The Standards 

Russian Breed Standard

RUSSIAN GENERAL STANDARD

The Russian is a graceful cat of medium strong bone and a long body. Its primary features are its short, plush, double coat and prominent whisker pads. Males are generally larger than females.

HEAD: A medium wedge, with a flat skull and forehead, a straight nose, high cheek bones, prominent whisker pads and a firm chin. The forehead and nose are straight, forming an angle where they meet.

EARS: Large, with slightly rounded tips, wide at the base, set vertically to the head and not flared. The tips of the ears are just inside a vertical line with the outer edge of the eyes. The skin of the ears is thin, with very little inside furnishing.

EYES: Set rather wide apart, with at least the width of an eye between them. They are medium-sized, almond-shaped and slanting down towards the nose; neither small, close-set, nor recessed. The outside of the eyes is at the same level as the outer edge of the ears.

NOSE: Straight, of medium length, not tapering and without a stop or break.

CHEEKS: High.
JAWS: Strong, with distinctly prominent whisker pads.

CHIN: Firm. In profile, of good depth and in a vertical line with the tip of the nose.

NECK: Long, elegant and in proportion to the body and head. BODY: Long and graceful, with medium strong boning and

firm muscle tone. It is neither coarse, compact nor oriental.

LEGS: Long with medium boning and in proportion to the body.

Small and oval.

Long, thicker at base, tapering and in proportion to the body. It is not a whip and is not blunt.

SCALE OF POINTS

Head and neck 15 Ears 10

FAULTS / PENALTIES

REFER TO GENERAL LIST OF FAULTS FOR ALL BREEDS,

PLUS: PENALISE:

•   Square head.

•   Cobby or heavy build.

•   Any resemblance to Siamese build.

•   Woolly, coarse or wiry coat texture.

•   Flat coat.

•   Tabby markings or barring on adults, except on

  the tail.

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  WITHHOLD :

 White hairs or patches on Blacks or Blues. 

COAT AND COLOUR

COAT LENGTH AND TEXTURE:

 The coat is short, soft, resilient, plush and very close though not flat. The double coat has a distinct silvery sheen or shimmer in all colours. The combination of these coat qualities is the most important characteristic of the Russian and makes the coat different from that of any other breed. Coat is much plusher in winter.

Allowance for ghost tabby markings on the body should only be made in kittens.

EYE RIMS AND NOSE LEATHER: To harmonise with the coat colour.

PAW PADS: To harmonise with the coat colour.
EYE COLOUR: Clear, vivid green. Allowance should be made

in kittens for eye colour not being fully developed.

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COAT COLOURS

Black:    
Coat colour: Jet Black with a distinct sheen, sound to the roots and with any rustiness.
Nose leather and paw pads: Black.

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White:  

White kittens often have a coloured cap on the head, ranging from a few hairs to a considerable patch. This is normal, disappears with the growth of the first adult coat, and should not be penalised.

Nose leather and paw pads: Pink. 

Russian White Coat:  Pure, sparkling white, with a glistening sheen, free from any yellow tinge.

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BLUE :

Clear, light to medium blue that is sound throughout, with a silvery sheen, apparent particularly on the face, shoulders, chest, legs and extremities, where the fur is shortest. In maturity, free from tabby markings. Very slight ghost rings may be acceptable on the tail.

Nose leather and paw pads: Blue. 

BREEDING NOTES

No allowable outcrosses.

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