Русские идут!

~ iamthesunking

After falling in love with a photo of a Russian Black cat – and there I was thinking a Russian Black was a cocktail – I joined a social media group all about Russian cats.

The rules of the group are very specific about the types of photos that may be posted, which is fair enough since Russian cats are what it’s about. I initially thought I would find it hard to resist posting photos of Louis Catorze but, as I get to know the cats in the group, I feel increasingly relieved that nobody expects to see him, as it would be akin to showing my battered, ancient skateboard to a group of people who all drive shiny Lamborghinis.

Russian cats are SERIOUSLY fancy. We’re talking supermodel-fancy. Their fur is incredible, and something about their faces makes them look as if they’re permanently smiling, whereas Catorze’s fur is grim beyond belief and he looks as if he’s been sent by Satan to end humanity. Russian cats are also able to pose beautifully with their surroundings, so you’d be forgiven for thinking their humans were all professional photographers.

Not only are the cats fancy, but their homes are also très fancy indeed. Very often the decor complements/matches the colour of the cat in an effortlessly tasteful way, making every single photo in the group – without exception – worthy of the front cover of a “Fancy Cat Vogue” publication. Photographing Louis Catorze in his relatively modest Château, on the other hand, is quite the endeavour: it usually involves shifting unsightly objects from the background (if I can be bothered), brushing away surface crud from the furniture/floor/cat, adjusting the light to hide the grubby carpet/walls/cat, planning my disclaimer apologising for said grubby carpet/walls/cat, consulting my good friend the black markup pen to edit any unattractive pink rear end, and so on. And, even after all this effort, the photo is usually still terrible.

Would I ever want a Russian cat? Absolutely. They’re so beautiful that I can’t imagine anyone NOT wanting one, and if I came across one in a rescue situation I certainly would be tempted. Incidentally, this is not to sidestep paying a breeder; after all, Le Roi was the most expensive cat in the history of his rescue, so any plans to minimise spending went out of the window from the start. This is because my heart lies with the freaks and misfits that nobody wants, perhaps because I identify with them more closely than one would imagine.

And it does happen: if fancy cats are your thing, they do, very occasionally, pop up in rescues. Catorze’s big brother Luther was a Bombay, although we didn’t know at the time and we just thought he was a skinny black cat with a weird tail. Had they told us, I can’t say it would have made much difference. However, when they presented Luther as the longest-serving inmate of the least popular colour and with a chequered medical history, I thought, “That’s the cat for me.”

Here is Alik, the divine, dark angel who prompted me to become a member of the fancy cats group despite my own cat being as unfancy as can possibly be. Thank you to his Cat Daddy, Joseph, for letting me use this picture:

Just exquisite.

If you are thinking of adopting a cat, please ensure that you do so from an ethical, registered breeder or from a rescue. And, if you’d like to find out more about Russian cats, you can do so here: http://www.russiancatsaustralia.com

31 thoughts on “Русские идут!”

  1. So – did you adopt Luther also ?( I came here recently and missed the backstory on that.)

    Alik is indeed striking. But so is Catorze, in his own quirky way….

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    1. Yes, Luther came before Catorze and he was the cat that started our addiction to black cats. Now we can’t imagine having any other colour (despite Catorze’s best efforts to put us off). 🐈‍⬛

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  3. As the Mother of several moggies myself I just want to say that Le Roi is fine enough for me. I like the ones with character. And as long as you are looking in at Russian cats you might want to look at I_Am_Puma. Some days Messi makes me appreciate my babies just a wee bit more. 💖

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  4. I managed to get a Black Smoke Persian from a rescue with a silly name and all. I wanted her because she’d spend a third of her life in the shelter and was so terrified of people, no one saw her. I didn’t find out until I got her paperwork! She spent three weeks behind the washing machine and it took months to even touch her.

    She now lives with my mum after choosing her as her human when my ill health forced me to me to move in with her. In summer she lives in the garden and is covered in who knows what. She clearly doesn’t know she’s supposed to be beautiful without creatures and sticks in her fur!

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  5. After ten years she sits on my mum’s lap. No one else’s though! She’s lovely. I can’t believe someone just turfed her out! She’s called Blossom but she’s often called Blosski. Russian theme there! 😂

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  7. My old cat had died, which is why I was at the shelter, and then a friend’s cat died very soon after. She was called Blossom, hence the name change! Poor girl couldn’t be left as Gucci! 😱

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    1. Absolutely not! Catorze was called Louis when he came to us, and Cat Daddy wanted to change it because he thought it was too similar to Luther (our previous cat), but then his foster mamma told us that Catorze knew his name. She didn’t mention it was the only thing he knew.

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  10. “She didn’t mention it was the only thing he knew.” Excusez moi? 😾 He knew enough to pick his suckers erm…staff! 🤣 That cat is divine. If not for the ears, I’d think it was a black panther.

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  11. That is a gorgeous cat. Years ago, the sister of a friend from college went to the Soviet Union and came home with a cat. That cat not only had the thickest, most gorgeous fur I have ever seen, he was capable of catching and eating a squirrel immediately following a full meal.

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  12. I’d never heard of a Russian Black and that cat does look like a fancy panther. Still, rescued is always best, especially with so many animals (not just cats) needing homes 🙂 I love your policy of choosing the longest resident/least likely to be adopted ♥

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    1. Yes, I always want the ones that nobody else wants! When I called the rescue to enquire about Catorze and I was concerned that someone else might sneak in and get there first, the lady said, “No offence to Louis but the chances of that are very slim.” 😢😢😢

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        1. He had every offputting element imaginable: adult rather than kitten, black, medical issues and in a foster home (because apparently people who want cats like to see the whole selection at the rescue headquarters and can’t be bothered to journey out to another place!).

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          1. It’s really unfortunate what will put people off a pet 😦 I really don’t understand the issue with fur or other colouring. I used to volunteer at a shelter and I would hear people say the albino rabbits looked “evil” because of their red eyes. Seriously?

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            1. I think it’s partly superstition, partly Instagram vanity and wanting a posh cat to make you look rich, and partly just plain stupidity!

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            3. Apparently it happens! I’ve always said it’s a good thing because it’s the universe’s way of making sure black cats end up in the right homes and not with superficial idiots.

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