Siberian cat: a calling card of Russia

basic information

Perhaps the most beautiful and vibrant Russian cat with a national character is the Siberian. These capricious furry treasures have long occupied a place of honor among all lovers of mustachioed and striped animals. But! Be careful! These cats are not so harmless and docile. Siberians can easily bring you half-dead birds from the balcony, or mice if you live in a country house. They are real hunters. Their scratchy paws can leave a single mark on a leg or arm if they are simply tired of playing with their owner, or they have not received their portion of attention for a long time. Yes, these cats are not for those who can just feed and clean the litter box!

Character of Siberian cats

The Siberian cat breed has a strong and independent character. These cats are well aware of their sense of dignity. They are quite affectionate and sensitive for their owner, to whom they get used to very quickly and for a long time. These cats can become good friends for people who will respect their animal.

The Siberian cat, the description of which also speaks about its character, recognizes only one owner, becoming strongly attached to him for life.

Because of their independence, cats can behave differently depending on their mood. They never adjust, and if they are in a bad mood, they are unlikely to allow themselves to be petted. At the same time, if the mood is good, the pet will happily purr on the owner’s lap. In general, the Siberian kitten has great mobility, it is playful and unpretentious.

Despite its large size, the Siberian cat is quite active and moves well, moving from place to place. Don't be surprised if your cat starts jumping from a high cabinet or from a chair to a sofa. She has excellent control of her body, and her large soft paws will soften her fall.

The Siberian cat, the description of which is presented in the article, is a real hunter. Moreover, cats use this perfectly preserved instinct whenever possible. This is especially useful if the cat lives in a private house. You can definitely forget about mice there. In rural conditions, the Siberian cat is also not averse to walking around the area. Her prey can be rodents and rabbits, which she will happily bring home to show off to her owner. This cat can even be used to greet guests. She will always warn the owners in advance that someone is behind the front door.

Non-aggressive, calm, but at the same time vindictive, dependent on mood. These cats rarely give their voice, preferring to convey their wishes with meaningful glances.

Cats have unsurpassed prudence. Often their appearance becomes especially proud. Compared to the bottom and top, pets will, of course, prefer height. Noisy games are one of the favorite activities that they (if they are in the mood) engage in with their children.

The Siberian kitten is a cute, wonderful pet for the whole family. He is so attractive that you can admire him endlessly. It is no coincidence that the Siberian cat, its photos are very popular on the Internet. The pet learns its name quickly, and, as a rule, there are no problems with this.

Estimation of breed characteristics

The breed belongs to the semi-long-haired cats. Their fur coat is warm, thick, and can withstand any frost. Fluffy tails are so aesthetically pleasing that it is impossible to take your eyes off them. Medium-sized ears, bright eyes and powerful paws create the image of a Russian cat, which is so popular here in Russia.

The characteristics as such can be seen below:

Brief description of the breed

The Siberian breed is a real asset and success of Russian cat lovers. Now these beautiful pets can be found both at international exhibitions and in private homes around the world.

It is with the Siberian cat that foreign cat lovers associate Russia. Distinctive features of Siberian seals are: thick fur - long and semi-long, powerful sinewy body, large and humanly intelligent eyes, stubborn character. This category of cats belongs to medium and large animals, the weight of a cat is about 6-12 kg, the weight of a cat is 5-7 kg.

Strong bones are also a distinctive feature of Siberian cats, with cats appearing somewhat larger than female cats. The large head of the animals is proportional to the body, their forehead is low, their chin is wide and slightly protruding. The nose is the most common, of medium length. The eyes have an oval-almond shape, and the gaze is thoughtful and direct (the shades of the eyes are varied: green, yellow, blue (with white coat color). Heterochromia is also found - different shades of the eyes. The ears are wide apart, medium, form an obtuse triangle and are rounded at tips, mostly with tassels. Neck - either short or medium length, sinewy. Siberians' paws are large, with thick, sometimes long hair growing between their toes. Tail - medium length, fluffy. Coat length - medium or long, quite dense, on the sides it is soft, on the neck around the head there is always a mane, a collar, and on the paws there are pants. The undercoat is well developed, which is shorter than the coat. In winter, Siberian cats look like royalty: their coat becomes emasculated thick, it shines and fluffs.

