History of the breed

There are at least two versions regarding the origin of Siberian cats. There is an opinion that Siberians appeared as a result of mass crossings of some wild taiga cats with domestic cats. According to the second version, the distant ancestors of the Siberian cat came to these lands from the East along with numerous caravans of merchants who were forced to carry fighting cats with them in order to protect their property from hordes of mice and rats.

The Siberian cat has an impressive appearance

The “merchant” offspring remained in Siberia, and then the forces of natural selection came into play - in harsh natural conditions, a special psycho-phenotype of the Siberian cat was gradually formed, a truly unique animal in many of its qualities. Felinologists agree that the origin of the breed can be dated around the end of the sixteenth century.

For a long time these cats were called Bukhara, then for some reason Moscow, and only relatively recently did they receive their current name. They have repeatedly become heroes of Russian folk tales and literary works - for example, the well-known Scientist Cat from Alexander Pushkin is clearly of Siberian origin.

The black Siberian cat is a character in many fairy tales and mystical stories.

People's cat of Russia

One way or another, in large areas of the Urals and Trans-Urals a fairly large population of interesting animals developed, on the basis of which breed selection subsequently took place. From Siberia, charismatic cats began their victorious march across the Eurasian continent, and then across others.

Thanks to the consistent actions of enthusiasts and systematic breeding work, the Siberian cat has received well-deserved recognition throughout the world. At the end of the eighties of the last century, Moscow, Leningrad and Riga nurseries made a great contribution to the formation of the breed. In the Kotofey club in 1987, its first standard was created, which has since undergone some changes, and five years later the World Organization of Cat Fanciers included the breed in its official lists.

Siberian cats are well adapted to harsh climates

The popularity of Siberian cats among the people was incredibly high, especially given the recent shortage of all other cat breeds. Luxurious fluffy beauties walked proudly through courtyards and streets, delighted their owners, caught mice, gave birth to kittens “out of love,” and no one really thought about such concepts as the gene pool and purity of the breed. Although, perhaps, such democracy has benefited her - fresh blood is still pouring into the breed.

Interestingly, the breed remains open to this day. Any foundling phenotypically similar to a Siberian can receive a certificate of belonging to the breed - a registered pedigree - if it is awarded a club referral to an exhibition and earns at least two “excellent” ratings there. There are very real stories of cats picked up in a trash heap who became titled producers, and a cat of the same street origin named Mars even received the title of World Champion.

History of the breed

How the forest cat appeared in Siberia is practically unknown; there are only assumptions that they were brought by merchants from Bukhara. Other versions of their origin have been found untenable.

Smart animals, with the ability to destroy rodents, have taken root in the homes of Siberian residents. Adapting to the harsh conditions of Siberia, they gradually acquired long hair, and fur patches grew on their paws to protect them from frost.

Siberian handsome cats, huge in size, were chosen by merchants from the central regions of Russia. So, around the 16th century, Siberian cats found their way into big cities and villages, becoming palace residents and inhabitants of village huts.

At the end of the 20th century, surprisingly large cats attracted attention in the Russian philological community. The Siberian cat was registered as an independent breed only in 1987. A specific standard describing the characteristics of the Siberian cat as a breed was received in 1991 and was included in the lists of felinologists of the World Cat Federation. Finally, the Siberian cat breed received a standard, which was recognized by the TICA organization in 1996 and FIFe in 1997.

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

Colors of the Siberian breed

If a cat is all the same color, it means it is Solid or, as the English might say, Self. Among the color palette of Siberian cats, there are only two main solid (solid) colors - BLACK or “Solid Black” (when only densely distributed black pigment is present in the coat) and RED or “Solid Red” (when only densely distributed yellow pigment is present in the coat) , each of the main intense, even colors has a lightened analogue - blue or “Solid Blue” for black and cream or “Solid Cream” for red.

For all solid colors, the agouti gene is represented by the a (non agouti) allele. All animals of monochrome colors have a completely painted nose, each hair should be evenly painted from root to tip, while the animal looks monochromatic without the appearance of a residual pattern. Among the intensely colored solids (black and red), rich, bright colors are valued. In bleached animals, on the contrary, the lightest, most delicate shade is preferred. Disadvantages are uneven coloring, residual pattern (moiré) in adult animals (except red and cream)

Color designation: (n) Color description: The color is rich, coal black, evenly distributed from roots to tips, without pattern, without gray undercoat, without a brown tint and also without white hard hairs. The nose, edges of the eyelids and paw pads are black. In young animals, most often in kittens up to 6 months, the fur often has a grayish or brown tint, but after changing the child's coat to an adult coat, the animal's coat should become completely the color of a raven's wing. An exhibition animal of black color should not “sunbathe” in the sun, otherwise the fur coat may lose its show condition - or rather, it will acquire a faded brown tint. The appearance of a brown tint, just like the sun, can be provoked by frequent thorough licking, as well as increased humidity in the room.

