Siberian Cat

Origins
Towards year 1000, a group of colonizers took to Siberia a domestic cat. In the surrounding forests used to live a wild breed cat. The natural selection between these two breeds gave the origin of the present Siberian Cat. The harsh climate made it strong and tough.

The origins are therefore much ancient. The territory moreover is so particular that despite the Siberian Cat being a pure breed, there was no manipulation by the man and therefore it's not the result of a breeding.

The Siberian Cat was introduced in Europe in 1989 thanks to Hans and Betty Shultz and in America thanks to David Bohem. In Italy, in particular, the first Siberian cat was Quendalina Romanova.

The standard of breed for the Siberian Cat was drawn in 1991 and the WCF (World Cat Federation) recognizes it since 1992.


Physical structure

The Siberian cat body develops itself rather slowly. In fact it grows to an adult appearance only towards the age of 4 or 5.

The Siberian cat has a brawny physique, with a medium-large build, the male, in particular, is bigger and more powerful. The body features transmit a roundness feeling. The back is slightly bent, but the curvature is little evident when the animal is in motion.

Head
The shape of the head is delicately rounded and it's nicely proportioned to the rest of the body. The upper body is flat. The nose, wide between the eyes, is shrunk towards the extremity and it shows a small curving.

Neck
It's not long, but wide and muscular.

Ears
Ears are of a medium length with a wide base. They are also very wide apart. The tips are rounded and not tapered (hairs are sometimes present on the tips). Inside the ears you can find thick hair tufts. On the ears back hairs are short.

Eyes
Eyes are not too close to each other, always with the same colour. Large and rounded on the bottom and very expressive. The colour can vary from yellow to amber and aquamarine in harmony with the coat colour. In the color point variety (Neva Masquerade) they must necessarily be blue even if in different tones.


Chin
Developed but not protruding.

Tail
The tail is of a medium length; when laying along the flank, it arrives approximately until the scapulas. Wide and sturdy, rounded off on the tip. The fur on the tail is thick also in summer.

Legs
Legs are well proportioned with a strong skeleton. They are of medium length and the back legs are a little longer than the front ones. The feet are large, round and between the fingers they have abundant hair forelocks (given the cat origins, this is to avoid sinking in the snow).

Fur Coat
The Siberian Cat is part of medium long hair category of cats. The fur is short on the back of the head and on the shoulders. It's waterproof, equipped with a layer of fat, in order to adapt itself to the typical rigid climate of the country of origin. However the hairs are not oily, indeed this characteristic avoids knots, therefore the coat care is easy.
In winter the undercoat grows thicker, the fur gets longer and an hairs collar grows around the neck. In summer the Siberian loses its winter coat. The Siberian fur is very particular (hypoallergenic) and it is tolerated by people normally allergic to it. The allergy is provoked by the FEL D1 protein produced by the sebaceous glands. In the United States some studies have showed how the FEL D1 protein production is nearly null in the Siberian Cat. For this exact reason the Siberian is advised in cases of animal hairs allergy.

All the traditional fur colours (blue, red, cream, tortie, black , silver, smoke) are allowed with the exception of the chocolate varieties, lilac, cinnamon and fawn. The colours can be solid or diluted, any amount of white is admitted and in any part of the body; the white does not have to be distributed in an exact proportion. The "color point" cat is named "Neva Masquerade".

Character and temperament
The Siberian Cat wants to feel himself a part of the family and wishes your attentions. It does not import in which room you are, it will follow to you because he looks for your company. It will place itself close to you while you're watching TV, he will squat dawn on the table while the children are doing their homework and he will receive you in the morning as you wake greeting you with a characteristic sound that seems a mixture between mewing, fused and twittering. When you are becomes ill, he will squat down side by side to you at the end of the bed and will not leave you. Persons who have a Siberian cat often compares its with a dog : Siberian is very affectionate, intelligent, gentle and very quick learners.

The Siberian Cat is affectionate with the owners and often he shows its preference towards one person in particular. He is in generally a tolerant and patient animal and therefore adapted to the children and the presence of dogs or other cats. The females are loving mothers, extremely careful to every movement of the own sons and they completely dedicate themselves to their care.

The Siberian Cat amuses itself to play with little: one rolled up candy paper, a rolled up piece of scotch, one old belt to capture. It has got an amazing agility and if there is a cat-tree it will amuse to scramble up and to complete spectacular leaps. Obviously it needs of the right amount of break. Usually this happens in the morning or in the afternoon when its landlady is out of house to work. It mews rarely and only for necessity.