Siberian cat - description and standard

Siberians are a source of pride for Russian felinology. They are rightfully considered an indigenous breed of Russia and deserve to be recognized as its national treasure. The modern breed standard describes in detail not only all the main characteristics of a cat, but also its shortcomings, which is extremely important for responsible breeding work.

The Siberian cat is pure perfection and dignity

Appearance

The standard of the Siberian cat has cemented the brutal image of a strong and beautiful animal, which harmoniously combines the features of the legendary forest animal and the affectionate domestic purr. Heavy type, powerful bones, stocky, strong, rectangular body harmoniously combines with a large head and a wide, long, very fluffy tail.

Males of Siberians can be significantly larger than females. A massive, tightly built cat should weigh between five and ten kilograms, while a smaller cat should weigh between four and six kilograms. Moreover, animals with a weight in the upper limit are extremely rare. The stories about thirty-kilogram Siberians are, to put it mildly, untrue, tales for impressionable buyers.

The Siberian cat is usually much larger than a cat

The special pride of the Siberian cat is, of course, its fur . Shiny, long and thick, with hard topcoat, it should have a sufficient amount of soft undercoat. Siberians fully “dress” only towards the end of autumn, when they appear in all their glory before the admiring glances of their fans. In the warm season, cats “wear” a lightweight, but still very beautiful version of the fur coat.

A beautiful fur coat is the pride of a Siberian cat

It is difficult to even imagine another breed that, like the Siberian, would be rich in colors - the standard does not limit creative breeders in this at all, and the results of their creativity are absolutely amazing. The Siberian breed standard does not allow only three colors:

• point;
• Abyssinian;
• lilac.

Photo gallery: Siberian cat color palette

The tortoiseshell golden spotted color is highly valued among Siberian cats.

The “blue spotted with white” color pleases the eye with a chic light collar

The color “cream and white” has delicate shades of pastel undertones

The color “black” is the most mystical and mysterious

The “black smoke” color is especially beautiful when the animal is moving.

The color “bicolor white and blue” is simple, but so cute

The color “bicolor white and red” is very bright and elegant

The “black tortoiseshell” color is typical only for cats, in very rare cases - for sterile cats

The color “red marble” is popularly called red

The “blue” color turns even the cat’s nose a soft gray color.

The color “black marbled” is a very impressive traditional color of Siberians

The color “black brindle” is expressed in alternating black and light stripes

Video: Siberian cats in the village

Character and behavior

Siberian cats are full of dignity, they know their worth and will not tolerate familiarity. At the same time, they are unobtrusive and friendly, get along easily with small children, and are tolerant of other pets - but only if they unquestioningly recognize their leadership status.

By nature, these are typical sanguine people, but in a critical situation they can stand up for themselves to the fullest. Legends can be made about the fearlessness of Siberian cats - the animal does not forgive insults and will definitely defend its violated dignity. The offender will be punished, and his size does not matter at all - an angry Siberian is capable of putting a large dog, and even a person, to flight.

Despite their impressive size and rather menacing appearance, Siberians are distinguished by a calm, non-conflict disposition and can be very affectionate. The owner means a lot to representatives of this breed - they want to respect, understand him and constantly be near him. The cat constantly follows the person around the house, abandoning even its most urgent tasks for the sake of this. Their loyalty and devotion is amazing and touching.

It's better not to awaken the beast in this cute animal

Siberians have not lost the hunting instinct that is reliably laid down by nature and continue to catch mice very well, and in their absence they will not deny themselves the pleasure of hunting birds and other small game that comes into their field of vision. Some owners also talk about the watchdog qualities of their pets - indeed, there are Siberian cats that guard the territory entrusted to them no worse than dogs.

Video: Siberian cat - what the owner needs to know about the breed

History of the breed

There was no selection as such; rather, everything happened naturally. These beauties got their memorable predatory appearance due to the severe Siberian frosts, the abundance of snow, wind and difficult methods of obtaining food. Although, following other sources, the Siberian cat was bred by crossing forest cats and domestic cats. These cats are real hard workers; they are not lazy, submissive or modest. There is a mention of very similar animals in the Russian Empire of the 16th century, then they were called Bukhara. Most likely, Bukhara cats came to the lands of Siberia with Central Asian merchants, so perhaps the Persian and Siberian breeds have the same ancestors.

The attention of scientists, official recognition and world fame came to Siberian cats already in the 80s of the last century. In 1989, the breed was officially registered in the USSR, and already in 1992 its representative became the world champion according to the WCF version.

