Our Russian Breeders in South Africa
Below you will find the Russian Standard of Points that the judges use to judge Russians at South African Cat Shows.
Please note, that the RCIG are here to guide the breeders, however each breeder has their own way of doing things and it is up to YOU the purchaser to do your research and adopt from the breeder you feel best suits your requirements. *Ask the breeder for an adoption fee breakdown that stipulates in writing what you will receive to ensure there is no confusion BEFORE you pay your deposit.* Unfortunately a price cannot be put on passion, ethics and service – the end product may be the same and perhaps you even pay the same BUT PLEASE be aware that the choice you make as to who you purchase from, is yours alone and you should do your research.
esky Russians - vip breeder
Alma Pretorius - Hartebeespoort
Esky Russians is a small cattery at Hartebeespoort outside Pretoria. Alma started breeding Russians in 2011, after a lengthy conversation with Leanne Hewitt of Azreal Russians in Cape Town, with a view to breed the Russians. Alma was willing to be mentored by Leanne and adopted a soon to retire Brood Queen from Leanne. Jade was spayed before she left to join Alma, so that Alma could get a feel for the breed and also get the opportunity to show her at cat shows in Gauteng and meet other Russian show cats and their owners.
Jade joined Alma 2009/2010 and was soon joined by a Russian Blue kitten, from Carol Wood of Silversheen Russians in Natal. Nati and Jade both neuter and spay Russians were regulars on the Gauteng show bench, with Nati doing exceptionally well at cat shows.
Alma has a couple of Queens and Studs and has bred outstanding Russians over the past 12 years.
From time to time retired breeding queens and studs are available for adoption. (Please note that they will be spayed and neutered before they leave Esky Russians). None will be permitted to go to their forever homes as entire cats.
Alma breeds Russian Blues and Russian Whites.
You can contact Alma @
e-mail:- [email protected]
Esky Russians is a small cattery at Hartebeespoort outside Pretoria. Alma started breeding Russians in 2011, after a lengthy conversation with Leanne Hewitt of Azreal Russians in Cape Town, with a view to breed the Russians. Alma was willing to be mentored by Leanne and adopted a soon to retire Brood Queen from Leanne. Jade was spayed before she left to join Alma, so that Alma could get a feel for the breed and also get the opportunity to show her at cat shows in Gauteng and meet other Russian show cats and their owners.
Jade joined Alma 2009/2010 and was soon joined by a Russian Blue kitten, from Carol Wood of Silversheen Russians in Natal. Nati and Jade both neuter and spay Russians were regulars on the Gauteng show bench, with Nati doing exceptionally well at cat shows.
Alma has a couple of Queens and Studs and has bred outstanding Russians over the past 12 years.
From time to time retired breeding queens and studs are available for adoption. (Please note that they will be spayed and neutered before they leave Esky Russians). None will be permitted to go to their forever homes as entire cats.
Alma breeds Russian Blues and Russian Whites.
You can contact Alma @
e-mail:- [email protected]
DAVANTÉ RUSSIANS - VIP BREEDER
Vanessa & Cyril Howell - Johannesburg
Both being natural lovers of all God’s creatures big and small, it was only obvious that Cyril and I would have a home filled with animal love. The only animal we didn’t have in our household was, in actual fact, a cat, as I was diagnosed with cat allergies shortly after I matriculated. As a young child I always grew up with cats, so to be told that I cannot own a cat, was something that bothered me quite severely. Nonetheless, I accepted my now “catless” life and dosed up on antihistamines, every time I went to visit a friend who owned a cat. My cat allergies were so severe, if I had to touch a cat (without having taken antihistamines an hour before) my face would swell up, I would have bloodshot eye and sinus that would leave me sneezing up a storm the whole day. So the solution would be to stay away from any and all cats, right? No, not me, I had to touch every cat that crossed my path, leaving me in sinus despair.
