Siberians are large, long-haired cats that originally hail from northern Russia. This breed became available in the United States in the mid 1990s. This breed is popular because it is hypoallergenic and those who suffer from cat allergies may not be allergic to Siberians. A pet cat can require a significant investment in both time and money. Besides the initial cost of the Siberian cat and cat supplies, you need to factor in food, litter and regular vet visits for the rest of the cat's life. Although Siberian cats can grow to be larger than other cat breeds, their needs are the same.
Instructions
1. Visit a Siberian cat breeder before you buy a kitten. Make sure that the kittens are bred under safe and humane conditions and ask to see the parents. Ask the breeder how old the kittens are, whether they have been vaccinated and what brand of food they eat.
2. Buy or adopt a cat that is at least eight weeks old. Ideally, a kitten should stay with its mother until it reaches 12 weeks of age. Your kitten must be completely weaned before you take it home and it should already have its first vaccinations. Get a bill of sale and a health guarantee if you buy a purebred Siberian cat.
3. Take your new kitten to the veterinarian. Have the vet check the kitten's health and give the kitten any necessary vaccinations. Even if you plan to keep the kitten indoors, it will still need to vaccinated. It is particularly important to take the kitten to the vet soon after you buy it because some purebred cats suffer from birth defects and hereditary health problems.
4. Bring your new kitten home and show it where its food, water and litter box are. Keep the kitten in one room until it gets settled so that you don't risk losing it if it gets scared and tries to hide.
5. Feed the kitten the same food the breeder provided. Kittens should eat food developed specifically for growing kittens. If your vet suggests you change to a different food, do it gradually. Mix increasing amounts of the new food in with the old food, otherwise the kitten could get sick. You can feed your kitten at regular intervals or you can offer the kitten free choice of food. Keep it on the same feeding schedule the breeder used initially.
6. Spend time grooming and playing with your kitten. Since Siberian cats have long hair, you are going to need to regularly brush your cat. This will keep the cat's hair from matting and reduce shedding.
7. Switch from kitten food to an adult cat food formula after one year. Siberians are not fully grown until they are 5 years old, but your cat can eat adult cat food after one year.
8. Schedule annual vet appointments to keep your Siberian healthy.
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