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NEWS:Gemma has been featured in the May 2011 Cat Fancy Magazine Siberian Cat article on pg 28. Thank you, Helmi Flick for the photo and submission!

UPDATE: Pendraig launches new Golden Siberian Cat program.

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The Siberian Cat Breed

About the Siberian Cat Breed

The true Siberian Cat is a land race breed from Russia that has many unique and endearing qualities that have made it a national treasure to the Russian people and to fanciers worldwide.  The cat has a distinctive appearance with a unique triple coat that features a rough, water resistant outer later, tufted feet to help traverse the snow and ice, rounded body that somewhat resembles the Pallas cat, a non domestic cat species that calls Russia it’s home and a dog-like personality that endears them to their owners all over the world.

Pallas Cat
Photo © Joe Knapp

The traditional Siberian Cat is true to the forest cat breed type with a quality, weather proof coat and coloring beneficial to life in the out of doors though our cats have long given up their feral past.  There are some cats bred with the color point gene and these are considered to be the “Neva Masquerade” now officially by FIFe and some other clubs but are not to be considered the same as the Siberian Cat.  There is serious debate on this issue that can only be done justice in a future article.

Siberian Cats are a relatively healthy breed, partially because they are still so close to the foundation cats shaped by the hard demands of mother nature and partly because we still have the option as good stewards of the breed to maintain genetic diversity through supporting various lines and finding new foundation cats in Russia as well as monitoring for any potential health problems within our lines so as to find them before they become a problem.  A well fed, well loved and cared for Siberian cat can live well into her teens or later especially if fed a balanced, species appropriate raw diet and natural rearing.

Siberian Cats are a large breed cat, in fact it numbers among one of the largest but is not to be compared to the much larger Maine Coon.  Also because the breed is young, for pedigreed breeding, and has many varying types from region to region in Russia the size of the cats can vary significantly but good breeders work to have always cats with excellent heft, big bones and solid musculature.  Females average in weight 8 – 12 lbs, males 12 – 18 lbs however larger and smaller cats are not uncommon.  At Pendraig our first litter produced cats that at their full size are at the top of that average rating and we have heard of some larger cats however we want to stress this breed’s important feature is not to be the biggest cat but to be the most authentic Siberian Cat with unrivaled health, excellent temperament and of course beauty.

Siberian Cats do shed, sometimes quite a lot especially during the twice a year molt when they get rid of the winter coat for summer, and when they get rid of the lighter summer coat to make room for a big winter coat.  Diet and stress can also affect shedding.  A proper, species appropriate raw diet for cats and natural rearing will reduce shedding significantly as well as allergen levels.  Grain based dry foods, over-vaccination, flea products and other chemical burdens can drastically increase both allergen levels and shedding.  For the health and wellbeing of your cat and your family it is best to use non-toxic cleansers in the home, natural flea remedies and of course a healthy diet with probiotics, cod liver oil and as much raw or canned food as possible.

Traditional Siberian Cats come in a rainbow of colors but there are a few colors that are not accepted including the color point or Neva Masquerade.  The breed standards in the USA do not make these distinctions but devoted traditional breeders do and we strive to always breed and preserve the true, authentic Siberian Cat for your family to enjoy.

A Little Siberian Cat Breed History

Our first Siberian Cat - Boris

Pre-Recognition as an Official Breed

The true origin of the Siberian cat remains shrouded in history. All that we do know is that the Siberian cat developed its unique qualities while living on the streets, farms and forests surrounding various Russian and Siberian cities. Because of the harshness of the climate, and the difficulties of surviving as feral populations, a land race developed. This race of cats had unique features not seen in other regions, including the rare triple layer coat to protect the cats from the cold and wet, smaller and rounded ears to prevent heat loss, and a unique intelligence and personality that is often described as "dog-like".
There are instances of these unique cats in paintings and literature dating back as far back as 1000 AD but they may have existed long before.  There is some speculation that these cats are the ancestors of the other two forest breeds, the Maine Coon and the Norwegian Forest Cat.
In modern times they were commonly referred to as “street cats”.  There wasn’t much interest in them as a breed until the first cat show was held.  Suddenly interest burst forth and many of these cats even caught the attention of foreigners who worked to import them to their home countries.
Breed standards were developed based on some of the top cats that were shown at the time; this included the much disputed color-point (Neva Masquerade). The CFA, WCF and TICA organizations recognize these cats but include the color-point as an accepted color where FIFe does not.
For more information on how the breed was created, including the writing of the breed standard and the influence of the Neva Masquerade cats please refer to this great article: THE SIBERIAN CAT - the history of love and public recognition.

More great articles include:

“A Siberian in Exile” By Alex Kolesnikov, PhD in molecular genetics, Sibaris cattery, Russia.

(More Coming Soon!)

After Recognition

(Coming Soon!)

Siberians in the USA

The Siberian cat first made its debut within the United States thanks to the efforts of Elizabeth Terrell and a few others. She worked out a cultural exchange of U.S. Himalayan lines for Siberian lines and brought them into the USA. Her cattery, Starpoint, figures heavily in many American lines including our own through Archibald Boris of Pendraig and now his grandson, and our current stud, Pendraig Aslan SunFire. To read more on the Siberian Cat's introduction into the United States:
Links for More Information

• THE SIBERIAN CAT - the history of love and public recognition.
• SiberianCatWorld.com's section on breed history
• The Siberian Cat - A Novel Approach. by Phil Maggitti

We are located near Austin, Texas USA