Russian white?

lea98

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I found Amira as a kitten and didn't know much about white cats. In fact I wasn't even aware there were so many white cat breeds.

I had put on Amira's vet work "American shorthair" as that is a fancy way of saying mixed breed. My vet took one look at that and said, "Nope, she's a Russian white as I am a fat Texan."

Well I had never even heard of that breed but after looking up the breed it does hold a large amount of resemblance to Amira.

Can someone tell me about Russian whites? Anyone own any?


 

Willowy

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Vets often don't know much about cat breeds, and tend to assume all cats have some kind of purebred background, like most dogs do. In reality, purebred cats make up a very small percentage of the cat population, so that a cat with any breed background is the exception rather than the rule. So it's unlikely. Possible, yes, if there's a Russian breeder in your area who isn't very responsible about placing their cats, but not likely. Also, Russians (of any color, apparently, from what I can find) are supposed to have vivid green eyes. http://www.raccs.co.uk/Russian.htm

She is a lovely kitty! Did she have any color spots on her as a kitten?
 
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1CatOverTheLine

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Russian Whites came from Frances McLeod's English breeding program in the 1960s, although there was no name nor Breed recognition until 1971.  There was a parallel program immediately upon the heels of McLeod's recogition, run by Dick and Mavis Jones in Aldinga Beach, South Australia (i.e. Myemgay Cattery).  Russian Whites (and Russian Blacks) are fully recognised in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa; their Breed Registry is pending in the United Kingdom, and they were recognised by the American Cat Fanciers Association at the end of the 2009 show season (i.e. in the 2010 calendar year.)

They are, in a word, rare.  Here's the RBBA U.K. page:

http://www.russianblue.org.uk/BAC/blackwhitejan14.htm

.
 

1CatOverTheLine

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Vets often don't know much about cat breeds, and tend to assume all cats have some kind of purebred background, like most dogs do. In reality, purebred cats make up a very small percentage of the cat population, so that a cat with any breed background is the exception rather than the rule. So it's unlikely. Possible, yes, if there's a Russian breeder in your area who isn't very responsible about placing their cats, but not likely. Also, Russians (of any color, apparently, from what I can find) are supposed to have vivid green eyes. http://www.raccs.co.uk/Russian.htm

She is a lovely kitty! Did she have any color spots on her as a kitten?
The standard calls for green eyes; copper would cost the cat 5 full points under the Breed Standard:

"Color  – As  vividly  green  as  possible  at  maturity.    Russian  Shorthair  kitten  eyes  change  rapidly  through  yellow  to  green.    By  four  months  a  green  ring  should appear  around  pupil.    Cats whose  eyes  are  not  completely  vivid  green  should  be  penalized  the  amount  determined  by  the  quantity  and  vividness of  green  as  well as by the age of the cat.  No green in eyes = full penalty."

Doesn't matter - this is one incredibly beautiful cat.

.
 
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lea98

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The standard calls for green eyes; copper would cost the cat 5 full points under the Breed Standard:

"Color  – As  vividly  green  as  possible  at  maturity.    Russian  Shorthair  kitten  eyes  change  rapidly  through  yellow  to  green.    By  four  months  a  green  ring  should appear  around  pupil.    Cats whose  eyes  are  not  completely  vivid  green  should  be  penalized  the  amount  determined  by  the  quantity  and  vividness of  green  as  well as by the age of the cat.  No green in eyes = full penalty."

Doesn't matter - this is one incredibly beautiful cat.
Thank you! I'm sure she appreciates the compliments![emoji]128570[/emoji]
 
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lea98

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As fond as I am on green eyes for cats, I have to say that those golden/amber eyes are totally gorgeous. They have the colour of the rising sun and the sweetest honey!!!
I have no idea about Russian White as a breed, so I cannot help with that, just tell you how lovely your cat is.
Thank you so much![emoji]128522[/emoji][emoji]128522[/emoji]
 

abyeb

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Russian Shorthair is the more common term for Russian Blues of other colors. They aren't CFA or TICA accepted, only ACFA. http://www.acfacat.com/Breed Standards/RUSSIAN SH.pdf

She would be called a copper-eyed white Domestic Shorthair. American Shorthair is a CFA, TICA, and ACFA registered pedigree cat, known for their muscular, working cat body, and square-shaped head. Their appearance is quite striking: http://cfa.org/Breeds/BreedsAB/AmericanShorthair.aspx
Just because a cat is a short-haired and lives in the US, that does not make them an American Shorthair, for the same reason that a cat living in Singapore does not mean that they are a Singapura.

