How to know your pet is a Siberian cat? Showing your Siberian cat can be a wonderful experience but it can also be quite challenging. In order to ensure that your cat does well in the show, he needs to be a strong example of the breed standard. When it comes to the Siberian cat breed standard; Russia’s native cat, the Siberian cat is a medium to medium – large, strong cat. How to know your pet is a Siberian 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. How to know your pet is a Siberian cat? The general impression is of roundness and circles, rather than rectangles and triangles. Make sure that you familiarized yourself with the rules and regulations for the particular show in which you plan to enter your cat. In addition to making sure that your cat meets the qualifications of the breed standard, there are also some general things you can do to prepare for a cat show.
Physical Appearance
How to know your pet is a Siberian cat? 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 points. May have various white markings and color patches. The nose leather and paw pads are pink.
Check Points
How to know your pet is a Siberian cat? 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. 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 cover the base completely. The inner ear has an abundance of ear tufts. The eyes are moderately large, rounded, and wide set. Acceptable eye colors cover 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.
How to know your pet is a Siberian cat? 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. 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.
The Winning Breed
How to know your pet is a Siberian cat? If you want to prepare you and your cat for show make sure your cat is properly pedigreed according to the regulations of the show; you may need to present your cat’s papers as proof so be sure to have them ready. You need to fill out the registration form correctly, providing all of the necessary details, and turn it in on time you may also have to pay an entry fee at this time. Clip your Siberian cat’s claws before the show declawed cats are allowed as well without penalty.
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. Make sure that your cat is registered with the organization running the show. Be sure to enter your cat in the proper age bracket or category – some organizations allow kittens as young as three months. Find out what is provided by the show and what you need to bring yourself, some competitions provide an exhibition cage but you will need to bring some things.
Author and long-time animal lover. Sharing knowledge on pet care through experience and the written word. 