Siberian Forest Cat
Temperament:
*Sensible
*Resourceful
*Intelligent
*Hardy
*Friendly
*Gentle
*Quiet and Soft-Voiced
"The Siberian is well suited to the cold Northern climates."
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| Head: Broad, round; medium nose with pink nosepad |
| Eyes: Large, round; hazel to green |
| Ears: Medium large; wide set; often tufted |
| Body: Medium to large; solidly built; long body, strong legs |
| Coat: Medium long; glossy long topcoat; thick heavy undercoat |
| Tail: Long, bushy |
| Patterns: Usually tabby |
Breed History: Out in the icy taiga of Northern Russia lives the Siberian Forest Cat, a
longhaired, bushy tailed, strongly built feline. To cat fanciers, this is a very important
feline because it is now believed to be the ancestor of ALL longhaired cats, including the
Angora and the Persian.
Today, after many years of neglect, the Siberian Forest Cat is attracting the attention of
breeders and cat lovers, and is becoming a pedigree in its own right. Perhaps that prior
neglect is not so surprising if you think of the Siberian as the Russian equivalent of our
common domestic cat. In fact, the gene responsible for the Siberian's long hair was found
to be present in 64% of all cats in the huge city of St Petersburg in Russia. Because it
was considered so commonplace, the Siberian Forest Cat was rarely exported from its
homeland.
In 1987 two beautiful Siberians- one found wandering around the St Petersburg marketplace-
were adopted in Russia by cat fanciers and taken to Germany. There a breeding program was
begun, and the name Siberian Forest Cat was chosen. Meanwhile, enthusiasts in Russia began
breeding Siberians as well. In 1990, the first Siberians reached the American shores, and
a year later the cats were exhibited in New York.
Breeding programs now in progress- particularly in Russia, where the Siberian gene pool is
wide and deep- should soon produce many new colors and patterns. As you would expect from
their rugged background, Siberian Forest Cats are sturdy, powerful cats. |
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