Siberian cat

Siberian cat
Siberian tomcat
Origin:	Siberia
Weight:	Male: 4.5 to 8 kg, Cat: 3 to 6 kg
generally recognized colors:	all traditional colors: Black series B - black / brown (including thinner D- blue ) Red series O - red (including thinner D- cream ) all colors mentioned also with silver (Inhibitor I- silver ) all mentioned colors also with spotted white S- all mentioned colors also with mask factor ${\displaystyle c^{s}c^{s}}$ epistatic white W-
not generally recognized colors:	chocolate, lilac, cinnamon and fawn as well as the Burmese factor , only for cats with a Birman or Somali crossbreed ${\displaystyle c^{b}c^{b}}$
List of cat breeds

Siberian cat in profile (compare: Norwegian forest cat in profile )

Head from the front: The head appears rounded overall.

Siberian cats love to move and are very good climbers.

The winter fur is long and dense and particularly abundant in the neck area.

The summer coat is shorter and has almost no undercoat.

The Siberian cat is a semi-long-haired pedigree cat of strong stature, which has been systematically bred since 1987 and has spread worldwide in a short time. It is originally a semi-long haired Russian house cat that has not been influenced by breeding. It is therefore assigned to the "natural races" and among them the forest cats. Their type is widespread throughout the territory of Russia and other adjacent areas of the former Soviet Union . Together with the Norwegian Forest Cat and the Maine Coon , it forms the group of forest cats, which are natural breeds.

origin

Initially, the term "Siberian cat" (Sibirskaja koschka) in Russia was not a name of breed or origin, but a popular expression for strong cats with lush, long-haired fur. Long-haired cats are common not only in Siberia, but practically everywhere on the territory of the former Soviet Union, albeit less often than short-haired cats. Since the long- haired kitten is inherited recessively , a long-haired kitten with lush fur can also lie there in a normal domestic cat litter. Such specimens form the basis of breeding Siberian cats.

The exact genesis of the Siberian cat in their homeland is debatable. Alexander Kolesnikov advocates the thesis that the Caucasian wildcat also contributed to the gene pool of the Siberian cat , which is clearly different in physique and coat from the African wildcat ( falcon ), which is considered to be the ancestral mother of all domestic cats , Scientific evidence that could support this thesis, are missing so far, although today's genetic tests could provide this evidence. Research results of the team led by the geneticist Carlos Driscoll at the University of Oxford , which examined the genes of almost 1,000 domestic cats from five continents, showed that all five main genetic lines found stem from the Felis silvestris libyca alone .

It is also not clear since when the long-haired cat has been widespread in the Russian domestic cat population, whether it is an independent mutation or whether it has spread from west to east via trade routes such as the Silk Road starting from the Turkish Angora cat . The reverse route along the Silk Road seems possible, but if we assume that the cat domesticated itself in the course of the development of advanced civilizations , the first option is more logical. The earliest depiction of a long-haired cat is said to come from China in the 12th century. The source of 10,000 masterpieces , however, is controversial. However, paintings of long-haired cats have been documented in the National Museum of China since the 14th century. Here, too, the historical and cultural developments of the high cultures are to be taken into account, through which an early presentation was encouraged, although there could well have been similar animals in other places. The often read assertion that the long, thick fur is an adaptation to the Siberian cold is in any case incorrect. Such phylogenetic adaptation processes require significantly longer development periods.

In Western Europe, however, long-haired cats were a rarity well into the 19th century, so that researchers and travelers in Russia noticed long-haired cats early on and mentioned them in their writings. For example, in a chapter of Brehm's animal life from 1864, which describes long-haired cat laps, “a red Tobolsk cat from Siberia” was mentioned. Also in the published in England in 1889 book Our Cats by Harrison Weir , a chapter of the Russian long-haired cat is dedicated. There is even a drawing there. Also in the book Illustrated Cat Book by Jean Bungartz , published in Berlin in 1896 , conspicuous long-haired cats from Russia are described, the Cumanian cat from the Caucasus and in the chapter Angora cats blue-gray long-haired cats from the area south of the Urals near Tyumen, called "Chanchilla cats", For the latter, the German geographer and naturalist Gustav Radde is cited as a source of information .

