Question
Possible Siberian?
We have been feeding and providing outdoor shelter for a stray cat for the past few months. As I hope you can see by the attached picture, it's a really beautiful cat with unusual features: long black hair with some almost-reddish streaks, a very fluffy tail like a plume, and a "ruff" around the neck. We're wondering if it's possibly Siberian or something along those lines. We'd love to find this cat a home, so any information you could provide would be very helpful. In addition to being beautiful, this is a very friendly cat who seems desperate for a home, but we just can't afford to take in another cat right now; we just rescued a kitten in December, and we're still working on integrating him into the household!
AnswerHi Colleen. He is certainly beautiful!
The truthful answer here tends to be unpopular. Unlike with dogs, 98% of the world's cat population is of no apparent breed, and we call these "domestics". They will fall into the categories of domestic short hairs or domestic long hairs. I feel that this handsome fellow is a domestic long hair. I know it doesn't sound as fancy as a Siberian, but I do feel it's the most accurate breed description for him.
If you wanted to go with a "breed type" for him, perhaps Norwegian Forest Cat would fit best. They have a full ruff around their neck, which usually sheds during the spring, and a plume on their tail. Maine Coon is a popular breed name used to label long-haired cats of unknown descent, too.
I would avoid calling him a Siberian, because there is a belief that Siberians are less allergenic than other cats. It could be possible that potential adopters may be seeking a Siberian in particular based on that belief, and if this kitty isn't a Siberian and causes a family member bad allergies, he may end up without a home once again.
Good luck finding him a great home!
Jessica
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