Color designation: (a) Color description: All shades of blue from dark to light are recognized. The color should be the same tone on all parts of the animal’s body, without rusty shades, residual patterns or white hairs. Nose, paw pads: gray-blue. Shading is considered a disadvantage for the blue color, i.e. when the ends are colored more intensely than the rest of the hair. In kittens, the color is often uneven: the paws and back may be slightly darker, and a residual tabby pattern can be seen on the body. The color should even out after the first molt and become the same throughout the body as it was on the ears, paws, and tail of a newborn kitten. In adult animals, residual moire is considered a fault. As with black animals, sunbathing and high humidity can cause a rusty tint.

Color Identification: (d) Color Description: Dark red, warm, thick tone, uniform from root to tip, without light spots, different shades, patterns and ticking. Chin, lips, eye rims from cream to red. The letter M on the forehead, open rings on the paws, dark pigment spots on the nose and lips, as well as darker whiskers are allowed. Nose and paw pads: pink or brick red. Among solid colors, high-quality red is the rarest. It can be very difficult, and often almost impossible, to distinguish a red solid from a red tabby by phenotype, because Red solids have a more or less intense residual tabby pattern, despite the presence of the a (non agouti) allele. It is very difficult to get rid of the tabby pattern on red; the less undercoat, the brighter the pattern becomes. Genetic tests or an experiment with mating to a monochromatic partner will help check a cat for monochromaticity, and if the cat is really red solid, there should be no patterned kittens in the litter. Red Siberians, unlike many other colors, often have dark orange eyes, which for other colors many experts have already begun to consider as an undesirable sign.

Color designation: (f) Color description: The color is soft, pastel tones from light cream to medium cream, but not a “hot cream” color. The color is uniform, evenly colored from roots to tips. Without bleached undercoat, without spots, residual patterns and isolated white coarse hairs. The nose and paw pads are pink.

Now let’s take a single-color red color and “superpose” it on a solid black... We’ll get a black-and-red tortoiseshell color (or simply TORTIE). When the clarifier acts on both components (both black and red), we’ll get a blue-cream tortoiseshell color. Designation of colors: (f) – black tortoiseshell, (g) – blue tortoiseshell Description of color: Tortoiseshell color consists of black and red spots evenly distributed throughout the body; even a few hairs can be considered a spot. Usually only cats have tortoiseshell coloring, but there are exceptions to the rule when tortoiseshell cats are born. It is believed that genetically tortoiseshell cats are sterile (that is, they are not capable of producing offspring). Paw pads, nose: for black turtles - black or brown, can be spotted pink. For blue turtles - blue or spotted with pink. The requirements for turtles are exactly the same as for the rest of the group of solid colors: uniform coloring, brightness, saturation for intense black turtles and soft tones for blue-cream turtles, no residual pattern. It is considered correct when red or cream spots are present on the limbs and ears, as well as the presence of a so-called “tongue of flame” on the head or forehead.

In the genotype of patterned cats, the “agouti” gene is represented by allele A – agouti. What is agouti? Agouti is hair coloring in zones. Those. This is an alternate arrangement of black and yellow pigment (dark and light areas) on the hair, usually 3-4 stripes along the entire length. This is the so-called WILD color. In addition to the zonal coloring of the hair, one or another pattern appears on the animal’s body. Note that the T gene (responsible for the pattern) is always present in the animal’s genotype in one form or another.

But it appears only against the background of dominant A-agouti. In total, there are 3 varieties of tabby color in the Siberian breed. All three are characterized by the following characteristics: the nose and eyelids are the color of the dark color zone, while the nasal mirror itself can be from pink to brick. The chin is usually very lightened, almost white. On the forehead there must be a pattern in the form of the “letter M”, spirals on the cheekbones at the outer corner of the eye, a dark stripe along the ridge (or 3 stripes, wide in the middle and one narrower strip parallel to it on each side) to the tip of the tail, dark rings on the tail, the tip of the tail is also dark, closed rings on the paws, 2-3 “necklaces” on the neck, as well as 2 rows of buttons (dark spots) on the tummy.

The main advantage of tabby colors is the clarity and correctness of the pattern. The disadvantages are: vagueness, discontinuity of the stripes, their “tearing”, asymmetry or openness of spirals, necklaces or rings.

• Classic Tabby / MARBLE SIB 22Vertical stripes along the back of the head continue to the shoulders, forming a butterfly wing pattern on the shoulder blades and closed spirals on the sides. There are three stripes along the ridge - a thick stripe in the middle and thinner ones parallel to the thick one. The pattern on the sides should be the same on both sides.
• BRIGNE or Mackerel SIB 23 The pattern consists of alternating transverse dark and light stripes on the sides.
• SPOTTED or Spotted SIB 24 This color is characterized by clear dark spots on the sides that are round in shape. It is desirable that these spots do not lie in one line and do not form a “broken” tiger or marble pattern.

