SIBERIAN FOREST CAT
Siberians lived unobtrusively in their northern homeland for centuries; Russian cat fanciers have only recently dedicated themselves to this gentle breed. These cats have not been unknown to Westerners, however; Siberieans competed in early 19th century cat shows in England, but they could not vie with the ever-popular Persians, and promotion of the breed subsided. Following the renewed interest of European cat associations in the 1980s, breeders in Russian began to focus attention on their neglected native cat, and a registry for Siberian cats was formed in St. Petersburg. In 1990, the first Siberians were imported to the United States, where they have since become a small but growing presence. These cats are gentle, friendly, loyal cats from northern Russia are good with kids and adjust well to other pets. They love to climb, so provide ample opportunity for them to explore high places. Some purr magnificently, endearing themselves to their owners.
