Key facts at a glance:
- Name: Siberian cat
- Life expectancy: 12 to 15 years
- Origin: Russia and Ukraine
- Size: length up to 120 cm
- Weight: cats 3 to 6 kg/ hangover 4.5 to 8 kg
- Fur: medium length with a dense undercoat and water-repellent top coat in almost all colors and patterns
- Character: agile, intelligent, loyal, affectionate, social and sociable
Origin and History of the Siberian Cat
The Siberian cat originated in northern Russia. It was not specifically bred for a long time, so it is one of the natural breeds. In the 1980s, Soviet construction workers brought Siberian cats with them to the GDR, where the long-haired four-legged friends quickly aroused the interest of breeders.
In 1987 the Siberian cat was recognized as an independent breed in the GDR and a breeding standard was set for the first time. At first she was called the Siberian forest cat. However, its name was changed in 1991 to better distinguish it from the Norwegian Forest Cat.
Since 1997, the Siberian Forest Cat has been recognized by the FIFe as a separate species. Today it is a popular domestic cat, bred in around 35 countries.
Description of the Siberian cat
The Siberian cat usually lives to be 12 to 15 years old, but in some cases it can certainly live a little longer. The medium-sized to large four-legged friends are characterized by a muscular physique and a relatively high weight in relation to their size. Male tomcats can reach a weight of up to 8 kg, while cats can still weigh up to 6 kg.
Siberian cats have medium-length legs, a bushy tail, and a short, strong neck. Their round, wide head is characterized by a rounded snout and a slightly curved forehead.
The Siberian cat’s medium-sized ears are slightly tilted forward. Their slightly oval eyes are set wide apart and can be yellow, gold, green or even blue, depending on the color of their fur.
The fur of the Siberian Forest Cat is half-length and has a thick undercoat and water-repellent top coat. In summer, however, the undercoat disappears almost completely.
As is common with longer-coated breeds, Siberian cats have dense tufts of fur between their toes (called snowshoes). In addition, hair brushes on the ears are welcome, but are not mandatory everywhere.
According to the breed standard, almost all colors and patterns and any amount of white are allowed. Only the colors cinnamon and chocolate are not desired in Siberian cats.
Character of the Siberian cat
Siberian cats are known to be confident and agile. They have a relatively large urge to move and love to go exploring or hunting outdoors.
The clever and intelligent animals are very trainable. They are also found to be social and generally get along well with other pets.
If they receive sufficient attention, Siberian cats also prove to be extremely loyal and affectionate roommates, who clearly show their affection for their owner and enjoy extensive stroking.
Siberian cat attitude
Since Siberian cats need a lot of exercise, a house with a garden where they can climb and hunt is very suitable for keeping them. They prefer to be kept outdoors, but are also happy as indoor cats. In this case, however, keepers should provide enough employment.
Siberian cats are very sociable. For this reason, they should ideally not be kept alone, but together with a conspecific. This is especially true if they are usually alone at home during the day.
When it comes to grooming, Siberian cats do surprisingly well on their own. However, they may need some assistance during the moult and should be brushed daily if possible.
In the case of outdoor cats, it is also important to regularly check the coat for ticks during the warmer months of the year and to remove them if necessary.
Siberian cat diseases
Since the Siberian cat was spared from targeted breeding efforts for a long time, it is considered to be extremely healthy. Certain breed-specific hereditary diseases are not yet known.
However, deliberate crossbreeding with other breeds poses a great risk, which could also lead to an increase in certain genetic diseases in Siberian cats in the future.
Siberian cats are skilled hunters
Siberian cats are quite active. However, they are not only good at climbing and jumping very high. In addition, they are also excellent hunters. If a Siberian cat gets the opportunity to do so by running around in the garden, it will regularly and with great pleasure capture birds or mice.