Siberian cat: Difference between revisions
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=== Fur === |
=== Fur === |
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Siberians express the three natural types of feline fur: guard hairs, awn hairs, and down. These three layers protected the cat from the Russian weather extremes, and provides a hearty, easy to care for coat today. The fur is textured, but glossy, leading it to rarely mat. A twice weekly combing is enough to keep the coat in good condition. |
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While there is no scientific evidence, anecdotal evidence from breeders and pet owners claims that Siberians are [[hypoallergenic]], with some claims that the female causes fewer allergic reactions than the male.<ref>Retrieved from http://magazine.clymbers.com/apr03/siberian.html.</ref> Siberian fur is textured, medium-long and usually tabby patterned. Their fur is plush, can have a wide range of coloration (including points), and does not have a tendency to mat.{{Fact|date=October 2008}} |
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Siberian cats molt once, sometimes twice, a year. The first molt is at the end of the winter. It may interest readers in cold northern climates to know that winter is not heat dependent, but that the change in daylight to longer hours of sushine triggers the molting process. Many Siberians will experience a less intese "mini molt" at the end of the summer season. Perhaps this molt was intended to rid the fur of brambles and briars in the coat in preparation for the development of the heavy winter coat. |
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Hypoallergenic qualities of the Siberian coat have been noted and commented on for almost ten years. While there is little scientific evidence, information from breeders and pet owners demonstrates that Siberians can be [[hypoallergenic]] to many allergy sufferers. Since females of all feline breeds produce lower levels of FELD-1, Breeders often suggest that allergic families adopted female cats. If you are allergic, it is wisest to check your reactivity directly with the parent cats from whom you plan to adopt a kitten. |
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Retrieved from http://magazine.clymbers.com/apr03/siberian.html.</ref> |
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=== Hypo-allergenic === |
=== Hypo-allergenic === |
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Revision as of 18:58, 24 April 2009
 | The article's lead section may need to be rewritten. |
| Siberian | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Origin | Russia |
| Breed standards | |
| CFA | standard |
| FIFe | standard |
| TICA | standard |
| ACF | standard |
| ACFA/CAA | standard |
| Domestic cat (Felis catus) | |
The Siberian is considered to be a semi longhair breed of cat. The Siberian cat breed is recognized by most cat organizations, which accept Siberians of any color (including color points) for competition.
History
The Siberian cat is the national cat of Russia. This large, affectionate, semi long haired breed is now recognized for Championship competition worldwide in major feline registries such as GCCF, FIFe, TICA, CFA, CFF, and others.
The Siberian originated as a working cat on Russian farms. Moving into the cities as people emmigrated, the cat also adapted to urban living. It is within the cities that the breed, still not registered as a purebreed, was able to mix with feral cats of all colors and types. This mixing, which may have also occured intentionally as the breed type was being determined in its earliest days as a show cat, created a division in Siberian cats. When the masked, or colorpointed pattern appeared, or was created, some fanciers embraced it as a prettier form of the Siberian cat, and other fanciers felt that since the patterning did not appear in the original farm cats, that it was not proper to include it in the breed standard. To this day some international registreries do not accept the colorpointed patterning for purebred Siberian cats.
Characteristics
Body
Known to be an exceptionally agile jumper, the Siberian is a strong and powerfully built cat, with strong hindquarters and large, well rounded paws. Their barrel chests and medium sized ears, broad foreheads, and stockier builds set them apart from their brother Forest Cat breeds, the Maine Coon and Norwegian Forest Cat.
Siberians are stolid cats, typically eliciting the comment "Wow! This cat is heavy!!" when they are picked up. Weighing, on average, between 11 to 15 pounds for the males, and 9 to 12 pounds for females, the cat is heavily boned and barrel chested, giving the breed its characteristic "bull dog stance" look. As with many large breeds, Siberians attain full growth and mature characteristics slowly over their first five years.
Temperament
Siberians are generally intelligent, playful, affectionate, and loyal, leading many to describe their character as dog-like. [citation needed] They enjoy the outdoors to a great degree.[citation needed] They are independent, and may respond to their name when called.[citation needed]
Fur
Siberians express the three natural types of feline fur: guard hairs, awn hairs, and down. These three layers protected the cat from the Russian weather extremes, and provides a hearty, easy to care for coat today. The fur is textured, but glossy, leading it to rarely mat. A twice weekly combing is enough to keep the coat in good condition.
Siberian cats molt once, sometimes twice, a year. The first molt is at the end of the winter. It may interest readers in cold northern climates to know that winter is not heat dependent, but that the change in daylight to longer hours of sushine triggers the molting process. Many Siberians will experience a less intese "mini molt" at the end of the summer season. Perhaps this molt was intended to rid the fur of brambles and briars in the coat in preparation for the development of the heavy winter coat.
Hypoallergenic qualities of the Siberian coat have been noted and commented on for almost ten years. While there is little scientific evidence, information from breeders and pet owners demonstrates that Siberians can be hypoallergenic to many allergy sufferers. Since females of all feline breeds produce lower levels of FELD-1, Breeders often suggest that allergic families adopted female cats. If you are allergic, it is wisest to check your reactivity directly with the parent cats from whom you plan to adopt a kitten. Retrieved from http://magazine.clymbers.com/apr03/siberian.html.</ref>
Hypo-allergenic
The Siberian is reportedly hypo-allergenic. Many people believe that the breed produces less Fel d1, the primary allergen present on cats.[citation needed]
In 1999 Indoor Biotechnologies tested the fur for four cats for Fel d 1; a mixed breed, two Siberians, and an Abyssinian.[1] The results showed the Siberian and Abyssinian cat fur as having lower Fel d 1 levels than the mixed breed cat.[1] Indoor Biotechnologies cautions that the Siberian levels were still high, and that the mixed breed sample was "exceptionally high."[1] Indoor Biotechnologies warns against using these results to make decisions of pet ownership.[1]
Reproduction
On average, a Siberian cat's litter consists of 4 kittens.[2] Some litters, however, have consisted of as few as one and as many as nine kittens.
Ancestry
The breed can be seen in Russian paintings and writings dating back hundreds of years. This sets them apart from breeds that are the result of fairly recent selective breeding.[citation needed]
There is an increasing interest in Siberians worldwide, and they are currently accepted in all registries.[citation needed]
Varieties
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Silver Shaded with White Siberian cat. -
Blue Silver Mackerel Tabby Siberian cat. -
Brown Patched Tabby with White Siberian cat. -
Two Siberian brown mackerel tabby kittens (sisters), 12 months old, 8lbs each, still growing.
References
- ^ a b c d "The Siberian Cat...hypoallergenic??". Archived from the original on 2008-11-30. Retrieved 2008-11-29.
- ^ Retrieved from http://www.onlypetcare.com/the-siberian-cat.php.
