The Russian Blue is one of the easiest breeds to fake and one of the hardest to verify from a photograph, because a solid grey cat with green-ish eyes looks broadly right at a glance. Knowing the specific differences protects you from paying a pedigree price for a cat that is not one.
Quick answer: Real pedigree russian blue vs lookalike — here’s the short version. Always verify registration and meet the kitten (or video call) before paying — our Russian Blue kittens for sale come with full health records.
The coat: the most reliable tell
A true Russian Blue has a short, dense double coat that stands away from the body and shows silver tipping – each hair tipped with silver, giving the whole cat a luminous sheen rather than a flat grey. Run your hand backwards along the coat and it should part and spring back.
- Pedigree: even blue-grey throughout, silver-tipped, plush and dense, no white markings, no tabby stripes in an adult (faint “ghost” markings in kittens usually fade)
- Domestic grey shorthair: single coat, lies flat, no silver sheen, often with visible tabby ghosting that persists, frequently with a white bib, chest patch, paws or locket
White markings are the quickest filter. A white patch anywhere on a Russian Blue is a fault in the breed standard and essentially rules out a pedigree blue kitten – it points to a crossbreed or a domestic cat.
The eyes: timing matters more than colour
Russian Blue kittens are born with blue eyes, which shift to yellow or amber around four months, then develop a green rim that gradually fills in. Adult eyes are a vivid, clear green, typically fully developed by around two years.
This means:
- A twelve-week-old pedigree kitten will usually still have blue or transitional eyes – not green
- A listing showing a young kitten with bright adult-green eyes is suspicious; either the cat is older than stated or it is not what is claimed
- A domestic grey cat may have green, gold, copper or yellow eyes and they rarely follow the blue-to-amber-to-green progression
Russian Blue eye colour change covers the timeline in full, including what to expect month by month.
Head shape and body
| Feature | Pedigree Russian Blue | Common lookalike |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Modified wedge, flat skull, straight profile, strong chin | Rounded or domestic shape, often with a shorter muzzle |
| Ears | Large, wide at base, pointed, set slightly forward | Proportionally smaller or rounded |
| Eyes | Almond-shaped, wide-set, vivid green in adults | Rounder, often copper or gold |
| Body | Fine-boned but muscular, long and elegant, graceful neck | Stockier or more variable build |
| Tail | Long, tapering, in proportion | Variable |
| Paw pads | Mauve-pink to lavender | Often darker, grey, black or mottled |
| Nose leather | Slate grey / charcoal | Black or grey, variable |
Paw pad and nose colour are underrated tells. A pedigree Russian Blue has mauve-pink to lavender pads and a slate-grey nose. Dark or mottled pads strongly suggest other breeds in the ancestry.
Documentation: the only definitive proof
Physical assessment gets you close. Paperwork settles it. A genuine pedigree Russian Blue in Australia comes with:
- Pedigree certificate from a recognised body – ANCATS, CCCA, or a state feline council such as GCCFV, Cats NSW, FCCQ, GCCFSA or COAWA. It lists several generations of ancestors.
- Microchip number matching the certificate and the registration database, implanted before the kitten leaves.
- Veterinary records showing health check, vaccination dates and product, and desexing if included.
- A purchase contract naming the breeder, the kitten, the price and the terms.
- Parentage you can verify – the mother at minimum, ideally both parents, and their registration details.
Cat registration papers explained covers what each document is and what it proves. ANCATS and CCCA registration: what it means for buyers explains the registry landscape.
What absence of paperwork means
Be careful and fair here. A cat can be a genuine Russian Blue type without papers – particularly a rehome of an adult whose paperwork was lost, or a cat from an unregistered but honest breeder. What absence of paperwork means is that you cannot verify, and therefore you should not pay a pedigree price.
A reasonable position: pay a pedigree price only for a pedigree-verified kitten. For an unverified cat that looks the part, pay a domestic or rescue price – which is not an insult, it is an accurate reflection of what is being sold.
The checks to run before you pay
- Ask for the pedigree certificate of the kitten or, if too young, of both parents.
- Ask which registry the breeder is registered with, and check the breeder appears in that registry’s list.
- Ask for the microchip number and confirm it against the paperwork at collection.
- Ask to see the mother, live, on video if not in person. What a good visit looks like.
- Ask for current photos of the actual kitten, including one taken on request with something identifiable in frame.
- Ask what health testing the parents have had.
- Get a written contract. What to look for.
- Check the price against the market. A pedigree Russian Blue at $400 is not a bargain. Why cheap kittens cost more.
If you have already bought a lookalike
This is more common than people admit, and the practical answer is that it rarely matters. A grey domestic shorthair is a healthy, affectionate, low-maintenance cat and makes an excellent pet. The problem is not the cat – it is paying $2,000 for it and being told something untrue.
If you were actively misled, you may have a consumer law remedy. Keep all messages, the listing, the payment record and any paperwork. Contact your state fair trading body. If the seller cannot be identified or is offshore, the realistic outcome is limited – which is why the verification above happens before payment rather than after.
Russian Blue or just a grey cat? covers the everyday differences and why both make good pets.
The two-minute test
Silver-tipped dense double coat, no white anywhere, mauve-pink paw pads, slate nose, wedge head, and a pedigree certificate naming registered parents. If any of those six is missing, you are not looking at a verified pedigree Russian Blue.
Quick answers
How can I tell a real Russian Blue from a photo?
You largely cannot, definitively. Look for silver-tipped dense coat, no white markings, mauve-pink paw pads and a wedge head – then ask for the pedigree certificate, which is the only real proof.
Do Russian Blue kittens have green eyes?
No. They are born blue-eyed, shift to amber around four months, and develop adult green gradually, usually complete by about two years. A young kitten with bright green eyes is a warning sign.
Is a Russian Blue without papers still a Russian Blue?
It may well be, but it cannot be verified. Pay a pedigree price only for a pedigree-verified kitten.
What is the most common lookalike?
A solid grey domestic shorthair. They are excellent cats, but they are not pedigree and should not carry a pedigree price.
Related reading
Real Pedigree Russian Blue vs Lookalike: FAQs
How much does it cost to act on this?
When readers ask about real pedigree russian blue vs lookalike, the budget question comes first: our Russian Blue kittens are $2,500 with a $250 deposit, vet-checked and fully documented — see current Russian Blue kittens for sale.
What paperwork should I receive?
For real pedigree russian blue vs lookalike, expect F3 vaccination records, microchip transfer forms, pedigree papers and a written health guarantee. Our registration papers guide shows how to verify each document.
What should I do next about real pedigree russian blue vs lookalike?
Read our 99 kitten-buying FAQs, then enquire — we reply within 24 hours and will happily talk through real pedigree russian blue vs lookalike for your situation.
Independent guidance: Verify pedigree and registration standards through TICA, The International Cat Association before you pay a deposit.
Ready to meet your kitten?
Our Russian Blue kittens are raised in our family home, vet-checked, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and socialised before they travel. We reserve with a $250 deposit and deliver Australia-wide.