Siberian cats, beautiful and respectable, with a magnificent thick coat, have long won the nation's love, having managed to demonstrate their best qualities in communication with people. Behind their outward calmness lies confidence and strength, while at the same time they are delicate, empathetic and balanced.
Origin
The first mentions of cats resembling Siberian cats in their appearance can be traced back to the XVI century. In those days, they were called Bukhara. However, their spread was not limited to Siberia. According to one version, the ancestors of the Siberian cat were the descendants of the Angora and Persian cats, brought to Siberia by merchants from Central Asian countries. According to another, the breed was formed under the influence of the Norwegian Forest Cat, which migrated with immigrants from the northern regions of Russia. Nowadays, the Siberian breed of domestic cats is based on the blood of the largest and fluffiest individuals. Evaluation of breed specimens is carried out according to the standard of the WCF (2002), TICA (2004) and FiFe (2007) systems. The standard is the same for all colors, including Siamese, which is characteristic of a subspecies of the Siberian cat breed - Neva Masquerade cats.
Character
Siberian cats are playful, friendly, and sociable. However, they do not make contact with everyone. Pets are wary of strangers in the house and try to avoid small children who are overactive. Therefore, it is not recommended to hold the animal by force, pick it up and try to stroke it against its will. The breed has a strong and independent character and takes time to adapt to unusual smells and loud noises.
Behaviour
The Siberian cat loves attention and outdoor games. At the same time, it will not meow loudly and curl in the legs. Communication with the cat can be dosed, because the pet easily occupies itself. Siberian cats easily get along with children. But if they start making noise or petting the animal against its will, they hide or release their claws. With the arrival of guests, the animal begins to behave warily, preferring to observe them from the sidelines. However, if it is not the first time it sees a person, it may show curiosity and even allow itself to be petted. The main thing is to let the pet sniff you and wait for the moment when it comes out of hiding on its own. "Siberians" do not conflict with dogs and cats. But smaller animals can be problematic. Due to the pronounced hunting instinct, the pet sees them as prey. Therefore, co-housing with rodents and birds is not recommended.
Health
Representatives of the Siberian cat breed are aboriginal – bred in the natural environment without human participation. Therefore, critical health problems that could have formed due to errors in the selection process have not been identified in animals. Basically, "Siberians" suffer from blockage of the lumen of the stomach or intestines by hairballs or urolithiasis due to insufficient fluid intake.
Care
Combing the hair of a Siberian cat begins in the cattery. The cat should get used to the weekly routine and accept it without dissatisfaction. The coat of the Siberian cat is considered to be self-cleaning. Therefore, it is often not necessary to bathe the pet. However, if the pet goes outside or participates in shows, bathing should be regular. It is not necessary to trim the nails of Siberian cats. It is enough to accustom the pet to the scratching post and make sure that the sharp tips do not interfere with his walking. If the nails do not grind down naturally, trim them by 1-2 mm every month. The eyes and ears of the Siberian cat should be cleaned as they get dirty. Usually, the procedure is performed 1 time a week.
