Are Russian Blue Cats High Maintenance? – Everything You Should Know…

Russian Blues are typically eager to please their people, tending toward gentle and affectionate.

They are very devoted to those they choose to be their people. However, they will not be friendly with everyone. Unfamiliar people will often make them run and hide.

Russian Blues are also good around children because they are not typically aggressive. Rather, if they no longer like what the kid is doing, they will just leave.

They are smart cats that can be easy to train as well but are Russian Blue cats high maintenance?

Russian Blue cats are typically not high maintenance cats. Their character is undemanding, friendly and laid back. They don’t expect much apart from regular feeding, and some attention now and then. Also, they don’t require a lot of groomin due to their short coat and low shedding.

Because they tend to be undemanding, they make excellent pets for anyone looking for an “easy” cat. However, there are some maintenance aspects to keeping a Russian Blue. Read on to find out what they are.

Grooming

The beautiful blue coat requires some extra care. It is recommended that you comb and brush it with a good quality cat brush and a steel comb – preferably once a week. They have a double coat which means more fur to stay on top of.

Thankfully, they are low shedders and that weekly brush can be all you need to stay ahead of the hairballs.

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Additionally, because they are a short haired cat, they will shed even less and not leave such long hairs behind when they do.

Thankfully, their fur is not prone to matting, which means you will not need to spend extra time combing out the mats or sending them to a groomer.

They are often considered “hypoallergenic”, though this is slightly a misnomer because any animal with fur will have allergens.

However, because they are low shedders with short fur, they are less allergenic than other cats and therefore tolerated better by people with (moderate) cat allergies.

Keep an eye on their ears for any debris. You can clean detritus out with either pet cleaner or a cotton ball. Do not use cotton swabs/q-tips because it is very easy to damage cat ears!

Other Care

Litter Boxes

One thing you will want to stay on top of is their litter box. Russian Blues are picky cats when it comes to where they leave their deposits.

If the litter box gets too full and gross, they will start protesting elsewhere.

For best results, scoop out the waste once a day, with a full litter change once a week. This will keep your Russian Blue and the rest of your house happy.

With any (indoor) cat, but especially for Russian Blues, it is strongly advised to keep two separate litter boxes.

Scratching Posts

To save your furniture and carpets, have a scratching post for the necessary stretching and scratching. This will keep your cat’s nails worn down as well.

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Feeding

Russian Blues are prone to getting overweight. It is best to stick to a strict feeding schedule, most likely twice a day. If you are giving your Russian Blue treats for training them to do tricks, cut back on some of their regular food since treats are high in calories.

Russian Blues are prone to overeating and becoming overweight. Obesity is very unhealthy for cats and can impact their quality of life as well as overall lifespan.

Ideally, your Russian Blue will weigh somewhere between 7 and 15 pounds, with the average sitting around 12.

Suggested reading: 10 Ways To Make Your Cat Live Longer

Entertainment

Because Russian Blues are inquisitive and curious, they will want attention frequently. You will need to make time for them. Part of your job will be to keep them happy and content.

Some of this will be easy because you can buy them toys that they can play with individually. You can also buy toys that require interaction between you and them, for extra stimulation.

It is a good idea to rotate toys in and out so that an old toy they grew bored of becomes interesting again after six months of it living in the closet.

For best results, have a couple of ten minute sessions throughout the day where you give your Russian Blue your undivided attention.

Bonding Time

In addition to playing with them, you can also spend time with your Russian Blue just with cuddles, snuggles, petting, and grooming. Russian Blues will usually bond with one or two people and be ambivalent towards the rest.

However, if the Russian Blue has chosen you as one of their people, expect to love on them a lot.

For maximum entertainment and bonding, you can train your Russian Blue to do some tricks with treats and positive reinforcement.

This will stimulate their smart minds, keep them busy for a time, and allow the two of you to bond.

Health

Generally speaking, Russian Blues are healthy cats because a lot of genetic issues have been bread out of them. This will make them easier to look after.

Getting Along with Others

In addition to kids, Russian Blues will also get along well with other pets. Their calm and friendly nature makes them the perfect pet mates for dogs, birds, and hamsters.

Though while Russian Blues are patient, they are also skittish and will not get along well with overly rambunctious dog, child, or person.

Conclusion – Are Russian Blue cats High Maintenance?

While Russian Blues do not require a lot of care and are considered probably medium maintenance at best, they do require consistent care. They will function best on a schedule. This will allow both you and your cat to have the happiest of lives together.

If you’re thinking about adding a Russian Blue to your family, have a look at our other content about his amazing breed here, or get started by reading Everything You Need to Know Before Adopting a Russian Blue Cat.

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