A New Year and a fresh start!

Terapiya Cattery would like to take the time to thank current owners, future owners and people who regularly follow us a happy New Year Ahead! We are pleased to announce we will be commencing a new, thorough breeding program in 2024-25. This is aiming to improve the overall breed in Australia. Russian Blues are such a precious cat that we have made it a mission to focus on improving the breed.

Things to be asking in the New Year to breeders:

-Cat blood typing (these can be AA, AB and BB) as well as their temperaments.

-The COI of a cat. This is a coefficient score of their pedigree and lower scores show better genetic diversity.

-Any known health issues and if there are concerns, a Vet health check in writing.

We are finding these are essential questions all potential Russian Blue owners should follow. These provide solid health of the cat throughout its lifespan and also aim to eliminate potential complications down the track.

We look forward to working with old and new owners in the coming New Year!

Cat equipment 101!

When buying a Russian Blue we get a number of questions from owners, especially those who live in more rural NSW, such as the Central West or more remote and this is their first kitten!

We often get asked what we use the best place to get things, so here is a broken down list for those who might be curious:

-Kitty litter we use crystal litter to manage the smell (cat friendly pine litter is good too!) We get this from Bunnings at $17 a bag for 5kg.

-We use Royal Canine wet and dry food for all our cats and kittens, indoor to reduce smell. We get this from Pet Domain with 30% gold membership (VERY worth it!)

-Litter tray we use from pet domain, a covered corner one.

-Crates we get from Amazon or K-Mart as they have the large mesh travel crates.

-Cat cages for indoor and out door enclosures we source from Catnets.

-Scratch posts can be sourced cheap from dollar stores that stock them.

This provides a basic overview and guide for those wanting either cheaper alternatives or to new cat owners starting their families.

Saying Goodbye

After our wonderful Russian White, Belizna has had her previous litter, we have now said good-bye to nearly all our Russian Blue kittens. We have had some amazing owners travel from all over NSW to the Central West to pick these amazing cuties up and welcome their new family member.

Belizna is now looking for her forever home, as is her lovely Russian White daughter! Russian White cats are less common among the blue coats but are recognised as a part of the breed standard. They have all the same characteristics as a blue, but the white accentuates the lean and athletic body that is a part of the breed.

These two have amazing personalities, with just the right balance of confidence and affection. This creates a cat that can provide support and be adventurous enough to try new things and learn tricks with their owners.

No matter how many kittens and litters we have, good-byes are always hard. Please send us an email if you have any further questions about cats, kittens or upcoming litters.

Update on Terapiya Cattery-NSW Australia.

Here is a current update on Terapiya Cattery and where we are up to. We are currently having litters with kittens after numerous complexities the La Nina weather system we faced. Due to living in NSW Central West, it seems the fluxing weather changes that were rapid were causing trouble with pregnancy in our Russian Blues, so no kittens!

This has now subsided and over the next few years we will be ramping up our cattery and breeding. Females can and should only be breed roughly every 8 months, so we have a current wait list well over 14 months. Therefore, all we are asking is for patience as things slowly begin to move. Currently we are happy for people to be added to the wait list and will make contact once we feel to have a kitten to suite the home. Until this time, it may be a while before people hear from us, but please follow our Facebook and Instagram for ongoing and regular updates.

Due to being so busy we often can’t readily follow up potential homes until we know exactly what our litters look like, they are to unpredictable with colours and gender. However, we also understand this may not suite all people and do encourage contact with other Russian Blue breeders about kittens. At the end of the day, we aim to provide the highest quality in temperament and genetics to potential kitten homes, thus if this takes time we are more than prepared to hang on to ensure people get the kittens they deserve. Should there be any further questions, please feel free to reach out.

What is a day in the life of a breeder?

A common question many clients ask us about Russian Blue breeding is: what is a day-to-day life? So, this blog entry is to provide a snapshot!

Having relocated to Central West NSW was a first start. You need to ensure you have space for all your cats but the ability to separate the males and females due to a number of reasons. Females and males should have their own run a cattery. We are quite lucky at Terapiya that our male is of an amazing nature and doesn’t spray-so he is indoors 24/7! Our females have an adjoining room to themselves with shelving installed so they can climb and play, but also often get let out for a run and stretch!

Feeding times are around 6am, including usual duties such as check trays and cleaning as needed. Cats are regularly interacted with during the day due to the advantages working from home and COVID has created for pet owners. From here we change trays every few days., with each cat needing a try each and an extra. We also have separate runs set up to divide up during breeding and birthing processes. This both keeps pets safe and lets us control the interaction with them.

Breeding Russian Blues isn’t as profitable as people may thinking. Some people are shocked at the $2000+ breeders quote for pedigree kittens. Yet this needs to cover ongoing vet fee’s for kittens and parents, food for parents during periods of no breeding, health costs and vaccines ect during the year. We do this due to knowing this breed provides amazing companionship and genetics suitable for all people but especially those you may be suffering mental ill-health or disability impacts.

Now, when we have kittens imagine this schedule threefold! Regular vet checks, desexing and health checks are essential for our kittens are they grow. There are also many other factors, adverse weather and changes in temperature and environment can affect both breeding and health. Thus, there is always an element of surprise to be braced for! The unknown factor can also come with additional cost and effort if you have a sick cat.