Read more about the history of the breed in this article

History of the formation of the Siberian cat breed

Initially, information about cats resembling the current Siberian breed in appearance appeared in the 16th century AD. At that time, these animals lived in large numbers in natural conditions throughout the Russian Empire.

And then they were called “Bukhara”. Scientists do not have exact information regarding how and at what time these creatures entered the territory of Siberia, since the majority of the people there led a nomadic lifestyle and were not involved in domesticating wild animals or keeping pets.

A version has been put forward that, perhaps, the Russian people who mastered Siberia, moving there to live, took kittens of the Siberian breed with them so that mice and rats would not breed in their new homes.

Another assumption is that Bukhara cats were brought by traders selling exotic goods from Central Asian countries. At that time, these merchants conducted brisk trade.

It may very well be that such breeds of fluffy beauties as Siberian, Persian and Angora had the same ancestors, who came to the territory of Russia along with the nomadic peoples who then arrived from Asian countries.

Over time, these cats settled throughout the vast expanses of Siberia. In difficult climatic conditions, when in winter there are severe frosts, snow piles and terrible winds, these representatives of the feline soon, as they moved north, acquired thick, rich hair and dense undercoat, which saved them from the severe cold.

The gene pool of wild cats that lived in these forests also made a significant contribution to the formation of the current Siberian breed.

Cats from Siberia quickly spread to the central and western parts of the Russian Empire. Meanwhile, the forest cats who lived there were penetrating there from Western Europe. The latter discovered an excellent food supply and suitable natural conditions in the new territory, as a result of which they began to rapidly multiply, interbreeding with individuals brought from the Siberian expanses.

Since 1987, specialists began to engage in targeted selection of the Siberian cat breed.

The original standard was formulated and signed in 1990 by the Soviet Federation of Felinologists. And a couple of years later, in 1992, the Siberian standard was formally established by the WCF association (International Association of Cat Fans).

And a couple of years later, in 1994, the standard of this breed was officially formalized in its final form. And gradually, until the end of the twentieth century, these cats were approved by such worldwide associations as TICA, CFA and FIFe.

These animals acquired their name not only according to their habitat, but also in honor of their significant dimensions, comparable to the vast Siberia.

Breed standard

The World Cat Federation (WCF) defines the following basic parameters of the Siberian cat breed standard:

• Total weight : from 6 to 12 kg, and the mass of cats significantly exceeds the mass of female cats.
• Height . The average height at the withers is:

for cats - 30 cm,

in cats - up to 40 cm.

It is worth considering that the parameters must correspond to the weight and age of the animal.

• Color . Almost anyone. The known colors of the Siberian cat are: white, blue, chinchilla, gray, cream, black, red.
• Life expectancy : from 15 to 20 years.
• Character . As for these pets, they are independent, fairly balanced, serious and wayward. Siberian cats often become attached to their owner, choosing only one person, whom they recognize as the main one. They can be intrusive in communication, they will be happy to greet you from work, and take affection and praise for granted. Siberians are always wary of strangers, but without fear. The protective instinct of representatives of this breed is highly developed.
• Intelligence . These cats are smart, have a good memory and are prone to learning, but only by mutual consent. It will not be possible to train a Siberian cat in the literal sense of the word - only Kuklachev can do this, but by doing this with cunning and tasty rewards, you can train your pet to bring small objects to the owner.

Hypoallergenicity of Siberian cats

The unique feature of this breed, which is that it does not cause allergies, has been studied for many years. Although there is still little scientific evidence, most owners and catteries assure that Siberian cats are harmless to people prone to allergies.

Females produce less Fel D1 protein, which leads to allergic symptoms, than males. So those who are susceptible to this disease should buy females of this breed.

Experts have found that the largest amounts of this substance are produced by individuals with a silver color. About 50% of Siberian cats have a lower level of this protein than other cats, and about 20% produce very little of it.

Color and coat

These cats differ both in color and behavior. For example, the gray-blue cat we are used to has a chinchilla blue color. But there are also red ones - bright peach color, black, tortoiseshell.

There are only two real intense solid colors - black (Solid Black) and red (Solid Red). Each of the even colors also has lightened variants: for black it is Solid Blue, for red it is Solid Cream. It is gray-blue and cream Siberian cats that are most widespread.

