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Getting a Cat or Kitten
17 min read
| Family-friendly: | 4/5 |
| Playfulness: | 5/5 |
| Intelligence: | 4/5 |
| Tendency to Vocalise: | 2/5 |
| Likes Other Pets: | 4/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 5/5 |
| Shedding: | 4/5 |
Siberian Forest
Affectionate and loyal animals, the Siberian cat makes for a great companion as they get along really well with everybody, kids and other pets included. Besides their stunning looks, they adore cuddling, and the Siberian cat personality is so sweet-natured that you’ll love to have them around all the time.
Lifespan
11 - 18 years
Weight
3.5 - 7.5kg
Colours
Wide variety of colours including the pointed shades, and may have bold white markings.
The need-to-know
- Great for first-time cat owners
- Needs high-level of enrichment including simulated hunting games and interactive play
- Highly active and inquisitive cat
- Independent but friendly
- Slightly talkative cat
- Larger stockier cat breed
- Requires grooming every day
- Needs extensive outdoor space
- Great family cat
- Can be left alone all day
- Great for a relaxed home
Generally healthy breed
Siberian Forest cats can suffer from:
- Pyruvate kinase deficiency which is a disease that causes anaemia (death of red blood cells).
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which is a disease were the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick which means the heart cannot beat effectively.
- Polycystic kidney disease which is an inherited condition where cysts form in the kidneys. This affects kidney function and can eventually lead to kidney failure. However, it is worth noting that the risk of developing this disease in this breed is lower than in other cat breeds that are prone to the problem.
Testing available:
- DNA testing for pyruvate kinase deficiency and polycystic kidney disease which tests whether or not a cat has the potential to be affected by these conditions.
Siberian Cat Appearance
The Siberian Forest is a large, powerful, curvy cat, with a broad barrel rib cage, strong limbs and paws that would make a boxer proud!
Over this robust frame, the Siberian has a very thick semi-longhair coat, which will thicken and grow longer in winter, and reduce somewhat in summer. When mature, this is a cat that will develop a thick ruff and mane particularly in the colder months, and their tail is magnificent in its size and thickness.
Siberian Cat Personality
Social and intelligent, but independent where necessary, the Siberian Forest cat is a curious and clever problem solver. Despite their huge size, they are agile and athletic, able to make great leaps to reach what they want, whether a hidden toy, a bowl of food left on a worktop or just a desirable vantage point!
Friendly and affectionate with family, they are a little aloof with strangers but quick to take advantage of anyone who may offer scritches, toys, or food.
Domestic cats of the Siberian type (heavy, large and long coated) have been documented since as early as 1000AD. More records show that Siberian cats were shown in the late 1800s in the US, and are referenced in several books from that era.
The 1980s however saw a rise in the popularity of cat ownership, showing and breeding in Russia, and the Kotofei Cat Club in Moscow created the first breed standard for the Siberian Forest cat. They were imported into the US in the late 1980s, and recognised by The International Cat Association in 1992, with Championship status granted in 1996.
The Siberian Forest cat is ideally equipped for the outdoor life, so it’s necessary to safely reproduce this in a secure garden or outdoor cat run that can be accessed directly from the house. Provide tree branches, resting platforms at a variety of heights, tunnels and scratch posts. Consider hiding food dispensing puzzle toys out here during the day so that your Siberian can safely ‘hunt’ whilst the family are at work or school.
This is such a large and stunning breed cat that they are not safe left out to roam as they are a high theft risk and may through their curiosity, get themselves into trouble with neighbours’ homes and pets.
The Siberian Forest cat will enjoy playing games that recreate hunting, and also feeding from food dispensing puzzle toys that also provide an outlet for their chasing, catching and biting behaviours that natural hunting would have entailed. These activities will help keep this large, athletic cat healthy and fit.
Whilst independent and bold, the Siberian Forest cat does love family, so homes where people are around morning and evening and all through the weekend will suit them well.
Every cat is unique and each has their own particular likes, dislikes, and needs when it comes to food. However, cats are carnivores and every cat must obtain 41 different and specific nutrients from their food. The proportion of these nutrients will vary depending on age, lifestyle and overall health, so it's not surprising that a growing, energetic kitten needs a different balance of nutrients in their diet than a less active senior cat. Other considerations to bear in mind are feeding the right quantity of food to maintain 'ideal body condition' in accordance with feeding guidelines and catering to individual preference regarding wet or dry food recipes. Proper nutrition plays an important role in your cat’s health as a correct diet along with care can help extend the Siberian cat lifespan to 18 years.
The semi-long-haired coat of the Siberian Forest will need brushing through several times a week, and while they do typically keep themselves quite clean, grooming time is an ideal opportunity to handle, bond and also check the cat over for wounds or parasites. As their coat thickens in winter and moults in summer, extra grooming may be required at these times.
A greasy coat is a sign your cat is not self-grooming at all and this may indicate poor health.
As with all cats, regular vaccination and parasite control is recommended.
For the family that spends a lot of time at home and has sufficient space for a large, athletic and active cat, the Siberian Forest can make a great companion. Better suited to homes with older children who will understand that their cat is not a play-thing, the Siberian’s heavy coat can lead very young children into treating them like a teddy bear, which they will not tolerate for long.
Siberian Cat Fun Facts
- The Siberian cat is known to be the most cold-resistant domestic cat thanks to their thick and long coats. Their coats are also water-repellent.
- A Pedigreed Award-Winning Siberian cat played the role of Mr Fuzzypants in 2016’s Nive Lives movie starring Kevin Spacey. The fact that a real cat was used in the movie made filming a bit difficult as both Mark Consuelos and director Barry Sonnerfeld were allergic to cats.
- They have been mentioned in a number of books as well, such as Our Cats by Harrison Weir (1889), Concerning Cats by Helen Winslow (1900), or Domestic & Fancy Cats by John Jennings (1898).
- There’s a square in Tyumen, Russia, dedicated to Siberian cats. During World War II when the Hermitage, Russia’s main museum, got infested with rats, over 5,000 Siberian cats were used for eliminating the pest and protecting the valuable exhibits. Even today, there are still cats living in the museum and helping with pest control.
FAQs
Affectionate, but not overly clingy, Siberian cats are great companions and will be friendly with anyone, from kids, to adults, and other pets.
The Siberian cat is highly adaptable to any environment and will be happy to spend most of their time indoor, but they will also need outdoor time for mental stimulation and exercise.
The Siberian cat personality is easy going and as super social animals, they enjoy having company most of the time.
As with most cats, they can be left alone for a short amount of time, but it’s recommended to avoid leaving your cat alone for more than 24 hours.
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