Scottish Fold Russian Blue Cat Mix – Care Guide, Pictures, Info & More
Updated on
| Height: | 8–10 inches |
| Weight: | 6–13 pounds |
| Lifespan: | 12–20 years |
| Colors: | Blue, red, black, white, cream |
| Suitable for: | Apartment living, families |
| Temperament: | Sweet-tempered, affectionate, friendly |
The Scottish Fold Russian Blue mix isn’t a pure breed, and their traits can vary depending on which genes they inherit. It means you don’t know exactly what you’re getting, but arguably training and socialization play a big role in shaping your cat’s temperament too.
The Scottish Fold is an even-tempered cat that is more energetic than a lap cat but only considered to be moderately active. They make excellent family cats but can also suffer from some health problems that might impact their quality of life. The Russian Blue is sweet and loyal and will follow their family anywhere. They’re social but enjoy their time alone, so they’re fine to be left alone while you’re at work. But they will expect playtime when you’re back!
Scottish Fold Russian Blue Kittens –Before Bringing One Home…
3 Little-Known Facts About the Scottish Fold Russian Blue Cat Mix
1. Your Cat May Inherit Health Problems
Russian Blues are a healthy breed, but Scottish Folds are prone to some problems like obesity and arthritis that can be linked back to their folded ears. While there is a lower chance of your cat inheriting folded ears, it’s still a possibility, and the gene behind these cute folded ears can also cause osteochondrodysplasia.
This disorder is incurable and incredibly painful; unfortunately, cats with folded ears will eventually develop it. It’s characterized by the abnormal development of bone and cartilage, and kittens can get it as young as 7 weeks old.
2. The Blue Gene Is Diluted
The gene responsible for the cat’s blue-gray coloring is a form of the black-hair gene. It’s such a distinctive color that fans have also speculated that Tom from the famous cartoon Tom and Jerry is a Russian Blue because of his bright green eyes and blue-gray hue.
3. Both Cats in This Mix Can Live Long Lives
Despite the health risks, Scottish Folds generally live 11–15 years, while the Russian Blue has an average lifespan of 15–20 years.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Scottish Fold Russian Blue Mix
The temperaments of these two parent cats vary greatly, so it will be challenging to know what you’re getting. However, socializing your cat as early as possible will affect its temperament. Getting your cat used to new situations, places, and people, will prevent your cat from being scared or shy later.
Both cats are affectionate and playful, but the Russian Blue is a more energetic cat than the Scottish Fold. The Scottish Fold-Russian Blue does well with families of any mix and any living situation. They can tolerate being alone, but you must take the time to play and ensure they’re staying active, so they don’t put on weight.
These cats are smart, making them a good candidate for training, but you will also need to make sure you are keeping them mentally and physically stimulated. Puzzles and toys can help entertain them.
Are These Cats Good for Families? 👪
These cats are an excellent choice for families as they are affectionate, sweet, and like people. They enjoy time to themselves, so if you work from home, they won’t be clamoring over you wanting lots of attention as long as you set firm boundaries, which they are intelligent enough to understand.
They tend to have a favorite within their family, but they will still enjoy the company of the family as a whole. They like playing games, so families with children are a perfect fit for this cat.
Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?
If you introduce your cat to a household with other dogs or cats (or both), your cat will learn to get along with them with gradual introductions and training. When it comes to smaller pets like mice or even birds, it could be tricky. A cat’s natural hunting instinct will kick in, and we wouldn’t recommend leaving your cat alone with these smaller pets under any circumstances, unlike another cat or a dog.
Things to Know When Owning a Scottish Fold Russian Blue Cat Mix
Food & Diet Requirements 🐡
These cats don’t need special dietary considerations unless they inherited the folded ears. Cats with joint and bone problems will need diets specializing in joint health, and you will need to watch their calorie intake in relation to their activity level.
Whether your cat has health problems or is completely healthy, your focus should be on high-quality food. Your cat is an obligate carnivore and needs meat to thrive. Because they cannot synthesize amino acids as humans and dogs can, the meat in their diets is essential. Recipes with meat as the first ingredient are always a good option.
Exercise 🐈
To keep your Scottish Fold-Russian Blue mix healthy, you should provide an environment where your pet can run, play, and climb. Cat trees offer the opportunity to practice climbing and somewhere for them to sit and relax.
If your pet is bored easily, you can rotate its toys, so you’re swapping in ones they haven’t seen in a while to tempt them to play.
Training 🧶
Just like many dogs, cats work well with positive reinforcement. If they feel good about something, they’re going to want to do it more. Training your cat is really just “shaping” their behavior with rewards as they get closer and closer to the desired behavior. The key to training is to be patient and consistent. Identify what you want to achieve and then break it down into small steps so you can go at your cat’s pace.
If you were to train your cat to go into the cat carrier of their own accord, you could start by giving them a treat when they look at the carrier. Next, you would reward them for walking over to it, sniffing it, and so on until they’re in it. You can tempt your cat over to the carrier with treats and place some inside. Take it slow, and don’t overwhelm them.
Grooming ✂️
Your Scottish Fold-Russian Blue cat isn’t particularly demanding it comes to grooming. Although they could inherit long hair from a long-haired Scottish fold parent, the mixed breed doesn’t shed as much as some cats. A weekly brushing should keep your cat’s coat healthy and shiny. This will, of course, change if your cat develops osteochondrodysplasia. Cats in pain struggle to reach all the places healthy cats can, so you might need to lend a hand and brush it more often.
If your cat is energetic, they might wear their nails down themselves, but it’s also something you might need to help them with. If your cat’s mobility isn’t the best, trimming its nails will also help. If your cat has folded ears, you will have to clean them and check for mites and dirt.
Health and Conditions 🏥
As we’ve already mentioned, a mixed breed is at a lower risk of inheriting the health problems that their parent breeds develop. However, it can happen, especially if the gene behind the health risk is dominant. The Russian Blue is a healthy breed that will dilute some of the problems the Scottish Fold can get.
Osteochondrodysplasia can affect many aspects of a Scottish Fold’s life, which is why we’ve mentioned it more than once. Because it affects their mobility, they can develop arthritis and obesity, which will shorten their lifespan.
In Scotland, where Scottish Folds originate, they aren’t even recognized as a breed because of concerns about the risk of deafness and ear infections.
Male vs Female
There aren’t any notable differences between the males and females, except males may be a little larger than females.
Closing Thoughts
The Scottish Fold Russian Blue mix is certainly an interesting mix. A small percentage of the kittens in a litter are at risk of developing folded ears. Even though this is why the breed is so popular, it poses a moral dilemma. All purebred Folds with folded ears can develop osteochondrodysplasia at some point in their life, which sentences the cat to a lifetime of pain. However, the Scottish-Russian mix may never contract the disease, and cats without folded ears can live very long, healthy, and happy lives.
They do well in most settings, and while they love adults and children, they are also happy to be alone. Their grooming needs are relatively minimal, and they make an excellent addition to any home.
See also:
- Scottish Fold Maine Coon Cat Mix – Care Guide, Pictures, Info & More
- Russian Blue vs. British Shorthair: Which One is Right for Me? (With Pictures)
Featured Image Credit: Left – Russian Blue (Beate Felten-Leidel, Pixabay) | Right – Scottish Fold (Chen, Pixabay)