Amira is gorgeous, which anyone can tell just by looking at her. She doesn't need pedigreed cats in her history to prove this, you know she's beautiful, and she knows that she is beautiful, and that's all that matters. I hope to see more pictures of her around TCS!
 
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lea98

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Russian Shorthair is the more common term for Russian Blues of other colors. They aren't CFA or TICA accepted, only ACFA. http://www.acfacat.com/Breed Standards/RUSSIAN SH.pdf

She would be called a copper-eyed white Domestic Shorthair. American Shorthair is a CFA, TICA, and ACFA registered pedigree cat, known for their muscular, working cat body, and square-shaped head. Their appearance is quite striking: http://cfa.org/Breeds/BreedsAB/AmericanShorthair.aspx
Just because a cat is a short-haired and lives in the US, that does not make them an American Shorthair, for the same reason that a cat living in Singapore does not mean that they are a Singapura.

Amira is gorgeous, which anyone can tell just by looking at her. She doesn't need pedigreed cats in her history to prove this, you know she's beautiful, and she knows that she is beautiful, and that's all that matters. I hope to see more pictures of her around TCS!
Well thank you for putting in the time to inform me and the compliment! [emoji]128522[/emoji]
 

Wags

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My last cat was a beautiful rescue domestic short hair (I thought he may have some russian white which are recognised here in Australia because of his 'cap' the dark strip you can see in this picture which nearly all RW's are born with, but no green eyes or mauve pads) He was a darling cat who loved to fetch. I think whites regardless of pedigree or not are absolutely beautiful - we always had whites growing up. Russians of any colour also have a distinctive profile featuring flat nose and long flat head.
 

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Dana the cat lady

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We are fostering temporarily a white cat with blue eyes, and have been trying to find what breed, as he is somewhat unusual. He has short fur, but VERY thick, especially on his tail, and he looks amazingly like the pictures I have been able to find of the Russian Whites. Apparently, blue eyes are a fault for Russian Whites, and are not allowed to be bred because of their propensity for deafness, and because they do not conform to the "standard" of green eyes. The reason he was rescued as a kitten was that he was playing in the street and couldn't hear the cars coming - yes, he is stone deaf. Because he is deaf, he gets no feedback when he meows, so every meow that comes out is always at full volume. Life is interesting with Ponger!
 

StefanZ

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Pics welcome!
We are fostering temporarily a white cat with blue eyes, and have been trying to find what breed, as he is somewhat unusual. He has short fur, but VERY thick, especially on his tail, and he looks amazingly like the pictures I have been able to find of the Russian Whites. Apparently, blue eyes are a fault for Russian Whites, and are not allowed to be bred because of their propensity for deafness, and because they do not conform to the "standard" of green eyes. The reason he was rescued as a kitten was that he was playing in the street and couldn't hear the cars coming - yes, he is stone deaf. Because he is deaf, he gets no feedback when he meows, so every meow that comes out is always at full volume. Life is interesting with Ponger!
Å
 

Wags

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Hi - would love to see a photo. Couple of links below from the UK re russian whites and you are right both the eye colour and deafness would exclude Ponger from being being bred in a formal program. Apart from coat colour russians should have the same pyhsical appearance as listed for a RB so that medium wedge with a flat nose and head would be evident.
By your description I would say that Ponger is a short hair domestic white - the blue eyes, thicker tail and deafness all point to this (russian whites almost always have a color cap on their head when born and that makes them much less likely to be deaf, less likely but not impossible).
Eye Colour in White Cats
What colour is your Russian?


We are fostering temporarily a white cat with blue eyes, and have been trying to find what breed, as he is somewhat unusual. He has short fur, but VERY thick, especially on his tail, and he looks amazingly like the pictures I have been able to find of the Russian Whites.
 
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haleyds

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I agee with the above, but I have never seen such beautiful amber eyes on a solid white cat! I've only ever seen blue or brown or green. My solid white girl has green eyes, but the amber is just striking.
 

Scarycallgirl

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I found Amira as a kitten and didn't know much about white cats. In fact I wasn't even aware there were so many white cat breeds.

I had put on Amira's vet work "American shorthair" as that is a fancy way of saying mixed breed. My vet took one look at that and said, "Nope, she's a Russian white as I am a fat Texan."

Well I had never even heard of that breed but after looking up the breed it does hold a large amount of resemblance to Amira.

Can someone tell me about Russian whites? Anyone own any?


 

Scarycallgirl

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IMG_0760.JPG
Looks like I have her twin! I could swear my Yuki is a Russian White too. She even had the dark patch on top of her head as a kitten.
 
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