The history of the origin of the breed, a description of the standard of appearance, the peculiarities of the pet's temperament, the health of the Siberian cat, tips for caring for a pet, the price of a kitten and photos. The Siberian cat is a freedom-loving, proud, independent and at the same time very cute and affectionate living creature. The set of qualities of the temperament of this purr will not leave anyone indifferent. Having met this representative of the feline world, it is not at all clear how such seemingly disparate character traits can harmonize so perfectly. In addition to their extraordinary disposition, these cats are also extraordinarily beautiful and very, very smart. Another advantage of such a pet is its particular simplicity and unpretentiousness in care, we can say about these pussies that they can do without outside help, but there is no better hunter than a Siberian cat with fire in the daytime.
The history of the origin of the Siberian cat breed
According to many scientific and literary sources, representatives of this breed appeared for a long time. The first official mention of them dates back to the middle of the 16th century. However, in those days the variety of these animals was called "Bukhara", and what this name implies remains a mystery covered in darkness to this day. The modern name of the breed of these seals, which indicates a specific territory, is also a little fictitious. Since there are a large number of arguments and facts that say that the progenitors of meowing "Siberians" come from the countries of Central Asia. They also say that the blood of wild cats that lived in the taiga forests flows in the veins of these amazing pets.
In those days, when people who came from Asian countries began to live in the harsh Siberian lands, the indigenous population never kept any pets. Because their lifestyle was predominantly nomadic, and they care about smaller friends, they simply did not have any opportunity. People from the near abroad who settled in Siberia began to bring cats with them, which were extremely necessary, since the situation with rodents was on the verge of disaster.
The then living conditions for the brought cats were, although not particularly kosher, but they had food for the future in the form of mice, rats and other living creatures, and they not only loved and knew how to hunt, they were masters of their craft. Soon the fame of the extraordinary fluffy hunters spread over the vast territory of the entire Russian Empire and the "Siberians" became world-famous celebrities. Cat owners sold their kittens and even then they earned good money on such a business, since Siberian cats were famous as the most reliable defenders of agricultural holdings from rodent teeth.
For many years, representatives of this species of cats were loved and respected by everyone, but it never occurred to anyone to try to achieve that all of them were called purebred. Only in the 20s of the last century, the Siberian cat was first presented as a participant in a large-scale cat exhibition, but even then he was not appreciated. These cute pussies received their first official recognition after 70 years, in the late 90s.
Today the Siberian cat is popular and in demand, especially in the territories of the post-Soviet countries, but there are also overseas fans of these purrs who are ready to pay any money just to drive this pet from the Siberian forests in their house.
Description of the official standard of the Siberian cat
- Torso These representatives of felines are rather large, stocky and powerful, as it happened historically, fragile cats could hardly survive in the harsh Siberian conditions. The average body weight of an adult male is 8–9 kg, but this is far from the limit, females, in turn, are more refined, but by no means small, their weight varies about 6–7 kg. Although the body of the Siberian cat is rather large and massive, it still retains its elegance, all lines are smooth, no sharp corners or oblongs. The body of cats has a well-developed muscle layer.
- Limbs Siberians are moderately long, in relation to the size of the body they are very harmonious. Extremely strong and resilient. The paws are round in shape, between the toes you can notice the presence of thick tufts of wool, this feature at one time helped the animal not to feel discomfort when overcoming snow patches. The claws grow very quickly, are powerful and very sharp.
- Tail process very long and very beautiful, due to the very long and thick coat. From a wide base, it gradually decreases in diameter towards a narrower tip.
- Head in configuration, it most of all resembles a trapezoid with soft, somewhat rounded lines. The skull is rather large in size. The face is very cute, according to her expression it cannot be said that the cat is an avid killer of mice. The profile is almost straight; a slight notch can be seen at the transition from the nose to the forehead.
