Adopting a Siberian kitty (guide)

This page is linked to the health page, you must read both pages.

First of all, you must gather all the information you can about the breed and this site was made to help you with this task.

Once you have defined your search and know your preferences you can start looking for a cattery.

Read all the information available on each cattery web site you selected and you should give priority to a breeder who explains their work, sharing as much information as possible about their breeding plans. Why this or that marriage was chosen, the total inbreeding of the match or a link showing the couple’s genealogy at Pawpeds are good examples. Their goals with this union etc.

1- A good breeder will base his/her breeding plans in diversity with marriages that are not inbred or with very little inbreeding.

2- A good breeder will have a lot of genetic tests and clinical examinations of the parents to show and some even leave these tests available on their sites, making things easier for their clients (who won’t be needing to ask for them). If there are no tests available on their site, ask because it is good to have a small folder with all these tests to show to your veterinary when you have your first vet consultation. So don’t be shy, ASK for all the tests so you can have copies. It is not something difficult for the breeder to provide and it will be useful for you.

What are these tests?

HCM, preferably made with a Feline Cardiologist who works with the Pawpeds Health Program.

PKD, which needs a clinical examination. The PKD DNA test is not enough for Siberians; you need the parents to be seen at 1 and 3 years old but one year, should be enough and the parents may be young.

Pk Deficiency by DNA.

If the parents are tested with My Cat DNA, things are easier because you have a lot of information from the My Cat DNA report including metabolic disorders, Pk deficiency and diversity. A good diversity is located around 34/35% and an extremely good diversity around 39%.
Or you can observe at Pawpeds the COI of your kitten and especially in the four first generations that should be zero or a small number less than 2/3%.

If you find anything different, speak to the breeder.We discourage anyone from buying inbred pets and this means you will find on the first four generations large numbers like 12%, 10% or 25% in ten generations and no matter what the explanation fo the breeder will be.

Cats are solitary animals and not made to live in communities and their immune system is way more fragile than in dogs (animals made to live in packs) and inbreeding will produce weaker immune systems.

If the breeder says to you that their cats are not on Pawpeds and they cannot present the genealogy and can only offer a paper pedigree with four generations. Unfortunately this is not a serious work because this would mean this breeder is either lying or working blindly and you should avoid them.

The last point is FIP and this is explained on the health page, you need to speak to your breeder and ask about parents , if there are other cases and observe the whole litter. Are there tiny and big kitties? Runny eyes and noses? Too many cats in one same room? Adults and kitties all mixed together? If you answer yes to any of these questions, avoid…

You may find two mothers with their babies. You may find two or three adults sharing a room, you might find a mum with an “aunt” and her babies but 10 cats in the same room mixed with small kittens, it is not possible. Even five cats mixed with small babies is not possible. A cattery needs a good structure, maternity rooms, large rooms for the adults and they should also have play rooms, outside enclosures, fun time and attention from the owners since Siberians need a lot of human contact.

The practical points.

1- Your baby should not leave before 12/16 weeks and the baby should be raised by the mother. This is extremely important.

2- Some breeders will separate mother and her babies to avoid spreading Feline Corona virus to the whole litter if the mother is a carrier and this is very common in a cat community.

It is preferable to buy a kitty that is a Corona carrier but well socialized by the mother cat than one negative who was cut from his mother presence at early age.

A cat who is separated from mum at early age may develop many behavior problems and even become aggressive when older.

When you visit the cattery you want to see mum taking care of her babies and comfortable with them. A mother who is acting in a weird way with her babies may have been separated and only left together for showing to clients. She may be hissing or sniffing babies too much. if you have any doubts ask photos of the mother nursing her babies at the actual age they are. Most mothers nurse babies until 3 months at least.

When you go to collect your baby by 12/16 weeks, if you see the mother hissing or slapping the babies: it is normal! It is time to go, she thinks they are ready and it is a totally normal reaction.

3- Good breeders send photos of babies with mum for your photo album and this is also useful because you know your baby is being raised properly by both, mama cat and by the breeder. It doesn’t matter how much devotion an human put into educating a baby cat, it is not possible to replace the education given by mother cat.

4- Another important practical point: Talk with the breeder about vaccination and parasites, so you can follow instructions and carry on the treatment if necessary (deworming, flea treatment, etc) and check what sort of vaccinations your kitty will receive. In France rabies is not obligatory so I don’t give rabies and I don’t give or advise FeLV (Leucose) vaccination for cats who will live in an apartment because it is not necessary and this vaccine is even a little dangerous regarding FIP. If a cat will have contact with other cats outside, I suggest FeLV vaccination is given after 1 year old.

By following all these tips and communicating with the breeder you choose, you will give yourself the best chance of adopting a healthy baby.
By asking for tests you will also help to keep this amazing breed healthy for future generations.

Daniela Barros.