Felis catus
Russian Black Longhair
The Russian Black Longhair is the longhaired division of the Russian Black, a solid-black colour variant of the Russian Blue developed in Australia in the 1970s and recognized by TICA. The standard shares the Russian Blue's conformation — foreign type, green eyes, dense plush coat — applied to a solid black colour and a semi-long coat.
Quick facts
- Origin country
- Australia (developed from Russian Blue stock)
- Origin period
- Developed in Australia from the 1970s; TICA recognition
- Coat type
- Long
- Coat colors
- Solid black
- Size category
- Medium
- Average lifespan
- 12–16 years
- Recognition
- —
Origin
The Russian Black was developed in Australia beginning in the 1970s by introducing the black colour gene into the Russian Blue's gene pool while maintaining the Russian body type: a foreign-type wedge head, dense plush coat, and vivid green eyes. TICA recognized the Russian Black as a colour variant. The longhair division applies the same development to a semi-long, silky coat.
Standard
The TICA standard for the Russian Black applies the Russian Blue standard to a solid jet-black coat: a modified wedge head, medium-large ears, vivid green almond-shaped eyes, and a long, graceful, well-muscled foreign-type body. The longhair division has a semi-long, silky coat without excessive undercoat. The coat must be solid black with no ghost tabby markings or white hairs.
Australian Development History
The Russian Black and Russian White were developed in Australia in the 1970s by breeder Mavis Jones, who introduced the black and white colour genes into Russian Blue breeding lines. The Australian development was driven by a desire to maintain the Russian type — distinctive foreign conformation, plush coat, and green eyes — in additional colours beyond the single blue accepted by CFA and international registries at the time. TICA's recognition of the Russian Black and White opened international championship competition to the Australian colour variants.
Sources & further reading (2)
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-27
- registry-breed-profile — accessed 2026-05-27
Frequently asked questions
Is the Russian Black the same as the Bombay?
No. The Russian Black has a foreign-type conformation (longer, more angular), vivid green eyes, and a silky dense coat derived from the Russian Blue. The Bombay has Burmese conformation (more rounded, cobby), gold/copper eyes, and is recognized by CFA and TICA as a separate breed.
Does CFA recognize the Russian Black?
CFA does not recognize the Russian Black or Russian White as separate breeds; CFA's Russian Blue standard accepts only the blue colour. TICA recognizes the Russian Black and Russian White as colour divisions.
Do Russian Black Longhairs have the same plush coat as the Russian Blue?
The Russian Black Longhair's coat is semi-long and silky rather than the Russian Blue's characteristic short, dense, double-layer plush. The plush double coat is a feature of the shorthair Russian type; the longhair division has a different texture due to the longer guard hairs. Both shorthair and longhair Russian Black variants retain the solid black colour and green eyes that distinguish the Russian type.