- Auricles The Siberian cat can be called large, very wide in the base part, the tip is less wide, slightly rounded and decorated with tassels on it, which gives the Siberian cat some resemblance to the wild inhabitants of the forests. According to the breed standard, the distance between the auditory organs of the animal should be equal to the width of the ear at the base.
- Eyes similar in shape to an oval, located at a slight angle, which gives them a diagonal. The look is open, deep and piercing, it seems that the cat is always curious and interested. The color of the iris can be anything you like, the color of the eyes may not even correspond at all to the basic tone of the coat color and this will not be a deviation from the breed standard.
- Wool - this is perhaps the most remarkable feature of the Siberians. The fact is that the body of the animal is tightly wrapped in very thick wool, and in addition to it there is also a double layer of undercoat. Such a coat allows cats to feel comfortable even in the most ferocious cold weather. Representatives of this breed are semi-long-haired barkers, however, Siberian cats with a very long fur coat are not uncommon. The main thing is to have a longer "collar" and "trousers". The texture of Siberian wool is of medium hardness, it all depends on the environmental conditions. The most important thing to know about the coat of these purrs is that they do not cause allergic reactions.
As for the color, you can meet a Siberian cat, "dressed up" in a fur coat of almost any color and decorated with any patterns. Cinnamon, fawn, chocolate and lilac cats are disqualified.
Siberian cat: personality traits
Such a cat will undoubtedly be able to bring many bright colors into your everyday life, but sometimes oversights can happen. It cannot be said about these adorable cats that they become attached to the owner from the first minutes, and will immediately give him their feline love. The Siberian kitten needs some time to adapt, at first the pet will look closely at its new home and its inhabitants, at this time the pet may not seem quite cute and perky, it will spy on you with the look of a spy. But as soon as he is convinced that there is absolutely nothing to fear, not the slightest imprint remains of the former suspicion. Purr immediately becomes friendly, open and always ready for fun.
Siberian cats are never annoying, their upbringing and pride do not allow them to behave differently, the pet will never demand attention from you, but to hint that he is not averse to being stroked or played with is quite maybe. And it is better not to ignore such a subtle request, otherwise you will have to wait a long time for the next such hint from “His Feline Majesty”.
For a Siberian cat, physical activity is necessary, if you live in a private house, it is better to let your pet go for walks. In the fresh air, he will find something to do with himself, climb trees, hunt or just lie in the sun - he will decide for himself. The hunting instincts of fluffy Siberians are developed at the highest level, so do not be surprised if this cat provides you with a surprise in the form of a caught mouse or some kind of bird. When he lives in a city apartment, walking on a harness will not be superfluous, if you do not have time to walk with your pet, then it is advisable to provide him with his "amusement park" in the apartment. It's good if these are small trees, and you can climb over them and grind off the claws, since one claw point for the sharp claws of a cat will not be enough.
As for other animals in the house, it all depends on who else lives with you. If this is a dog, even the largest and most evil, there is no reason to worry - a Siberian cat will make friends with her, but with parrots and hamsters, things are much more complicated. As soon as the Murzik gets such an opportunity, he will not miss it and, most likely, will dine with your friend. So something for these unfortunate neighbors needs an eye and an eye, or it is better not to start one of them.
But with small children, Siberian cat is restrained and patient. They play well, and even forgive the kids for their little pranks, but in no case should the child be allowed to hurt the animal, otherwise the cat will be able to release its claws. You need to start raising your pet from the first day of the settlement of the latter in the house, otherwise, due to its endless energy, this fluffy can cross all the edges of what is permitted. Before you have time to blink an eye, a vase will be broken, a piece of wallpaper torn off, or some other unpleasant incident is made. By virtue of its intelligence and ingenuity, the Siberian kitten easily learns what it can do, and what is vetoed.
Siberian cat health
The process of natural selection and living in the very harsh, sparing conditions of Siberia to some extent benefited these cute representatives of the feline world. Such a life has formed very good health and a fairly stable natural immunity in the purr. Having slightly reinforced what the animal has received from nature with timely vaccination, you will end up with a healthy pet, with which there are almost never problems.
