History 

As with so many cat breeds, little is known of the Russian Blue’s origins. He probably does come from Russia—his thick coat is surely that of a cat from colder climes—and he is considered a natural breed, meaning Matushka Nature created him, not the handiwork of humans. The Russian Blue’s development as a breed, however, took place primarily in Britain and Scandinavia, starting in the late nineteenth century, when showing and breeding cats became a popular activity.

Temperment

The Russian Blue has a reputation as a gentle, quiet cat, somewhat shy, but don’t get the wrong idea. This cat may have a reserved nature, but he loves to play (being especially fond of retrieving) and enjoys jumping or climbing to high places where he can study people and situations at his leisure before making up his mind about whether he wants to get involved.

Hypoallergenic Qualities

People who suffer from cat allergies but love cats are often advised to look into Russian blues as possibly hypoallergenic. Unlike many of the cats on this list that are incidentally hypoallergenic due to the nature of their fur not shedding in the normal way, Russian blues actually produce less of the glycoprotein Fel d 1, the very substance to which people are allergic.