Siberian Kitten Breed

It seems likely that the mutation for long hair may have occurred originally in eastern Russia or Siberia and spread from there to Persia and Turkey, as well as westwards to create the longhaired Scandinavian cats. The longhair gene is present in as many as 64 per cent of cats in St Petersburg and occurs right across to the Pacific where it is found in 21 per cent of cats; these territories have been much less affected by deliberate breeding policies than in countries where the Cat Fancy became well established. Kittens are born with short fur, the glossy guard hairs appearing by the time they are three months old. In the early days of cat shows Russian longhairs appeared on the show bench and one was owned by Harrison Weir but it is only recently that interest has been revived with the development of a Cat Fancy in Russia and the exhibition of the breed at the International Cat Show in New York in 1991. The Siberian differs from the Maine Coon and from the Norwegian Forest Cat inhaving a rounder head.

Strong and sturdy; longish body set on strong legs, tail reaches back almost to the shoulders.

A broad skull, the equilateral triangle of the face softened by rounded contours but with a straight profile; high set, wide-based ears.

Large, not quite round and slightly oblique; color in keeping with coat, being hazel to green with the golden tabby coat which is most usually seen.

Long with a glossy top coat and thick insulating undercoat, full ruff, breeches and tail.

Many varieties are underdevelopment, but a golden tabby with black patterning over a golden agouti is currently the best known.