Most Russians are shy around new people, even their new owners. But they quickly and firmly bond to their caregivers. The typical Russian is shy around strangers, so it might take him some time to accept people from outside the household. Food, attention, and a warm body to snuggle against are a Russian’s priorities in life. They prefer a quiet household and accept changes reluctantly.

BRINGING YOUR NEW RUSSIAN HOME

Russians as a breed can be somewhat timid around new people and in new environments. To make their adjustment easier on you both, confine him to a room (such as a second bedroom) for the first several days. This will give him a smaller and not so threatening place to adjust to at first. Because he is confined to one room, you will be able to keep a closer eye on him - fewer places to run and hide. Make sure that you have "cat - proofed" this room (and the rest of the house). Remove all rubber bands, string, and small breakable objects - anything that he might try to eat or knock over and hurt himself. Many a cat has died from string, feathers, or rubber bands that have lodged in their stomachs or wrapped around their intestines.

IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER CAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU CONFINE YOUR NEW CAT AT FIRST! This will allow both cats to smell and check out each other in a non-threatening manner. If you were to just drop the new cat into the house, your older cat would perceive him as invading his territory and try to drive him out. Let both cats talk to each other under the door and smell each other on you. Later, they can have "supervised visitation." Let the older cat in the room while the new one explores the house. They can then have face to face contact in the room for a few minutes a day. This may seem like a lot of effort, but it will help them to adjust to each other. Think of it as new roommates writing letters about themselves before moving in together as opposed to some stranger who just barges into your house one day and makes himself at home.

As he adjusts to you and his new home, you can let him have more and more time out in the house. Gradually, he will make himself at home.

Please take your new cat to your veterinarian as soon as possible for a thorough examination. This will give your vet a baseline reading of your cat’s health and he will already have seen him and have his records in the event that he does become sick. We have provided you with a record of the shots that your kitten has already received. Your vet will also need to send us a letter stating that he has neutered/spayed your kitten when he does that procedure.

FEEDING

Food is very high on a Russian’s list of priorities, followed by attention, then food. They will try to convince you that you have not fed them for a week. Do not fall for it!!!. Russians like to eat and will become fat if you let them eat what and when they want. We recommend that you feed twice a day (three times until they are 7 months old) and have fresh water available at all times. Do not let them free feed. A cat does not need to pick at food all day. This will make him a fussy eater. This will also enable to monitor his food intake. You will know how much to cut back if necessary and if he is not eating properly, which can be a sign of illness. We recommend that you feed a premium dry cat food (such as Royal Canin, Halo, Orijin, or Acana) and preferably grain free. These foods have less "fillers" in them, so that there are more usable nutrients. At first, you may think that they cost more than the grocery store variety, but you actually feed less (1/4 to 1/2 half-cup per serving) and your cat will be healthier in the long run. An added benefit - as you are feeding less, there is less waste to scoop out of the litter box.

We also advocate feeding a premium canned food, perhaps mixed with some additional water. Cats, by their nature, do not drink enough water, and it is important that they to do maintain healthy kidney function (for to insure that males do not have a blockage of the urethra). As your cat matures, you will need to switch to a "light" or "less active" variety of the same food. These contain less fat. Remember, if you keep your cat’s weight down, he will be healthier.

Speaking of water - did you know that cats are more inclined to drink water if it's in a fountain? Studies have shown that given the choice, cats prefer to drink running/moving water. You might think about getting a pet fountain. We really like the all metal ones as they can be put right in the dishwasher for cleaning. Remember to disassemble the motor and clean it too.

Proceed to Part 2 of the Care and Feeding Guide

Want a great comprehisive guide to cat care, cat information and history, choosing your vet, and even end of life issues?
We highly recommend award-winning author Ramona Marek's book "Cats for the Genius"
It's available from "For the Genius" Press and on Amazon