11 Russian Cat Breeds: They were bred in the USSR and Russia, but are loved all over the world

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VOICE TIP: If you want to acquire a cat of a rare or exotic breed, be sure to collect all possible information and talk to the breeders of these animals. It would be a shame if you and your kitten don’t get along because some of his characteristics don’t match your lifestyle.

The Don cat breed was developed in the late 1980s in the USSR by crossing a cat carrying the hairless gene and a local cat. Cats of this breed are generally friendly, intelligent and sociable. They prefer to spend most of their time in the company of people. It is important to remember that Don sphinxes, like all other sphinxes, due to the lack of fur, need protection from low temperatures and sunburn.

Peterbalds (also spelled Peterbalds) as a cat breed were bred in the USSR in the 1990s: to obtain them, they crossed the Don Sphynx and an Oriental. Since then, other cat breeds have been introduced into the Peterbald’s genetic makeup in order to improve their appearance. These animals have a high level of mental capacity and try to be the center of attention. They always follow their owners from one room to another and never miss the opportunity to sit on their lap.

The Russian Blue cat is one of the most famous Russian cat breeds in the world. There is no specific information about its origin, but it is known that in the 19th century, Russian blue cats were popular among the aristocracy due to their sporty and graceful appearance.

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These cats generally have a calm disposition and may be wary of strangers. Russian Blue cats are gentle, affectionate and playful, but they are also quite independent and can spend time alone without problem.

This popular Russian cat breed owes its name to the characteristic color of its face: the hair around the eyes is darker and shaped as if the animal were wearing glasses or a mask. The breed is a color variety of the Siberian cat, but Neva Masquerades tend to grow slightly larger than Siberians. They are generally friendly and playful, although quite vocal. To maintain the beauty and health of their fur, these cats require careful care, otherwise they will have to deal with tangles.

We are talking about a real curly cat, first mentioned at the beginning of the 20th century. For some time, this Russian breed was on the verge of extinction, but thanks to the efforts of Ural felinologists, this unique species was restored in the late 1980s. These cats are very popular in Germany.

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There are currently two types of curly-haired cats: short-haired cats and medium-long-haired cats. Both species have unusual curly coats which make them very attractive. There are several breed lines (St. Petersburg, Moscow, Dresden, Sevastopol, Sverdlovsk), their representatives have significant external differences. Ural Rexes love to purr and cannot stand solitude at all.

The Kuril Bobtail is an indigenous breed; these cats have lived on Sakhalin Island, the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Kuril Archipelago since ancient times, maintaining their natural appearance without human intervention in the breeding process. Despite their particular “wild” appearance, they have a friendly and affectionate character. But it is important to understand that Kuril Bobtails have a very developed hunting instinct and, as a rule, they are very energetic.

It would seem, where is Russia and where is the Mekong? Moreover, this cat is sometimes called the Thai Bobtail. Here’s the thing: The cat actually gets its name from a famous Southeast Asian river. And although this breed lived naturally in Asian countries along the Mekong River, it was not officially recognized until it was introduced to Russia and described by Russian felinologists. These cats are known for their kindness, playfulness, curiosity and sociability.

The Karelian Bobtail is a unique Russian cat breed recognized in 1994. These animals have a friendly and calm character, which makes them easily adaptable to various family circumstances (including the presence of children and other animals in the house) . Karelian Bobtails value time spent with their family, but remain peaceful and calm cats, without unnecessary whims that do not require constant attention.

The modern Siberian cat is the descendant of a breed native to the vast Siberian taiga, a forested subarctic region of eastern Russia. Due to the long, harsh winters, Siberian cats have thick, mid-length fur that provides excellent insulation against the cold.

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They are loved around the world for their affectionate nature, sociability, and playful, active nature. Siberians are very intelligent and demanding, they need constant entertainment and communication, otherwise they begin to get bored and misbehave.

The Ussuri cat (also called Ussuri) is an interesting example of a native breed thought to have arisen from crossing Amur cats with Siberian domestic cats.

The Ussuri has long been considered a type of domestic cat, but in 1993, felinologists described its characteristics and standards. However, these Russian cats remain very rare. The main problem is the lack of sufficient manpower for breeding work, which may lead to the risk of extinction of this unique breed.