Siberian Cat Breed Standards

The Siberian Cat Breed is considered to be one of the larger framed cats and one of the largest and certainly the heaviest breed of domestic cat in the World. Siberians have been linked with the Main Coon and Norwegian Forest Cat and were likely the foundation stock of many different breeds. Siberian Cats in their home country have been reported to weigh in excess of 40 lbs. but US weights vary drastically from this report and vary considerably from the referenced weights in available reference books. Actual weights generally range from 10-16 lbs. for the average sized males and 7-10 lbs. for the average sized females. J. Anne Helgren in ‘’BARRON’S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CAT BREEDS’’ gives weights in the ranges of 17-26 lbs. for males and 13-17 lbs. for females. The Siberian Cat will mature until year 5. Although they generally reach full height in their first 36 months, the muscles continue to develop and strengthen and they will add weight years 3 through 5. They are very thickly boned and densely muscled so they should be surprisingly heavy whatever their size. The overall appearance of the body should be a long body, low to the ground, with massive boning and musculature. A body that is as long leggged as it is long in the back as with the Maincoon should be penalized. The expression should be wide set with large eyes that are almost round but slightly streched from top to bottom. The ears should set more on the side of the head than the top and be rounded and relatively small but not that of the Persian. The muzzle should be average to shorter in length and full but not bulbous like the Maincoon. The cheeks should be full enough to complete the roundness of the head and should provide a smooth transition between the muzzle and the head. The profile between the forehead and the top of the muzzle should be circular. The neck should be heavily muscled and very short, almost non existant in appearance. The tails are medium to short in length and fully feathered, having the same length of hair from the base to the tip very similar in appearance to a duster.

The Siberian Cat has a triple coat that does not fully mature until after their first winter. Their coats are also much heavier during the winter months. The coat is of medium to long hair with three distinct layers, alsohaving a noticeable ruff and guard hairs during most of the year being heaviest in the winter months. Male ruffs are much denser and easier to spot than the female. The hair on the shoulder blades, chest, neck, and tail is longer with tufting covering the base of the ears. The undercoat is extremely thick with a bunny rabbit like feel and all layers of the coat are water repellant with oily like hairs. The middle coat is about an inch or two long. The outer most coat varies in texture from coarse to extremely soft but is disctly longer than the middle coat and can be seen easily on the back and sides. These coat types were necessary in the cold harsh climates of their home country. They shed once or twice a year very quickly, like a molting period. They shed in the spring and they occasionally shed in the fall. Some Siberians have a very thick undercoat, due to this fact the thicker coated Siberians require brushing at least once a week especially in the winter and spring months. A antistatic or metal comb such as a greyhound comb should be used in order to not develop static which can be very uncomfortable to the cat. The skin of the Siberian Cat is generally very thick and tough. Giving a male his shots and micro-chipping him seemed almost sadistic; the strength needed to puncture his skin. The skin, gums, and mouth may show a blue coloring. All coat colors, with or without white and patterns are acceptable. Most Siberian Cats are tabbies, with brown tabby being the most common. Some imports are what is called the NEVA MASQUERADE, or the color- point Siberian Cats. These cats are also reported to have occurred naturally in Russia and should follow the same breed standard as the common colors.

CFA Siberian Cat Breed Standard

GENERAL: the Siberian Breed is a medium to medium large, strong cat that hails from a very unforgiving climate…Siberia. They first appeared in recorded history around the year 1000. According to folklore these magnificent animals made their homes in Russian monasteries, where they would walk along the high beams as lookouts for intruders. Their agility, speed, and strength made them worthy opponents in the monasteries' shadowy interiors. But the monks who cared for these animals regarded them as loyal and loving companions. One fact that is undeniable, the Siberian is Russia's native cat. The overall appearance should be one of strength, and force with an excellent physical condition and alertness, with a sweet facial expression. The breed is extremely slow to mature taking as long as 5 years, and allowances should be made for younger cats. The general impression is one of roundness and circles, rather than rectangles and triangles.
HEAD: the head is a modified wedge of medium size with rounded contours, broader at the skull and narrowing slightly to a full and slightly rounded muzzle with a well-rounded chin. Female muzzles may be more delicate than that of the males. The cheekbones are neither high set or prominent. There should be a good distance between the ears and eyes. The top of the head is flat, with a slight nose curvature of a gentle slope from the forehead to the nose and a slight concave curvature before the tip. The neck is medium, rounded, substantial, and well muscled. The whiskers are strong and long.
EARS: the ears are medium, wide at the base and set as much on the sides of the head as on the top; ideal position is 1 to 1-1/2 ear widths apart. The tips are rounded and the ear tilts forward. Lynx tipping is desirable. Hair over the back of the ears is short and thin, from the middle of the ear, the furnishings become longer and cover the base completely. The inner ear has an abundance of ear tufts. In juveniles and young kittens only, the ears may appear to be medium-large and closer together with usually no more than one ear width apart.
EYES: large, round, wide set. If not held fully open the eye will appear to have the outer corner slightly angled toward the lower base of the ear. In the traditional colors there is no relationship between eye color and coat color/pattern. Acceptable eye color may cover the entire green, gold, hazel or copper spectrum. Blue or odd-eyed allowed in white cats. The typical adult color is green to green-gold. In the color point class the eyes are blue.
BODY: substantial. The back is medium in length and very slightly curved or arched, the back appears to be horizontal when in motion. The convex muscular torso and a round compact belly appear with age.
LEGS AND FEET: fur on the front legs thick, short to medium in length. Fur on hind legs medium to long, thick and feather like. Legs are thick and dense and medium in length. The feet are big and round and toe tufts are desirable.
TAIL: the tail is medium, somewhat shorter than the length of the body, wide at the base, blunt at the tip without thickening or kinks, evenly and thickly furnished.
COAT: this is a plush, medium length coat, with hair on the shoulder blades and lower part of the chest being thick and slightly shorter. There should be a ruff setting off the head, though allowances should be made for juvenile cats. There is a tight undercoat, thicker in cold weather. Allow for warm climate coats. The hair may thicken to curls on the belly and britches, but a wavy coat is not characteristic. The skin may have a bluish cast. Clear strong colors and patterns desirable, but are secondary to type. Coat texture may vary with the color.
PENALIZE: adult cats not having substantial weight. Straight profile, narrow or fox-like muzzle, almond shaped eyes, Very long legs, thin legs, small ears, large ears.
WITHHOLD: kinked tails, incorrect number of toes, crossed eyes.
SIBERIAN COLOR AND MARKINGS: all colors are genetically possible. In the traditional class all colors and combinations are accepted with or without white. In the tabby group white or off white is allowable on the chin, breast, and stomach areas. Buttons, spots or lockets are allowable in all colors. The pattern/color descriptions are the same as the Persian. In the colorpoint class, mitted, bicolor, lynx and tortie point patterns are allowed. The pattern/color descriptions for the colorpoint, mitted and bicolor are the same as the Ragdoll. The pattern description for lynx points and tortie points are the same as the Birman. In the traditional colors, description for the blue golden is the same as the golden except tips are blue rather than black.source: http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/standards/siberian.html

