Except you’re a cat fanatic like us, it may be exhausting to inform the Russian Blue and British Shorthair aside. Each of those cats are extremely comparable.
Through the World Wars, the breeding inventory of the British Shorthair was decimated. Due to this fact, breeders determined to herald different cats to develop the gene pool and forestall the breed from dying. Considered one of these breeds was the Russian Blue, primarily as a result of the breed seemed fairly much like the British Shorthair. At this time, this kind of crossbreeding isn’t allowed underneath the breed normal. Nevertheless, the British Shorthair was nonetheless modified eternally by the introduction of Russian Blue genetics.
Regardless of this, the Russian Blue and British Shorthair aren’t the identical breeds. They’ve a number of variations that will make one breed higher for you than the opposite. Under, we’ll take a look at these variations that can assist you select the very best cat as your companion.
The Russian Blue has the identical placing blue coat because the British Shorthair. Its coat can also be dense and brief, making it look much like the British Shorthair. Nevertheless, this breed has its personal temperament and traits that set it aside from the British Shorthair.
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Care
The Russian Blue may be very straightforward to look after. Its conventional coat requires minimal grooming. Usually, this cat takes care of its personal coat. In comparison with different breeds, the Russian Blue sheds minimally. Due to this fact, you don’t have to brush the cat throughout shedding season. You generally see the Russian Blue showing on “hypoallergenic cat breed” lists for that reason, although it isn’t 100% hypoallergenic.
Although you don’t must brush a Russian Blue fairly often, you could trim its nails frequently and verify its ears. These easy grooming duties ought to solely take a couple of minutes, however they’re important to maintain your feline wholesome.
Russian Blues are typically very sensible. You may practice them to play fetch, carry out different tips, and even stroll on a leash. Nevertheless, this intelligence additionally implies that they require extra psychological stimulation. These cats want playtime and rapidly turn into bored, and they aren’t essentially the very best breed for people who need a “hands-off” pet.
You may count on the Russian Blue to require fairly a little bit of train. It isn’t that they’re liable to weight problems, however they’ve quite a lot of vitality of their grownup years. Due to this fact, you must put money into loads of toys and climbing buildings.
Well being
Russian Blues are extraordinarily wholesome. They’re pedigreed cats. Nevertheless, not like most purebred cats, they aren’t liable to genetic well being circumstances. Due to this fact, cats are normally not genetically examined earlier than being bred, as it’s largely pointless.
That doesn’t imply that these cats by no means get sick, nevertheless. Russian Blues are liable to well being issues that have an effect on all trendy cats, together with weight problems. It’s best to watch your cat’s weight and all the time feed it in line with the directions on the cat meals container. In case your pet appears to be gaining weight, communicate along with your vet. Some cats are extra liable to weight achieve than others, although all cats’ weight may be managed.
You also needs to get your cat vaccinated as beneficial by your vet. Many feline illnesses may cause ache and dying which might be utterly preventable with vaccinations. Due to this fact, you’ll want to vaccinate your cat in line with the beneficial schedule.
These cats stay a reasonably lengthy lifespan on account of their lack of well being issues. Whereas many different breeds typically develop well being points by age 12, Russian Blues can simply attain 20 with out severe well being issues.
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Dimension
Russian Blues are thought-about small to medium cats. They’re a slender breed that tends to remain on the skinnier aspect. Due to this fact, they typically weigh lower than they appear. They might weigh anyplace from 7–12 kilos and attain as much as 10” in top.
Russian Blues are fairly small in comparison with a number of different purebred cat breeds, together with the British Shorthair.
Temperament
The Russian Blue tends to be pleasant with its proprietor and members of the family. They aren’t precisely lap cats, however they typically take pleasure in consideration from people they know. They are often cautious of newcomers, nevertheless. Don’t be shocked when your cat hides underneath the mattress every time you could have pals over.
Socialization performs a big function on this. In case you introduce your cat to many individuals at a younger age, it might be extra open to strangers. Nonetheless, they’re comparatively cautious of strangers. These cats are additionally fairly energetic. They’re playful and carry many “kitten-like” traits into maturity.
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Appropriate For:
Russian Blues will observe their house owners round the home and get very connected to their members of the family. These cats will greet their house owners on the door and fortunately sit with you on the sofa. They’re even well-tolerated by these with allergic reactions. Nevertheless, they aren’t the friendliest or cuddliest cats on the market.
