Variety Introduction
About the Siberian Forest Cat
Siberian Forest Cat – Nature's Gem from Russia
Breed History
They are the kind, loyal, fluffy forest guardians from Russian fairy tales; heroes who eradicated the rat plague in St. Petersburg during wartime; and your forever enthusiastic, sincere best friend—the "puppy-cat" that follows you around at home, purring softly while waiting for a belly rub.
From a historical perspective, the Siberian Forest Cat is both "ancient" and "young." This natural breed emerged over a thousand years ago in the unforgiving cold of the Siberian forests and first appeared in recorded history around 1000 AD. However, compared to other established breeds, formal breed recognition and development for the Siberian began relatively late. Starting in 1986, pioneering breeders navigated a challenging journey of learning, standardization, and promotion. The World Cat Federation (WCF) officially accepted the Siberian standard in 1991 and published its official breed standard in 1995. Today, revered as Russia's "national cat," the Siberian remains a young breed after more than three decades of dedicated breeding. It retains its classic, wild forest character, and we hope to contribute to preserving this adorable and precious breed for generations to come.
Appearance and Personality
Based on WCF Breed Standards
Siberian Forest Cats evoke a "round" appearance, but not in the purely cute sense of round faces and eyes. Their roundness is grounded in strength and wildness.
Body Type
Medium to large, muscular and solid; limbs are also well-muscled with medium-length legs; large, round, compact paws with tufts of hair between the toes; short, sturdy neck. Smaller and stockier than Norwegian Forest Cats or Maine Coons.
Fur
Medium length, three-layered coat: the outer coat is coarse, tough, water-repellent, and glossy; the undercoat is extremely dense, soft, and elastic. Hair is especially long on the neck, chest, legs, and tail.
Eyes
Eyes are large, nearly oval, and slightly tilted with a wide set. Colors range from yellow to gold to green. Blue eyes are permitted only in the Nevsky color group.
Header
Short, wide trapezoidal head with deep, broad cheekbones; a rounded muzzle and slightly rounded chin. Medium-sized ears that are wide at the base with rounded tips, set wide apart and slightly forward-tilted.
Personality Traits
Cats That Act Like Dogs：Curious and often called "the dog of the cat world," smart and attentive, always following their owner.
Love to chat：Loves to chat with soft chirps, often jumps onto your lap for pets and responds with loud purrs.
Warm and family-oriented：Generously expresses love and gets along harmoniously with every member of the human family.
steady and lively：Steady yet lively, smart and thoughtful—a loyal, warm, and sincere friend always by your side.
About Hypoallergenicity
A Scientific and Objective Perspective: Not Absolutely "Hypoallergenic"
While there is no scientific evidence, some breeders and pet owners report that Siberian Forest Cats are hypoallergenic. Some claim females cause fewer allergic reactions than males. Many believe these cats produce less Fel d1 protein, the primary allergen in cats. However, "hypoallergenic" is not guaranteed. Our cattery makes no claims or guarantees regarding the hypoallergenic nature of any kittens.
In 1999, indoor biotechnology tested the fur of four cats for Fel d1: one mixed-breed cat, two Siberian Forest Cats, and one Abyssinian cat. Results showed that the Fel d1 levels in Siberian and Abyssinian cats were lower than in the mixed-breed cat, but levels in the Siberian Forest Cat remained high. The lab warns against using these results to make decisions about pet ownership.
Therefore, we reiterate that the Siberian Forest Cat's "hypoallergenic" claim is more akin to urban legend; individual differences are significant. We may dissuade parents purchasing solely based on this trait. Interested parties are welcome to visit our shows and test for allergies firsthand, though results apply only to the specific kitten you interact with.
Color and Pattern
Siberian Forest Cats come in two color categories: traditional colors and pointed colors (Neva Masquerade). All colors are allowed except chocolate, cinnamon, and their dilutions—lilac and fawn—as well as Tonkinese and Burmese points. As a result, Siberians exhibit an exceptionally diverse range of colors. For example (traditional colors only):
- Tabby: Black Brown, Black Gold, Black Silver, Red, Red Gold, Red Silver
- Light Colors: Blue Tabby, Blue Golden, Blue Silver, Cream, Cream Golden Tortie, Cream Silver Tortie
- Tortoiseshell: Brown Tortoise, Black-Gold Tortoise, Black-Silver Tortoise, Blue Tortoise, Blue-Gold Tortoise, Blue-Silver Tortoise
- Solid: Black, Blue, Red, Smoke Black, Cream, Smoke Blue
- Pattern: Classic, Mackerel, Spotted
We will showcase breeding colors once our kittens exhibit sufficient color diversity.
Variety Standard
WCF Association Official Standards
Chinese Translation (by Fan Yu Ren)
Body
Medium to large in size, with a muscular and solid build; legs are also well-muscled with moderate length; paws are large, round, and compact with tufts of hair between the toes; neck is short and sturdy.
tail
The tail should extend straight along the sides to reach the shoulder blades, taper gradually from base to tip, and be densely coated.
Header
The head is short and wide with a trapezoidal shape, featuring high, broad cheekbones, a round muzzle, and a slightly rounded chin. The forehead has a slight arch above the brow ridge. The nose maintains consistent width from the bridge to the tip. The head outline is softly rounded, with a gentle curve along the side profile (from forehead to nose tip).
Ear
Medium-sized ears with a broad base and slightly rounded tips; widely spaced and tilted slightly forward.
Eyes
Large, nearly oval eyes with a rounded lower edge and a slight upward tilt; widely set. All eye colors from yellow and gold to green are acceptable. Blue eyes or odd-eyed (heterochromia) patterns are permitted only on solid white cats and those with white markings coded as 01 (Van), 02 (Harley Quinn Mask), 03 (Bicolor), etc., provided the white mask extends over both eyes. In Colorpoint Siamese (Neva Masquerade), eyes must be blue—the darker, the better.
Fur
The coat is medium in length, with a coarse, sturdy outer layer longer than the dense, soft, and elastic undercoat. The thick, loose outer coat provides water resistance, has a solid structure, feels firm to the touch, and possesses a natural sheen. It fully covers the back, sides, and upper tail. The underside of the body and the backs of the hind legs are covered only by the undercoat. Hair on the neck, chest, legs, and tail is particularly long but may vary seasonally in length.
Color
Traditional colors and point colors in the Siberian breed do not permit any combination of chocolate, cinnamon, or their diluted forms (lilac and fawn), including bicolors, tricolors, or tabbies. This restriction also applies to Tonkinese and Burmese points. All other colors and patterns outside these descriptions are acceptable, with any degree of white allowed. The Neva Masquerade is a color variant within the Siberian Forest Cat, not a separate breed.
Deduction Items
- Undercoat too long
- Round eyes
- Overly high and/or narrow cheekbones
- Side profile too straight or too curved
- Muzzle is too pointy or small
Deduction points affecting CAC eligibility
- Underweight, low bone density, and small body size
- Adult cats have a very soft and fine topcoat.
Disqualifying Item
- The head is distinctly square, round, or triangular, with a deep forehead break or a straight side profile.
- Rear X-shaped
- Any eye color other than blue in the key color palette
Score Distribution
Body
35 points
Header
30 points
Coat Texture
25 points
Coat color and pattern
15 points
Condition Overall Status
5 points
Find your forest spirit
If you've fallen in love with this beautiful breed, check out our available Siberian cats for pre-order.
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