In the articles “Siberian Blue Cat” and “Siberian Forest” you can learn more about the two most common types of color.

As for the coat, these cats have a thick, special waterproof coat. The two-layer coat of the Siberian consists of hard and thick elongated guard hair and dense, well-developed undercoat, which is somewhat shorter than the guard hair. And this is naturally explained by the habitat of the animal and its ancestors. The breed is considered hypoallergenic, which is not often found among cats with long or semi-long hair.

Tortoiseshell colors

They are a specific, usually mosaic, combination of spots formed by an intense color in combination with red or a diluted shade in combination with cream. A Siberian cat or she-cat with a tortoiseshell color must be painted in colors that are harmoniously combined and presented in equal proportions, and areas of a red (cream) shade must not have any pattern elements. A Siberian cat with a similar color has orange or copper-colored eyes. Interestingly, only in rare cases can a cat have a tortoiseshell color, and for this he must be sterile.

This is explained by the fact that the domestic cat has two X chromosomes, therefore, the genes that determine color are presented in two types. Thanks to this, it becomes possible to have two different genes, one of which is responsible for the red color, the other for the black color. Their combination forms a tortoiseshell color. Since the gene responsible for this is located on the X chromosome (present only in cats) and is absent on the Y chromosome, the Siberian cat is deprived of this opportunity.

Thus, as such, there is no gene that guarantees tortoiseshell coloration, but rather a combination of chromosomes that is unique to cats.

Character of the breed

It is worth remembering the habits of the Siberian cat - she loves to be the center of attention, is quite capricious and highly active.

It is better not to take an adult cat into a home with a small child. It is possible that the pet will become jealous, and then the baby’s clothes may suffer from his actions.

Siberian cats are attractive because of their bright appearance, intelligence and sociability. But representatives of the breed have a complex character and hunting temperament, and their luxurious fur requires frequent grooming.

You can read the full character of the Siberian cat in the corresponding article.

History of the origin of the Siberian breed

The history of the origin of the Siberian cat lies in the distant past. The first mention of this breed dates back to the sixteenth century. However, back then cats of this breed were called “Bukhara”. It is known for sure that when the Siberian kitten came to the lands of Siberia, local residents did not dare to have pets, since they led a nomadic lifestyle and constantly moved from place to place. However, according to the existing and very probable assumption, there were cats in Siberia after all.

They were brought mainly to hunt rodents. According to another version, Bukhara beauties were brought to the land by foreign merchants. It is possible that the Siberian cat has common ancestors with the Angora and Persian breeds.

Quite a few years have passed. Pedigree breeding of this type of cat began only in 1987. The first standard was received already in 1990, and two years later it was officially registered. What else can be noted about representatives of this breed is that their name is associated not only with the place of probable origin, but also with size. Incredibly large, like open spaces. The Siberian cat, whose photo can be found on the Internet, has long become a favorite of many.

Peculiarities

In addition to the beauty of these pets, it is necessary to note their melodic voice. They are truly loyal to their owner or owner and enjoy being together or just spending time together.

However, not only the Siberian’s affection and devotion to his person is a striking feature, this cat retains its natural independence and will never be intrusive, which is important when the owner is in a hurry about his business. It's easy to ruin your relationship with your pet - you just need to show aggression or anger. Having high intelligence allows Siberians to understand human speech and sense the mood around them.

Maintenance and care

Until the moment when your decision to take home a new family member is realized, you need to take care of the cat’s comfort and buy essentials at the pet store, namely:

• House or bed . Consider the considerable size of an adult Siberian cat; the resting place must be appropriate.
• Bowls and bowls for food and water . You can first take a set for a kitten, but then you will have to change it to a larger one. It is more useful to buy heavy dishes, since it will be difficult for your pet not to tip them over, and, therefore, you will have to wash the floors in the traditional way.
• Grooming tools . Long-tooth comb, detangling brush, slicker (trimming tool), nail clippers.
• Toilet tray and litter . Consider where the cat litter box will be located; the pet should always have access to this room.
• Scratching post . You can make it yourself from a pipe or board wrapped in jute rope or sewn into denim.
• Toys . Yes Yes! Balls, balls, mice. Without this, your hunter will be very sad and bored.
• Collar and harness . This breed can and should be taken for walks. The Siberian cat is curious and can chase other animals, birds. Your pet should not walk alone on the street, and it is better to wear a collar with a tag with your contact information at all times. You can also think about an address book.

