Mary Allen
The Siberian cat, also known as the Siberian forest cat, is a striking breed that loves to be cuddled just as much as it loves to be outdoors in nature. Learn all about the Siberian cat here.
Siberian cats are among the most popular pedigree cats among cat lovers. Here you will find the most important information about the Siberian cat.
Origin Of The Siberian Cat
The Siberian forest cat was created as a natural breed, i.e. without human intervention, in the former Soviet Union. There they fulfilled their purpose as mouse catchers and were well adapted to the harsh climate. They just existed, they worked, but they represented nothing special.
So-called “trail cats” then appeared in the former GDR around 1984: the workers returning from the construction of the Druzhba route, a more than 500 km long construction section of the Soyuz natural gas pipeline, took the pretty Siberian cats home to the GDR as souvenirs, where soon Cat breeders became aware of them. In the 1980s, the first Siberian cats finally came to West Germany via the GDR. Breeding quickly flourished. Today the breed is at home on all continents.
The Appearance Of The Siberian Cat
The Siberian cat is medium to large in size. At first glance, she resembles the Norwegian Forest Cat.
The Siberian cat has a muscular and very strong body that appears rectangular. Queens are usually smaller and lighter than males. The head of the Siberian cat is massive and gently rounded, the profile has a slight indentation. The medium-sized ears have rounded tips and are set wide. The oval eyes are large, wide, and slightly slanted.
Coat And Colors Of The Siberian Cat
This Siberian cat is one of the semi-longhair breeds. The coat is well developed and very dense and fluffy. The undercoat is not close-fitting and the top coat is water-repellent. In the winter coat, this breed has a clearly developed shirt chest and knickerbockers, the summer coat is significantly shorter.
With the Siberian cat, all coat colors are allowed except colourpoint, chocolate, cinnamon, lilac and fawn. With all color variants there is always a large proportion of white.
The Temperament Of The Siberian Cat
The Siberian cat is an inquisitive and spirited breed. Because she is playful and adaptable, she is also very suitable for families.
The feisty cat likes to be a part of its people’s lives and is interested in everything that is going on around them. In addition to daily stroking, the Siberian cat also needs its freedom, because it has a strong urge to move.
Husbandry And Care Of The Siberian Cat
Since the Siberian cat is very active, you should definitely give it enough space. The Siberian cat feels most comfortable in a home with a secured garden to let off steam, but a secured balcony or an outdoor enclosure also works.
As a pure indoor cat, this breed is rather less suitable. If so, then the apartment must definitely be furnished cat-friendly and the cat must always receive enough attention. Scratching and climbing opportunities are also necessary. The Siberian cat should not be kept as a solitary cat, but is very happy about conspecifics. A second cat is a must, especially if you keep your cat indoors.
For a cat breed with a long coat, the Siberian cat is relatively easy to care for, at least if the coat structure is correct and the environmental conditions are right. Normally, a thorough combing and care unit per week is sufficient.
If the cat gets wet outside or if the fur has the opportunity to become statically charged on blankets, carpets or similar, nodules will quickly form which will become felt if they are not removed quickly. Burrs in the dense fur should also be removed immediately before knots form. More frequent combing is called for when changing fur, otherwise the cat will swallow too much hair, which encourages the formation of hairballs.
Especially in the USA, the Siberian cat is considered an insider tip for allergy sufferers. However, this should be treated with caution, because even if the Siberian cat does not have an allergen in its saliva that often causes allergies, this does not mean that a certain person will not react allergically to it.