An old and noble breed, the Siberian cat has been
around for several hundred years. While today’s Siberian cats
are loving and affectionate, Russian stories once likened them
to huge beasties, capable of reaching weights of up to 45 pounds.
These giant felines were said to be as loyal and ferocious as
their canine counterparts, more than capable of guarding hearth,
home and human.
The history of the Siberian cat
While some people are inclined to believe that
the Siberian is a new breed, due to the small numbers of them
that are still available, this majestic feline has actually been
around for hundreds of years. Believed to be the descendants of
various Russian felines, many fanciers believe that the cats
came to be when Russian people, exiled to Siberia, brought their
feline companions with them. There, midst the bitter and
unforgiving temperatures of the Siberian winters, these cats
bred together and, in time, the individuals who survived all
bore the same type - larger and much heavier in build, these
winter-born cats all had a long, dense coat that granted them
protection from the elements and kept them dry throughout bad
weather. Eventually, these traits would all lend themselves to
the new breed and, through natural selection, the Siberian Cat
was born.
The number of Siberian cats that were owned were very low until
the 1980’s. Prior to this time, the former Soviet Union
strongly discouraged their people from keeping any kind of pet,
whatsoever, due to the shortages in both housing and food.
Owning a dog or cat became a status symbol and a show of wealth
for the upper class, so those Siberians who found themselves
kept by wealthy owners enjoyed the lap of luxury.
While there were no
official breed clubs or organizations, the Russians took great pride
in their beautiful feline friends and, when the restrictions on
house pets were lifted in 1987, the fanciers of this fantastic
feline were quick to create clubs and organizations that developed
standards for the beautiful Siberian Cat, and promoted him as a very
unique and special breed.
When the Cold War ended, the very first
Siberians made their way into the United States, originally traded
in exchange for Himalayan cats. It took many months that were
filled with delays and hidden expenses (not to mention the stress
and headaches) but, eventually, a woman by the name of Elizabeth
Terrell would become the proud owner of three Siberian kittens. She
would go to great lengths to obtain the Russian standard of
perfection for the breed, as well as promoting the breed and
ensuring it was accepted throughout North America. Today, the
Siberian is still a rare breed, but he continues to captivate and
enthrall his human friends, his numbers growing with each year.
The Siberian cat appearance
The Siberian Cat is a very large and
impressive-looking feline. Everything about this Russian cat’s
appearance was essential to his survival; his coat is heavy enough
to provide him adequate insulation in the winters. This included
sporting heavily furred ears that help to protect them from the
elements and the large tufted feet of the breed work as snow shoes,
allowing them to travel more easily in the deep snow and over ice.
All colors and patterns of Siberian cat are
allowed, both with and without white markings. They usually have copper or slightly rounded green eyes.
Siberian cat temperament
If you're looking for a great big
huggable, loveable, playful ball of fur, the Siberian Cat is an
excellent choice! Siberian cats are large, beautiful cats that are
as sweet, gentle, affectionate and playful as they are powerful.
Siberian cats have a muscular mid-section and longer hind legs,
making them powerful leapers (look out knick knacks!).
Siberian cats have a dense
coat and long, bushy tail which helped to keep them warm in
the cold climates from which they originated. Despite it's length, the
Siberian cat's coat requires minimal grooming as it does not
mat like other long-haired breeds. A Siberian kitten is a great
choice for the cat lover with allergies - as they do not
have FeLD protein in their saliva which creates dander, and
are hypoallergenic, or not an allergy problem to most
allergy sufferers. Siberian cats do require one important
regimen - daily hugs and kisses!
The Siberian Cat enjoys human
companionship, but is certainly not a breed that one would classify
as needy or overly dependent. While they enjoy being near their
humans and keeping an eye on things, they are not a breed to pester,
get underfoot, or spend much time crawling into your lap. Instead,
they prefer to “supervise” and ensure that the humans are taking
care of their required tasks in a timely and efficient manner. If a
Siberian graces you with her presence, she’s usually far more
comfortable to lay behind you on the chair or beside you on the
couch; while laps may look more comfortable, they don’t seem to be
her cup of tea. There are always some exceptions to the rule,
however, and many say that Siberians insist upon sleeping right on
top of or curled in against their human friends.
Generally speaking, most Siberian Cats get
along well with both children and other animals. If not properly
acclimated, however, one may be wary of introducing your Siberian
Cats into a same-sex cat household.
While the Siberian
Cat is not usually the one to start an argument, and generally seems
uninterested in fighting, he is usually the one to finish those that
start, simply by relying on his with his sheer size and body mass.
Acclimating any new animal into the house with other pets should be
done with lots of time, patience and understanding, and the Siberian
Cat is no exception.
Fortunately, the Siberian Cat is a very strong and agile jumper and
there is usually little risk of him knocking over the breakables up
high, once he‘s gotten the hang of it. Kittens tend to be far more
clumsy and seem to attack anything and everything with wild abandon.
Siberian cat grooming
requirements
The Siberian Cat
possesses a very dense, triple-layer coat, making a couple of weekly
brushings and comb-throughs a necessity, in order to prevent the
coat from matting. Fortunately, however, these cats are not prone to
shedding as much as their short-haired counterparts. If your cat
doesn’t approve of the combs and brushes, why not try a grooming
mitt, to keep your feline friend looking his best?
When grooming, also
pay particular attention to this fascinating feline’s ears,
carefully cleaning the outer shell with a Q-tip. It’s very important
to note, however, that the Q-tip should never be inserted into the
ear canal; not only is it very painful, but it can severely injure
your friend, causing deafness.
