Russian Blue Bengal Cat Mix: Pictures, Info, Temperament & Traits

If you’ve never seen a Russia Blue Bengal cat, it will take your breath away the first time you do. There are few cats with such a striking color, regal look, and graceful stride. Maybe even more striking is how loving, playful, and intelligent these gorgeous cats can be.

Breed Overview

As a combination of a Russian Blue and a Bengal cat, Russian Blue Bengals are incredibly athletic and can jump and climb so well it’s often astonishing. They are also about 30% larger than the typical house cat, with a strong, muscular body that reminds you of a pro athlete.

Russian Blue Bengal Cat Characteristics

Interestingly, Russian Blue Bengals aren’t always blue but come in various stunning colors and shadings. Moreover, they have a dense double coat that’s as soft as silk and sheds very little. Although they aren’t hypoallergenic (no cat is), Russian Blue Bengals are suitable for people with allergies as their bodies produce less of the allergen Fel d 1. Read on to discover even more about these strikingly beautiful and adorable cats and discover what makes them so unique.

Russian Blue Bengal Cat Kittens

Temperament & Intelligence of the Russian Blue Bengal

Are These Cats Good for Families? 👪

When you adopt a mixed-breed cat, even one with amazing bloodlines like the Russian Blue Bengal, the temperament your cat receives from their momma and poppa cat will be difficult to determine. Like all pets, every cat has unique needs and a distinctive disposition. That makes it rather challenging to say if the individual Blue you adopt will be good for your family or not.

That said, the feedback from hundreds of families who have owned Russian Blue Bengals is more than positive. Most RBB owners report that their cat is (or was) the epitome of laid-back, with a friendly and affectionate nature that was surprising and sweet. RBB owners and veterinarians also agree that this special cat is highly intelligent and can be trained to follow a wide variety of commands, including the aforementioned leash walking as well as using (and flushing!) the toilet.

Of course, very few cats will behave perfectly, especially if you have small children at home who tend to treat cats like stuffed animals. Russian Blue Bengals do not like to be toyed with, picked up, or dragged around and will defend themselves if necessary. Older children who understand that cats need to be treated with care, kindness, and respect should do just fine and find a great friend in an RBB.

The best thing you can do is adopt your Russian Blue Bengal as early as you can and socialize them as much as possible from day one. That will get them accustomed to touching, petting, hugging, and other social interactions. It will also help to form a stronger bond between you, your RBB, and the rest of your immediate family. In short, you can say that Russian Blue Bengals are suitable for families.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

The answer to this question is yes and no. Russian Blue Bengal cats are highly social animals and can be very affectionate towards some other animals. That includes, surprisingly, dogs and some cats. Indeed, many RBB owners will tell you that they’ve never seen a stronger bond between a dog and a cat. Russian Blue Bengals truly enjoy having another animal friend in the house and, as long as they aren’t thrown into the situation too abruptly, will usually make fast friends with your other pets.

That takes us to the “no” part of this answer; your Russian Blue Bengal probably won’t get along with your hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, birds, snakes, or bearded dragons. In most cases, they will stalk, pounce, and kill those pets because Russian Blue Bengals have a strong hunter/prey instinct.

They don’t see smaller animals as pets or friends but as food. It’s certainly not impossible for an RBB to make friends with a tiny pet (Instagram is full of videos of surprising animal friendships). However, the chances are much higher that, if given a chance, your Russian Blue Bengal will kill any small pets you have. In other words, if you have tiny pets at home, ensure they are well protected from your RBB.

Things To Know When Owning a Russian Blue Bengal Cat:

Food & Diet Requirements 🐡

All cats need a diet with protein, vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates, regardless of breed. However, Russian Blue Bengals are a bit special due to their muscular, lithe bodies and surprisingly high energy levels. A diet that’s higher in protein will be necessary to keep your RBB in tip-top condition, give it the energy its body demands, and keep its joints, muscles, and bones healthy.

Also, although Russian Blue Bengals love the water, they don’t always drink as much water as they should. That’s why most veterinarians recommend giving your RBB a combination of high-quality dry and wet cat food. The wet cat food adds water to their diet.

One solution many Russian Blue Bengal owners have used to solve the food and diet dilemma is to feed their RBB raw cat food. That’s because raw food typically has higher amounts of real meat and, thus, plenty of the protein an RBB needs to thrive. There are two ways to go regarding raw food: store-bought and homemade. One of the best commercial raw cat foods on the market is Stella & Chewy’s Chick Chick Chicken Dinner Morsels Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food (which you can find here), although there are several more on store shelves you can choose from.

Regarding making homemade raw food for your Russian Blue Bengal, most veterinarians advise against this solution. The biggest reason is that it’s complicated to create the perfect meal in your home that is nutritionally balanced and complete. If that is the way you want to go, it’s recommended you contact and work with a veterinary nutritionist rather than trying to do it yourself. That can, of course, get expensive, but if you’re already adopting a $3,000 to $4,000 cat, chances are it won’t be a problem financially.