There are:

1. Black Tabby
   Black Marble (n 22)
2. Black Brindle (n 23)
3. Black Spotted (n 24)
4. Blue Tabby
   Blue Marble (a 22)
5. Blue Tiger (a 23)
6. Blue Spotted (a 24)
7. Red Tabby
   Red Marble (d 22)
8. Red Tiger (d 23)
9. Red Spotted (d 24)
10. Cream Tabby
    Cream Marble (e 22)
11. Cream brindle (e 23)
12. Cream Spotted (e 24)
13. Tortoiseshell Tabby
    Tortoiseshell Marble (f 22)
14. Tortoiseshell Tiger (f 23)
15. Tortoiseshell Spotted (f 24)
16. Blue-Cream Tabby
    Blue Cream Marble (g 22)
17. Blue-Cream Tiger (g 23)
18. Blue Cream Spotted (g 24)

In such animals, each hair is not completely colored; only a certain part of it from the tip is colored. The roots have no pigmentation at all and remain pure white. This “final” hair coloring is usually called “typing”.

1. SMOKY COLOR This is NOT an agouti color, so a smoky animal should not have a residual pattern on its body, and it should also have a completely painted nose. True, quite often smoky animals suffer from residual “moiré”. With a smoky color, the tipping is deep, up to 2/3 of the hair length. Therefore, the animal in a calm state looks evenly colored, but when moving or when you part the fur, the white base of the hair becomes clearly visible. If the smoky color has poor contrast, it can be confused with a monochrome (solid) color; in this situation, checking for the presence of contrast on the animal’s head and on the lower part of the paws will help. You can find:
   Black Smoke (ns)
2. Blue Smoke (as)
3. Red Smoke (ds)
4. Cream Smoke (es)
5. Turtle Smoke (fs)
6. Blue Cream Smoke (gs)
7. SILVER TABBIES The colors of animals in this group of agouti coat colors have a white base and a painted tip, the difference between smokes and silver is only that the silver colors are patterned. There are:
   Black Silver Tabby (marble/tiger/spot)
8. Blue Silver Tabby (merle/tiger/spot)
9. Red Silver Tabby (merle/tiger/spot)
10. Cream Silver Tabby (merle/tiger/spot)
11. Tortoiseshell Silver Tabby (merle/tiger/spot)
12. Blue Cream Silver Tabby (marble/tiger/spot)

The main sign of a golden color: from 1/2 (golden tabbies) to 2/3 (golden shaded) or 7/8 (chinchillas) of each hair is colored apricot. Shades of this tone in different parts of the cat’s body should under no circumstances turn into grayish colors. The eyes of golden animals should be green. There are several hypotheses about the formation of golden colors, but none have yet been confirmed. The search for the genes responsible for such an attractive color continues. Black golden tabby: the background, as well as the chin and lips are apricot in color, without gray tones or shades in the root zone. The design is deep black. The edges of the eyelids, the edging of the nose, and the pads of the paws are black.

• Black Golden Marble (ny 22)
• Black Golden Brindle (ny 23)
• Black Golden Spotted (ny 24)

White color is very rare and beautiful. In Siberians, the white color genetically can be of several types:

1. Dominant white: This color is caused by the action of the dominant gene for white color W. Under its influence, the real color of the animal does not have the opportunity to express itself (i.e., a cat can genetically be of any known color - black, red, and tortoiseshell, but the white “mask” " this will hide. Determining what color a cat really is can be done in only two ways: gentest or mating.
2. Foreigh White: These animals differ from animals of the W (Dominant White) color only by the presence in the genotype of a homozygous allele of the colorpoint (Siamese) color gene. These animals have blue eyes, which, unfortunately, in many cases is associated with a hearing defect - deafness.
3. White albino: This color is obtained when the allele of the c gene is homozygous. These animals, in principle, do not have any pigmentation, either in the fur or in the iris of the eyes. This is why their eyes have a pinkish tint.
4. Albino Siamese: These animals do not have points. And the eyes have a watery blue tint.

The requirements for solid white animals are similar to the requirements for solid colors: the coat must be uniformly bright white throughout the body without overcolors, shades or colored spots. Young animals usually have small colored spots that disappear with age

At cat shows, among Siberians you can find very spectacular animals, whose colors are complicated by the presence of white spots. The white spot can consist of several hairs or occupy almost the entire surface of the animal’s body, while the colored areas are reduced to a few hairs. Colors with white can be divided into 4 main types, which are characterized by a certain ratio of white and “colored” parts:

1. Nonspecific White Spot (09) Typically appears as small (one or more) white spots or a few hairs on the cat's neck, chest, or belly.
2. Bicolor (03) This is a color in which from 1/3 to 2/3 of the surface of the animal’s body should be white. The ideal option is when the white goes like this: a triangle on the muzzle from the bridge of the nose down, a white chest. The collar, the entire lower surface of the body, the tummy and the inside of the paws. The head, shoulders, back, sides and tail are painted.
3. Harlequin (02) White occupies from 2/3 to 5/6 of the body surface. Colored spots are located on the head, shoulders, back, and thighs. The tail is completely colored.
4. Van(01) The cat is almost all white, there should be 2 colored spots on the head behind the ears, separated by a white stripe, the ears remain white, plus a colored tail.