Carefully check your home again for “thin” places. Claws, itchy teeth, kitten jumping - all this will be testing a new habitat. Think, for example, you shouldn’t put the tray where you can get paper wallpaper.

Siberians adapt well to any conditions, but require special efforts to take care of themselves: you will have to devote a lot of time to their fur coat.

Pros and cons of the breed

The Siberian cat breed has some disadvantages:

• small paws;
• high cheekbones;
• fragile bones;
• short, elongated body;
• excessively furry, close-set ears;
• flat cheeks on a narrow muzzle;
• weakly defined chin;
• thin long legs;
• manifestation of character;
• increased activity;
• careful grooming.

These are the main disadvantages of Siberians, but they also have undeniable advantages. These are excellent rat-catchers. Beautiful and healthy, sociable and well trained. Siberian cats get along well with children and other domestic cats. They are quite loyal to their owner, friendly, unpretentious in food and can tolerate difficult living conditions.

What to feed

Siberian cats are a healthy breed and do not require special approaches to their diet. You can feed your pet both prepared food and natural food. It is important that the diet is balanced in terms of the microelements it contains, and that the portion size is appropriate for the age, size and physical activity of the animal. Usually, in good food, information on composition and dosage is contained on the packaging. Remember that undereating is just as bad as overeating. Puschistik should not be very thin or very fat.

All kittens, including Siberians, are fed four to five times a day, and after a year, two times is enough for a teenage cat. Until three years of age, protein foods should predominate, since the formation of the body is not yet complete.

It is not recommended to feed a Siberian cat exclusively with dry food, since modern representatives of the breed are not far removed from their hunter ancestors and need natural food. Dry food can be alternated with canned food and natural products.

Chicken, pork, and beef are given to cats either raw, scalded, or defrosted. There is no need to cook the meat. But the fish needs to be boiled. Once a week you can add an egg and low-fat fermented milk products to the food. To remove wool from the stomach, you can grow oats. It is a good idea to dilute natural food with vitamins and minerals on the recommendation of a veterinarian.

Read more about feeding the Siberian breed in this article

How to care for the breed

Siberians need regular:

• Combing – it is enough to carry out manipulations 2 times a week using a special brush made of natural bristles. Systematic brushing will prevent hair from entering the esophagus. Shedding in cats occurs in the autumn-spring period. During these days, it is recommended to brush daily.
• Trimming the transparent part of the claws with a special nail clipper. If you don’t want to cut your hair, you can buy a scratching post at the store and the problem of damaged furniture will be irrelevant.
• Bathing – several times a year using a special shampoo.
• Cleaning the ears with a cotton pad soaked in hydrogen peroxide.
• To cleanse the eyes , use a cotton pad soaked in water.

Feeding

Despite the abundance of cat food, it is advisable to provide your pet with a balanced diet based on natural products. It is very important to serve only fresh food. When creating a menu for your pet, you should include:

• low-fat fish;
• chicken fillet;
• turkey;
• beef;
• kidneys;
• hearts;
• ventricles;
• lungs;
• low-fat kefir and curd mass;
• low-fat sour cream;
• potato;
• vegetable oil;
• corn oil;
• oatmeal;
• semolina porridge;
• rice and buckwheat porridge.

Dairy food is usually served in the morning, and meat delicacies with porridge in the afternoon. To maintain immunity, you should regularly include vitamin and mineral supplements in your meals.

If, however, feeding your baby is based on food, then premium products . They include a sufficient amount of microelements and vitamin complexes.

No matter how strong love and affection for a pet is, it should not be shown through food. Considering the animal’s tendency to become overweight and its great desire to constantly chew something, you should carefully monitor the size of the portions eaten so as not to harm the Siberian.

Health

Thanks to the quality work of breeders, Siberian blue cats can boast of good health. However, if basic care rules are not followed, the animal may develop problems with the digestive system and respiratory organs. The life expectancy of cats is 18-20 years, which cannot but please their owners.

Health and illness

The non-interference of breeders in the natural origin of the breed has made Siberians almost invulnerable to disease. With proper care, timely prevention against parasites and annual vaccination, the Siberian cat lives over the specified 20 years. The first vaccinations for kittens are given at the age of two months. Repeated vaccination is carried out about three months, and then after a year.

