Siberian cat: breed description, character and care

general information

• Breed name: Siberian cat.
• Country of origin: Russia.
• Weight: from 3.5 to 9 kilograms.
• Height at withers: up to 30-40 centimeters.
• Life Expectancy: up to 15 years and more.
• Price: from 1,000 to 35,000 rubles and more.

What Siberian cats look like

Animals of this breed have been known in our country for many centuries. Initially, they were brought to Siberia by Asian traders, and such cats were called Bukhara cats. They took root in a new place and regularly helped in the fight against rodents. Thanks to merchants, over time, animals settled throughout the country, and later gained popularity throughout the world. They were singled out as a separate breed in the 20th century.

Siberian catsSiberian cats - animals of medium and large size. Their body is powerful, muscular, with smooth and rounded outlines. Females are usually smaller than males. Moreover, Siberians reach maturity by about five years.

The natural conditions in which the breed was formed have left their mark on the appearance of animals.

Their coat is medium or long, with a thick double undercoat and dense guard hair. Brushes are often visible at the tips of the ears, which is why they seem to be pointed, although they have a rounded shape. The collar on the neck, the pants on the hind legs and the tail are very fluffy.

Color options for Siberian cats quite a few - monochromatic, tortoiseshell, tabby and others. Eyes also come in a variety of shades, from golden to green and blue. There are also seals with heterochromia, that is, with unequal iris colors. Animals with color-point color and blue eyes stand out in a special subspecies - Neva Masquerade.

Speaking about Siberian cats, they are often mentioned hypoallergenic. But according to experts, this statement is not entirely true and has no scientific evidence. Indeed, some Siberians in their saliva have a low content of the Fel d 1 protein, which in many cases is the reason for the reaction of the human body. But this cannot be attributed to all representatives of the breed, therefore from allergies the owners of such pets are not insured.

What is the character of Siberian cats

Representatives of this breedSiberian cats good-natured, calm and sociable. They easily find a common language with everyone, although sometimes they can show stubbornness and willfulness.

How Siberian cats get along with adults

Devoted animals are very fond of spending time in human society. Siberians enthusiastically follow family members throughout the apartment and accompany them during any activity - from cooking dinner to watching TV or reading.

They often communicate their mood with melodious purrs and other sounds.

More owners cats of this breed, they note that Siberians perfectly feel the mood of people and are always ready to "support" the sad owner.

How Siberian cats get along with children

Sociable and affectionate, these animals willingly frolic with young owners, are active in games. In addition, they often sleep next to children's beds, not wanting to part with them for a long time.

Nevertheless, in order for communication to develop without conflict, the child needs to be explained the rules for handling animals. If the young owner perceives him as a toy, the cat can show its claws, defending its safety.

How Siberian cats get along with other pets

Often, Siberians feel comfortable in the company of other purrs and even dogs. If, at first after the appearance of a new pet, conflicts arise in the house, you just need to be patient and try to help the pets get used to each other.

What conditions are required for Siberian cats

Siberian cats are very active, agile and agileSiberian cats. They willingly play with different toys and enthusiastically explore everything in the house. Therefore, you should make sure that the unattended pet has something to do.

Especially for a cat, you can install a play complex with posts, shelves and ladders. And the Siberian will definitely be delighted with soft mice, balls and other items, for which you can hunt plenty.

This playfulness persists in animals throughout life.

The pet will need its own resting place. It can be a separate soft house, a basket or a bed. There the cat can sleep and just spend time alone with itself.

It is advisable to install special protective screens on the windows. Thanks to them, the cat will not be able to fall out if it decides to catch a leaf, butterfly or bird flying by. Even the windows of the first floors will need protection. Thanks to her, the animal will not be able to get out into the street and be in danger if left unattended.

How to feed Siberian cats

The easiest option pet diets - ready-made complete feeds from well-known brands. Such food contains useful and nutrients that animals need. You can choose from dry and wet food (spiders, canned food). There are also special diets designed for the period of pregnancy and lactation or intended for animals with various allergies and other diseases.

