British Shorthair vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison

The Blue Russian is a rare cat and not much is known about its origins, but it is believed that the cat comes from northern Russia.

The Cat Fanciers Association believes that the cat descended from cats kept by Russian Czars. Research tells us that there is no mention of the Blue Russian until the 19th century. The Russia Blue made its first public appearance in 1875, being exhibited at London’s Crystal Palace as the ‘Archangel Cat’.

By 1912, the Russia Bue was given its own classification after its introduction to the USA in the early 1900s.

A cat breeder, Harrison Wier took a street cat of Britain and with an intensive breeding program, transformed it to the British Shorthair.

The British loved this beautiful pedigree cat. During the Second World War, the British Shorthair all but disappeared but re-emerged as a popular cat that is today accepted in cat registries around the world.

The Russian Blue is a medium-sized cat with a long, finely-boned boy. It is a slender cat, but he appears larger because of his dense double coat.

He weighs in the region of 3 – 6kg. In spite of the dense and luxurious short silvery coat, the cat doesn’t shed much. The coat can in fact be a silvery shade to a dark slate grey. The eyes are a beautiful green, the ears widely spaced and slightly rounded at the top.

Temperament:

The Russian Blue is a sweet-tempered cat who becomes attached to his human owner and who will even follow his owner much like a dog.

This particular cat breed may be quite shy, but he becomes social around his family members and may even be reluctant to share time with strangers.

He also doesn’t mind spending some time alone if you have to work. Curious and intelligent the Russian Blue is somewhat reserved but he makes a great companion as he is sensitive to his owner's moods.

The British Shorthair is a medium to large-sized cat and he can be anything from 5 to 9kg. He has a short to medium-length dense coat that can either be a solid color, bi-color tortoiseshell or patterned.

The coat becomes thicker and longer in the winter. This is a robust, strong cat, being heavily muscled with heavy bones. The cat also has a broad chest with thick, strong legs. The ears are fairly small and the round eyes give him a totally amicable expression on his face.

Temperament:

The British Shorthair is an amicable cat and makes a superb companion as it's an easy-going cat that adores his human family, being loyal towards them.

The British Shorthair is an active cat and it is able to get by on his own for a few hours without human company. If you do work particularly long hours and you go out a lot, it will be kind to perhaps get another cat for him as a friend.

He is quiet and undemanding and because he is big and heavy he doesn’t like being carried around.

Russian blue cats are such intelligent creatures and he will require some mental stimulation because of it.

He loves mealtimes, but remember to not overfeed him as this shortens his lifespan.

He is a vocal cat and will tell you when he is hungry or he wants to play.

These cats don’t like too many changes so keep things the same for him.

When you try to keep your lovely Blue Russian happy, you’ll be rewarded by having a fantastic feline companion.

The British Shorthair is such a companionable cat, being intelligent and affectionate, even though he isn’t a lapcat as such.

That doesn’t mean he doesn’t love being around his human companions. He does and is loyal to them.

They’re laid back cats and are capable of getting on well with children in the home as well as with other pets. He just loves lazing around in the sun and can spend a few hours on his own without feeling anxious or lonely.

These cats are really great companions and they make themselves at home in different lifestyles, whether you live in the countryside or in town and whether you are single, a couple or a family with children and other pets.

Easy to care for, the British Shorthair cat is guaranteed to make you an excellent companion.

The Blue Russian has a life expectancy of around 12–20 years, but with excellent care, these cats can reach 25 years of age. They don’t have many health issues but may succumb to any of the common cat diseases there are.

Always get your pet to the vet if you suspect your pet is in any way ill.

These beautiful cats are a robust, healthy type of cat breed and if you care well for him, you aren’t going to be taking him along to the vet too often. He can also live to be up to 20 years of age.

This cat has been bred with Persians in the past, so this should alert you to some of the diseases that this particular cat breed is susceptible to. It makes the cat a little bit vulnerable to polycystic kidney, an inherited condition in cats that causes cysts to form in the kidneys. They are small at first but they can grow bigger and actually result in kidney failure.

Part of caring for a cat as a responsible pet owner comes from feeding your pet. The Russian Blue is a cat that enjoys his food so you will have to look out for overfeeding.

A cat that is overweight can start developing joint problems and diabetes. Rather stick to scheduled meals so that you can know exactly what your feline pet is getting. Such a beautiful cat needs the best food there is to keep the coat shiny and healthy and to prevent illness.

Always read the food labels to ensure the best ingredients and the right portion sizes. Make sure your cat gets food that is meat protein-rich as a cat is a carnivore.

Water is another important part of your Blue Russian’s diet. Fresh cool water should be available for your cat night and day. Water bowls are good but a water fountain is a tantalizingly attractive way for your pet to be attracted to drinking more water.

Make sure that you rake up all your cat’s droppings from the litter box every day as the Russian Blue is a hygienic cat and wants a clean litter box. Make sure the litter box is in a nice quiet spot for your cat.

The cat has a dense coat but isn’t a heavy shedder and requires very little grooming.

Ensure a decent bed for your Bombay cat. Any soft cat bedding will do, and while some cats like a simple flat mattress-type bedding arrangement, other cats like the idea of getting into a bed that provides some privacy.

You just have to find yourself a decent pet shop because when you do, you’ll find a host of soft, warm, fully washable blankets and pillows for your pet. Once you’ve decided on the right bed and a nice quiet spot, your cat will have a complex issue sorted out as some cats can be fussy with their sleeping arrangments.

Make sure your cat is neutered or spayed to avoid unwanted kittens. Neutering offers health benefits, reducing the risk of different cancers. Your cat also no longer has the desire to fight over mates and territory.

The British Shorthair is a fairly large, robust cat but that certainly doesn’t mean he must be fat. Being overweight can bring about a range of health issues and you want to follow an appropriate diet for him ad see that he gets enough exercise.

When it comes to feeding your British Shorthair, always look out for the very best, most nutritious food there is as he is a big cat.

You want to ensure your pet gets enough protein as cats are carnivores - they’re meat eaters and they require chicken, beef and fish. You can give your cat some cooked egg as they are an excellent source of protein.

Be very careful not to be tempted to give your cat chocolates, grapes, nuts, onions or garlic as foods like this are toxic for your cat and can cause him pain and discomfort.

Remember to ensure that there is always a constant supply of fresh, cool water for your cat. If you’re wondering what to feed your cat or you have any other concerns, don’t hesitate to speak to your vet.

Brush your British Shorthair when he starts to shed his winter coat and trim the nails.

Do things for your cat that you would do for your own human child. This is your beloved fur-child and you want him to be happy and healthy.

Check inside his mouth to make sure there aren’t any loose or blackened teeth that could be causing him terrible pain. Also, check inside his ears for signs of redness.

Your British Shorthair is an elegant, clean type of cat so you want to keep his litterbox nice and clean for him.