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Siberian Introduction into Australia
My
first introduction to this magnificent cat was via
Russian judge Yanina Melnikova who was visiting
our country in July 2001. Whilst sharing a meal
with her she showed us some photographs depicting
how shows were done in her country and amongst her
photos she proceeded to show me several photos of
the most beautiful Siberian’s, and that was it I
was hooked the more I looked at them the more
I was impressed, I don’t think I had ever seen
anything so pretty. We discussed the breed for
quite a while and I have to admit I was so
impressed to learn that this was a strong healthy
breed that appears to have no known genetic
problems that we see in some of the other breeds.
So
off I went to the web to find out where I could
get a Siberian, but to my dismay we were not even
allowed to import from the originating country of
Russia. Australia does not allow any imports from
Russia, we have no provision to import from there
to date.
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So
I then turned to the United States and Europe I was so
impressed with the cats I saw on different sites in the
U.S. that I decided that this was where I would go. To import to here
from the U.S. the procedure is long 150 days quarantine in
the country of birth, and then another 30 days once they
arrive here. My closest port in the country is
Sydney over 1000 kilometers away, I will be able to
visit and get to see them once they arrive and then
will fly to collect them when they are due to come home.
Along
the way to trying to find my new cats I came across
several breeders who were of great assistance to me and
ended up with accepting an offer of a beautiful black
silver tabby male who we have named Sibano Czar of the
Rings.
The
next Siberian breeder I happened to meet was Judy
Chappetta, who happened to be here judging at a show in
our country. I arranged to meet with her when we
went to the U.S. in July this year. When we were there we
found a tortie/tabby Van Cooncreole Veronika and this was
to be my first mate for Sibano Czar of the Ring.
Being
a new breed into our country I realised that I needed a
gene pool as quickly as possible and so once again
Jonathan and Kris came to my rescue. They have so kindly
entrusted to me, Katusha of Sibano (Tink), a young adult
girl of theirs that has been a great Mum for them. So we
are hoping she will be carrying the foundation stock with
her when she leaves the country in February 2003. Without
the assistance of Jonathan and Kristine Hirst I would have
been quite a way off being able to get this breed off to
the ground here in Australia and for their assistance and
genuine interest in establishing the breed here in
Australia, I am most grateful.
We
can now add to this that both Veronika and Tink are in
kitten and our very first Siberians will be born in this
country in the beginning of April, this will be such an
exciting time for us here. So from 2001 to 2003 we have
finally accomplished what I thought was going to be a
simple procedure and they are here to join me in my dream
of owning one of these cat s and instead of one I have
three! triple the fun.
I
hope that 2003 will be an exciting time for us here, and
we will look forward to promoting this wonderful breed as
much as we can. To have the breed recognised here with our
cat controls is my next major step. I hope that within the
next year that this will be able to be done and the
Siberian will put its paw print up there with the rest of
the breeds we now see here in our country.
What
Is a Siberian Cat?
The
Siberian is a large, strong cat, which can take up to five
years to mature. The females being smaller than the males
as in all breeds. They are noted for being very agile and
can leap great distances. Their muscles are outstanding
and powerful. The back is long and very slightly curved
but appears horizontal in motion. The compact rounded
belly develops with age. The hind-leg of the Siberian is
slightly longer than the front legs, with large and
powerful firm rounded paws. The overall appearance should
be a cat of great strength and size with an excellent
physical tone. The facial expression is alert but sweet.
The general impression of the cat is one of circles and
roundness rather than angular as in some of the other
breeds.
The
head of the Siberian is a modified wedge of medium size
with rounded contours broader at the skull and narrowing
slightly to a full rounded muzzle with well-rounded chin.
The cheek bones are neither high set or prominent there
should be a good distance between the ears and the eyes.
The forehead being flat and the nose has a slight
curvature before the tip the neck is medium in length and
round and well muscled.
The
tail of the Siberian is medium in length wide at the base
with a blunt tip and the end which is evenly and thickly
covered with fur from the base of the tail to the tip of
the tail.
The
ears on the Siberian are medium to large wide and set as
much on the sides of the head as on the top the tips are
rounded and the ear tilts forward.
The
eyes of the Siberian are large almost round eyes set wide
apart with the outer corner slightly angled toward the
base of the ear. There is no relationship of eye colour to
coat colour however the typical colour seen is yellow-
green.
The
coat is the Siberians crowning glory, this is a moderately
to long haired coat with the fur on the lower chest and
shoulder blades being slightly shorter. There should be an
abundant ruff around the neck setting off the large
impressive head. There is a tight undercoat, which becomes
thicker in colder weather. The coat gives the impression
of lacquer and oil when un-groomed. The hair may thicken
and curl on the belly and britches, but this is not a
feature of the cat. The skin may also appear to have a
bluish cast. Clear strong colours and patterns are
desirable but are secondary to type.
Colour
varieties of the Siberian vary and all colours are
genetically possible, such as tabby, solid colours
tortoiseshell colours and colour point varieties.
There
is some depute as to the origins of the colour points in
the breed but as long as records have been kept in Russia
colour points have been noted to have been produced. The
Russian believe that the feral pointed cats mated with the
other colours along the Neva River region in Leningrad
(which is now named St Petersburg) in the 1960’s.Soon
Russian breeders were including this pattern into their
breeding programs and created the nick name for them
“Neva-Masquerade”. Neva for the river, and masquerade,
for the mask. These are not a separate class of the
Siberian but another colour. Some countries still do not
accept the colour pointed version in the breed
acceptance standard. No outcrosses are permitted for this
breed.
Personality
Plus. The Siberian has a very dog like temperament and are
very affectionate. They come out to great the visitors in
the house and are not shy. They are very intelligent and
very quick learners. They also have a triple purr and
unlike other breeds have a chirping sound they use when
they come to greet you. When they are around water they
appear to be fascinated with it and will drop toys into it
and play in sinks with water left in. The Siberian makes
the ideal lap cat and will live quite happily indoors with
you.
For
further information on Siberians, please contact:
Marie
Mahoney of Miakoschka
Siberians