Over the years, due to poor nutrition and the connivance of their owners, Siberians may develop problems with the cardiovascular system, urinary system and digestion. Some pets have an allergic reaction to pollen, certain materials, dust or certain products.

Health and Feeding of the Siberian cat

If you care for your pet competently, then it should not have any health problems. Moderate physical activity and good nutrition are the secret of a healthy and beautiful Siberian cat. Of course, don’t forget about brushing, cleaning ears and bathing. Quite rare, but still they are provided.

The Siberian cat, whose price is not high, is not just a pet, but a family friend. Affectionate and gentle, the cat knows its place and feels the mood of its owner. Keeping a cat is not expensive and does not require special knowledge. This pet is well suited for both families with children and single people. Loyal, the kitten will grow into an adult, but will continue to love its owner. They will spend many interesting moments together.

https://youtu.be/T5lBz8fqcVQ

Pregnancy

The first heat in a Siberian cat usually occurs about a year, but it is recommended to carry out the first mating only two or three heats after.

It is worth paying close attention to the diet of a pregnant cat. It should contain all the necessary microelements and as much protein as possible. It is necessary to understand that a pregnant cat cannot be as active; you need to play with it carefully during this period. The animal should get a good night's sleep.

Organize the right space - let the cat have more space and the opportunity to be alone.

The gestation period of a Siberian cat is just over two months. Often, labor occurs between 64 and 72 days.

If your animal's labor is prolonged, call a veterinarian immediately.

Siberian blue colors

The advantage of the Siberian breed is its many colors. There are more than 200 color variations of wool.

Solid

There are 2 solid colors of the Siberian cat:

• solid black – black;
• solid red - red.

Often there are individuals with the color solid blue - a variation of black with a blue tint, as well as solid cream - light red, fawn. Spots of other colors with a solid color are unacceptable.

Tabby

More often there are Siberian cats with a patterned color, for which the following are required:

• light spots around the eyes;
• chin white;
• "M" pattern on the forehead;
• longitudinal stripes on the back;
• ring-shaped striping of the limbs and tail;
• stripes in 2 or 3 rows on the neck;
• 2 rows of small spots on the belly.

The Siberian cat has the following spotted colors:

1. Brindle – striped. A wide stripe runs along the back, and narrow stripes go along the sides of the body.
2. Marbled - symmetrical spots on the sides of the body. There are 3 stripes along the back.
3. Spotted - round or oval spots of regular shape with clear edges cover the entire body. There are Siberian cats with black, blue and red spots. As well as a tortoiseshell variety - tri-colored.

Other

In addition to the above, the following colors of representatives of the Siberian breed are found:

1. Chinchilla is a rare color in which each hair is two-colored: most of it is light, and the tip is dark.
2. Smoky is a color in which the base of the hair is unpigmented and the tip is colored.
3. Silver – white undercoat, gray guard hairs and dark pattern.
4. Golden color with a pronounced pattern.
5. Color point - the muzzle, tail, ears and paws are darker in color than the rest of the body. Representatives of the Siberian breed with this color are called Neva masquerade cats.

Kittens

When choosing a Siberian cat kitten, you should not take the smallest or calmest kitten in the litter, this can be interpreted as a negative sign: due to health or exhaustion. The baby must be clean, well-fed, energetic and meet people without fear. The approximate color will be clear immediately, but will be fully formed later, becoming established by the age of two years. If you want to adopt a white kitten, make sure that his hearing is fine - congenital deafness is often found in white kittens, regardless of breed.

If your choice is an ordinary kitten, recognized as unsuitable for breeding, or you yourself are not ready to arrange your pet’s personal life, as well as remove unpleasant odors from the house, it is better to deliberately deprive him of reproductive function.

Another feature of the breed is its slow maturation. Your kitten will gain the bulk of its height and weight in its first year, but it will only become fully mature, with the appropriate character, psyche and behavior, by the age of three. Just imagine: a huge fool runs and jumps after you throughout the house. It is necessary to take this into account when educating and building a behavioral line.

How to choose a Siberian kitten

First of all, you should understand why you want to get a kitten of this breed. If you need a good companion or hunter, you should take a kitten whose parents do not have high titles. This way you won’t overpay for status.

But it’s better not to take a kitten without a confirmed pedigree and from your own hands. After all, then no one can guarantee you the purity of the breed and the absence of genetic defects. Do not forget that the character of the animal directly depends on the breed.

