The Siberian Cat

Siberian cats originated somewhere in Russia 1000 years ago but due to the vastness of Russia and little documentation the exact location of the Siberian cat’s origin has been lost. There is a legend that the Siberian cat was taken from Russia to Siberia where it grew a longer coat and then brought to Moscow where they were sold. However it is only a legend as the exact location and history of the Siberian is lost. The Siberian is the national cat of Russia. Siberian cats are a new addition to America as they were only introduced in the early 1990’s but they have quickly become a popular breed. As the Siberian is a relatively new breed to the USA and popular, demand and availability of adopting or buying one can take a bit of time.

The Siberian is recognized as a semi longhair cat and can be found in a multitude of colors and patterns. In addition, the major cat organizations recognize the Siberian breed, meaning the Siberian can compete in cat shows. It took a while for the Siberian to be recognized as it resembles the Maine Coon and Norwegian Forest breeds of cat. Siberians finally managed to be accepted after the argument was made that it is more round than the other two similar breeds. The Cat Fancier’s Association lists the Siberian in the Miscellaneous category and all colors are accepted in CFA cat shows. Eye color for the Siberian is usually yellow green. Also there is no correlation between coat color and eye color.

Male Siberians typically weigh between 15-20 pounds and are heavier than female Siberians who typically weigh anywhere from 10-15 pounds. Siberians also have a more round look and three coats of fur (probably adaptation for the cold Siberian winters). Siberians live to an average age of 12-15 years and are a quiet cat that will mew, chirp and purr. It is likely that a well taken care of Siberian can have a slightly longer lifespan.  A male or female Siberian will take about 5 years to mature and the average litter size is also around 5.

The personality of the Siberian is one of playfulness, intelligence and loyalty. A Siberian will usually follow its owner from the moment it enters the door to all the way around the house. It could be considered the dog lover’s cat. The Siberian has strong hind quarters and is known as a great jumper. With the Siberian’s agility it can usually navigate when it jumps and soars through the air but breakable items should still be guarded. The Siberian likes to post itself on book cases and high places and it can reach the high areas easily. Also, the Siberian likes to play with all manner of toys. The loyalty and playfulness of the Siberian make it a great family pet and can be considered quite similar to a dog. A Siberian will usually get along with other pets and children.

Health wise the Siberian cat is a breed with no specific health issues. Furthermore, there are many breeders who will testify that the Siberian is hypoallergenic meaning people who are allergic to cats in general may not have an allergic reaction to the Siberian. However, there have been no conclusive trials or tests performed to validate the hypoallergenic claim. If you know you’re allergic to cats and really want one, you should try being around a Siberian to see if your allergies act up. It could be person dependent due to people having different sensitivity to the cat allergen. Siberian cats are a self-grooming cat and can usually avoid tangles in their fur so they do not require frequent brushing. However, brushing a Siberian’s fur regularly can reduce hairballs.

siberian cat - Yahoo! News Search Results
siberian cat - Yahoo! News Search Results

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