An alternative to ready-made feed is natural food, consisting of offal, meat and vegetables. When composing such a diet, you need to take into account all the needs of the feline body so that the pet's health is not affected. But feeding the Siberian cat with the leftovers of dinner or other food from the human table is not worth it. It will not bring benefits, even if the pet asks very much.

Spicy, salty, spicy, smoked and sweet foods are especially dangerous for animals.

When choosing a diet, first of all, you need to ask the breeder for what food trained kitten, and do not change his diet at first. Over time, if there is such a need, you can gradually switch to another option. If you do this abruptly, the pet may simply refuse to eat or he will have digestive problems. Another important point: the animal must always have access to clean drinking water.

Make sure your Siberian cat does not overeatSiberian cat diet. This breed is often prone to overweight, which can lead to arthritis, diabetes, liver problems and other diseases. In addition, the likelihood of a reduction in life expectancy by a couple of years is high. Overweight cats are less active and mobile, which also does not benefit them.

How to care for Siberian cats

Siberians don't need complicated careSiberian cats carebecause they themselves can take great care of themselves in most cases. But if you notice that the pet's fur gets tangled and tangles appear in it, it will not be superfluous to help him.

The seasonal molt in Siberian cats lasts about 10 days. During this period, you need to comb the animals daily: this will speed up the renewal process and maintain an attractive appearance.

The rest of the time, Siberian cats do not leave a lot of hair throughout the apartment, although there are exceptions.

As for bathing, it is important when preparing for exhibitions and if the pet gets very dirty, for example, while playing outside. Usually this procedure does not cause problems if you teach a kitten to it from a young age.

Too long claws trim as it grows back. Also watch the condition of your eyes and ears. If necessary, wipe them down with lotions available from specialized stores. Pay attention to brushing your teeth - it is enough to carry out this procedure a couple of times a week.

What Siberian cats are sick with

Representatives of this breed are prone to certain diseases.Diseases of Siberian cats, in particular, are prone to cardiomyopathy, arterial thromboembolism, polycystic kidney disease, urolithiasis. Also, animals can suffer from stomatitis and gingivitis, be infected with infections and parasites.

This does not mean that your pet will certainly have all these diseases. Nevertheless, the health of the cat must be closely monitored.

And with any changes in behavior and mood, it is advisable to seek advice from veterinarians. For example, alarming symptoms can be decreased appetite, lethargy and drowsiness, aggression or depression, hair loss, tartar, bad breath, and more. Especially dangerous are problems with urination or breathing, damage to the eyes, excessive weakness, shaking of the head, and more.

Do not forget that timely diagnosis will help avoid complications and health problems.

What to look for when buying a Siberian cat

First of all, decide on your plans for a pet, because in many respects its cost will depend on this. The most budgetary option is Siberian pet cats. These are pets for the soul. At exhibitions, they have no chance due to minor deviations from the standards, although this does not affect the health of animals in any way.

For breeding choose kittens from the "breed" class. And for participation in exhibitions and potential titles - "show". Such Siberian cats have every chance to receive the highest marks from judges.

Of course, before buying it is worth looking at the kitten itself. He should be well-groomed, active, playful, mature in age and moderately well-fed. Make sure that the future pet makes contact normally and does not show aggression.

You also need to evaluate the conditions of its detention and make sure that all age-appropriate vaccinations are made.

When buying a kitten, documents are transferred to the new owner along with it. These include a veterinary passport and metric, as well as contract of sale. Based on the metric, you can later get the pedigree.

It happens that kittens are bought without documents at all, for example, through sites with ads or in the market. But then you will not be able to be sure of his heredity and health, and you will hardly be able to contact the seller for advice. If this is still your case, first of all, give the animal a veterinary passport and all the necessary vaccinations.

It will not work to get a pedigree for such a Siberian cat, since there is no information about its ancestors. However, if the animal is "very similar" to a thoroughbred, but this is not confirmed by anything, you can contact one of the clubs - and with a positive expert opinion, the pet will be given a certificate of conformity breed.