Siberian Cat
Cat Facts

The Siberian Cat or rather their correct name, Siberian Forest Cat is a natural cat breed that has its roots in Russia. The Siberian has been around for centuries and closely resembles the Norwegian Forest cat and the Maine Coon cat.

The Siberian cat has a semi-long to long triple coat. The coat varies from coarse to soft. They have thick, fluffy, insulating undercoats and a long, glossy top coat. The hair may be slightly oily which effectively provides waterproofing. This rich full coat effectively protects them from extreme, bitterly cold winters. (The coat is thicker in winter than summer). The hair on the chest and shoulder blades is shorter and thicker, with a full collar ruff. Hair on the britches and belly is longer and may sometimes have a slight curl.

All traditional colors and all color combinations with white or without white are accepted. Strong colors and clear patterns are preferable. Lockets and buttons are also acceptable. The most common color is a golden tabby, with black pattern over a golden agouti.

The Neva Masquerade is the name given to the colorpoint variety. The colorpoint is believed to be an offshoot of the Siberian and may have resulted from the introduction of the 'old-type' Siamese or from breeding with pointed stray cats living along the Neva River in St Petersburg.

Many Russian Siberian Forest cat breeders prefer to maintain the original colors and wild look of the breed - staying true to the original cat.

The Siberian is a large, compact and heavy cat with a moderately long, well muscled, powerfully boned and firm body. Their chests are well rounded and the back slightly arched or curved. It has a moderately long neck which is thick, muscular and rounded.

The cat's legs are of medium length, heavy boned and very muscular and the hind legs are longer then the forelegs. The well furnished, medium length tail is broad at the base and tapers to a blunt tip.

The head is described as been medium-large, shaped like a modified wedge with rounded contours. The forehead is slightly curved and the top of the head is flat. Cheekbones are neither high nor prominent. The muzzle is medium in length, rounded and full and the chin is also round and never protruding.

This cat has well-spaced eyes that are nearly round, large, alert, open and expressive. The eyes are set a slight slant, the outer corner angled towards the base of the ear. Eye color has no relationship to coat color, except the Neva Masquerade that has blue eyes. The eye color ranges from copper to gold, to green gold. The Siberian cat has medium-large ears. The base of the ear is wide and tips are rounded and the ears do tilt slightly forward. The ears may have lynx tipping.

Personality

The Siberian is a playful, lively and active cat and is great with kids and despite their dominance, they are friendly to other cats. Their owners describe them as dog-like and they love to follow their owners around. They are affectionate cats that are equally at home on a warm lap as they are in the great outdoors. Siberians are quiet cats that have a unique triple purr and make chirping sounds. This is a soft and gentle natured cat that makes a wonderful companion.

They have a fascination with water and like nothing more than dropping their much loved toys in pools of water. This cat is also an excellent climber and jumper and loves to run around.

Siberian Cat Information

Indoor or Outdoor Cats

The Siberian cat is best suited to outdoor living, but by outdoors we mean an escape-proof, safe enclosed garden. They can adapt to indoor living, but it's important to provide a suitable cat friendly environment for them.

Cat Care and Cat Grooming

This is a longhaired cat and bi-weekly grooming is recommended to keep the coat in tip-top condition. During early Spring, additional grooming is required. Their thick undercoats can become matted if they are neglected - especially the area under the armpits.

Visit our comprehensive cat care pages for great tips and guidelines on cat grooming

Cat Health Concerns

Apart from common infectious cat diseases for which they can receive cat vaccinations, the Siberian Forest cat is a healthy cat breed. Health cat insurance is something you should consider for all your pets.

Cat Diet and Nutrition

They do have a tendency to gain weight and diet and feeding needs to be monitored. There are commercial cat food brands for longhaired cats which the manufacturers claim reduces hairball. Visit our cat nutrition pages for more tips on cat food and a well balanced diet.

Hypoallergenic

People who suffer from allergies to cat dander appear to be less allergic to the Siberian Forest cat. Visit our chapter on hypoallergenic cats for in depth info related to this subject.

The Average Weight

4.5 - 9.0 kg (9.9 - 19.8 lbs) is the average weight for Siberians. Male cats are heavier than the female cats.

Life Expectancy

The Siberian has a medium-to-long life span of 12 + years

Additional Siberian Cat Pages:

Siberian Forest Cat - the origin of the breed

Siberian Forest Cat Photos - A photo gallery