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Cats are known for many different things. Some are lovable, always seeking attention and looking up with adorable eyes for love and food. Others are cold, seemingly distant until they want something. Some can even be mean. However, it might not be their natural state.
Usually, the only fierce thing about a Russian Blue Cat is the loyalty of the owner. Russian Blues have long been associated with the Russian Czars of ages past and so retain an austere image with their sweet and loyal temperament. So, what could cause this loving cat to be mean? Read on to learn of some possibilities.
Cat Product Note: I will talk about and recommend some cat products in this article, which will hopefully provide your cat with a more enriching life. These are Amazon affiliate links, so I receive a commission from Amazon, with no added cost to you. These are my honest recommendations, so if you are interested in checking them out, please click below!
- This cat stroller on Amazon (affiliate link) I recommend for the Russian Blue Cat since it can go pretty much anywhere you need it to while being versatile: Check Out This Awesome Cat Stroller On Amazon.
- The cat condo / cat tree on Amazon (affiliate link) that I recommend for Russian Blue Cats (My cat loves it): Check Out This Wonderful Cat Tree On Amazon.
Pro-Tip: If you are thinking of buying a cat or are a cat owner already, then you should be aware that taking care of the litter box can be a real chore. In this age of smart products, an automatic litter box has been created that actually makes life easier with taking care of the litter box. If you want to make your life much easier with a litter box that means you’ll never have to scoop litter again, check out the best automatic litter box on the market (in my opinion) on Amazon.
Your Russian Blue is Scared
While Russian Blue Cats can be playful and outgoing with the humans they have adopted (i.e., their owners), they are reticent around newcomers. If guests come over to your house, they are likely to retreat until they can assess the situation and decide whether they want to make new friends.
This is normal behavior, but the only time it could be a problem is if the Blue feels cut off from retreat or cornered in some way. If this happens, it is possible that a Russian Blue might be mean and exert some aggressive behavior to try to escape the situation.
Of course, it is most likely that your Blue will sense company long before they sense him. Take a look at some other possibilities.
Your Russian Blue Does Not Like Change
Russian Blues are nothing if not creatures of routine. They want food at the same time every day, and they take comfort in the reliability of familiar surroundings. So, one reason why a Russian Blue might become mean is a change.
A good example of this is moving.
Moving is stressful for everyone. While it is usually the beginning of exciting new possibilities, moving is a difficult process of shedding a familiar environment for one that is unfamiliar.
Your Russian Blue is going to face the same kinds of stresses but likely without a context to put them in. Your Blue is not going to know about the great new job or beautiful new neighbor. Your Blue just knows everything is different.
When cats are faced with new environments, there is an increased possibility for them to act out because of fear and uncertainty with regards to their new surroundings. Give them time to adjust and explore their new home.
Play Time Aggression
It is important to keep in mind that all cats, your Russian Blue included, are predators. In particular, Russian Blues are highly intelligent and need toys to play with to keep their minds busy.
Sometimes Russian Blues can become mean when playing with you because their predator instinct has kicked into gear. Watch for types of play that trigger this so that they can be avoided in the future.
It might also be a good idea to ensure your Russian Blue has plenty of time for play on a regular basis. The pent-up desire to interact might make their reactions to such play more intense. Therefore, ensure your cat gets enough active time.
Maternal Instinct
The maternal instinct is alive and well in the animal kingdom, even the domesticated animal kingdom. Mama cat is going to want to protect her babies from threats that are real or perceived. Even when it comes to you, who they love, their response to these perceived threats will be no different.
Russian Blues that have a brood of kittens will be no different in this regard. Your normally sweet and cuddly Blue may become mean if she thinks someone or something is threatening her kittens. Keep this in mind, especially if new people, who cause your Blue to be wary in any event, come around to see the cute kitties.
Russian Blue cats are wonderful felines that do show love. To learn more about the reasons Russian Blue cats are the best, check out my article: Click Here.
Hiding Painful Areas
Our pets are governed by many instincts, but one that can sometimes get overlooked is the instinct to conceal certain things. A few examples are:
- Pain
- Illness
- Injury
In the wild, these things are signs of weakness, and weak animals are more vulnerable as prey.
Russian Blue Cats are no exception, and pain can cause a cat to be irritable or short-tempered and respond to situations with claws rather than circumspection. If your Blue thinks you are going to touch the painful or sensitive area, this might be even more prone to happen.
If your Russian Blue is acting mean and none of the other possibilities check out, it might be time to do a basic inspection. Of course, if you think pain is the cause, the best resource is going to be your cat’s veterinarian.
Here are some of my favorite cat products
In addition to checking out some other More Meows articles, I hope you’ll check out some of my favorite cat products as well. These are affiliate links, so if you end up using them, I’ll get a commission at no extra cost to you. These are the products I really do find most helpful.
Litter Box: I started out with normal, traditional litter boxes for my cat. Then, I tried this automatic litter box on Amazon (affiliate link), which helped reduce the litter upkeep. Finally, I am now a believer in the Litter-Robot 3 Connect on Amazon (affiliate link). This robotic litter box is not for everyone based on the price tag, but for me the benefits (very little upkeep, works efficiently, clean, mobile app) far outweighed the cost.
