Livre Officiel des Origines Félines

Breed's standard
Russian & Nebelung

Head = 30 points

Shape = 10

Eyes = 10

Ears = 5

Neck = 5

Body = 30 points

Torso = 15

Legs = 5

Feet = 5

Tail = 5

Coat and colour = 40 points

Texture = 20

Colour = 20

Permissible colours

Russian: blue, black, white
Nebelung: blue
Categories: traditional
Divisions: solid
Colours: blue, black, white for the Russian; blue for the Nebelung

Permissible crosses

Russian X Russian
Russian (blue only) X Nebelung
Nebelung X Nebelung


Introduction

The origin of the Russian breed is rather questionable. According to the more realistic theory, it originates from the Arkhangel Islands, on the Barents Sea, where it was hunted for its warm and waterproof coat before being appreciated as a domestic cat.
The Nebelung is the Russian longhair variety. Russians are shy cats and like to be handled with care while being judged.

Head:

the head is made of seven flat planes, which are:
from skull to forehead;
from forehead to tip of nose, which, from the side, shows a straight line;
from tip of nose to end of chin;
two symmetrical lines on each side of the muzzle;
two symmetrical lines formed by the high broad cheekbones.
Viewed in front, the head is a modified wedge, particularly wide at eye level.

Muzzle:

on the contrary, with its rounded contours, the muzzle is rather short, without pinch and ending triangle of the head. The slightly upturned corners of the mouth give him a sweet smiling expression.

Eyes:

walnut shaped, the eyes are rather large and set wide apart. Eye colour is as vividly green as possible in adults.

Ears:

as wide at base as tall, the ears are set at an ear-width. The outside is covered with short and fine hair while furnishings cover half inside ear.

Neck:

long and slender, the neck seems heavier than really is because of fur density.

Body:

foreign-typed, the body is long and elegant. Well-muscled without any heaviness, it can appear more sturdy than truly is due to density of coat, especially in the Nebelung. Boning is fine and musculature powerful.

Legs:

long and slim, the legs are proportionate to body.

Feet:

small and relatively round.

Tail:

rather thick at base, the tail is medium, long enough to reach shoulder blades.

Russian:

tail is tapering to a slender tip.

Nebelung:

tail is well-furnished.

Coat:

Russian:

short, fine and soft, the coat is double and dense due to important undercoat.

Nebelung:

medium-long, the fur is made of a rather fine undercoat covered with thicker guard hairs. Males often display a nice ruff, more discrete in females. Britches are desirable as well as lynx tips at the back of the ears.

Colour:

Blue:

he coat has an even bright blue throughout, with a preference for lighter colour shades. Guard hair tipped with silver giving the coat its bright, silvery sprinkled aspect. Nose leather is charcoal grey and paw pads are dark lilac.

White:

the coat is white with silver sheen. Nose leather and paw pads are pink.

Black:

the coat is bright jet black to roots. Nose leather and paw pads are black or dark brown.

Allowances

Eye colour is green yellow in kittens.
Ghost tabby markings are accepted in kittens.
Some rings can stay at the end of the tail for a certain time.
Nebelung: length of coat and undercoat density may vary with the seasons and a clearly short coat in summer should not be penalized in judgment.

Penalize

Eye colour not completely green in adults.

Withhold all awards

White spots or lockets.
Yellow eyes.
Oriental or cobby type.
Flat coat.
General show penalties and withholdings.