The origin of the Russian Blue is still not documented. However, since its history in the United States began, its determinable origins have been England and the Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Finland and Denmark.

The first Russian Blues registered by CFA, which appeared in the CFA Stud Books in Volume 34, published in 1949, were Dunloe Jan (Imp.) and Dunloe Blue Silk (Imp.). They were litter mates out of Dunloe Aphrodite by Dunloe Blue Socks.

A further check of CFA records shows it was not until 1964 that the first Russian Blue achieved Grand Championship in CFA. This was a male, GC Maja Acre Igor II of 3 R's. When I first began breeding Russians, I visited this cattery but I don't recall whether or not Igor II produced any offspring.

Working with Russian Blues at the same time was Felinest Cattery in Illinois; Aberdeen Cattery in Alabama; Three Crown Cattery in New Jersey; Bobcat Cattery in Texas and various breeders in California. GC Felinest Silver Dollar, GC Es-Ta's Tao of Aberdeen, GC Pavel of Braheborg (Imp.) and GC Tinnerdalens Njusia of Bobcat were all famous Russians that are behind most of the Russians being shown today. It is safe to say that these breeders mainly worked in their own individual areas and obtained their own individual looks. While each group of cats excelled in individual areas none seemed to excel in the overall Russian Blue standard.

The first Russian Blue who combined several bloodlines and was shown on a national basis was GC Kit-Kin Peter of Car-Mac. GC Kit-Kin Peter was CFA's 1968 and 1969 Best Russian Blue. Another early Russian combining several bloodlines, GC Meri-Rose Mischa of Evinrude was the 1970 Best Russian Blue.

Although both Kit-Kin Peter and Meri-Rose Mischa were considered "typey" cats for the years they were shown, the cat that really established the type that we see today was GC Felinest Flying High of Velva. As a young kitten, Flying High was sold as a pet to a friend; but later he was shown when we realized what a wonderful cat he was. He had a good kitten career and granded in one show. Before he was neutered at a year-and-a-half, he was bred to five females who produced 21 kittens, of which six became Grand Champions, one a National Winner and two became Distinguished Merit dams.

Flying High's most famous offspring was CFA's first Russian Blue national award winner: GC, NW Velva's Blue Viking. Viking was the 1970-71 7th Best Cat and the 1971-72 2nd Best Cat. Flying High's two distinguished merit offspring were Viking's litter sister, CH Velva's Miss Behavin and GC Velva's Extraordinaire. ~ Diana Doernberg

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