5 comments about The Russian Blue Cat.

1. Three years after I wrote my first review of "The Russian Blue Cat" I can report that my "Ivar of Katzenberg" (aka Bubba) remains one of the most communicative, graceful, expressive, loving, beautiful cats I have ever seen. I have received a number of emails from people who read my previous review and have put them in touch with the Russian Blue internet network, which is quite surprisingly vast. If one has the time, one can view endless photos of the object of besotted owners' devotion. And, if you have a Russian Blue, you seem to find the time and the photos make you smile. I still send copies of all Bubba's photos to his breeder, the author of "The Russian Blue Cat", and she enjoys them and has kept in touch. Mrs. Urcia sympathized when I was sad that Bubba had lost his "baby" face and now has the face of an adult male. And she helped me get through the terrifying one time when Bubba got very sick with some unknown bug. Thank God, we pulled him through. I would get another Russian from Katzenburg Cattery in a heartbeat, but Bubba's special place in the family as "the baby" (he will be 7 years old in March)has held me back. When fate placed a nearly-starved-to-death kitten in my driveway last summer, Bubba had to deal with the fact that he might not be the only baby in the family. The kitten is rough and tumble now, but Bubba retains his delicacy and maintains his pride of place above the "lower orders". If you are considering getting a Russian Blue, know that they require a lot more attention than most other cats. They seem to have a sensitivity, a delicacy, a need to communicate with their owners that is at the high end of the bell curve in cat behavior. Also, they are tremendous leapers and love to get to the highest place they can and love to ride on their human's shoulder. Mrs. Urcia's book, "The Russian Blue Cat" remains the best book about the breed and her cattery produces some of the loveliest examples of the feline kingdom.



2. Wonderful book, and for such 'young' cat lover as me, possible to describe only by one word: MASSIVE... (with its 160 pages). Breed info is not only extended but comprehensive and written with genuine signs of passion for the Russian Blues...
   I am truly fascinated by the depth of the author's knowledge and her love to the breed. The only not-fully-positive remark I have, would be about the quality of pictures on the front cover and of some inside the book (professional graphic advisable) - but as I understand this is not meant to be an album book but a excellent breed book. And it is for sure excellent.



3. We are the very proud owners of Eva Blue,a nearly 6 year old spayed Russian Blue female we aquired from Mrs. Urcia's Katzenburg Cattery ,Cheney Wa. just 2 months ago. I first contacted Mrs. Urcia at the beginning of Sept. to ask if she would be attending the Portland Cat show. I also contacted 3 other West Coast breeders of Russian Blues asking the same question.I got a very quick & friendly response from Mrs.Urcia saying no she would not be coming to Portland but would be very happy to answer any questions I might have about the breed. 2 other breeders never responded and the fourth recommended Mrs. Urcia as a great source of info and of course the cats themselves.
   After a few e-mail question and answer sessions Mrs. Urcia mentioned she had available an older cat to be placed in just the right home. We don't have any kids or other pets so we qualified for this special "housecat" situation. Rather than put Eva on a plane or bus for Portland , Mrs. Urcia was planning a trip to Oregon the beginning of October and actually delivered her to our doorstep!
   This should give you an idea of Mrs. Urcia's passion and dedication to her Russian Blues.In the interim we bought her book The Russian Blue Cat and felt it was essential to us gaining the knowledge and confidence to be good parents to Eva.The book covers all the information you'll need and answers most questions you might have. Starting with the history of the breed (Nature)to the care (Nurture) and feeding (Nutrition)it's all there. She even includes information on becoming a breeder if that's your goal.
   I can't say enough about the patience Mrs. Urcia showed answering my elementary questions as well as depth of information in her book. She is an expert on the subject of Russian Blues and an excellent breeder.Eva is a beautiful,healthy, well adjusted cat.
   She's is the love of our lives and has provided many,many hours of loving companionship as well as entertainment. (She's walking all over the keyboard as I write this...it must be "playtime").
   As far as I know there is NO BETTER BOOK ON THE SUBJECT.None! .Thanks Mrs. Urcia for writing the book and for bringing Eva Blue into our lives .

   Bill & Gloria Johnson/Portland Oregon




4. I have acquired a kitten from Ingeborge Urcia's cattery in 2000. This book came in handy when I was preparing for the kitten's arrival as well as a reference guide for the past three years that she has lived in our home and been a wonderful pet for us.
   And my kitten's mother is featured in the book which is a real treat. There are many colored photos in the book, which makes for a pleasant book to peruse.



5. I have already written my review for this keystone book about the Russian Blue cat. It is with great sadness that today I learned that the book's author, Ingeborg Urcia passed away May 28, 2003. I believe that other Russian Blue owners and cat-lovers would like to know that this great lady of responsible cat breeding has left us.