Neva Masquerade is a Siberian cat of Color Point (Siamese) color. Under the influence of the albino series gene, different intensity of coloration of areas of the cat’s body occurs. The most “cold” ones get more intense coloring, i.e. parts of the body distant from the center: paws, tail and ears; a dark mask appears on the muzzle. The rest of the body should be an ivory shade, i.e. light beige. Since such masked cats were first bred in St. Petersburg, which, as everyone knows, is located on the Neva River, these varieties of Siberian colors began to be called “Neva Masquerade”. The color requirements are as follows: the boundaries between the colored limbs and the body must be clearly visible. A light body and contrasting limbs, without darkening, are welcome, as well as a bright, rich blue or dark blue eye color. Although it has been noted that usually in bleached colors the eye color is also lightened.

1. Seal Point (n 33) With black or dark brown points, nose and paw pads dark brown.
2. Blue Point (a 33) With blue-gray markings, paw pads and nose are blue-gray.
3. Red Point (d 33) Points range in color from bright red to exquisite orange, with nose and paw pads ranging from light pink to coral.
4. Cream point (e 33) Points of a pastel cream shade, nose and paw pads from light pink to coral color.
5. Seal Torty Point (f 33) Points with dark brown and red spots, preferably a “flame” of red or cream color on the face, as for traditional tortoiseshell colors. The nose and paw pads are dark brown, pink or brown with pink spots.
6. Blue Torty Point (e 33) Points with spots - blue and cream. The mask has a “flame” cream color. The nose and paw pads are pink or blue-gray or blue-gray with pink spots.

Buying a kitten

Choosing a kitten is a responsible step, because you are purchasing not just an animal, but a new family member who will become your faithful friend for the next two decades.

A Siberian pet will definitely become a member of your family, so you should take its choice seriously

Some tips:

1. Prepare theoretically in advance: try to learn as much as possible about the characteristics of the Siberian breed and the rules for its maintenance.
2. “Try on” the cat to your home conditions: think about where he will eat, sleep, go to the toilet, and play.
3. Be sure to come to a consensus with all your family on the issue of purchasing a cat - the animal will feel comfortable if it does not bother anyone.
4. In a timely manner, select everything necessary for the kitten: bowls for food and water, a tray, a scratching post, combs and toys, stock up on food.

And of course, the most important thing is to decide what kind of kitten, where and why you want to buy. As has already been said, there is nothing wrong with even bringing a cat into your home from the street, much less buying it at a bird market or borrowing it from friends. There are a lot of options - but none of them guarantee that a miracle will happen and thus a truly purebred animal will appear in your home. There is little chance that it will be at least healthy and with a stable nervous system.

A kitten from the street or from friends may differ from the breed standards, even if it looks very similar to a Siberian

How to choose

If you want guarantees, choose a reliable breeder first, and only then a kitten. The choice of nurseries that breed the Siberian breed today is quite large, and they all value their reputation. They will help you choose a child based on his expected prospects and your ambitions.

Remember that a show-class animal can cost several times more than just a pet, which will delight you no less. But if you plan to participate in exhibitions and breeding, then it is better to purchase an older kitten - its qualities can be assessed more accurately. In all other cases, you need to choose a baby no younger than two and a half months - by this age he must be vaccinated and accustomed to at least the basic rules of independent living in a new home.

Do not buy a kitten that is too small - let him grow up a little next to his mother, who will teach the basic rules of cat behavior in the house

If possible, talk to the baby's parents - their appearance and behavior can outline the characteristics of the pet you choose. Listen to the breeder's recommendations - this will help you properly raise a healthy and beautiful animal.

Keeping a pet

Large and heavy Siberian cats belong to breeds of late maturation and finally complete it only at the age of five, when both males and females acquire mature forms - they mature and acquire muscle mass. Although by the age of three the animal is considered to be fully developed physically - which, however, is also not too early.

Only by the age of five will your cat fully mature and acquire the full appearance of the Siberian breed

These important factors must be taken into account when keeping animals of this breed, thinking over their diet and regulating physical activity.

Feeding

Breeding nurseries recommend high-quality ready-made food as the basis for the nutrition of Siberian cats - this way, a balanced menu is guaranteed. This is important, if only for the reason that Siberian women are prone to overeating, and too high-calorie food in combination with physical inactivity can provoke diseases of the digestive system and cardiovascular system.

But many owners still prefer to feed their pets natural food, especially since representatives of this breed love to eat not only a lot, but also delicious food. It is necessary to remember that Siberian cats, as well as all other cats, are strictly contraindicated from eating food from the master’s table. Their usual diet should consist of three-quarters of animal protein: raw meat, poultry and fish (preferably boiled). As an addition to the main menu, you can give fermented milk products, quail eggs (1-2 pieces per week), a small amount of cereals and vegetables.

Keep in mind that your Siberian pet needs its own diet

Sweets, legumes, pasta, potatoes, and baked goods should not be given to cats, as well as fatty, spicy, fried, and pickled foods. Do not experiment with the health of your pet - feed it correctly, twice a day, and in no case overfeed it. A three-month-old kitten should eat five times a day; as it grows, the number of feedings decreases, and single portions increase.

Hygiene and grooming

The abundance and thickness of the coat determine the need for careful care, which, however, is much simpler than that of the Persian breed. The beautiful coat of a Siberian cat should be combed from root to tip at least twice a week, paying special attention to areas with soft hair where there is a high risk of tangles. During the shedding period, brushing with a furminator should be made a daily procedure - otherwise all surfaces in your home and your clothes will be covered with a layer of cat fluff.

