History of The Siberian Cat
The Siberian cat, also known as the Moscow or Russian longhair and Siberian forest cat, is a natural landrace originating from Russia. Although they are not widely documented throughout history, these cats have been honorably depicted in folktales and legends from as far back as 1000 AD.
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Due to the Cold War between Russia and the United States of America, they did not earn much international light until the late 1900's. They first appeared in European cat fancier shows in the 1970's but were noted in the English novel Our Cats and All About Them by Harrison Weir earlier in 1889. This is similar in date to when they were first officially imported into breeding programs. The International Cat Association (TICA) accepted the Siberian cat breed in 1992 and then the breed earned recognition by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) in 2000.
Unique Coats
Siberian cats are an extremely adaptable breed capable of enduring the subarctic Siberian climate of over 30°C to under -60° C. On average, the male is larger than the female with typically denser fur. They are incredibly clean and spend long hours keeping themselves in standard condition. Although this high quality fur does not have the tendency to tangle like a Persian or Norwegian Forest cat's fur does it still requires careful grooming and maintenance.
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Fur Quality
Siberian cats have long fur coats that are triple layered and shed twice per year. With warmer weather, this coat becomes less dense and long, but in the winter it flourishes into a beautiful thickness characteristic of a Siberian cat.
Males and often females will develop a mane, or ruff, along with a bushy tail and downy britches. The insides of their ears and between their toes are also furnished.
Color And Pattern
A Siberian cat is acceptable in almost any color or combination. The exceptions are colors such as chocolate or lavender which indicate hybridization. White is allowed in all areas in any amount. Certain colors are preferred to carry certain accents. Distinct and clear patterns are desirable, as well.
Waterproof
Siberian cats are mostly waterproof! Their fur has natural oils that protects them from moisture. They generally love running water and will happily play in the sink when able. Along with their long-haired snowshoes, being waterproof is particularly excellent in snowy conditions.
Temperament
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Despite not typically being treated as a family pet in their country of origin through the centuries, Siberian cats are so affectionate and confident that they are often likened to dogs. Their personable temperaments differ marginally. Some may delight in snuggles while others simply need to be in the same room as their people. People have had great success in training them to do tricks and for agility due to the cats' phenomenal intelligence.
The Siberian is a slow developing breed that matures at roughly five years of age and is generally calm and approachable enough to handle most situations with ease. Just as with all cats, their innately curious nature can get them into trouble but keeping them entertained will help limit that behavior. They are also incredibly energetic and prone to "zoomies". Cat trees, cat scratchers, and lots of space are required to keep these pets happy when without a person to occupy them. If an apartment lifestyle is necessary, Siberian cats often appreciate experiencing safe walks outside on a suitable harness and leash if initiated at an early age.
Breed Standards: cfa.org
Neva Masquerade Cats
Neva Masquerade cat image sourced: www.mascotarios.org
The Neva Masquerade cat is the color-pointed variety of the Siberian cat. While the two breeds are similar in many ways, they differ slightly in their general body language and shape, fur texture, hereditary diseases, and vocalizations due to their distinctly separate predecessors. Different from traditional Siberian cats, Neva Masquerade cats have common ancestors with Asian color-point cats such as the Siamese or even pointed Persian cats with Asian color-point ancestry. This conclusion becomes very clear with the fact that point coloration first originated in Siamese cats and related Asian breeds. The Neva Masquerade is not the only evidence of foreign influence in the Siberian cat. Other cat breeds have also mixed with the Siberian breed, but as the Neva Masquerade is most distinctive it is beneficial to the traditional Siberian cat breed to avoid actively interbreeding the two while not limiting the gene pool to purely traditional Siberian cats.
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The Siberian cat breed, like all others, has survived many tribulations throughout time which have allowed them to evolve into the capable, unique cats we appreciate today. Russia has experienced several extreme droughts and famines that resulted in an influx of vermin after the loss of cats, in turn requiring the importation of non-indigenous cats to control them. At other times, ships bringing in foreign cat breeds also affected the Siberian cat lineage.
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Later, cat fanciers began breeding cats for color, body type, and temperament. The average individual, however, could not distinguish between longhair cat breeds at that time. For example, this is shown by "Persian" cat breeder Henry Hardy during a court case in 1894 when he claimed "It does not matter whether is Russian or not: it is a Persian cat" after being told the cat he purchased for £2 was more than likely a Russian longhair cat. This means that Siberian and similar forest cats have been introduced to other breeds since their foundation. Because of these events, there are very few if any pure, line-bred Siberian cats. For the health and longevity of the breed we do not exempt Siberian cat pedigrees simply because of a Neva Masquerade ancestor. Instead, we focus on maintaining the body structure and standard of current traditional Siberian cats for the sake of the breed. As for Corin cats, as described below, it is possible the genetic cause is derived from other parts of Europe (England, namely), but it is also likely it mutated independently. Variations of this gene can also be seen in many other species such as Siberian tigers, mice, humans, and Kirilian bobtail cats.
Corin Cats (Sunshine gene)
While we do not support Neva Masquerade cats in breeding traditional Siberian cats, we do have cats in our program with the Corin gene. The recessive Corin (serine peptidase) gene is responsible for the coat variance in some cat breeds, mice, Siberian tigers, humans, pigs, lions, and etc. It is a suppressor of the ASIP (agouti-signaling protein) pathway and can be characterized by enlarged subapical pheomelanin bands in hairs and reduced dark tips which is also known as the wideband phenotype. The colors produced are collectively named sunshine silver (bimetallic), extreme-sunshine, sunshine, and wild-type. There is little research on the Corin gene in cats and only marginally more in humans or mice. However, some variants of the Corin gene have been associated with certain health defects including missense mutations while others are associated with no health defects or mutations at all. More research needs to be completed for further confirmation.
Corin Gene: onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Corin Gene: messybeast.com
Corin Gene in British Shorthairs: messybeast.com
Rozaliya
Hypoallergenic Cats
Siberian cats are often considered hypoallergenic, meaning they are less likely to trigger allergic reactions in people compared to other cat breeds. While no cat breed is completely hypoallergenic, Siberian cats are known for producing less of the Fel d 1 protein, which is the primary allergen responsible for causing allergic reactions in humans. Having long fur, short fur, or no fur does not affect Fel d 1 production except perhaps in relation to application or shedding.
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When considering a Siberian cat as a companion, it's important to first assess for any allergic reactions. If you are interested in our cats, let us know through the contact us page and we can arrange for a meeting or postal fur delivery. To learn how to test the fur safely, check out siberianresearch.com. Additionally, keeping the cat's living environment clean and well-maintained can help reduce allergens. The use of air purifiers with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters is also highly desirable. Regular cat grooming and bathing with cat-safe products will also reduce allergens in the air.
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The website siberianresearch.com lists ways owners can reduce their symptoms while living with a cat. They also detail their information exclusively around Siberian cats, so if you love cats but allergies are getting in the way then check out the links above for more information or ask us directly.
Silvestris Siberian Cats
