History of the Siberian Cat in Russia

The Siberian Forest Cat, the national cat of Russia, has been in Russia for thousands of years though little documentation regarding its early history exists. The cats simply were present in Russian life as a landrace -- an animal that developed by natural processes rather than guided efforts by humans. Beginning in the 1980s, Russian cat fanciers began documenting the breed's history and establishing an official record.

  1. Description

    • The Siberian is a medium to large size house cat featuring a rounded body and heavily-boned legs for support. Their dense fur coats of medium to long length with three layers repels moisture as found in the cold and wet northern climate of Siberia from which they originated. Their coats feature a variety of color combinations. They are highly athletic, able to leap far distances.

    Early History

    • Some of the best evidence regarding this cat's relationship with its human companions is reflected in Russian literature. Several fairy tales recounted for centuries depict the cat as a protector of children. The tale Baba Yaga portrays a cat as guiding a young girl in her escape from an old woman that likes to eat children. In Kip the Enchanted Cat, a princess receives aid from a cat to undo a wicked spell and be able to marry a handsome prince.

    Rodent Killers

    • The nature of cats on any continent is to chase, hunt and kill rodents. The same is true of the Siberian cat and its history in Russia. In the country, Siberian cats kept rats from eating grain thus earning themselves a place in the heart of farmers. Shopkeepers often fed stray cats -- not out of the kindness of their hearts, but in an effort to control rodent populations. Russian Orthodox literature makes several references to cats living around monasteries killing rodents. Yet, until the mid-1980s, Russian households did not commonly keep cats as pets.

    Standard Established

    • In 1987, the newly-formed Kotofei Cat Club of Moscow set breed standards for the Siberian. Two male cats were used as a guide: Roman -- a brown and white tabby -- and Mars -- a blue lynx point with some white markings. Two years later in May, Moscow hosted the first All-Union Cat Show at which 12 Siberian cats were presented among the nearly 200 entries. A September show that same year saw entries of Siberian cats more than double.

    Official Recognition

    • On September 16th in 1989, cat breeders applied to the Soviet Felinology Federation for an official registration of the Siberian Cat. The SFF itself was in its infancy having just been established earlier that year in April. Nearly a year later -- on Aug. 6, 1990, its status was granted. A second classification of the Siberian Cat known as the colorpoint was also registered.