It is necessary to comb your Siberian twice a week or more often.

It is not recommended to resort to such radical methods as cutting and shaving, even if your cat does not participate in exhibitions. Drastic grooming will inevitably ruin the structure of the coat, and it will be extremely difficult to restore it.

With the correct structure, the fur of a Siberian cat has the property of self-cleaning, so there is no need to bathe the animal too often - only when it gets dirty. Any shampoo for long-haired cats is suitable for bathing. It is better not to leave the wool wet; you need to dry it with a hairdryer while combing it with a slicker. The Siberian breed is not afraid of the cold, but does not tolerate drafts at all.

If you don't comb your cat, you'll have to cut it.

Like any cat, regular care of the ears, eyes and claws is important for the Siberian. In order to prevent inflammatory diseases, the ears must be wiped weekly with special products or at least a small amount of boiled vegetable oil. Just don’t get carried away with this and don’t try to clean the ear canal too deeply - this can only cause harm. It is enough to wipe the eyes from time to time with a damp cotton swab.

The claws of Siberian cats are usually not trimmed - they renew themselves quite well. But it won’t hurt to accustom your animal to a good scratching post in a timely manner.

Physical exercise

The well-developed muscles of the Siberian cat must be constantly maintained in proper shape. Despite some external clumsiness, these animals are very mobile and, if they have the opportunity to walk in nature, they provide themselves with the necessary physical activity: they happily climb trees and roofs, and on occasion they will not refuse to swim or take part in a “safari” of anything that moves.

A cat that walks by itself will always be in good physical shape.

When kept indoors, the cat's dynamics, unfortunately, are limited to games - by the way, Siberians prefer balls to all other toys and can even learn to fetch them. But play “physical education” is not enough for normal muscle condition, so if you care about your cat’s health, provide her with regular exercise. This will also benefit your home, where the amount of destruction will immediately noticeably decrease.

You need to start training your kitten early to walk on a harness.

Be sure to walk your cat on a harness and leash. Free walking is not for a Siberian - she will almost certainly spot an enemy, victim or prey on the street and set off in pursuit, and then you will have to catch or even look for your pet for a very long time.

Video: caring for the “Siberian”

Character of Siberian cats

Siberians are freedom-loving and independent, smart and cheerful. They are active, love to play, and will find entertainment even when the owner is not at home. They are quite calm, but cannot be called phlegmatic. A strong physique and powerful limbs give Siberian cats special strength; they can stand up for themselves, and never show aggression unless teased.

They get along well with both adults and children, and behave peacefully and reservedly towards other pets. It can be immediately noted that Siberian cats are very loyal. They are ready to follow their owner everywhere. They are also always very active. By nature, Siberian cats are hunters and therefore this quality is manifested in all habits. That is why it is necessary to purchase toy mice and other accessories from the very beginning so that the animal can sufficiently exercise its muscles.

Siberians have a well-developed hunting instinct; if they live outside the city or in a private house, they will bring “trophies” to their owner in the form of rodents or birds.

They are excellent high jumpers, and closets and shelves are sure to be among their favorite places. It is noteworthy that Siberians are able, like dogs during play, to run after a thrown small ball or toy and return to the owner with the found object in their teeth.

The extraordinary intelligence of the Siberian breed makes it the heroine of truly amazing cases. One Siberian cat knew how to skillfully and very carefully open the lids of pots with delicious food, eat the delicacy with his friends, and then return the lids to their original place so that no one could notice that something was wrong.

Another representative of this breed helped her owner when she gave an injection to another pet - a Persian cat: she held her companion by the withers. Siberians can also masterfully use the toilet and proudly demonstrate their hunting successes.

Siberians are independent and freedom-loving animals. They will not cause inconvenience to their owners with bad behavior or the need for labor-intensive care. And cats will give boundless love and devotion to a person who respects their personal space.

They know how to be kind, affectionate, and are absolutely not vindictive. You also need to understand that such an animal is still more favorable towards one of the family members and is constantly waiting for him. But this does not mean hostility towards others - the Siberian cat will be an excellent option for families with small children.

Siberian cats are also distinguished by their sharp minds. They are able to pick up even the slightest fluctuations in the owner’s mood, are excellent at navigating the terrain, and are accustomed to order. You can safely leave your cat at home and be sure that everything is fine. Although cats with a Siberian character love attention and care from the owner, it is very important to know when to stop. They will not appreciate excessive guardianship and therefore such manifestations will be perceived negatively.

Breed defects

Despite its long history, the Siberian cat breed has not yet been fully formed. Sometimes genes can develop in such a way that the offspring will have problems with both phenotype and health. If in the first case the defects are regarded as a breed defect and do not at all interfere with the normal life of the cat, then hereditary diseases should be a signal to the breeder that it is advisable not to allow this line of sires into breeding.

Major diseases

The peculiarities of the formation of the breed generally had a positive effect on the health of its representatives. Having gone through a long stage of natural selection in the harsh climatic conditions of Siberia, these cats have learned to perfectly resist many diseases. The famous Siberian health is fully inherent in them, which is one of the undoubted advantages of this breed. If well maintained, a Siberian can live twenty years or even more.

