"Siberian cat" today

 
“Where does Siberian cat came from? Of course from Siberia” – could you answer undoubtedly. But it is not true. The native land of these cats is the Far East (in ancient times all territories outside Ural mountains were called Siberia, so the name Siberian cats came from this). Bright evidence of that are handsome cats brought there from. The population of cats lived in these forests 200 – 300 years ago for a long time was existing separately. The coupling these cats with Far East wood cats could not be excluded. To the moment when people were appeared in these territories, a specific type of a cat was formed here already, which became a basis of "Siberian cat" breed.
Unfortunately, there are no beautiful legends around Siberian cat which are connected with its origin. In this sense she is not so lucky, as other native breeds. There is a legend about Meincun, that the beginning of the breed is connected to a raccoon (English "ñîîn" - the constituent of a word "raccoon", that is translated as "raccoon”) who has probably coupled with cats of state Mein, and the Norwegian wood cat was named as "goblin cat" as it was thought that he is a hybrid of a lynx with the house cat.
But in Russian fairy tales all cats undoubtedly were Siberian cats. A power and a grace, an independence and a tenderness, a quick-mind and a concern, a fine character and a confidence of a native cat, who had passed a long, centuries-old route near to the people is surprisingly combined in these cats. Anyhow, but the nature has presented to us a magnificent Siberian cat and probably nobody will argue with it.
The male are always larger than female. If female weight on the average more than 4 kg, male are starting with 6 kg and more. Some cats are up to 12 kg. Siberians become grown-up by 2 years, and the really maturity reach them only by 3-5 years. The Siberian cats are a long-livers, they live up to 15 – 20 years.
In each system of refereeing there are their own standards of breeds. The standard is the basic document in working with breed. The most detailed description of points of a Siberian cat is given in active ICEF-standard. We are not citing it here, you could find it on every web-site. You could see on the point scale, what is the most important for the Siberian breed, for what the biggest sum of points could be given, and we will consider a points of Siberian cat in accordance with this scale.

Point scale for expert assessment
 

As could be seen from a point scale, the type of an animal is very important, that’s why there is 30 points is given for good type according to point scale.
According to the type, this cats are sturdily-build with strong skeleton and a relief musculation on strong extremities of average length. And what paws the Siberian cat has! They are circular big, certainly with fascicles of a long hair between fingers. The more the paws - the better. It is a pleasure to run a snow on such paws! If to take a side view on Siberian cat, her body reminds a rectangular under the form, but it shouldn’t be stretched. In all appearance of the Siberian health and power could be felted. The big attention is focused on the skeleton. When you take the "correct" Siberian cat at your hand, you understand that he is more heavy, than it seems. And if it seems like a “down", it is not a Siberian cat and you has been deceived by your first impression.
A head of a Siberian cat is in a good proportion to a body (25 points). The form is short, wide and like an overturned trapeze with conditional top on a chin. A chin is wide, strong, but not as set forth. The upper part of a head between ears is flat. The forehead should not be too prominent, but a smooth change from a low forehead to a wide direct dorsum of nose should be felt. The nose should be smooth along the full length or can be slightly narrowed to a pocket mirror of nose, it should be not like “snub-nose”. Siberians of old type have the length of nose in 2 times more, than width. In modern type there is approximately in 1,5 times more than width. The pillows of vibrissa are well developed. The jaws are strong, the cheeks are filled. The low cheekbones, the pillows of vibrissa and a strong chin form a smooth spherical line. The tendency to wider muzzle is characteristic for Siberian cats of modern type. The ears are medium-large, wide at base. The distance between ears should be equal to the width of the ear at base, or it might be more. The ears are slightly inclined forward; the tips are rounded and might be brushes. The outside line of the ear is higher than eyes level.
The eyes (10 points) of Siberians are slightly oblique and wide apart; tilt angle in relation to the bridge is more or less than 35 degrees. The form of eyes is oval (with rounded lower line, like almonds), an upper eyelid can have a little curvature, than inferior. Very circular lower eyelid is inadmissible. The distance between internal angles of eyes (or width of nose) equals to length of an eye or more at 1,25 – 1,5 times. Usually, eyes of a male are set more widely, than by female. Eyes color is preferable green, but greenish-yellow and yellow colors are also acceptable. In WCF-standard (1997) the eyes form is described as "rounded"(oval). In CFA –standard by translation from English eyes form at Siberians became round. This mistake should be corrected somehow, in fact everybody knows, that the round eyes at Siberians is a disadvantage and the animal should be disqualified.

The fourth important point in the description of the Siberian is coat (20 points). Siberian coat are splendid, perfectly protect them from a bad weather. The guard coat is solid, glossy, water-repellent, extended from scapulas to a croup, drained off on sides and the upper part of a tail. The undercoat is double, ample, rich and thick during cold weather and thin in warm. The coat of Siberian is never dumped. The beautiful coat is long, thick as a mane and a complete collar. The coat on a collar should not be too long and outgrown. In modern run there are two kinds of a collar acceptable: a round collar (equal on all length) or an oval collar (wider on each side, and shorter under a chin). The coat on breast is thick and rich (a so called “jabot”). The wide collar emphasizes the noble appearance of the Siberian cat. Behind a mane, neck coat is shorter, it makes a border between a massive head and perfectly set body. A neck is short and strong. Downy "britches" and perfectly down tail finish the dress of the Siberian. The coat on a belly is more longer. The decorative coat on a collar, a "panties" and a tail is always more longer, but should not be overgrown. It is a pity, that during a fading season there is almost nothing left from this beauty, but this is a certify that this breed of cats has come from the native population, lived in a seasonal climate.
The tail (10 points) is wide and strong at the base and slightly narrowed to the tip. It is equal downy. A coat on a tail is thick and more longer. If to take a tip of tail and raise it, the coat should not be broken to "feathers". A tail has an average length in the bent kind, on a side should reach scapulas. It’s a disadvantage if it is more shortly.
The condition (5 points): the Siberian cat should be healthy and well-groomed. The cat became well-groomed because of right grooming in pre-exhibition period.
From the articles of the magazines “Kot-Info”, ¹5, 6, 2005 (the authors of the articles are Mamedova, Sertacova, Baeva, Ageshina).