Breeding history

When Harrison Weir organized the first ever cat show in London's Crystal Palace in 1871, the longhair cats on display included specimens of Russian origin. Pedigree cat breeding, originating in England, was still at the very beginning and long-haired cats were rare, so that animals of different geographical origins were mated with one another. The Russian longhair breeding cats that existed at the time were absorbed into this gene pool from which the Persian cat was later developed. They were not developed further as a separate breed. The October Revolution in Russia in 1917 and the resulting exclusion of Soviet Russia for the next 60 years did the rest to make the long-haired cats from Russia fall into oblivion among cat breeders.

New beginning

The first long-haired cats from Russia did not reappear in Central Europe until 1984, namely in the GDR . Construction workers on the " Druzhba route " brought them with them in their hand luggage. Cat breeders quickly became aware of these animals. Experimental breeding began with some of these "Trassenkatzen" from 1985 in the GDR and from 1986 they were also exhibited. On January 1, 1987, the Siberian cat (initially under the name "Siberian Forest Cat") was officially recognized as a separate breed in the GDR, and for the first time anywhere in the world, and a standard was assigned to it. The first cat registered in a German stud book (VKSK of the GDR) was "Wuschel" on March 3rd, 1987. The first officially registered litter in Germany (GDR) was born on May 12th, 1988. Also in 1987 a breeding pair of Siberian cats came to Germany with a Russian family of emigrants. But it was not until the change of ownership from Tima and Mussa into the hands of the breeding couple Schultz in 1989 that the first registered litter was drawn in Germany. A breed quickly established itself, initially under the name "Siberian Forest Cat".

In Russia itself, the scheduled registration of the Sibirskaja Koschka began in 1987 in St. Petersburg. From the beginning, the point variant was also included in the standard, the "Newskaya Maskaradnaja", as it is called in Russia (after the Neva river ). Under the name Neva Masquarade , depending on the association, it is now bred partly as an independent breed, partly as a color variety of the Siberian cat. At the first cat shows in Russia, the Siberian cats aroused the interest of foreign judges and the first exports to Western Europe and the USA soon followed. In 1991 the addition of forest was deleted from the name when the standard was formulated to better distinguish it from the Norwegian Forest Cat . In 1992 the Siberian cat was officially recognized as a breed by the World Cat Federation (WCF). The Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe) only followed this opinion in 1998. Today the Siberian cat is bred in more than 35 countries worldwide (as of April 2012).

Appearance

The Siberian cat is a strongly built medium to large cat, but smaller than the American Maine Coon and less long- legged than the Norwegian Forest Cat . It has a double-layered fur made of water-repellent, grippy outer hair and a dense, fine undercoat, which forms a lush collar around the neck and front chest. The hind legs carry knickers . The summer coat is significantly shorter and has no undercoat. The medium-length, bushy tail retains its fullness even in summer. The ears are medium-sized, wide at the base, set wide and should be well rounded. Lynx brushes (tips of hair at the ends of the ears) are usually welcome, but not required in every standard. Fine, long tufts of hair protrude from the auricles. Another typical feature are the so-called "snowshoes", tufts of fur between the toes. The head of the Siberian cat looks rounded overall. The eyes are large, slightly slanted and rounded at the bottom. The slightly rounded forehead merges with the bridge of the nose with a slight curve. Siberian cats are only physically fully mature when they are around three years old.

Breed standard

The external characteristics are defined in the breed standard of the Siberian cat. Depending on the association of the breeder, the standard of the international breeders association to which his association is affiliated applies to him. The standards of the individual umbrella organizations can differ in details. Almost all standards agree that the colors cinnemon and fawn as well as chocolate and lilac are not allowed. Only the TICA standard formulates "all traditional colors". All permitted colors are also permitted in Point for Siberian cats. This is unique among forest cat breeds. The point variant has its own name: Neva Masquarade . The FIFe runs them as an independent breed.

The WCF standard is listed here as an example , as it is the most common in the motherland of the breed. In Germany, too, the majority of breeders follow the WCF standard.

