American Cat Fanciers Association        

Russian Shorthair Breed Synopsis

 

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  Russian Shorthair Breed Standard

 

 

 

 

The Russian Shorthair is a slender, dainty cat-- long, svelte and graceful. It belongs to the group known as "foreign type". This fine boning and slenderness is only shared with the Korat and the Oriental Shorthair. The Russian Shorthair appear to be heavier in stature due to their double coats. It is a medium-sized cat with the body of a swimmer rather than a wrestler.

 

The double coat sets the Russian Shorthair apart from the other shorthair cats. This is a coat made of very dense short hair that stands out from the body at a 45 degree angle. Each guard hair is tipped in silver, giving the cat a very shimmering appearance. The texture of the coat should feel like a silk scarf in your hands –soft and luxurious. It should be dense enough to leave your fingerprints in the coat also.  There should be no tabby marks or stripes in the adult coat. Kittens may have faint rings on the tail.

 

Another feature of the breed is eye color. The eye color is a brilliant green that can range from apple-green to deep jade almost a blue-green. The brilliant emerald green is preferred in the show ring. No yellow is allowed in the eyes of adults. The eye shape is almost round, just oval enough to show an oriental slant. Eyes are set one eye width or more apart.

The Russian Shorthair has a high fore-head, with the top of skull flat and narrow, smoothly curving into the back of the neck. Face is broad at eye level and looks even broader due to thick fur at side of head. Medium length straight nose looks upturned from almost any view except profile due to light reflection. Neck is long but does not appear so in repose, due again to thick fur. There are seven planes on the head –each counted separately, giving an almost serpent-like profile when the ears are held down.

 

The ears are rather large and wide at the base, as they are tall, and set far apart as much into side as top of head. Ears look pointed, as hair tufts finish off where the slightly rounded tips stop. Inside furnishings cover approximately one-half of the otherwise bare, translucent ear area. The outside of the ears are completely covered with short, fine hair. There should be no doming (roundness of skull) between the ears.

 

Temperament    

The Russian Shorthair is a gentle, sometimes shy cat with an often playful manner. It is quick to learn and have some dog-like characteristics, like retrieving wads of paper or soft balls. Its voice, if any, is soft and sweet, often making them a good choice for apartment dwellers or older people. Many, however, will talk to their owners if they are encouraged to do so. The Russians also make wonderful companions for children and if not handled roughly they interact easily with the little ones. They prefer gentle but firm handling and can at times be easily startled. The Russian is an intelligent cat and training should be repetition, not man-handling. They are often known to play Hide and Seek with their owners and to find the highest place in the house to sleep! They are a breed that wants to be part of the family and are curious --wanting to inspect anything or anyone that enters their world. They are a semi-active breed but not destructive unless bored, stressed or neglected by their owners. Provide a sturdy scratcher, put it in a window so they can enjoy the outside world from the safe indoors. Don't hide it in a corner or basement – remember they want to be where you are and part of your family! Russian Shorthairs take pride in cleanliness, preferring order rather then chaos in the household. They will let you know if you haven't cleaned the litter box or if you haven't provided two boxes for both duties! Overall Russian Shorthairs are a healthy breed. Seek good veterinary care, feed high quality food, provide daily exercise and lots of love. As with any breed, as a pet gets older, some health issues may arise. Watch for any changes in your cat's habits. Changes in habits usually signal a potential health issue. Most Russians will select one family member to bond with more closely than the rest. Often that is the one that feeds them as they have wonderful appetites that sometimes have to be restricted to control their weight. This bonding relationship will be special and you will be rewarded with many head butts from your Russian Shorthair and many moments to cherish.

 

Origin

Many stories have been discussed but some proof has come from both England and Russia as to their origins. The breed has gone through various names such as Archangel, Maltese, Foreign Blue and Russian Blue. Fur trading and shipping may have had some bearing on their ability to be located in many countries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RUSSIAN Shorthair breed chair
 Andrea Thompson
 273 Timberwood Drive
 Thomson, GA 30824-3707
 706/595-5424
 athomp8138@aol.com