TICA Siberian Cat Breed Standard

COLORS: All.
HEAD:
Shape: Modified wedge of medium/large size with rounded contours, in good proportion to the body. The head is broader at the top of the skull and narrows slightly to a ful l-rounded muzzle . The cheekbones are neither high set nor prominent.
Ears: Medium-large, rounded, and tilt slightly forward. The ears should be set as much on the sides of the head as on top. Ideal position is one to one-ear width apart. The hair over the back of the ear is short and thin. From the middle of the ear, the furnishings become longer and cover the base of the ear. Lynx tipping allowable.
Eyes: Large, almost round, with the outer corner angled slightly towards the base of the ear. The eyes should be set more than one eye’s width apart. There is no relationship between eye color and coat color/pattern.
Chin: The chin is well-rounded but not protruding, and is in line with the nose. Muzzle: The muzzle is short in length, full and rounded. There is a slight muzzle curvature, but the transition between the side of the head and the muzzle is gentle and inconspicuous.
Profile: The top of the head is almost flat, with a slight nose curvature of a gentle slope from the forehead to the nose and a slight concave curvature before the tip when viewed in profile.
Neck: Rounded, substantial and well-muscled.
BODY:
Torso: The body is medium in length, and well-muscled with the back arched slightly higher than the shoulders, with a barrel-shaped, firm belly giving the sensation of solid weight (which appears with age).
Legs: Medium in length. The hind legs are slightly longer than the front, and should have substantial boning.
Feet: The feet are big and rounded, with toe tufts desirable.
Tail: The tail is medium in length, wide at the base, tapering slightly to a blunt tip. The tail should be somewhat shorter than the length of the body.
Boning: Substantial.
Musculature: Substantial, power-ful.
source: http://www.tica.org/sbstd03.pdf

WCF Siberian Cat Breed Standard

Body:	Medium sized to large cat, well-muscled and heavily built. Neck short and substantial, legs also muscular and of medium length; feet big, compact, round and well tufted. Tail as long as to reach the shoulder blade , slightly tapering, furnished bushy.
Head:	Head short and broad with low set wide cheek bones, rounded muzzle and chin, forehead slightly curved, gently rounded contours and slightly curved profile. Nose of even width from bridge to nose leather.
Ears:	Medium-large, wide at base with slightly rounded tips. Set wide apart and tilted slightly forward.
Eyes:	Large, slightly oval shaped with rounded lower line, set slightly oblique and wide apart. Eye colour to be uniform and harmonizing with coat colour. Any shade from yellow/gold to green is accepted. In whites and vans the eye colour may also be blue or odd-eyed. In pointed cats the eye colour is blue on principle, the deeper the blue the better.
Coat:	Coat is of medium length; very dense undercoat, soft and fine, covered by a coarser, more substantial top coat. The dense smoothly flowing top coat is waterproof and glossy, of coarse, crisp texture, completely covering the back, flanks and the upper side of the tail. Undersides of body and back side of hind legs have only undercoat. Particularly long hair on neck, chest, breeches and tail.
Colour Varieties:	The pointed variety is named Neva Masquerade. Chocolate and cinnamon and the according diluted colours (lilac and fawn) are not accepted in any pattern combinations (solid, bi-colour, tri-colour, tabby), either in the Neva Masquerade or in the Siberian. Burmese pattern is also not accepted. Any other colour is accepted, the descriptions of colours are listed in the General Colour Guide. Any amount of white is allowed.
	Scale of Points

	Body:	35 Points
	Head:	30 Points
	Coat Texture:	25 Points
	Coat Colour and Markings:	5 Points
	Condition:	5 Points

	Note: On 08/03/2002 the WCF General Assembly decided at their meeting in Milan that, as of now, cross breeding of extraneous breeds to the natural breeds Maine Coon, Norwegian, Turkish and Siberian depend on the permission by the judge's commission. source: http://www.wcf-online.de/english/ES/gruppe_2/siberian.htm