Cat Tree: I have purchased a couple of this Amazon Basics Cat Tree on Amazon (affiliate link). My cat spends a lot of time on and around this cat tree, which I position near my sofa. She uses the scratching posts on this cat tree multiple times a day, which means she is not scratching the sofa instead.
Cat Water Fountain: I love this cat water fountain on Amazon (affiliate link). There are three main benefits to having a water fountain like this for your cat. The first benefit is that it keeps water running so that your cat doesn’t need to drink still water. The second benefit is that it filters the water. The third benefit is that it will keep your cat hydrated!
Redirection of Aggression
Redirection is one of the more dangerous causes of aggression, and it occurs when a cat is angry or annoyed at one thing but takes it out on something else. Usually, this happens because your cat cannot get at the thing that is causing annoyance.
Think of it like this. A Russian Blue cat sits at the front window and sees a squirrel running up and down trees. Predator instinct kicks in, and the Russian Blue wants to go hunting, but there is this window in the way. The Blue keeps seeing the squirrel but is not able to do anything about it.
Finally, out of frustration, the Blue takes a swipe at the nearest available target, maybe you or maybe the other cat you just brought home. That is redirection. It can be a dangerous thing because your cat ends up channeling its frustration onto an unsuspecting fellow occupant.
If you find your Russian Blue getting aggressive toward something that is unreachable, the best thing to do is to calm your feline down by putting it in a quiet room. Suppose you can safely move your cat, great. If not, try using gloves or carrying your cat with a comforter to protect yourself.
Feline Cognitive Dysfunction
Feline Cognitive Dysfunction (FCD) is a serious disease for cats. Feline Cognitive Dysfunction is when a cat has a decline in its cognitive abilities due to the aging of the brain. FCD can have a number of symptoms, such as less awareness, bad memory, and an increase in aggression.
If you think your cat is suffering from Feline Cognitive Dysfunction, you should try to make life for your cat easier and low stress. Also, you should ensure you are taking your cat to the veterinarian for regular checkups.
Territorial Aggression in Cats
Taking on a new roommate can be a challenge for cats. You have your set patterns of living and certain ways that you do things, and suddenly you have to accommodate someone else and get used to that person’s patterns and behaviors.
Since Russian Blue cats are highly territorial and very loyal to the ones they love, they may need some time to get used to a new person. Think about how your Russian Blue is when guests come over. Well, a new roommate is like a guest who comes over and never leaves.
Your Russian Blue may not like it when the normal pattern of things is interrupted and never goes back to “normal” and may act meanly as a result. Once again, time is the key. Give your Russian Blue the space to make a relationship with a new human on its own terms.
Another possibility why your Russian Blue cat may be mean is if you bring home a new cat. Once again, you have to keep the traits of the cat in mind:
- Territorial
- Loyal
- Opposed to change
These are the key attributes here. Russian Blue Cats may feel threatened and act meanly if they think another cat is moving in on their human’s affections.
If you do bring home a second cat, I recommend having a couple of cat condos or cat trees in the house for the cats to hang out. The reason I recommend more than one is so that you can reduce territorial tension so that each cat has its own cat tree to hang out in without worrying about the other cat.
The cat condo / cat tree on Amazon (affiliate link) that I recommend for Russian Blue Cats (My cat loves it): Check Out This Wonderful Cat Tree On Amazon.
Feline socialization is a reason that Russian Blue cats could be biting. To learn more about the reasons Russian Blue cats bite, check out my article on the nine reasons for Russian Blue cat biting: Click Here.
This scenario is even more likely if the two cats in question are unneutered males. If you are the owner of a cat, be sure to do the responsible thing and have your pet spayed or neutered.
Even if you have not brought home an adult cat that has not been neutered or spayed, you may have brought home a kitten. And as the kitten matures to the age when it should be spayed or neutered, the kitten’s hormonal aggression may be the cause of tension with your Russian Blue.
Rabies in Cats
Rabies is a terrible disease caused by a virus. Rabies gets into a cat and attacks the brain and spinal cord via another rabid animal biting them.
Rabies has three main stages: prodromal, furious, and paralytic. The furious stage is relevant to the subject matter of this article because this is when a cat can get seriously violent. You could also see a cat foaming at the mouth during the furious stage.
If you suspect your cat has rabies, you should call your local animal control for help. To help prevent rabies in the first place, you should work with your veterinarian to get your cat routine vaccinations. The rabies vaccination is generally available and sometimes required by law for felines.
Your Russian Blue cat is tough enough to go outside, but I wouldn’t recommend it due to the dangers that the outdoors present, such as animals with rabies. To learn more about whether a Russian Blue cat can go outside, check out my article: Click Here.
If you do want to safely take your beloved Russian Blue cat outside, I recommend this cat stroller on Amazon (affiliate link) since it can go pretty much anywhere you need it to while being versatile: Check Out This Awesome Cat Stroller On Amazon.
Conclusion
Aggression in cats can be serious business. Russian Blue cats are generally lovable animals, so it is a big deal if your Russian Blue has become mean. Hopefully, the breakdown of these nine reasons your Russian Blue might be mean will help you prevent your own Russian Blue cat from becoming mean.
If you enjoyed this article, please check out a few others:
- Why Are Russian Blue Cats So Expensive? The Best Answer: Click Here.
- Are Cats Popular In Russia? The Best Answers: Click Here.
- How To Tell A True Russian Blue Cat (Quick Ways): Click Here.
