All About the Siberian Cat Breed
Siberians seem to possess a special knack for winning over those who steadfastly proclaim to be strictly “dog people.” Very agile and powerful, the Siberian cat can easily leap and reach high places, including the tops of refrigerators and even doors. So, what size are Siberian cats, usually? How much do they weigh?
Weight: 15 – 20 pounds | male
10 – 15 pounds | femaleHeight: about 13 inches
Keep in mind that this breed originated from a cold place – Russia. That explains its thick, rich medium-long coat that comes in just about every color of the rainbow.
The eyes are round, large and expressive – and usually gold or green hue, but they can also be blue.
The Siberian looms as the largest cat breed. A Siberian cat’s build is stocky and sturdy. They have large paws with tufts of fur poking out between each toe and the tail is blunt at the tip.
Siberians are slow but steady growers, not reaching their full stature for five years.
It is not uncommon for a fit male to weigh up to 25 pounds. In general, females weigh between 12 to 15 pounds and males weigh between 15 and 20 pounds.
Who Gets Along Best With Siberian Cats?
Families with children
Singles with other pets
First-time cat owners
Active households
What Are Siberian Cats Like to Live With?
Siberians seems to possess a special knack for winning over those who steadfastly proclaim to be strictly “dog people.”
Very agile and powerful, the Siberian can easily leap and reach high places, including top of refrigerators and even doors.
This is truly a gentle giant who enjoys the company of people and pets of various species. Mellow and quiet, the Siberian is very loving and devoted.
When resting in your lap, they love to chirp and purr their pure contentment. They are very quiet and tend to chirp and emit soft mews.
What to Know About Siberian Cats
The Siberian coat actually becomes thicker during winter, even living indoors. During fall and spring shedding seasons, you will need to brush the coat daily.
This is a very hardy breed that is not linked to any congenital health condition.
Many people allergic to most cats seem to be able to tolerate the Siberian without a single sniffle or sneeze. Some breeders contend that the Siberian possesses naturally low levels of the Fel d 1 protein identified to trigger allergic reactions.
Siberian Cat History
This breed has been in existence for at least 1,000 years and proudly serves as the national cat of Russia. Siberians were among the first breeds competing in early cat shows held in England in 1871.
The first Siberians arrived in the United States in 1990. Today, it is not uncommon to have waiting lists to adopt litters from this rare, but cherished breed.
The Siberian is ranked 23rd in popularity among the breeds listed by the Cat Fanciers Association and earned championship status in 2006.
Siberian Cat Breed
The majestic and impressive Siberian cat is the National Cat of Russia. The Siberian is a large long-haired cat.
Actually this is the second largest cat breed. Only the Maine Coon is larger than the Siberian cat.
The Siberian is perfect for chilly winters.
It has a three layer coat which will protect the cat from the cold temperatures.
The Siberian comes in all colors.
It has a very bushy tail and in many respects the appearance of the Siberian bears a resemblance to of that of the Norwegian Forest cat.
The Siberian is a strong athletic cat.
This cat despite its size is known to be one of the best jumpers of the domestic cat world.
The Siberian cats are talkative. They do enjoy the company of other likeminded cats and two Siberians cats will do better than one living alone.
They are loyal cats and love to play fetch-games. Many say they have a somewhat dog-like manner.
The Siberian Cat is Hypoallergenic
The Siberian cat may be great news for anyone suffering from cat allergy.
There is a high probability that people with cat allergy will not react to the Siberian cat. The Siberian is considered a hypoallergenic cat.
Many believe it is the hairs of the cat that cause allergic reactions. This is not true. What causes cat allergy is a protein known as FEL D1.
This protein is in the cat saliva, also in the skin glands and urine. When a cat grooms itself the fur gets covered with saliva. When the saliva dies up, small particles are scattered into the air.
When a person with allergy tendencies, breathe in the air they will react. The FEL D1 protein is known to be sticky. Getting rid of carpets can be one way to reduce the amount of FEL D1.
We all are aware of the high level of frequency a cat grooms and with that knowledge you can understand how often FEL D1 is airborne.
People with allergies are advised to test their reaction to the cat before bringing it into the home.
The level of FEL D1 does vary and there is no guarantee that anyone with cat allergy will endure the Siberian cat. Mixed breeds will produce higher levels of FEL D1.
Another cat breed which is known to produce less FEL D1 is the Abyssinian cat.
Siberian Cat History
The Siberian cat is an old natural cat breed of Northern Russia. It has been so common there that for years no one seemed to take special notice of this beautiful cat.
In Europe and the United States not very many people were familiar with the Siberian cat.
That all started to change when two Siberian cats found close to St. Petersburg were brought to Germany for breeding purposes. The two cats were named Tima (male) and Mussa (female).
In Russia they now started to take the Siberian cat seriously and treat it with the great respect it deserves.
A system for cat registry of the Siberian was put in place at the Kotofej Cat Club in St. Petersburg in 1987.
It is told that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev owned a Siberian cat named Dorofei, which got into such a fight with former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev’s cat next door that the story made it to the main stream news. You can read about the cat fight here.
In 1990 the Siberians cats came to the United States. They were first shown at the International Cat Show in New York in 1991.
Info from domesticcatworld.com