So went our search for a cat that would not aggravate my allergies so severely. I thought Google would know the answer, and of course it did, because it took me to Leanne’s Azreal Russians Website. I spent all my spare time reading up on the Russian breed, that I could not but…….. fall…….. hopelessly and utterly in love. Cyril always being a dog lover would just shake his head at how crazy I would get every time Leanne added new kittens to her website. This journey lead to us finally making the decision to actually have one of Leanne’s precious babies. We initially ordered a little Blue girl from Leanne and after almost a year wait, our little Blue Russian was born on the 21st November 2009. Azreal Xantanah arrived in all her glory only to be told 12 weeks later that my girl was in actual fact a boy. Yes Russians never cease to surprise you. We called this special boy - Navi our very first Russian and the start of my real love affair with this breed. We attended a couple of cat shows and met with Solvieg who showed us the ropes in cat showing. Navi, might I add, only a “pet” quality cat, actually did very well on the show bench and even surprised Leanne. This was the first time that we got a taste of this world and we Loved it!
As all Russian cat owners know – you can never only have one Russian cat and in the following year, on the 8th of December 2010, Azreal Desdarmah Dushenka was born. Our Gorgeous Dante arrived in March of 2011 he was a show quality cat with all the bells and whistles, and a suave attitude to match. Unfortunately is show life was cut short, due to a terrible summer storm of October 2012, where we lost Dante and has been missing since, never to be found. This left a huge void in our life and the terrible heartache of losing Dante, we retreated from showing - but always knew deep down in our soul, that one day, we will get back to showing.
My “real” daughter was born in March 2014 and months later Cyril enquired again with Leanne for a Russian. It was time we get our head out from under the covers and start showing again, now that the “real” kids were out of the way. Lo and behold Leanne had a BST entire boy available and he needed to be kept entire because her breeding BST queen was to be spayed. Although, we have always wanted a BST, we never thought for a minute we would ever think of breeding…..well…….that…..has all changed now…… Amongst other things…….. we have two beautiful “real” kids that are already avid animal lovers, that Cyril is now a huge cat convert and the most important thing is that……. I am no longer allergic to cats!!!
Vanessa and Cyril breed the Russian Blue and the Russian Blue Spotted Tabby.
You can contact Vanessa @
e-mail: [email protected]
Both being natural lovers of all God’s creatures big and small, it was only obvious that Cyril and I would have a home filled with animal love. The only animal we didn’t have in our household was, in actual fact, a cat, as I was diagnosed with cat allergies shortly after I matriculated. As a young child I always grew up with cats, so to be told that I cannot own a cat, was something that bothered me quite severely. Nonetheless, I accepted my now “catless” life and dosed up on antihistamines, every time I went to visit a friend who owned a cat. My cat allergies were so severe, if I had to touch a cat (without having taken antihistamines an hour before) my face would swell up, I would have bloodshot eye and sinus that would leave me sneezing up a storm the whole day. So the solution would be to stay away from any and all cats, right? No, not me, I had to touch every cat that crossed my path, leaving me in sinus despair.
So went our search for a cat that would not aggravate my allergies so severely. I thought Google would know the answer, and of course it did, because it took me to Leanne’s Azreal Russians Website. I spent all my spare time reading up on the Russian breed, that I could not but…….. fall…….. hopelessly and utterly in love. Cyril always being a dog lover would just shake his head at how crazy I would get every time Leanne added new kittens to her website. This journey lead to us finally making the decision to actually have one of Leanne’s precious babies. We initially ordered a little Blue girl from Leanne and after almost a year wait, our little Blue Russian was born on the 21st November 2009. Azreal Xantanah arrived in all her glory only to be told 12 weeks later that my girl was in actual fact a boy. Yes Russians never cease to surprise you. We called this special boy - Navi our very first Russian and the start of my real love affair with this breed. We attended a couple of cat shows and met with Solvieg who showed us the ropes in cat showing. Navi, might I add, only a “pet” quality cat, actually did very well on the show bench and even surprised Leanne. This was the first time that we got a taste of this world and we Loved it!