But you cannot rely only on vaccinations, it is worth remembering that the vaccine against rabies or feline leukemia does not have the same function as protecting the animal from, for example, worms, fleas and ticks. A cat can find all these parasites anywhere, and even a Siberian one. These outdoor enthusiasts and tree climbers need daily wool inspections for external parasites.
Fleas are, on the one hand, a banal problem that does not pass by any animal, and on the other hand, it is very dangerous. These parasites feed on the blood of an animal, if there are several individuals - nothing terrible, but you should take into account the fact that they multiply very quickly, and this, as a result, can lead to anemia in severe stages or even to the sudden death of your Siberian cat. In addition, fleas can be carriers of a host of serious infectious diseases, for example, plague and tularemia. If you find small, black insects in your pet's fur that look like grains of black pepper, you should sound the alarm and go to your veterinarian. A specialist will help you find the best treatment for your cat, but this will not be enough. Fleas are never limited to animals, they will soon spread throughout your home, so without treating the room, Siberian cat treatment will only be effective for a short period of time.
Ticks are also regular guests on the body of your Murzik, as well as in his ears. If you can still notice this parasite on the body and immediately either remove it yourself, having certain skills, or turn to a specialist for help. Ear mites are more difficult to deal with, as they are not always detectable. These pathogenic creatures cause otodecosis in cats, which is defined by symptoms such as severe itching. The Siberian cat almost constantly scratches its ears, when viewed at first you can notice slight scratching, and later it can be huge ulcers and erosion. Specific discharge from the external auditory canal is also characteristic, in appearance they resemble coffee grounds.
If you notice something like this in your Siberian cat, in no case do not start treating the problem at home. The fight against otodecosis should be started only after a series of laboratory tests and instrumental examination of the outer and middle ear. Due to the fact that it is constantly scratching its ear with its paw, the cat on its own can damage the eardrum or simply make deep wounds. In such cases, drugs cannot be injected into the ear canal. It is also important to determine the type of tick and, depending on this, the veterinarian will be able to prescribe drugs of a specific spectrum of action.
If the Siberian cat often walks along the street by itself, then it is recommended that it carry out periodic prophylaxis of infection with ear mites. Experts recommend to drip a few drops of a special agent a day before the planned cleaning of the ears; the drug “Advantage” shows good results, which is also used to remove parasites at first. Do not use antibiotics against ticks, they are simply ineffective, they are prescribed only in cases where a bacterial infection joins the otodecosis.
Siberian cat: maintenance and care at home
All these energetic pets need is to have their fur well-groomed and beautiful, and to eat deliciously.
- Wool. Together with the kitten, you should purchase a special comb for long-haired breeds, you need to use it at least 2 times a week, and during the molting period, combing should be done every day. As for bathing, Siberians really do not like water very much, so they need to be washed only as needed using high-quality shampoo and conditioner.
- Hygiene. Like all kittens, Siberian purrs need to brush their teeth in order to prevent problems in the form of tartar accumulation and gingivitis. It is also good to add food for cleaning teeth to the pet's diet, you can buy this in pet stores or boiled chicken necks show a good result. It is also recommended to clean the ears weekly, using a cotton bud with a stopper and a specialized liquid. It is necessary to wipe the Siberian cat eyes from time to time with cotton pads soaked in a disinfectant solution. This can be boric acid, low concentration potassium permanganate, or black tea brew.
- What to feed? Siberian cats are unpretentious in food. They can be fed both with high quality ready-made feed and natural food. The list of products permitted for a Siberian cat may include the following: meat (beef, lamb, chicken, rabbit, turkey), sometimes sea fish meat, dairy products, quail and chicken eggs, cereals and vegetables. It is better to exclude milk and freshwater fish from the cat's diet.
Price and photo of a Siberian cat
The price of a Siberian kitten varies on average from 7,000 to 20,000 rubles, depending on the class, pedigree, gender and many other factors.