Exercise 🐈

The Russian Blue and the Bengal cats are highly active and have a vast amount of energy. If you don’t give them exercise and attention to burn off that energy, your Russian Blue Bengal will not be happy with you. You should expect to provide them with at least an hour or two of direct attention every day (if not more) and provide your RBB with various toys to play with.

A scratching post, for example, is a must, as well as anything they can use to climb and use their strong muscular bodies. You should also get a harness and leash and see if your Russian Blue Bengal likes to take walks with you. Many do, and it’s a fantastic way to spend time together and wind down their internal battery.

Having a variety of toys that you change frequently is also a good idea. The more energy they use playing with you and their toys, the less trouble your Russian Blue Bengal will get into.

Training 🧶

If you’ve had other cats in your life, you know that, for the most part, they aren’t big on training. Sure, you can train them to use their cat litter box, but then again, most cats will likely learn how to use it without your help. The Russian Blue Bengal is a different cat; they’re known to be highly trainable and do many amazing tricks. We mentioned above that your RBB might like taking walks with you on a leash, which is something you should try because it’s fantastic for both of you.

Many RBBs have been known to use the toilet and flush it, too, which is truly phenomenal. Teaching your Russian Blue Bengal to fetch things is also an option, and they will learn and obey commands like sit, lay down, and, if you’re lucky, stay.

As with any pet, the earlier you start training your Russian Blue Bengal and the more diligent you are about training frequently, the better. Remember, your RBB is bred from two of the most intelligent cat breeds around. Teaching them, while not super easy, shouldn’t be extremely difficult either.

Grooming ✂️

Of all the tasks you’ll have as the pet parent to a Russian Blue Bengal, grooming them is probably the one that will take the least amount of time and effort. RBBs have a double coat that barely sheds and, like all cats, are quite adept at grooming themselves. If anything, brushing your Russian Blue Bengal once every 2 to 3 weeks should suffice. Of course, regular checkups with your local vet are always a good idea. Besides that and some brushing time, grooming your RBB should be a breeze.

Health and Conditions 🏥

Luckily, Russian Blue Bengals don’t suffer from many health problems as long as they are well-fed, get plenty of exercise, and are taken to the vet for a checkup at least once a year. Below is a list of the severe health conditions your RBB might suffer and the minor conditions that affect them. You’ll find that, thankfully, both lists are rather short.

Male vs Female

As with their temperament, every male and female Russian Blue Bengal will have a unique personality. That personality will determine who they like more, who they are attracted to, and who they will mostly ignore. Trying to determine that ahead of time is like figuring out which way the wind will blow on any given morning: next to impossible.

However, from the evidence we’ve seen while researching these marvelous cats, we’ve determined that females are more independent than males (mostly). Thus, males will likely be more of a friend and seek more attention and affection from their pet parents. This rule isn’t hard and fast, though, and it’s not unheard of to have a female Russian Blue Bengal that’s very affectionate and friendly and a male that’s more aloof.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Russian Blue Bengal Cat

1. Russian Blue Bengals are Considered Royalty in Russia

Back when Russia had tsars, it’s said that most of them had Blue Bengals. They, of course, dropped the “Russian” because they were already in Russia. Most wealthy Russians had them also, and they were seen as a sign of wealth, prestige, and good luck.

2. You Can Walk Your Russian Blue Bengal on a Leash

Most house cats would rather be smothered to death by mice than be led around on a leash. The Russian Blue Bengal, however, doesn’t have a problem walking on a leash. In fact, many RBBs enjoy walks, and some have even been trained to bring their leash to their human when they want to go! The only caveat is that your Blue won’t want to go if it’s extremely hot outside because the hot street will burn their food pads.

3. Your Russian Blue Bengal Will Wake You Up at the Same Time Every Day

One of the most unusual traits of the Russian Blue Bengals is that they are very schedule-oriented. They like to eat, for example, at the same time every day. If you walk them, they will also insist on going at the same time. Most annoyingly, especially if you’re not a morning person, is that your Russian Blue will wake you up at the same time 7 days a week. Unfortunately, they don’t do weekends.

Final Thoughts

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more intelligent, outgoing, and friendly cat than a Russian Blue Bengal. This cat is the type you should adopt if you want a friend that will play with you, wake you up in the morning with soft nudges, and greet you at the door when you come home at the end of a long day. In some ways, Russian Blue Bengals are more a dog than a cat and will get along with everyone in your home equally well. Just remember that they need a lot of attention, exercise, and a high-quality, nutritious diet. If you provide them with these things, chances are you’ll have a fast friend for many years to come!

• See Also: Bengal Maine Coon Mix Cat: Pictures, Temperament & Traits

Featured Image Credit: Left – Russian Blue (spartacusandmarie, Pixabay) | Right – Bengal (Uschi Dugulin, Pixabay)