Russian Blue cats are an older, naturally occurring breed, meaning they were not manmade like Toyger cats. Because of their long history, the breed’s exact origins are unknown. The Spruce says that the Russian Blues are believed to have originated on Archangel (Arkhangelsk) Island in northern Russia, which is why they were once referred to as Archangel cats. Just as the ancient Egyptians worshipped tuxedo cats, Russian Blues were favored by royals and Russian czars. The breed travelled to Great Britain and many parts of Europe by ship in the late 1800s, and they were even among the contestants in the first cat shows in England. Once they were in Europe, the development of the breed really took off, primarily in Great Britain and Scandinavia where showing and breeding cats was popular. Russian Blues made their first appearance in the U.S. in the early 1900s, but they didn’t become popular until after World War II.