If you want to participate in exhibitions or in breeding, then you need to take a kitten with a good pedigree and a clearly defined breed exterior.

The price of a pet-class kitten (not for breeding) starts from 5,000 rubles , the cost of a breed and show class pet is higher and depends on the nursery. Color significantly affects how much a Siberian cat kitten costs. Gold, chinchilla and silver colors are valued above others.

Attention! Do not purchase animals from the poultry market.

Kittens for sale must be at least 3.5 months old , when they have already been weaned from their mother and vaccinated.

In addition to pedigree, pay attention to external qualities:

• A healthy kitten is cheerful and cheerful.
• The coat is shiny, and the eyes are clean and shiny.
• Ears, nose and anus are clean.
• The best option would be if not only you liked the kitten, but he liked you too.

Métis

The Siberian cat breed has no subspecies or varieties. But often there are mixed breeds or their descendants, cats that are one-quarter or three-quarters Siberian and have specific hunting traits. The most common Siberian mestizos, which have grown into a separate breed, are the Neva Masquerade cats. If for purebred Siberian cats this is one of the colors, then for Neva cats it is the breed standard, which breeders achieved by crossing mainly with Siamese breeds.

There are also mixed breeds from Siberians with Scottish Folds or Persian cats. The offspring often turn out beautiful, but such animals are not purebred. Such individuals often inherit genetic diseases and other disadvantages of both breeds from their parents.

Appearance

Siberian cat: description of the breed

A native of forests, the Siberian cat looks like a wild animal. Strong muscles, thick hair, tufts on the ears and paws are the characteristic features that distinguish this breed from the rest.

Korat cat

American Bobtail

American Highlander

Signs of purebred Siberians:

1. The head is trapezoidal, small, proportional to the body, with a massive neck at the base.
2. The body has a developed muscular system, the weight is large - from 4 to 12 kg.
3. The paws are large, strong, rounded, with hair between the toes.
4. The tail is voluminous at the base, tapering towards the end. The length of the tail is less than the size of the rest of the body.
5. The ears are medium-sized, set wide apart, rounded at the top and tufted at the tips. The inside of the ears is covered with fur.
6. The eyes are large, expressive, shades from light to brown. Eyes with green irises are especially valued by breeders.
7. The coat is long, thick, with a double undercoat, and has water-repellent properties. There is a collar of fur on the neck, which becomes invisible in the autumn-spring period due to molting.
8. The color of purebred Siberian cats cannot be lilac, spicy cinnamon, fawn. Standard colors are allowed, both plain and with ornaments.

It is believed that thick, long hair is the enemy of allergy sufferers. For Siberian cats the opposite is true; their luxurious hair is hypoallergenic. These animals do not develop mats of fur; the combing procedure is carried out only to remove excess hair.

A rich range of shades allows you to choose a pet to your liking.

Existing colors:

• Neva Masquerade - stands out for its color-point color and bright blue eyes;
• black brindle - with stripes on the back and belly, as well as with the classic letter “M” on the forehead;
• marbled - similar to brindle, distinguished by large circles on the sides and “butterflies” on the shoulders;
• black spotted - with clear black spots on the sides;
• striped - there are stripes on the tails and paws, but there are no stripes on the rest of the body;
• chinchilla - notable for its hair color: white at the base, black at the tips, the color is considered rare;
• smoky – there are several shades of smoke: black, blue, red; This color is also distinguished by a bright white undercoat;
• tortoiseshell – black and red color, eyes are usually dark yellow;
• silver – superficially colored, and the undercoat is completely white;
• golden – with a tint of beige-golden color.

Russian Blue cat: description of the breed

The Russian Blue cat is a short-haired cat. This species has an elegant grace and plush coat in silvery iridescent shades.

Breed parameters:

• average weight from 2 to 6 kg;
• height is short, up to 25 cm at the withers;
• color is solid blue-gray without spots or stripes;
• expressive, green eyes;
• nose and paw pads are plain, black;
• the ears are erect and pointed, with almost no hair inside;
• the tail is long, pointed;
• The main coat and undercoat are the same length; at the ends the coat is lighter and silvery.

Nurseries and breeders

There are many nurseries that purposefully breed this breed. They are easy to find in any major city in Russia and neighboring countries. The table shows the main ones known to us.