Typically, Siberian cats have good health, but pathologies are possible

Among the hereditary diseases to which these animals are predisposed is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a severe but fortunately rare heart disease that usually ends in death.

Siberian cats by nature are textured, powerful animals; A strong, well-formed bone structure is especially important for them. Improper cultivation, regular overeating and lack of sufficient exercise can lead to the development of musculoskeletal problems. Like all heavy individuals, Siberians have risks of dysplasia and other joint diseases, especially in old age.

In recent years, such illnesses have been provoked by unscrupulous breeding work. Some, by hook or by crook, try to get overly large animals that look impressive and are expensive. Unfortunately, few people realize that high-quality cultivation of such giants is not only very difficult and expensive, but is also fraught with many health problems.

Pedigree marriage and disadvantages

A disadvantage of the breed is considered to be a straight profile - ideally, the transition on the muzzle from forehead to nose should be very smooth. The massive rounded head of the Siberian cat is generally the subject of close and meticulous attention of experts who, acting in accordance with the standard, can find a number of disadvantages here:

• too short or, conversely, long lightweight muzzle;
• flat cheeks;
• high cheekbones;
• weak chin;
• small, round or deep-set eyes;
• large or small, incorrectly set or too furry ears.

Breed defects are “written” on the cat’s face

Also a serious drawback can be considered a square or overly stretched body format, its lightness and grace. Elegance and grace - this is definitely not what is said about the Siberian. He walks, leaning heavily on his strong paws, which should not be thin or high. Special requirements apply to the tail: the more luxurious it is, the better. A bald or short, expressionless tail is a definite breed defect and a personal disgrace for a Siberian cat.

Care and maintenance

Caring for a Siberian cat is very simple if it is kept in a private house in nature. In such conditions, the pet lives at ease and takes care of itself. When living in an apartment, long-haired pets need to be brushed regularly once a week. During shedding in spring and autumn, you need to remove dead hair daily. The entire procedure for caring for and maintaining a pet comes down to traditional simple manipulations:

1. With regular brushing from a very early age, the animal gets used to it, and the kitten may even like it. The fur of Siberians has the property of not matting or matting, so painful sensations when combing can be avoided. To do this, purchase a wide flat brush with a double-sided purpose, a comb with rare teeth, it is best to use a furminator.
2. While still in the nursery, the kitten quickly learns to use the litter box. The container should be wide and deep, because Siberians grow to enormous sizes. To prevent the filler from clinging to long hair and fluffy paws, it must be large and hard, and most importantly, clean.
3. You should not bathe your cat, only after a walk wash and dry its paws and wash its organs. The only exception when special care is required for a Siberian cat is when walking outside; you need to wash your paws after each walk. To wash and eliminate cat odor, use a special dry cleaning powder.
4. For domestic cats, the hair between the toes is trimmed to make it easier to keep their paws clean.
5. Regular use of malt paste will help remove hair (trichobezoars) from the stomach, which accumulates during licking.
6. Once a month, clean the ears from dirt and wax with sanitary sticks carefully moistened in an antiseptic solution without alcohol and clean the eyes with a damp cloth if there is discharge.
7. Siberian cats do not have their claws cut; it is enough to have a scratching post. To provide your pet with a comfortable place to play and relax, purchase a multi-level complex with a scratching post.
8. For summer walks, the wool is treated with special products against fleas and ticks, and a collar impregnated with parasites is worn.

Siberian cats video

Important! For people suffering from allergy attacks, it is advisable to check the reaction to the allergen from fur and sweat before purchasing a Siberian cat.

Diet

Feeding Siberians at home is not difficult. They are descendants of animals raised in nature and prefer simple, varied food. Breeders and veterinarians advise feeding your pets using home-cooked food from a varied selection of natural products. Which should include:

1. Lean meats and poultry, rabbit, pork should be excluded. The products are frozen, chopped and given to animals at the rate of 70 - 100 grams per day.
2. By-products from poultry and meat such as: heart, stomachs, udder, liver, tripe are boiled, ground and normally 70 - 100 grams per day alternated with meat.

3. Important! Liver is offered to light-colored cats only twice a month.

4. 4. Low-fat cod fish (hake, cod, pollock) are boiled and boneless in the amount of 50 grams twice a week.
5. Chicken quail eggs are boiled and mixed with meat along with the yolk 1-2 times a month.
6. Be sure to give fermented milk products 2-3 times a week: sour cream, kefir, cottage cheese, exclude whole milk.
7. Porridges from various cereals in water, including beans, peas and lentils boiled to a puree consistency, add 50 g to the meat.
8. Boiled or chopped raw vegetables and herbs are added at least 1-2 times a week.
9. Place a large bowl of clean bottled water next to your pet's food.

Important! Be sure to add a vitamin complex to your food daily on the advice of your veterinarian.

When feeding your pet, follow simple rules:

• food at room temperature is given at the same time in one familiar place, the dishes are kept clean;
• feed an adult cat 2 times a day;
• the volume of food should correspond to approximately 30–60 g per 1 kg of cat weight;
• The food composition must contain at least 60% proteins, 30% carbohydrates and 10% fats; this is a sufficient amount of nutrients, plus vitamins and minerals.

