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Breed Characteristics
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Siberian
| Origin And History | Siberian cats are a Russian national treasure. They have been documented in Russia for hundreds of years and are mentioned in Russian fairy tales and children’s books. The breed also appears in Harrison Wier’s book Our Cats and All About Them, published in 1889. Russian families relay fond tales of their Siberians and their amazing loyalty and personalities, but these cats also have played a practical role on farms as rodent control. When the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States ended, the doors opened for the Siberian cat to be exported worldwide. The first Siberians arrived in the United States in June 1990. |
| Personality | Siberians are affectionate cats with a good dose of personality and playfulness. They are amenable to handling, and breeders note that Siberians have a fascination with water, often dropping toys into their water dishes or investigating bathtubs before they're dry. Siberians seem very intelligent, with the ability to problem-solve to get what they want. Despite their size, they are very agile and are great jumpers, able to leap tall bookcases in a single bound. |
Physical Attributes
| Appearance | The Siberian is one of the largest breeds of domestic cat. Breeders note that Siberian males range between 17 and 26 pounds and the females range between 13 and 17 pounds. As befits a cat that has survived the harsh climate of Siberia, the Siberian possesses a long, thick coat with a full ruff and a tight undercoat that becomes thicker in cold weather. The coat's oily guard hairs give the coat its classic water resistance. All colors and patterns are accepted except pointed colors, although pointed Siberians exist in Russia and are called Nevsky Masquerades. |
| Health | Siberians are affectionate cats with a good dose of personality and playfulness. They are amenable to handling, and breeders note that Siberians have a fascination with water, often dropping toys into their water dishes or investigating bathtubs before they're dry. Siberians seem very intelligent, with the ability to problem-solve to get what they want. Despite their size, they are very agile and are great jumpers, able to leap tall bookcases in a single bound. Males can father kittens from as young as five months to over ten years. In regions where the breed is rare and expensive a long term breeding career for a pedigreed male can create a risk of popular sire effect, in which one male has an overly large genetic influence on the breed. In Eastern Europe, where the breed is common and less expensive, this issue is less likely to arise than elsewhere. |
