Siberian Cats are gaining more and more popularity!
These fluffy cats are surely gorgeous, but are they good pets?
Let's find out everything about them!
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The Siberian, Russia's native forest cat, has been around for centuries as a standard domestic cat.
They've been featured in old Russian fairy tales
and played an important role as mousers in Russian society.
Nobody knows how they arrived in Siberia.
It's believed that Russians moving or being exiled to Siberia brought their cats with them.
These cats either adapted to Siberia's harsh climate or bred with local long-haired cats.
It's even possible that these magnificent cats are the ancestors of Angoras and Persians.
The long-haired cats living in Siberia developed into a hardy breed
able to withstand the region's unforgiving conditions.
According to Russian stories, Siberian cats once weighed
up to 45 pounds and protected their family members just like dogs!
Russian Long-haired Cats even participated in the first modern cat exhibition in London.
Those cats were different from Angoras or Persians,
having a larger size, long and dense coat, and abundant mane.
They were most likely Siberians, but no one really knows, as no records of them were kept back then.
So how did Siberians become a breed?
Breeder Elizabeth Terrell from Louisiana
is credited with bringing the Siberian to North America.
She traded Himalayans for Siberians.
Elizabeth invested thousands of dollars and spent many hours obtaining more cats.
Doing so, she managed to establish the Siberian as a recognized breed in America.
Other breeders joined her efforts.
Nowadays, the Siberian is recognized as a breed by all major cat associations.
And now, let's talk about their fantastic appearance!
The Siberian is a medium-large cat with the overall appearance of massive strength,
power, and alertness.
They're gentle giants and one of the largest breeds of domestic cats.
Siberian males range between fifteen and twenty-five pounds,
and females range between twelve and seventeen pounds.
Even if they're powerful cats, they have a sweet facial expression.
They have a short and stocky body that is barrel-shaped and round.
Their eyes are large, round, and very docile.
They can be of any color, regardless of the coat, but the color should be clear.
Siberians take up to five years to fully mature.
Males continue to develop muscle and begin to look heftier as they age past five years.
Some owners have noticed their cats gaining muscle as they approach ten years.
They're gifted with a triple coat!. On the belly area, you'll notice that the fur is wavy.
Their very dense, water-resistant coat is medium to long in length;
it's somewhat shorter and less dense in the summer.
Their neck is covered in a pretty ruff! Their bushy tails are carried up with pride.
They can even have lynx tips! Ear tipping is desired, while full ear furnishings are required.
Siberians are a natural breed!
They come in a rainbow of colors: orange, blue, silver, white, black, and any combination.
Siberians can also sport any pattern!
The most common color is brown tabby with or without white, but colorpoint is also possible!
Just look at this gorgeous colorpoint Siberian! It's my favorite color!
Let's find out what their personality is all about!
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Thanks to Purrfect Portal for sponsoring today's video,
and now, let's go back to Siberians' personalities.
The Siberian will become your best friend, confidante, problem-solver, and house clown.
Siberian Cats long for companionship and want to be near their owners.
They will meet you at the door when you come home and tell you about their day.
They'll do this in a quiet, melodic way, using sweet meows, trills, chirps, and lots of purring.
They're devoted, loyal companions but not clingy.
Siberians will follow you from room to room but patiently wait until you have time for cuddles.
Some of them love to sit on your lap, while others lay happily near you.
You may notice your Siberian chooses to sit on you more during winter.
But most of them love to be groomed.
They're affectionate but don't expect much love from a kitten or teenager.
They'll become more loving as they grow up, starting at about 2 years of age.
A favorite pastime of theirs is finding something and bringing it back to be thrown and fetched.
They love to play with many toys, but balls and feathered cat teasers are a must.
Siberians tend to be intrigued by a moving cursor on computer screens.
As such, they'll probably enjoy playing cat games on tablets!
This also means you'll have a loyal buddy whenever you work on your computer.
Your Siberian will be delighted to sit near you, periodically extending a paw of support.
Others will insist on adding illegible words to your most crucial documents.
But if you share your home with a Siberian, you'll never be alone.
They'll watch TV with you, go to the restroom with you, and then go to bed with you.
They'll insist on taking part in any activity.
Reading a newspaper, book, or magazine is next to impossible without your Siberian.
Siberians are also extremely curious and little thieves:
if they like something, they'll play with it until they lose it.
Siberians enjoy the company of dogs, other animals, and children.
They're fearless and easygoing.
Many parents state their Siberian cat sleeps at their children's feet,
just like a trustworthy guardian.
They don't mind noises or strangers as much as most cats.
Siberians have a high level of intuition and know when something's off.
As such, they'll spend more time with a family member in need.
The acrobatic nature of the Siberian is well known among owners.
They will play hard, often executing amazing jumps in pursuit of a feathered toy.
Some balance on clothing racks and seem to defy gravity!
They love to have tall shelves and cat trees they can conquer.
They're incredibly playful and keep this trait throughout their lives.
Siberians long for human companionship and should not be left alone for long periods.
If you're working a full-time job, it's best to get two of them.
Having two kittens is better because they'll keep each other busy while you're away.
They do things together that they can't do with humans.
And you'll have the rare opportunity to watch them goof around!
I know, they seem perfect!
The only obstacle you need to overcome is their price, which I'll discuss in a bit.
But before you get too excited, take a minute to learn about their grooming needs!
An adult Siberian needs to be combed several times a week and bathed once every 6 months.
You'll also have to check their coat for matted hair.
Their ears must be regularly examined and cleaned as needed.
For the most part, they don't shed much; instead, they molt twice a year.
When a Siberian molts, the hair will start to mat and then shed in large clumps.
You should groom them daily as this happens.
There are always exceptions, and some shed constantly.
Dry air, during winter, can also make them mat because the saliva makes the fur wet.
In dry air, this can cause matting as it dries.
Most matting will occur behind the ears, under the front legs, and near the private parts.
If your Siberian gets matted hair, it's essential to detangle it.
Matted hair cuts off the cat's circulation. It's also painful as the mat pulls at the skin.
On the other hand, the Siberian is considered a low allergenic breed.
It's said Siberians produce less of the protein some people are allergic to.
As such, people allergic to cats might tolerate living with a Siberian.
However, if you're allergic, you should always test this before buying one.
In terms of health, Siberians tend to be hardy, healthy cats.
HCM is the only significant disease they're prone to.
Reputable breeders screen their cats yearly and prevent affected cats from breeding.
That's why it's essential to get your cat from an accredited breeder.
Don't get one before asking about the breeder's efforts to prevent HCM
and other major health issues.
And now, the crucial question:
How much do Siberian Cats cost?
Pet quality Siberian kittens cost between 1200$ and 2000$ and even more;
prices vary depending on the kitten and cattery.
Smaller or newer catteries are usually on the lower end.
Show quality or breeder quality kittens are typically pricier.
As always, look for accredited breeders and avoid scammers.
If you can't afford a kitten, get a retired adult instead.
These cats aren't old, but they're retired, so they can enjoy being pets.
They cost less, and their personalities are well-developed,
so you know exactly what you're getting.
If you still can't afford one, please consider adopting.
Stray cats love you just like any other cat,
and there are millions of them looking for a forever home.
You'll be paying a lot less, and you'll become your cat's superhero!
I really hoped you liked this video.
If so, please give it a like, subscribe, and check out my videos about other breeds.
Also, feel free to check out the links in the description
for some super cool stuff for your cat.
See you next time!