Russian Blue vs Ragdoll - Breed Comparison | MyCatBreeds

It is believed that this beautiful cat originates from Russia, and more specifically the Archangel Isles.

It is also thought that these cats descended from cats that were kept by the Russian Czars and that they arrived in England and Northern Europe during the 1860s. It appeared in cat shows and by 1912 it was given its own classification.

The cat was also introduced to the United States in the early 1900s and today it is a popular domesticated pet.

It was in the 1960s that a regular domestic longhaired cat with white fur produced several litters of cats. There was one litter where the kittens with a docile temperament, seemed to go limp when picked up.

Anne Baker set out to start a breeding program and all Ragdolls are descended from Baker's cats. In fact, the cat credited as the original Ragdoll was a cat with the name Josephine, and Ragdolls are sometimes called ‘the daughters of Josephine.

Baker set up her own registry, the International Ragdoll Cat Association. The IRCA still exists, but another pair developed the Ragdoll standard that is accepted by major cat registries. Today. The biggest international Ragdoll breed club is the Ragdoll Fanciers' Club International.

The medium-sized Russian blue cat is slender, strong, and muscular with long legs. He can weigh between 3 and 6kg.

He has a beautiful blue, soft double coat that is short and thick. The coat is an even color with silver tips. What is an attractive feature of this cat too is that his double coat doesn’t shed much. The cat has a triangular-shaped head with yellow to green eyes.

Temperament:

The Russian Blue is such an amicable, sweet-tempered cat that likes nothing more than to be in the company of his human owners, He is calm and independent. They do well living with their human families but they do tend to form a deep bond with that one special person.

He will even follow his owner everywhere and is a loving, loyal companion. The Russian Blue is a social cat but also enjoys some quiet time out just to chill. He also isn’t too fond of visitors and may run away and hide if the occasion becomes too large and noisy.

This is a cat that will miss you when you’re at work all day but he is able to quietly wait for your arrival back home. Then he will appreciate some playtime.

The beautiful Ragdoll cat is a large, heavy-boned cat. Sometimes they can be 9kg in weight. It has a soft, silky coat that can be semi-long to long.

The cat has remarkable blue eye and the beautiful silky coat comes in several shades such as cream point, chocolate point, seal point, and others.

The ears are medium-sized and, the legs long and strong and the oval-shaped eyes are blue. The cat is known as a pointed breed, which means that the body is lighter in color than the points.

Temperament:

Ragdolls are casual, even-tempered, laid-back kind of cats. They are playful but not particularly energetic so you won’t find these cats leaping onto top perches such as what other cats do.

These docile cats love to be petted and pampered and carried around. It literally goes limp with pleasure at being loved and pampered by its human companions. He’s such a friendly cat who, much like a dog, will even greet you at the door and learn to play some games.

This amicable cat gets on well with children and other pets in the home, making a splendid family pet and he can even learn to walk on a leash.

Your Russian Blue is such an intelligent cat and for this reason, when you bring one into your home, you’ll need to provide him with lots of stimulating toys and fun play times.

This is also a low maintenance cat and a brush once a week will be all that is required.

These are cats that love their mealtimes and you’ll want to work out a special eating program to ensure he gets all the nutrition he needs without over-eating.

Respond with lots of love and attention to your vocal Russian Blue, and you’ll soon see what a precious jewel this cat is as a companion and friend.

The Ragdoll really is a splendid cat for any family that loves pets. They are such loving cats and adore being pampered by their human owners.

These cats get on well with children and other pets, and because they are such mild-mannered cats, you never find a Ragdoll striking out in anger. That is why it is so important that children be taught kindness and gentleness with animals like the Ragdoll and not to take advantage of its good nature.

Playful and entertaining, the Ragdoll is bursting with his own unique personality – a super feline companion for the whole family.

Because the Russian Blue is a naturally occurring breed, they are fairly healthy cats. Watch out for obesity and urinary tract infections with your cat.

Obesity:

Obesity shortens a cat’s life. It puts extra pressure on the cat’s joints and it makes them more likely to develop disease. Then again, it is dangerous to suddenly put your obese cat on a strict diet so that he loses weight too quickly.

Your cat requires a gradual decrease in body weight. If you’re worried about your cat’s weight, rather speak to a veterinary surgeon who can explain to you and also draw up a weight loss program for your cat.

Remember too, that cats are carnivores and they simply have to have meat in their diet. Commercially manufactured cat foods of the highest quality are high in protein and low in carbohydrates.

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease:

Feline lower urinary tract disease is no joke for a cat. This disease affects your pet’s lower urinary tract – the bladder. Causes include bladder stones or bladder infections and inflammation in the urinary bladder.

You may notice your cat battling to urinate. Your cat will also no doubt cry out while trying to urinate and this is because the process is so painful. There may also be blood in the urine.

You may notice that your cat isn’t using his litter box but urinating elsewhere. Your cat will need to get to the vet as soon as possible. It may not be a life-threatening disease but it can be highly uncomfortable for your cat.

All cats, whatever the breed, can succumb to any one of the many cat diseases there are. A high-quality diet, a loving, caring lifestyle, the appropriate vaccines and parasite treatment can all help to keep your Ragdoll as happy and healthy as possible.

Ragdolls are generally healthy cats but you may want to look out for bladder stones. Another disease to watch for is a heart condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This heart disease causes thickening of the heart muscle.

While the disease is usually found in older cats, there is also a juvenile form that affects younger cats, and often young Ragdolls.

Sometimes there aren’t symptoms, and if your cat has labored breathing, loses his appetite or has vomiting, you may need to get your Ragdoll to the vet who will listen to his heart for abnormalities.

The Russian Blue’s beautiful blue coat is short and thick and will do well with a brush once a week. The cat just thrives on the attention during brush time too.

Trim your Russian blue’s nails regularly.

Provide your cat with everything he needs to make his life pleasant. Food and water bowls, a litter box, a collar and tag, a nice soft bed, grooming accessories, climbing tree, and a scratching post.

Make sure he has his cat vaccines and is treated for parasites.

Even though the Ragdoll’s coat is long and silky, it’s the kind of coat that doesn’t require too much maintenance. Certainly, you’ll want to comb and brush it once a week.

The other grooming he requires is regular nail trimming.

Understand your Ragdoll’s eating habits. Remember cats are carnivores and this means that their diet has to be made up of meat. Food puzzles are great for these cats but whatever snacks and treats you give your Ragdoll, make sure that they are healthy for a cat and don’t give your cat digestive problems.

Provide your Ragdoll with a litter tray and make sure to remove the feces every single day.

Cats are prone to periodontal disease, but while it has become the latest trend to brush your pet’s teeth, this can be upsetting and traumatic for a pet. A good diet can help to keep teeth healthy. Your vet can look inside your pet's mouth to see if any teeth need attending to.