's officiating body, that your kitten or cat has the necessary 'championship quality' genetic history for the breed. This is both to preserve breed features and control genetic health traits such as heart conditions or skeletal deformities which may develop due to careless breeding. For Russian Blues in the UK the requirement is for 5 generations.  

You should check the requirement for your country on line, and then ask your breeder for full written documentation for both parents for the required period. If you are paying for a pedigree kitten your breeder should provide you with the necessary certification papers, transfer papers to register the kitten in your name, and a written copy of your kitten's ancestors on both sides going back for at least the minimum period required for where you live. If you don't get this your kitten is probably not the pedigree you're paying for.  You will also probably need to sign a contract about the ongoing welfare of the cat, entitling the breeder to take the cat back (at no cost to them) should there be concern for the its welfare.  

Pedigree cats are almost always sold as neuter and if you are being offered a kitten or cat which has not been neutered before you get it, and have not had to sign a contract guaranteeing that you will neuter it and not breed from him or her before this, then it is almost certainly not a pedigree kitten.  Again this is to protect the breed features and genetic health of future generations.

You should be able to check your breeder against any registering body's records. Here in UK the GCCF have a register of breeders who are suspended or banned for a range of reasons, as well as current approved breeder 'suffixes'.  RB associations here also list GCCF registered breeders who (may) have kittens for sale.

After all this: I had 2 adorable moggies before I adopted Mouse.  I am now a total fan of Russian Blue cats, they are simply adorable in nature, and their fur is unimaginable until you have felt it. And while Mouse is incredibly silly and playful he is also the most gentle cat I could ever imagine.     RB cats are real cats for real cat lovers, especially if you love short hairs.  There is no long hair fluffy softness: they are gentle but wriggly, long legged, lean muscled, stalking cats who adore cuddles, and have fur like super thick silk velvet.     

Oh, and I didn't have to place a deposit, the breeder wanted to meet and check me out......

I hope your kitten really is an RB and you decide to take it home, let me know if you do.   

Hi Guys,

I asked the breeder about the kittens parents and whether she shows them, it has been 2 days now and I have not gotten a response. The breeder responded sooner before. I sent two emails just to be sure. I am thinking they are not true RB now, even though they look like them. I will wait and look for other breeders. I am willing to wait, especially if i am going surely spend a paycheck for a RB, I want to make sure I get a true RB.

We will see if the breeder gets back to me, but since they have not replied my questions I am not sure...

Shame if they're not but better not being taken advantage of, may be they're just busy or away just now.  

If you do want to pursue getting a pedigree RB  (and obviously I think they're amazing but so is just about any cat in my book)  - Just a thought but if you search for any Russian Blue, or cat clubs in your area/country they might post information on where different breeders are.  In the UK there's a club called the Russian and Abyssinian Cat Club of Scotland and they post a map of all the Russian and Nebelung breeders here with their location, contact details and web site links.  That's how I found my guy.     The kitten list sometimes has contacts for breeders in other parts of the world including other European countries and Australia!  Have attached in case it's of use to you.

http://www.raccs.co.uk/Russian.htm

Good luck in finding your special furbaby. 

MissMoon said:

 
Hi Guys,

I asked the breeder about the kittens parents and whether she shows them, it has been 2 days now and I have not gotten a response. The breeder responded sooner before. I sent two emails just to be sure. I am thinking they are not true RB now, even though they look like them. I will wait and look for other breeders. I am willing to wait, especially if i am going surely spend a paycheck for a RB, I want to make sure I get a true RB.

We will see if the breeder gets back to me, but since they have not replied my questions I am not sure...

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All of MServant's suggestions are very good. I just replied to your PM regarding the breeder's website. I think for that kind of money I would look elsewhere. 

bigperm20 said:

 
All of MServant's suggestions are very good. I just replied to your PM regarding the breeder's website. I think for that kind of money I would look elsewhere. 

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I agree.  800 bucks is lotsa money, you should be able to get a decent good RB for that money.  Not only with a pedigree, but also of sufficient quality to be able to  show him.  Not necessarily to win big titles with, but so you wouldnt be ashamed and be laughed at, if you did participate.

So double check this place and be prepared to seek someone else yes.

That said, the RB green often look yellowish on many pics.  I had myself seen yellow eyes on a pedigreed RB. But in the photo caption it was written he just won a big Show-title, so he MUST have had nicely green eyes... He must, he would never ever get any title with yellow eyes, not even with some greenish ring in them.

One other thought, is it possible that RB eyes develop their green colour with maturity?  

I'm sorry, I don't know if it is so - but it is certainly so for Korats, who have blue kitten eyes for a few weeks, yellow/amber eyes for a few years, and anywhere between 2-4years, the green will develop.  This is why in young Korats, you see a green ring starting to appear on an amber eye - it is the green starting to appear and eventually the eyes are fully green (not an emerald green like a RB though).  If one were to look at many pedigree breeding Korats, they are often young (sub 4 yrs), so you wouldn't see the fully green eyes...they're still on their way, as a Korat is slow to mature to their full beauty.  Their 'pedigree-ness' can't be questioned though, and well educated judges know about the eye colour development, so it is quite possible for young Korats to win prizes without the full green eyes (yet).

It sounds like there may be some other alarm bells ringing for you though...

tammyp said:

 
One other thought, is it possible that RB eyes develop their green colour with maturity?  

I'm sorry, I don't know if it is so - but it is certainly so for Korats, who have blue kitten eyes for a few weeks, yellow/amber eyes for a few years, and anywhere between 2-4years, the green will develop.  This is why in young Korats, you see a green ring starting to appear on an amber eye - it is the green starting to appear and eventually the eyes are fully green (not an emerald green like a RB though).  If one were to look at many pedigree breeding Korats, they are often young (sub 4 yrs), so you wouldn't see the fully green eyes...they're still on their way, as a Korat is slow to mature to their full beauty.  Their 'pedigree-ness' can't be questioned though, and well educated judges know about the eye colour development, so it is quite possible for young Korats to win prizes without the full green eyes (yet).

It sounds like there may be some other alarm bells ringing for you though...

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Yes, sometimes it may be so, both the eye color and the skull shape gets better with time.  But may are good already on young kittens, so its no rule.

So the green comes quicker than with Korats.

MissMoon said:

 
Hi Guys,

I asked the breeder about the kittens parents and whether she shows them, it has been 2 days now and I have not gotten a response. The breeder responded sooner before. I sent two emails just to be sure. I am thinking they are not true RB now, even though they look like them. I will wait and look for other breeders. I am willing to wait, especially if i am going surely spend a paycheck for a RB, I want to make sure I get a true RB.

We will see if the breeder gets back to me, but since they have not replied my questions I am not sure...

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Take your time, visit other breeders, ask them as many questions as you can. See how they respond. Chek out if they're interested in the environment you'll provide for the cat. Meet the kitten's parents.