About California Blues Kitty
Our Story at California Blues Kitty
I'm Katerina. My love of Russian Blue cats began long before I brought my first pair home in 2007. This is the personal story behind California Blues Kitty, the cats who shaped my breeding journey, and the values I've learned along the way.
Katerina's storyA childhood love of cats
The Russian Blue stood out from the beginning.
As a child, I was fascinated by cats, especially Russian Blues. They always seemed rare and a little mystical to me. I used to walk around my neighborhood, blinking kindly at every cat I met. To my delight, some became friends and even waited for me when I came home from school.
I spent time sitting with neighborhood cats and discovered that I could often connect with even the shyest ones. Those quiet moments are among my earliest memories of how much I enjoyed their company.
I remember borrowing the same guidebook about pedigreed cats from the library again and again. It was filled with photographs and information about different breeds, and the Russian Blue was one that always caught my eye.
Almost a decade later, when the time came to get a cat of my own, I borrowed that same book again. The Russian Blue still stood out, this time not only for its appearance but also for the temperament described in its pages.
Discovering the Russian Blue
Two early companions made the breed personal.
I researched Russian Blues further through guidebooks and the internet. I hadn't encountered them at local cat shows, but everything I learned made me more eager to welcome one into my life.
In 2007, I bought my first Russian Blue as a pet. At the time, I assumed that any registered breeder of pedigree kittens must be a good breeder, so I wasn't as selective as I would be today. I fell in love with the first male kitten who became available, and his sister joined him sometime later.
I have always felt that another cat can offer companionship that people cannot quite replace. Looking back, though, those first two Russian Blues didn't have the easiest temperaments. With more research, I might have made different choices.
Even so, they captivated me with their honesty and distinctively feline nature. They taught me to look beyond a beautiful coat or a pedigree and think carefully about a cat's individual character. My love for the Russian Blue had truly begun.
From cat lover to breeder
Learning was always part of the responsibility.
I decided quite quickly that I wanted to become a breeder of Russian Blues, but not simply a registered breeder. I wanted to be a truly good one. I immersed myself in reading about feline genetics, pedigrees, and breeding.
My goal wasn't to have kittens in the house every year. From the beginning, I wanted to contribute thoughtfully to the breed, placing health, temperament, and genetic diversity at the heart of my decisions.
I had many questions, some of which even experienced breeders couldn't answer. Thankfully, I met a few people who could help, and I am proud that several of them remain friends to this day. We continue to learn from one another.
Learning from other breeders
Research and cooperation informed each next step.
I learned that a breeder cannot work in isolation. When a breeding program requires new bloodlines, you need like-minded people who are willing to help, share knowledge, and sometimes exchange cats.
You also need to understand the ancestors of the cats you hope to breed. Unless you've met those cats yourself, that knowledge comes from people who have. A pedigree records ancestry, but it cannot tell you everything about health or temperament.
And sometimes, when things go wrong—as they inevitably can when working with animals—you need a friend who understands and a shoulder to cry on.
My Russian Blues opened the door to an entire world of people who share this passion. I owe many dear friendships around the world to these cats, and I'm grateful to be part of that community.
You can also explore the values behind my cattery and meet the cats who shaped its history .
The beginning
California Blues Kitty began in 2007.
I registered my cattery in 2007, the year I welcomed my first Russian Blue. By the end of 2008, the first California Blues Kitty litter had been born.
As my understanding of the breed grew, my perspective on breeding evolved. In 2008, after learning more about pedigree registration practices, I made a major change to my program and adjusted the cattery name by moving its affix to a prefix.
Those early decisions were part of a longer learning process. I wanted my choices to reflect more than a name or a pedigree; I wanted to understand the cats behind the records and make responsible decisions about the future of my lines.
Building the program
European bloodline research led to Rose.
Together with a friend who also breeds purebred Russian Blues, I decided to look for two young females from Europe. We wanted lines as unrelated as reasonably possible to one another and to the Russian Blues we knew in America.
Choosing catteries, comparing pedigrees, exchanging emails, and waiting for suitable kittens from preferred pairings took time. The patience involved was considerable, but in 2010 it brought Rose, who became a foundation queen of my cattery.
I hope Rose's influence endures through the valuable traits she passed on. Her daughter Pearl stayed to continue the line, and in 2011 Mabel arrived from England.
In 2013, I kept Pearl's daughter Clara. That same year, Bruno, a Scottish-born male, joined the family as my first stud cat. Hazel arrived in 2014 as a second-generation California Blues Kitty descendant from Rose's line.
Oscar arrived in 2015 as Bruno's successor. In 2016, I retained Walter, also known as Walt, and Hazel's daughter Daisy to carry their family lines forward.
Rose, Pearl, Mabel, Clara, Bruno, Hazel, Oscar, Walter, and Daisy are part of the history of my breeding program. These are historical milestones, not a list of cats currently available or actively breeding.
Our continuing appreciation
A lasting affection for the Russian Blue.
I hope the cats raised through my breeding program bring their future owners the same joy and fascination that Russian Blues have brought me. Their unique character and the mystique surrounding this beautiful breed have certainly fulfilled my own dreams.
I hope you enjoy learning about the Russian Blue, my cattery, and the cats who helped shape it. Thank you for visiting California Blues Kitty.
Learn about my approach to health and genetics , browse kitten profiles , or contact California Blues Kitty with a question.