A Russian Blue is a quiet cat with a narrow weight window and two risks that never announce themselves: a retina that thins slowly, and a coat that comes out in patches when the household changes. The yearly plan is mostly measuring rather than treating.
Working numbers: 3.6-4.8 kg for a neutered male, 3.0-4.2 kg for a female, 170-210 kcal a day at 4 kg, a first eye exam at 12 months, and a weigh-in every 4 weeks from age 5.
Why this breed needs a calendar, not a checklist
Three traits shape the year. The double coat is dense and largely self-maintaining, so grooming fails quietly: nothing looks wrong until a mat forms under the arm. The metabolism is efficient, so 200 g of drift a year becomes 1 kg by age eight. And the temperament is undramatic, so discomfort shows up as stillness rather than complaint.
The calendar therefore carries the observation load. Four checks - weight, gum line, coat partings, eyes in dim light - take about 6 minutes a month and catch most of what this cat hides.
Coat: two short sheds, one long low season
A rubber brush or curry for 5 minutes once or twice a week keeps things in order most of the year. The undercoat holds loose hair instead of dropping it, which is why owners underestimate the shed. Both sheds are modest, in March to April and again in September to October, and each needs about 10 days of every-other-day combing with a fine metal comb behind the rubber brush.
Bathe rarely - every 8-12 weeks at most, since the silver-tipped guard hairs dull with repeated shampooing. Ears get a weekly wipe, nails every 2 weeks, and teeth on several days a week, since this breed collects tartar on the upper molars early.
| Window | Coat | Weight | Clinic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan-Mar | Weekly, 5 min; dry indoor air, check static and dander | Weigh on the 1st | Annual exam, eye exam if due |
| Apr-Jun | Every other day for 10 days, then weekly | Weigh, expect a 100-150 g spring rise | Flea and worm check |
| Jul-Sep | Weekly; watch for sweat mats behind the elbows | Weigh fortnightly in heat | Dental check if due |
| Oct-Dec | Every other day for 10 days, then weekly | Weigh monthly, act on 5% | Booster if due |
Weight: the narrowest window among the shorthairs
Adult males run 3.4-5.0 kg and females 3.0-4.2 kg, and the breed looks lean at a healthy weight, which is exactly why the scales matter more than the eye. A neutered male should sit at 3.6-4.8 kg. Weigh every 4 weeks, and every 2 weeks from age 5 or after any food change.
A 4 kg neutered adult needs 170-210 kcal a day. A 5% gain in 8 weeks, roughly 200 g, is the trigger for a 8-10% ration cut and a re-weigh in 3 weeks. Ribs should be palpable under a thin layer and the waist clear from above; a cat whose spine feels sharp but whose belly is round is losing muscle, not fat, and needs a vet rather than a diet.
Eyes, teeth and skin: three screening tracks
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is reported in some lines and a DNA test is available. Most ophthalmologists suggest a fundic exam at 12 months, then yearly to age 6, because changes are visible long before the cat misjudges a jump. In dim light, hesitation on stairs, a wide pupil at dusk, or bumping into furniture means an appointment within 7 days, not a wait-and-see month.
Teeth: a full oral exam at 2 years, then a scaling every 12-18 months depending on how fast tartar returns. Skin: overgrooming shows as a 1-2 cm bare patch on the belly or inner thigh, often 4-6 weeks after a move, a new pet or a changed schedule. Most regrow within 8 weeks once the trigger is gone. If the patch spreads for 3 weeks, or the cat grooms for more than 30 minutes at a stretch, book a visit.
Food and water for an easy keeper
Protein at 38-45% of dry matter, at least half the daily calories from wet food, served in two meals. Digestion varies by line, so any switch takes 7-10 days, stepped at 25%, and novel protein should be introduced one at a time so a reaction can be traced. At 4 kg the cat takes in 150-200 ml of water a day, more if the food is dry; a wide bowl away from the food is enough.
Treats stay at or under 10% of calories, about 15-20 kcal, which is three or four small cubes. This breed begs quietly and convincingly, and the extra 30 kcal a day is 1 kg a year.
Play: 30 minutes, split into two blocks
Two sessions of 15-20 minutes with a wand toy, one before each meal, plus a 160 cm tree with a high perch and a window. Chase and fetch work well: this cat tracks movement. A puzzle feeder covers one meal and turns 2 minutes of eating into 10.
In winter, when windows are shut, add a third 5-minute session in the evening; indoor cats lose 20-30% of their incidental movement in cold months. In summer, play before 9 a.m.; a 4 kg cat in a warm room stops after 3-4 minutes.
The five mistakes that cost the most
- Trusting the silhouette instead of the scale, when the breed is meant to look thin.
- Skipping the 12-month eye exam because the cat navigates the house fine.
- Bathing monthly to control shedding, which dulls the coat and dries the skin.
- Free-feeding a cat that gains weight on 250 kcal a day.
- Reading a bald belly patch as an allergy before checking for stress triggers.
Do not wait for morning: open-mouth breathing, a breathing rate past 30 a minute while asleep, sudden hind-leg weakness, or 6-8 hours of straining in the box with nothing passed. Within 48 hours for a full day without food, a 10% weight loss over 3 months, or a gum line that bleeds when brushed. A cat that hides for two days is not sulking; it is usually painful.
Your first 30 days
- Weigh twice, a week apart, and set a target range on paper.
- Fix two meal times and measure for 14 days.
- Book the check-up and ask when the eye exam falls due.
- Start tooth brushing three times a week, 30 seconds a side.
Frequently asked
How often does a Russian Blue need to be brushed?
Once or twice a week for about 5 minutes with a rubber brush or curry comb is enough for most of the year, because the dense undercoat holds loose hair instead of dropping it. In the two shed windows, March to April and September to October, switch to every other day for about 10 days and finish with a fine metal comb to lift the undercoat out.
What is a healthy weight for a neutered Russian Blue male?
Most neutered males stay between 3.6 and 4.8 kg, with females at 3.0 to 4.2 kg. The breed is meant to look lean, so judge by the scale rather than the silhouette: weigh every four weeks, and treat a 5% rise over eight weeks, about 200 g, as the point to cut the ration by 8 to 10% and re-weigh three weeks later.
When should eye screening start for PRA?
A fundic examination at 12 months, then yearly to about age 6, is what most ophthalmologists suggest for a breed with progressive retinal atrophy in some lines. Changes are visible well before the cat starts misjudging jumps, so a cat that hesitates on stairs in dim light or bumps into furniture should be seen within a week rather than at the next annual visit.