The mystery of a Russian blue cat is shrouded in myths and contradictions.
But the fate of the breed helps us reveal it. Russian, Spanish,
Arkhangelskaya, Maltese, Exotic, Foreign, Eastern and even American
blue - these are confusing variants of the original name of the breed.
It is generally known that the Russian blue cat was the breed of the
English selection to a considerable extent, but at the same time it is a
fact that it has never been met in England in natural conditions. 
attached to a human being, as sociable and disposed towards loneliness,
as quite a big female-cat with strong bones or as a light graceful creature.
Contradictions touched upon the standard of the Russian blue cat as
well. Now and then the standard ascribed a triangular or a wedge-shaped
form of the head, round or almond-shaped eyes, oval or round paws.

The Russian blue is one of the most ancient breeds. It has been
mentioned in the English chronicles since 1860. British sailors
who worked on boards merchant vessels would bring blue
cats with grey fur and a bluish skin from the shore of the
White Sea, Arkhangelsk. The inhabitants of the harbour would
keenly buy these cats as they had been unknown to them: they were good mice-catchers
and had thick and brilliant fur that resembled a fur-seal or a beaver.  It is possible that British
people should have learnt of their existence much earlier. As long as 1553 British people
founded a trading station in Arkhangelsk to export timber and furs. And at that time they
may have got to know blue cats. In the legend, Catherine the Great presented a blue cat
to the British Royal family. However should it be, Arkhangelsk cats have been exported to
England regularly since the second half of the 19th century.  Several blue cats are
considered to have been sent to the court by the tsar Nicholas the Second. 

In 1880 Arkhangelsk cats were exhibited for the first time. After the exhibition an intensive export from Russia took place. It was in 1883 when a great amount of cats were exported.             
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