Russian National Treasure

Russian National Treasure

The Siberian cat is Russia’s native forest cat and a Russian National Treasure. This breed of cat comes from the bitterly cold climate of Siberia in the taiga of Russia. Siberian cats have been documented in Russian history, Russian fairy tales, and children’s books for hundreds of years. A Siberian appears in Harrison Wier’s book Our Cats and All About Them, which was published in 1889. The Siberian was brought to the USA in June of 1990, after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The Siberian cat has a very fluffy tail, full ruff around the neck, full britches on the back legs, hair inside of the ears, and a round body type. They are medium-to-large in size with the appearance of excellent physical condition. Siberians are strong, powerful, and alert with a sweet facial expression, which includes large, round eyes. They have thick, medium-to-long fur that is water repellent with a very dense, triple coat. Their heavy coat stays relatively tangle-free with a good twice-weekly combing. Siberian cats can take up to 5 years to fully mature and females are usually smaller than males.

Siberians want to be near their family and enjoy the company of other cats, dogs, children, and other animals. They love to play games, play with toys, and play fetch. Playing in water, drinking from running water, and playing in the snow are their most enjoyable activities. Siberian cats are fearless, easygoing, sweet, loving, and supportive. They enjoy climbing, jumping, and being up as high as possible. Siberians remain playful even when they are fully grown. They will occasionally meow, but they communicate most often with sweet trills, purrs, and chirps. Siberians always know when someone is upset or sad and they do their best to cheer up that person with a big hug around the neck or a gentle headbutt to show that they care. All of this makes the Siberian cat a wonderful family pet and a loving companion.

Photo Credit: Winter Kot Siberians