As all Russian cat owners know – you can never only have one Russian cat and in the following year, on the 8th of December 2010, Azreal Desdarmah Dushenka was born. Our Gorgeous Dante arrived in March of 2011 he was a show quality cat with all the bells and whistles, and a suave attitude to match. Unfortunately is show life was cut short, due to a terrible summer storm of October 2012, where we lost Dante and has been missing since, never to be found. This left a huge void in our life and the terrible heartache of losing Dante, we retreated from showing - but always knew deep down in our soul, that one day, we will get back to showing.
My “real” daughter was born in March 2014 and months later Cyril enquired again with Leanne for a Russian. It was time we get our head out from under the covers and start showing again, now that the “real” kids were out of the way. Lo and behold Leanne had a BST entire boy available and he needed to be kept entire because her breeding BST queen was to be spayed. Although, we have always wanted a BST, we never thought for a minute we would ever think of breeding…..well…….that…..has all changed now…… Amongst other things…….. we have two beautiful “real” kids that are already avid animal lovers, that Cyril is now a huge cat convert and the most important thing is that……. I am no longer allergic to cats!!!
Vanessa and Cyril breed the Russian Blue and the Russian Blue Spotted Tabby.
You can contact Vanessa @
e-mail: [email protected]
soetdoring russians - new breeder
Natasja Burger - Graaff-Reinet
Soetdoring Russians was a dream I had for a while and here we are.
I got my first Russian blue, Yoko, from Carol Wood (Silversheen) in December 2005 while I was still a student. I knew immediately that I would be a Russian mom for the rest of my life.
Yoko saw me finish two degrees and move to countless towns and sadly ended our journey in 2018 in Graaff-Reinet, where I now reside.
By some small coincidence, a few years before, I met one of Alma Pretorius' (Esky) Russian blues and he was just as amazing as Yoko. So when I was finally ready to get another Russian Blue, I contacted Alma. Ono (Esky Wilson) came into my life in 2019 and it was love at first sight.
He went to his first cat show in Cape Town that same year where he blew us all away by winning Best Kitten in show and Cape Top Cat Kitten of the year. He has since also won a Best in show and qualified for COTY 2022.
In November 2022, Esky Gasha Gavrikova joined our little family. She is definitely my "wild child".
Since day one, the Russian Blue family has supported and guided me. Now I feel honoured that I get to be a part of that family.
Natasja breeds the Russian Blue.
You can contact Natasja @
e-mail: [email protected]
ZINGARA RUSSIANS - VIP BREEDER
Joelene Draper - Paarl
Zingara Russians came about when Joelene was basically thrown into the deep end by Leanne Hewitt and Solveig Klahr.
Joelene Draper, lives in Paarl, Western Cape, with her husband Craig, and their two children.
Joelene owned a Russian from the first Azreal “L” litter but sadly that beautiful boy passed over the rainbow bridge in 2014, which left a great emptiness, in not only Joelene’s life, but also the rest of the family and the other family cats. Towards the end of 2014 Joelene became guardian of Vlad who was kept entire for one mating. Vlad was joined by his father Freddie a few weeks later, who used to be a stud boy in the Esky Russian Breed-home, imported from the UK. Freddie has been used successfully and we are proud to have 2 daughters and 2 sons to continue Freddie’s line in South Africa, including a Russian Blue Spotted Tabby son. Freddie is now allowed to live the rest of his still very long live as the loved pet in the Draper”ville” household.
Joelene breeds the Russian Blue - Russian Black and Russian White.
You can contact Joelene @
e-mail: [email protected]
Zingara Russians came about when Joelene was basically thrown into the deep end by Leanne Hewitt and Solveig Klahr.
Joelene Draper, lives in Paarl, Western Cape, with her husband Craig, and their two children.