British Shorthair Overview
The British Shorthair is a bigger cat developed in Britain. On prime of being tall and lengthy, these cats are additionally very cumbersome. They’ve a really “rounded” look that makes them look a bit like teddy bears.
These felines are greatest recognized for his or her easygoing nature. They’re affectionate with out being terribly needy. These temperament traits make them one of the in style breeds around the globe.
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Care
The British Shorthair has a brief, dense coat that requires minimal grooming however sheds frequently. Due to this fact, it’s typically beneficial to brush your cat about as soon as every week. This session is extra to cut back shedding by eradicating useless fur than something. Throughout seasonal shedding durations, you might have to brush your cat much more.
Like all cats, you’ll additionally must trim your British Shorthair’s nails and verify its ears at the least weekly. You gained’t all the time want to wash your cat’s ears. Nevertheless, if you happen to discover any particles, you must take away it gently with a cotton ball. Don’t shove something into your cat’s ear, although, as this will trigger injury.
These cats stay fairly playful into their maturity. Nevertheless, they aren’t notably energetic. Actually, a few of these cats may be extremely lazy, which contributes to their weight problems drawback. It’s best to goal to train your British Shorthair at the least as soon as a day with a play session, particularly in the event that they’re on the heavier aspect. Fortunately, as a result of these cats are playful, exercising them isn’t typically very exhausting.
Plan to put money into climbing buildings and loads of cat toys. Your feline ought to have loads of choices to play all through the day. Get a number of forms of scratching posts to assist your cat train completely different muscle teams.
Well being
British Shorthairs are an especially wholesome breed. The breed developed naturally after being introduced and left in Britain by the Romans. By pure choice, solely the healthiest cats lived. The inclusion of untamed cat genes additionally helped make the breed more healthy. This feline isn’t liable to many genetic issues, not like different cat breeds.
Nevertheless, they’re liable to turning into obese. They like their meals and have a tendency to overeat. Because of this, you should management your cat’s meals consumption and make sure that they solely eat what they want. Preserve treats and snacks to a minimal.
These felines are additionally liable to particular coronary heart circumstances, reminiscent of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Nevertheless, many coronary heart circumstances reported in these cats are linked to weight problems. Due to this fact, by retaining your cat wholesome, you’ll be able to assist them stay for a really very long time.
These cats turn into very giant. Males can attain as much as 20 kilos, making them one of many largest breeds round. Nevertheless, you may as well discover females that weigh as little as 9 kilos. If you’d like a British Shorthair of a selected dimension, we advocate discovering a vet that breeds cats of about that dimension. Many breeders will guess what dimension their kittens might be, relying on the scale of the mother and father.
Temperament
British Shorthairs are recognized for being calm and laidback. They spend quite a lot of their time mendacity round and don’t actually care about a lot. In all chance, that is most likely why so lots of them find yourself obese.
British Shorthairs are moderately affectionate with their people. They may observe their individuals round the home and sit close to them. They aren’t lap cats and don’t wish to be carried or dealt with a lot. Nevertheless, additionally they aren’t liable to separation anxiousness and just do effective on their very own.
With that mentioned, they are typically a bit aloof with strangers. They aren’t fairly as aloof as Russian Blues, however they aren’t going to observe a stranger round the home. Some could even conceal underneath the mattress. Socialization will help them be extra comfy round others. Nevertheless, these cats won’t ever be as pleasant as another breeds.
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Appropriate for:
British Shorthairs are a sensible choice for households that need a breed that may principally handle themselves. These felines don’t require intensive grooming, although a once-a-week brushing is beneficial. They’re affectionate with out being needy and have a tendency to get alongside effectively with different pets. Nevertheless, they aren’t terribly cuddly and don’t wish to be held.
Which Breed Is Proper for You?
British Shorthairs and Russian Blues are very comparable breeds. They each function the identical blue-grey fur and have a tendency to connect very carefully to their members of the family. Each are extraordinarily wholesome and never liable to severe genetic well being circumstances, although each breeds additionally are inclined to overeat.
Nevertheless, these felines do differ of their exercise ranges. The British Shorthair tends to be way more laidback and calms down lots in maturity. They aren’t as energetic or playful. Nevertheless, Russian Blues require way more stimulation. They want further train to assist them run off their pent-up vitality, they usually require extra psychological stimulation on account of their intelligence.
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