If necessary, a Siberian cat can be switched to ready-made factory food. But it is selected according to the age and physiological state of the pet. Food must be premium and super-premium.

Health and diseases

The Siberian cat breed has good health; the descendants of those raised in the natural conditions of the harsh climate of Siberia, they do not have a predisposition to colds and genetic diseases.

For their development and growth, the main thing is to maintain a proper balanced diet and maintain minimal care and maintenance. With timely vaccination and helminth prevention, there are no major threats to the health of Siberians.

In cats, hair can get into the intestines.

Problems usually come with age:

• with the gastrointestinal tract, caused by poor digestion;
• with heart disease, shortness of breath, slowness, lethargy, and cough appear;
• Urolithiasis often leads to kidney failure.

Important! When the first symptoms of disease appear, it is recommended to seek advice and treatment from a veterinarian.

How many years do Siberian cats live?

Large and well-developed cats of the Siberian breed have fairly good immunity, inherited from their ancestors who lived in the harsh taiga climate. Kittens mature up to 5 years old, but in general the breed is considered to be long-lived compared to other cats.

The average lifespan of a Siberian cat can reach 17-20 years, but with proper care and a balanced diet they can live 20-25 years. This is explained by the lack of hereditary, genetic predisposition to certain diseases.

Important! The life expectancy of a Siberian cat is well influenced by care for the psycho-emotional state of the pet and the attention of the owner and family. They show love, affection, and involve the pet in active joint games.

Breeding work

The global popularity of the Siberian cat is growing, and breeding nurseries, engaged in breeding, are moving towards improving the breed. The so-called traditional colors and the Neva masquerade cat (Siberian colorpoint) have recently become the most popular - many breeders specialize in these varieties of Siberians.

Neva Masquerade - the fruit of love between Siberian and Siamese cats

The Neva Masquerade cat is a young independent breed created on the basis of the Siberian cat; it combines all six varieties of point colors, which are unacceptable according to the Siberian breed standard. Initially, these blue-eyed fluffy cats appeared as a result of the hybridization of Siberian and Siamese breeds, but in many respects they are still classified as Siberians.

Breeding Features

Siberian cats are endowed with very strong genetics and an amazing ability to reproduce. They are prolific - one litter can have from five to ten kittens, which almost never happens in other breeds. Male Siberians do not lose their reproductive qualities until they are eleven or twelve years old, and females do not lose their reproductive qualities until they are eighteen years old. Of course, at this age, owners should not allow offspring to appear - this is too difficult for an elderly animal.

Siberian cats retain reproductive abilities into old age

The selection of healthy sires with good heredity plays a primary role in breeding work. In addition, for breeding Siberian cats it is very important to navigate the genetics of colors, which are so richly represented in this breed.

Table: possible colors of Siberian kittens in the litter

The genetics of colors are not random accidents

In what cases is sterilization necessary?

The main argument for sterilizing an animal can only be medical indications when it comes to its health or even life. Also, sterilization or castration may become a condition of the breeder when selling a kitten, which he does not consider possible to allow for breeding. It is also impossible to obtain offspring from overly aggressive animals - in such cases, sterilization usually reduces the level of hostility.

All other situations must be carefully analyzed to determine the advisability of the operation - surgery is performed under general anesthesia and can be fraught with serious complications.

Siberian color point or Neva Masquerade?

It is worth considering the issue, which has recently been raised by Siberian cat breeders, about distinguishing Neva Masquerade cats (Siberian color-points) into a separate breed. What are the supporters of such a division based on?

As is known, the Siberian breed is indigenous

The main argument is that the color-point color is not typical for the native Siberian breed and was artificially introduced into it. Moreover, in their opinion, this color cannot be considered at all as characteristic of a native breed, since it is not natural and reduces the viability of the breed with this color. However, we have already considered the “aboriginality” and “antiquity” of modern Siberian cats, therefore, without returning to this issue, now we should consider a brief history of color-points in Russia.

Color point kitten

Firstly, it should be noted that the color-point color, apparently, was introduced more than once into the Asian populations of domestic cats in the territory of the Russian Empire. The earliest written evidence of this dates back to the seventies of the eighteenth century.

The Neva Masquerade cat got its name because of its mask on its face, which makes it look like a beauty going to a masquerade party.

This was the story of Academician Pallas about the cats he met in the Caspian region, in the settlement of Insar. It is possible that the exchange of genes between populations of East Asian, Middle Eastern and European cats occurred in earlier times along the Great Silk Road. At the same time, colorpoints from East Asia could penetrate (and, most likely, penetrated) into the Far Eastern populations by sea. Well, at the beginning of the twentieth century, right up to the October Revolution, some Siamese (of course, color-point color) came to Russia from Europe, evidence of which is in both Russian and Soviet literature. In short, the Cs allele, although with low frequencies, could still exist in all of the above regions.

Color-point color is not typical for the native Siberian breed

Secondly, around the sixties of the twentieth century, a massive invasion of color points into Russia began, and, accordingly, a massive impact on the gene pool of the Russian cat population. S. Obraztsov gave the start to this phenomenon by starting the import of traditional Siamese.