Joelene owned a Russian from the first Azreal “L” litter but sadly that beautiful boy passed over the rainbow bridge in 2014, which left a great emptiness, in not only Joelene’s life, but also the rest of the family and the other family cats. Towards the end of 2014 Joelene became guardian of Vlad who was kept entire for one mating. Vlad was joined by his father Freddie a few weeks later, who used to be a stud boy in the Esky Russian Breed-home, imported from the UK. Freddie has been used successfully and we are proud to have 2 daughters and 2 sons to continue Freddie’s line in South Africa, including a Russian Blue Spotted Tabby son. Freddie is now allowed to live the rest of his still very long live as the loved pet in the Draper”ville” household.
Joelene breeds the Russian Blue - Russian Black and Russian White.
You can contact Joelene @
e-mail: [email protected]
RUSSIAN CAT INTEREST GROUP OF SOUTH AFRICA
olveig Klahr - Paarl
Solveig is a very passionate Russian Cat owner, with a very particular love for the Russian Black. She has become deeply entrenched into the cat fancy, and co-founded the Russian Cat Interest Group of South Africa in 2012.
Solveig understands the complexity around the breeding/kittening process and therefore chose to rather own pet Russians, as her emotional attachment to cats are too overwhelming for her to become a breeder herself.
She runs the RCIG Group, which includes being in regular contact with the RCIG Breeders, Russian Cat Owners, running the RCIG Facebook Group as well as updating the website and processes of the Group. She deals with all the admin realated to RCIG membership applications, updates the private Russian database, RCIG Membership & Russian Cat Ownership certificates, and much much more.....
Solveig has been put in charge to standardise the processes on behalf of the breeders and has very strong opinions on Ethical & Reputable Breeding as well as Responsible Pet Ownership.
She assists the breeders and will front some kitten queries, forward information and questionnaires to interested or potential kitten owners on behalf of the Breeders. Once the completed questionnaire has been returned to her, she will decide, which breeder(s) to allocate the completed questionnaire to. The reason for this decision, is to alleviate the breeders from some of these pressures, to give them more time to tend to their kittens, queens and studs. The more attention the cats get from their breeders, the better for them and the new kitten/cat owners.
You can contact Solveig aka. Solly @
e-mail:- [email protected]
mobile:- 083 272 2443
Solveig is a very passionate Russian Cat owner, with a very particular love for the Russian Black. She has become deeply entrenched into the cat fancy, and co-founded the Russian Cat Interest Group of South Africa in 2012.
Solveig understands the complexity around the breeding/kittening process and therefore chose to rather own pet Russians, as her emotional attachment to cats are too overwhelming for her to become a breeder herself.
She runs the RCIG Group, which includes being in regular contact with the RCIG Breeders, Russian Cat Owners, running the RCIG Facebook Group as well as updating the website and processes of the Group. She deals with all the admin realated to RCIG membership applications, updates the private Russian database, RCIG Membership & Russian Cat Ownership certificates, and much much more.....
Solveig has been put in charge to standardise the processes on behalf of the breeders and has very strong opinions on Ethical & Reputable Breeding as well as Responsible Pet Ownership.
She assists the breeders and will front some kitten queries, forward information and questionnaires to interested or potential kitten owners on behalf of the Breeders. Once the completed questionnaire has been returned to her, she will decide, which breeder(s) to allocate the completed questionnaire to. The reason for this decision, is to alleviate the breeders from some of these pressures, to give them more time to tend to their kittens, queens and studs. The more attention the cats get from their breeders, the better for them and the new kitten/cat owners.
You can contact Solveig aka. Solly @
e-mail:- [email protected]
mobile:- 083 272 2443
Our retired Breeders are:-
Azreal Russians - Leanne Hewitt Ruskia Russians - Saskia & Chris Vet Salvia Russians - Michelle Collins Silversheen Russians - Carol Wood Warwick Russians - Stephanie Eboral Thank you for your contribution to the Russian Blue, Russian Black, Russian White and Russian Blue Spotted Tabby in South Africa |
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