   I would like also to relate that today I spoke with Ingeborg's husband, Dr. Joe Urcia today for quite some time and received his permission to let others in the cyber community know about his beloved wife of 47 years. Ingeborg was totally dedicated to her two main pursuits, teaching English at Eastern Washington University and cats; specifically Russian Blues and American shorthairs. Her name is very well known to cat fanciers. Ingeborg was passionate that the breeds she raised were healthy, true to type and went to loving, responsible homes. Many owners of her cats will deeply mourn her passing, as I do. She was always there for us to admire photos of her cattery's offspring, or give advice and answer questions. I will never ever forget the help she rendered me when my beloved Russian got very ill. She helped me pull him through the illness. Ingeborg's husband, Joe, has told me that before she died, she directed that her cats be sent to her favorite vet, Dr. Kate Christman, to find loving homes for them. Joe Urcia and Dr. Christman and her staff intend to set up a museum in Ingeborg's name, featuring her vast collection of porcelain cats, a tribute both to her and the felines that she loved so dearly. Joe is also working on publishing her last book, "Steps in the Night", her own story about surviving the Holocaust. Her book, "The Russian Blue Cat" stands alone as the seminal handbook for this beautiful breed.
   Deirdre Devereux

No comments about Looking for Lola Prize-winning Russian Blue (Pet Finders Club) (Pet Finders Club).

1 comments about Russian Blue Cat (Cats Set II).

1. I find it completely intolerable when books are produced with inaccurate information. Especially when those books are for children. To start, the very least the author & publishers could have done was to include pictures of quality Russian Blues. One of the cats on the front cover has white hairs on his chest, which is unacceptable in Russian Blues. The only really good picture of a Russian Blue is on page 13, and this shows a cat outside. The author never covers the fact that cats should be kept inside where they will be safe.

   The authors description of the breed under "Qualities" is inexcusable and totally misleading. One of his sentences states "They can be moody and may bite if handled roughly." I don't consider Russian Blues to be "Moody" and I've lived with them since 1978. As for "may bite if handled roughly", this is a broad statement that covers just about every domestic animal on earth. As for feeding, does this person have a veterinarian degree? If not, how dare he advocate the feeding of meat and bones. Under his description of kittens he states "Some Russian blues are born with the markings of a Siamese cat. They are called "White Russians."" This is complete misinformation as they are described as "color point" or "pointed" kittens. White Russians or Russian Whites are an actual pure white cat that is bred and shown in Australia and other countries.

   Under the section "Buying a Kitten" the author states "When you buy a Russian blue you should get pedigree papers that register the animal with the Cat Fanciers Association." This implies that any cat not registered with CFA is not pedigreed or registered, which is a complete misrepresentation. There are several cat registries throughout the US, the three largest being TICA (The International Cat Association), ACFA (American Cat Fanciers Association), and CFA, plus many more worldwide. CFA is not the only acceptable place for a kitten to be registered.

   In closing, I would just like to state that when writing for children information should be accurate at the very least. When children read books about animals they want to learn and they believe what they read even if it is full of fallacies. If you are really interested in Russian Blues please contact a breeder, don't waste your money on this book, it will only confuse your children.

No comments about Russian Blue Cat (Pet Love).

1 comments about This Is the Russian Blue.

1. I have owned a Russian Blue and didn't know much about the breed. My wife and I are interested in getting another as a pet since they are such great family cats.

   I bought this book on ebay and was surpised at how much I had to pay. It was worth every penny. This book was published in 1983 and is no longer available new. Ingeborg Urcia is an authority on the breed and her book is very informative. She is no longer living. I loved this book and it really sold me on this breed and had great advice on finding a reputable cattery and the right cat for our home.

   Although you will pay quite a bit for the book, it is worth it.

3 comments about Here Comes the Cat!.

1. A little Mouse, aloft in his balloon, sees an ominous shadow approaching the country of his people! Fleeing homeward, he cries warning to every Mouse he meets: "Here comes the Cat! Ciuda idyot Kot!" Soon the alarm is being passed from one to the other, until the entire Mouse population awaits in dread the arrival of the Cat. What will happen when Mice and Cat come face to face? Something quite unexpected! Significantly, this lovely little book is the creation of two authors, one American and the other Russian. After meeting in 1986 at a Soviet/American childrens' book symposium, they decided to collaborate on a tale with a message of harmonious coexistence. Vladimir Vagin's exquisite, highly-detailed, colorful paintings must be seen to be appreciated. And Frank Asch's story of fear and friendship will warm the hearts of adults and children lucky enough to read "Here Comes the Cat!"



2. Here Comes the Cat is an exciting collaboration between an American writer and a Russian illustrator. Both Frank Asch and Vladimir Vagin play their parts distinctively. The story is filled with suspense, exciting action, and a thought-provoking reversal. The mice characters, representing humans of many ethnicities, react to the news of an approaching cat. The words, found in text balloons, repeat the exclamation, "Here comes the cat!" Yet in every case, we find them in both English and Russian. Signs on stores, also in both languages, offer a wider variety of reading opportunities. The book introduces first-grade readers to the concept of translation. All the visual elements of the book, from the calligraphic text to the full-page illustrations, have a strong and authentic Russian style. The art is excellent.



3. Summary
   This book is a story in English and Russian, in which the mouse community warns everyone that the cat is coming. The reader assumes the warning is out of fear, but in fact, everyone looks forward to the arrival of a cat, who brings them all cheese.
   
   Illustrations
   Wonderful, full page illustrations.