Please reach out if you have further questions or are interested in a kitten.

What to look for in a Russian Blue breeder?

When it comes to choosing a Russian Blue cattery and breeder, there are many choices and considerations!

Currently there are a number of choices of Russian Blue breeders in Australia, with some catteries doing varying colour with different origins and genetics. Being in NSW Central West provides a good midway point for people wishing to travel to a breeder and pick their kittens up. For people who are further out (we get enquiries for all over Australia) the next best option is flying them.

Other factors to consider are checking with your breeder if they will fly interstate, as due to COVID it has created some travel difficulties and caused prices for flights to skyrocket! All breeders should ensure their cats are desexed, microchipped and flea and tick treated at a bare minimum before providing you with a kitten. It is also imperative to ensure there is enough genetic variation in the cattery and breeder you will choose, otherwise this can lead to ongoing health issues and often premature lifespan when not done.

Some breeders also have different variations of Russian Blue Cat’s. It is worth looking at the US breed standard, the European one and Australian as the looks can be slightly different. The US variants tend to have a more oriental style, whilst the Australian standard we provide is generally more robust with a different face and ear structure. Also checking with and asking breeders what the quality of their cattery is like and how their temperaments are is important. Working with a cattery to find a kitten that fits your family is key, as well as a cattery that ensure the health of their breeding cats and socialisation. We ensure our kittens and parents are well fed and looked after (more commonly known as, ‘spoilt’!), as the also deserve the same love and happiness as a kitten going to a new home.

At the end of the day, most breeders have high standards and take great care of their cats. We have to comply with strict standards and ever changing and increasing laws and legislation. However, it is also wise to be mindful to still check these questions, as not everyone does the right thing. If you have any questions about choosing a cattery or Russian Blue breeder (even if it isn’t us), please reach out.

Welcome to Terapiya Cattery-Russian Blues, NSW Australia.

Welcome to Terapiya Cattery and our first blog post with the new site! Terapiya was born from the idea that cats make amazing companions, but can be so much more. We are based in the NSW Central West, Australia close to Canberra airport and Wagga Wagga.

Terapiya first started with the idea of not just having Cats as pets, but also as emotional support animals for those with psychosocial and neurological disabilities, mental health issues, trauma and for adolescents and children. Russian Blues have always been a favorite breed, and a logical first choice for the cattery!

However when you consider the breeds intelligence, drive to learn and strong emotional bonds to owners and family Russian Blues off much more than their prized coat! They can be trained to do tricks, provide emotional support and even harnessing training to go outside under supervision.

Our breeders have extensive experience with animals and working with children and vulnerable people, also being trained in behaviorism and animal training. This is designed to provide exceptional genetics AND training and temprament testing before you receive your kitten.

Why choose a Russian Blue as your kitten?

Russian Blues are often a great cat for experiences and novice ‘cat people’. Russian blues have almost dog like qualities and have a strong tendency to attract to one owner in the home. The hard part here is, each one can such a different personality than another! Some can be shy, others adventurous and some even really replaced and placid.

This is an important step to take in the early phases so a kitten is found both for your personality style and your lifestyle. The great thing is they are cat that can suite both busy people and those who are more homebodies. Being able to keep themselves entertained and satisfied in their own company whilst you are away.

Russian Blues can be trained to do tricks, providing additional qualities of this amazing breed. Being they tend to bond to one or two people in the home, they can also make ideal pets for those with trauma and disabilities. They are also EXTREMELY sensitive to their environment and owners, and it’s not surprising to see them comfort you after a difficult day.

They are medium build cats with athletic definition, and aside from there legendary double coat they posses, they have emerald green eyes once they mature. If your considering a Russian Blue please reach out, as being based in NSW Central West means we have easy access to many capital cities and airports. We can also discuss a Zoom call to meet face to face and discuss your needs.

What to expect from your Russian Blue Kitten

Buying your first Russian Blue Kitten can be both exciting and overwhelming! This is more so for new kitten owners yet can also be unnerving if you're bringing your kitten home and you have another cat (or dog!)

The most frequent questions I see out there are people being worried if their kitten hides all day for the first while. When I brought Sacha home from the Central Coast to Central West NSW I didn’t see him for 2 days! Russian Blues are naturally quite a shy breed, and like many other cats will often hide when in a new environment. One thing to do is put them in a spare room with water and litter and let them rest in their crate. After some time, letting them explore the room without you in is a solid idea.

After this it takes patience and time, but encouraging food, avoiding prolonged and direct eye contact and playing with toys all help bring them out of their shell. Once your kitten warms to your family and environment, gradually introducing to other animals with supervision is a good step. Until your confident and have observed them for over a few hours together, it is recommended to separate them when you're not home.

Over time you may see your Russian Blue kitten’s personalit(ies) emerge. At Terapiya Cattery we also aim to match the temperament that will best suite your home. You may want a cuddly kitten, something more adventurous or even an outgoing or shy kitten to suite your needs. Russian Blues tend to bond to one or two people in the home, so don’t be afraid if they tend to gravitate toward others whilst testing the water.

Should you have any questions please reach out to Terapiya Cattery, based in NSW Australia.

Blog Post Title Four

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Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.