Breed standard of the Siberian cat / Neva Masquarade (WCF)
body part	description
body	The medium to large cat is muscular and heavy. The legs are also muscular and of medium length. The paws are large, compact, and round with tufts of hair between the toes. The tail extends to the shoulder blade, tapers slightly and is bushy. The neck is short and strong.
head	The head is short and wide with deep set wide cheekbones, a rounded snout and a slightly rounded chin. The forehead is slightly arched. The nose is the same width from the base to the nasal surface. The contours are gently rounded, the profile is slightly curved.
Ears	The ears are medium in size, broad at the base with a slightly rounded tip. They are set wide and tilted slightly forward.
eyes	The eyes are large, slightly oval and rounded at the bottom, slightly slanted and set well apart. The eye color should be uniform and corresponding to the color of the coat. All shades from yellow / gold to green are allowed. With bicolour and other patterns with white fur color also blue or odd eyed. With point drawing blue, the darker the better.
hide	The coat is of medium length. The very dense undercoat is soft and fine, under coarser, firm outer hair. The dense, loosely falling outer hair is water-repellent, has a firm, grippy structure and is shiny. It completely covers the back, flanks and top of the tail. The underside of the body and the back of the hind legs only have undercoat. The fur is particularly long on the neck, chest, trousers and tail.
Color variations	The colors chocolate and cinnamon, as well as their dilution (lilac and fawn) are not recognized in any combination (bicolour, tricolor, tabby). Burma badges and Tonkanese badges are also not recognized. All other colors and patterns are recognized. Any amount of white is allowed. The description can be found in the general color list. The point variant with the Siamese mark is called Neva Masquerade.
Point scale	body 35 head 30th Fur texture 25th Coat color and drawing 5 condition 5
annotation	The General Assembly of the WCF decided at its meeting on August 3, 2002 in Milan to make the crossbreeding of foreign breeds dependent on the approval of the judges' commission for all natural races such as Maine Coon, Norwegians, Turks and Siberians.

For standards of the other umbrella organizations see below: Sources

Characteristics and behavior

The Siberian cat is also very original in its behavior. If she has the opportunity, she is an excellent hunter. She is happy to move and climbs and jumps exceptionally well. If it is lovingly socialized as a young animal, it develops a very close relationship with its human being and is affectionate and sociable.

Keeping and care

Siberian cats need a certain living space, that is at least one large apartment with a high, stable scratching post. A secure garden is ideal so that she can live out her instinct for hunting and exercise. It should not be kept alone. The Siberian cat looks after its summer fur alone. However, in the winter coat and especially during the change of coat, it needs a little support. Combing and brushing at least once a week prevents matting. However, the maintenance effort is much less than with the Persian cat .

literature

• Alfred Brehm: animal life. 1864.
• Harrison Weir: Our Cats. 1889.
• Jean Bungartz: Illustrated book of cats. Berlin 1896.
• Ortrun Wagner: forest cats , Maine Coon cats - Norwegian forest cats - Siberian forest cats. Parey Buchverlag, Berlin 1999.
• Eva-Maria Götz, Gesine Wolf: Maine Coon & Co., semi-long-haired cats. 2nd Edition. Ulm 2006.

Web links

Commons : Siberian Cat  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Siberian cats database
• International breeder database
• International breeder list
• FIFe Standard (PDF; 109 kB)
• WCF standard
• GCFC registration regulations Siberian cat (PDF; 15 kB)
• CFA standard (PDF)
• TICA standard (PDF; 40 kB)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ I. Sadovnicova: The Siberian Cat - The history ov love and public recognition .
2. ↑ Alex Kolesnikov: Siberian Cat Articles
3. ↑ diss.fu-berlin.de
4. ↑ Carlos and others Discoll. a .: The near eastern origin of cat domestication. In: Science , Volume 317, July 27, 2007, pp. 519-523.
5. ↑ Constance Holden: A Fertile Domestication of Cats . ( Memento of the original from July 28, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. June 28, 2007 
6. ↑ Earliest historical representation of a long-haired cat
7. ↑ Fig
8. ↑ perlentaucher.de
9. ↑ culture.teldap.tw
10. ↑ Brehms Tierleben, 1865, page 293
11. ↑ The original text in German translation
12. ^ Jean Bungartz: Illustrated cat book . Berlin 1896
13. ↑ Original text
14. ↑ Ingrid Seupel: ABC of keeping cats . S. Hirzel Verlag, Leipzig 1990, pp. 120-121.
15. ↑ vom-ohlenberg.de
16. ↑ tica.org