Editing Russian Blue (section)

== Physical characteristics ==
[[File:Cat Janna.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Russian Blue's green eyes]]
The Russian Blue has bright green eyes, pinkish lavender or mauve paws, two layers of short thick fur, and a blue-grey coat with a silver sheen.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia|title=Cats|year=2011|pages=1–2}}</ref> The colour is a bluish-grey that is the dilute expression of the black gene. However, as dilute genes are recessive ("d") and each parent will have a set of two recessive genes ("dd") two non-Colour-Point Carrier (non-CPC) Russian Blues will always produce a blue cat. Due to the breeding with Siamese after World War II, there are [[Points (coat color)|colour-point]] genes floating around. If two carriers are bred together, then they will produce a litter of mixed colours—solid blue or blue-point, similar to a Siamese. People call these CPC cats "colour-point", "whites" or "pointed" Russians. In most registries, one cannot register, breed or show a colour-point Russian. These colour-point (blue-point) cats are called Colour-Point-Russian Blue (Blue Point Russian Blue) or more informally as Pika Blu (or pika blue) cats and have the same general characteristics as the Russian Blue cats.
[[File:Russian blue kitten (cropped).jpg|thumb|Adult sporting the characteristic blue coat with a silver sheen]]
The coat is known as a "double coat", with the [[Down hair|undercoat]] being soft, downy and equal in length to the [[guard hair]]s, which are an even blue with silver tips. However, the tail may have a few very dull, almost unnoticeable stripes. The coat is described as thick, plush and soft to the touch and can be described as being softer than the softest silk. The silver tips give the coat a shimmering appearance. Its eyes are almost always a dark and vivid green. Any white patches of fur or yellow eyes in adulthood are seen as flaws in show cats.<ref name="russianblue1" /> Russian Blues should not be confused with British Blues (which are not a distinct breed, but rather a [[British Shorthair]] with a blue coat as the British Shorthair breed itself comes in a wide variety of colours and patterns), nor the [[Chartreux]] or [[Korat]] which are two other naturally occurring breeds of blue cats, although they have similar traits.

They are generally considered to be a quiet breed but there are always exceptions. They are normally reserved around strangers, unless they are brought up in an active household. Many Russian Blues have been trained to do tricks. They can also be fierce hunters, often catching rodents, birds, rabbits, small mammals, or reptiles. As loving and easy going as Russian Blues are, they do not like change, and prefer predictable, routine schedules.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Russian Blue |url=https://www.petmd.com/cat/breeds/c_ct_russian_blue |access-date=16 November 2022 |website=www.petmd.com |language=en}}</ref>

Russian Blue kittens are energetic and require adequate playmates or toys as they can become mischievous if bored.  They have exceptional athleticism and rival even [[Abyssinian cat|Abyssinians]] for their ability to leap and climb. Slow to mature, Russian Blues retain many of their adolescent traits both good and otherwise until they are 3–4 years old and even much older Blues can be easily enticed into play by their owners. Russian Blues are also highly intelligent. They have an excellent memory and will learn the hiding place of favorite toys and lead their owners to them when they want a game. They also have a keen ability to remember favorite visitors and will race to greet familiar faces even if quite some time has passed between visits.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}