According to a quote from Dust Of History on the "Alexei's Anecdotes" thread, Zubrovka was a Siamese like cat. Here's it entirely so you don't have to look for it:
Hello AP,
sorry I'm late. ;-) As you know, I was quite "busy" here the last few days. I feel a bit like the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. :-)
OK, I agree that (de) Sishmarev can be counted in Alexei's inner circle of friends but not as close as Kolya. About the letters, it could be that they have been lost.
I found another anecdote which caught my eye this morning. I found it in the book "Der letze russische Zar und seine Familie" by Barkowez, Fedorov, Krylov. The authors found the anecdote in W.N. Vojekov's memoirs.
One day, while we were talking about animals, I told Alexei Nikolaevich about my new cat breed. The cats were similar to Siamese cats but without claws. They were also chocolate-brown and had blue eyes. The Heir was really exited and ask me if I could bring him such a cat. A few days later I drove back home. On my arrival back at Head Quarters the Heir expected me in my room and asked: "And where is the cat?" But this time I had not taken it with me. The Heir was very disappointed and even accused me of lying. On my next return from home the Heir expected me in my room again and asked me the same question. This time I gave him the cat and the Heir was so happy. He told his sisters about the cat and then they also wanted a similar cat. That's how they got their cat "Subrovka".
Quite interesting anecdote I think. But I've never heard of W. N. Vojekov.
But also from the site
http://www.dog.ru/index.php3?mode=1&id=415036 , It says this (roughly translated)
General Voyeikov described his history in his memoirs: "Once in a conversation about the animals I told Alexei Nikolayevich about past me on the estate of the breed of cats, is a cross between a marten with a domestic cat and reminiscent of the Siamese. They were very beautiful: chocolate brown, with blue eyes and legs, do not have the unpleasant property of releasing the claws. The Prince asked him to bring a cat. " Having a cat, the boy wrote a letter to the remarkable animal sisters in Tsarskoe Selo. Generals were instructed to bring the same cat for girls. He further wrote: "... Conditions were as follows: cat must be red, have the same hair, like their favorite cat on the yacht" Standart ", from which they hoped to obtain offspring, unaware of his indifference to the cats. It was bought in the village and sent to Tsarskoe Selo cat, approaching beneath all conditions. Grand Princess was terribly pleased and called it "Zubrivka".
General notes that the boy almost never parted with the cat and only to walk him not to take it, fearing to lose. Sometimes Alex came with a cat in her arms during the highest lunches, "as terrified people who were afraid of cats."
Sorry if this is pointless, I'd just thought you would like to know.
Oh and from the same site, a picture of Vaska, (off topic but since someone was asking about it earlier)