In our country, color points appeared in the 20th century

It must be said that when the Cs allele entered the street populations of cats, it, having reached a certain frequency, began to spread rapidly like wildfire. Most likely, the reason for this was the behavioral traits characteristic of oriental cats, such as, for example, a tendency to a strict hierarchy in family groups and defense of territory. This phenomenon was found not only in Russia, but also in England, Australia and the USA. In view of this, it is completely pointless to say that color-points are not viable in the anthropogenic habitat. And Russia is no exception in this regard. The difficulty is that until 1978, in our country there had never been any research into the occurrence of various genes for cat colors. And in genographic studies that were carried out in the late seventies and early eighties, this color was not taken into account, because cats of this color were excluded from the sample. At the moment, in some places they are trying to continue such research, but due to the high rate of spread of the Cs gene, it does not seem possible to find out the original picture.

Neva masquerade cat

And even if we assume that the appearance of color points in Russia coincided with the “example” import of them (which, of course, is very conditional), then the 25-30 years that have passed since the introduction of this color into the population of Russian cats is more than enough to A simple recessive allele Cs has become established in the local cat phenotype. And, of course, no targeted breeding work is required for this. Of course, there will be very few cats in which ancestral East Asian features are completely absent, but, nevertheless, there will be some. This is proven by the fact that European Shorthaired Colorpoints exist in local populations. And although no one specially bred these cats, nevertheless, they perfectly coincide with the standard of the European shorthair cat.

The Neva Masquerade cat originated spontaneously

The issue of Neva masquerade cats, according to many felinologists and breeders, has two sides: the actual breeding side and the ethical one. Let's look at the breeding side first. No one created the Neva Masquerade cat purposefully, for example, by crossing “shaggy Thais” and old-type Persian colorpoints. The origin of the first Neva Masquerade cats is as uncertain as that of the first representatives of the Siberian breed. And the same type that was in the early standard of Siberian cats was considered desirable for them. It’s a completely different matter that among those unknown animals that passed certification (breed determination), there were certainly both Thais and Persians. The widespread practice of using urban cats as a breeding base for the breed, given the heterogeneity of their gene pool and origin, has led to the carriage of a great variety of alleles, including the Cs allele. Neva masquerade cats also evolved from such phenotypic (read “pure”) Siberian cats. And it was precisely at this early stage of the development of the Siberian breed that it was necessary to decide whether this color was desirable for a Siberian cat or not, and it should be excluded from breeding. In the end, they decided in favor of recognizing the color as a Siberian color point.

Siberian kitten

Of course, breeding this color variation of the breed under discussion has its own nuances. Many breeders know that in many nurseries involved in breeding Siberian cats, it has become noticeable that there is an accumulation of pronounced Persian traits, for example, such as the domed structure of the skull, and unpronounced outer hair. At the same time, there are other nurseries in which “oriental” features are becoming more and more noticeable. However, the presence of such individuals is a problem of low quality judging, as well as non-intensive selection in the nurseries themselves, despite the fact that these problems do not apply to the color variation itself. Many years of experience of breeders of various breeds, one way or another associated with the allele mentioned above, shows that no connection has been found between the color point color and morphological characteristics. In addition, similar problems can be found in nurseries involved in breeding “pure” Siberians.

There are several types of cats among the masquerade breed

Speaking about ethics, it should be noted that arguing for the separation of Neva masquerade cats from Siberian cats due to the fact that the latter consider “natural” “aboriginal” cats (as those who insist on separation claim) does not withstand any criticism, in view of the real pictures of the formation of “Siberians”. I would like this statement not to offend the creators of the breed, which was the first to be recognized as a national Russian breed. These people, then and now, remain sincerely dedicated enthusiasts who deserve all respect. However, national pride must be based on something more significant than the presence of cats of one type or another in one’s native land. For a professional felinologist, true aesthetics lies not in colorful legends, but in the appearance that is characteristic of factory breeds. The real task facing the breeder is not the stamping of myths, but the creation of harmonious perfection of forms. A unique, spectacular and cultured breed is something you can really be proud of.

Siberian color point cat

Supporters of the division could be advised to express their ideas as follows: “we, as breeders of Siberian cats, believe that representatives of the Siberian breed should outwardly correspond to human ideas about what a cat should look like in a natural biological environment,” such as a manul or a forest cat . Accordingly, the breeding of Siberian cats should be limited to colors that correspond to these ideas. This kind of formulation of the question would command respect and deserve attention. However, if the breed develops in this direction, it will cut off not only color points, but also many other colors, leaving only the tabby color as desirable. Another option for correcting the development of Siberian cats as a breed is to survey a number of Siberian territories and identify variations in the morphological structure, and calculate the frequencies of different cat colors that correlate with them. On this basis, it would be possible to identify really existing “Siberians”. However, it should be recognized that this idea belongs more to the realm of fantasy than to reality. Such work will require many years of intense work, which will almost certainly discourage even the most enthusiastic enthusiasts of breeding Siberian cats.

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Table: pros and cons of the Siberian breed