American Cat Fancier’s Association (ACFA) Siberian Cat Breed Standard

General

When it comes to the Siberian cat breed standard; Russia’s native cat, the Siberian cat is a medium to medium – large, strong cat.  Overall appearance should be of strength and force, with excellent physical condition and alertness, and a sweet facial expression.  For Siberian cat breed standard allowances made for slow maturation, males being larger than females, and size differences for young kittens.  The general impression is of roundness and circles, rather than rectangles and triangles. In this article, you’ll learn about the Siberian cat breed standard.

Head

The Siberian cat head is a modified wedge of medium to medium-large, with rounded contours, broader at the skull, narrowing slightly to a slightly rounded short muzzle, with noticeable whisker pads.  Cheekbones are neither high set nor prominent, but apparent.  Top of the head is flat, the nose has a gentle concave curve, a slight doming between the ears, and an almost flat area on the forehead.

The chin is well rounded, not protruding, and in line with the nose.

Ears and Eyes

The ears are medium, wide at the base, set at a minimum of 1 to 1/2 ear width apart.  Tips are rounded and ears are tilted forward.  Lynx tipping is preferred.  Hair over the back of the ears is short and thin, furnishings are long and covers the base completely.  The inner ear has an abundance of ear tufts.

The eyes are moderately large, rounded, and wide set.  Acceptable eye colors covers the green, blue-green, gold, hazel, or copper spectrum.  Blue or odd-eyed are allowed in white or “-and white” cats.  The eyes are blue in color points.

Neck and Body

The neck is medium, rounded, substantial, and well-muscled.

The body is medium in length, well muscled, with the back arched and slightly higher than the shoulders.  The body is barrel-shaped, and a firm belly gives the sensation of solid weight.

Legs, Feet and Tail

The legs are thick and dense and medium in length.  The feet are big and round.  Toe tufts are desirable.

The tail is medium somewhat shorter than the length of the body.  It is wide at the base, blunt at the tip, without any thickening or kinks.  The tail should be evenly and thickly furnished.

Coat and Coat Colors

The coat is plush, medium length.  The hair on the shoulder blades and the lower part of the chest are thick and slightly shorter.  There is a ruff setting the head, a tight undercoat which is thicker on cold weather.  The hair may thicken to curls (not waves) on the belly and britches.  The skin may have a bluish cast.  Clear and strong colors and patterns are desirable.  Coat texture may vary with color.

Accepted coat colors and patterns are those registered by the ACFA.

For Point patterns, the points of ears, legs, feet, tail, and mask should show the cat’s basic color.  The body color is lighter than point color, and the chest, bib and chin may be lighter in color.  All Pointed cats have blue eye color.

For Pointed & White, the points of ear, mask and tail must be well-defined.  The mask is a white inverted “V.”  The stomach, all four legs, feet, and ruff are white, and the body color is a shade lighter than poitns.  May have various white markings and color patches.  The nose leather and paw pads are pink.

Penalties and Withholding

The following are penalized: adult cats not having substantial weight, straight profile, narrow or fox-like muzzle, almond-shaped eyes, very long legs, thin legs, and small ears.

Awards withheld in case of the following: white on points, white on ears and tail for Pointed & White, including dark markings on white area of the mask.