Frequently Asked Questions

If you prefer a medium to large strong, intelligent and lively playful cat that will require some grooming, wants to be involved in all of your activities and follows you from room to room, may prefer lying next to you versus curled up on your lap, will help keep your toes warm at night, loves attention but isn't needy, requires playtime as all young cats do, has patience with a calm nature, the Siberian Forest Cat may be the breed for you! This dog like breed is not only beautiful to look at but makes an outstanding family companion that is quite the easy keeper.

Because the Siberian Forest Cat is a very slow maturing breed that usually takes around four to five years to fully mature, we allow our kittens to join their families between three and four months (twelve- sixteen weeks) of age. This allows for growth both mentally and physically along with valuable interaction time with our family children, cats and dogs.

Each of our kittens come with a great head start! We extensively socialize our kittens with children, the other cats in the household and dogs of varying sizes. We raise our kittens underfoot in a busy household which exposes them to many sounds, sights and smells. Kittens will be up to date on age appropriate vaccines and dewormings along with a thorough health exam, health certificate and stool check. All of our kittens come with a spay and neuter contract.

Siberian Forest Cats are considered a hypoallergenic breed due to the reduced levels of FEL d 1 protein sequence in their genes. Each Siberian will be on a hypoallergenic spectrum with some cats having less of the protein than others. There are tests to determine where a particular cat lies on the spectrum.

The Siberian is considered a medium to large breed of cat generally ranging from ten to eighteen pounds at maturity. Of course, there can always be exceptions to this rule.

The Siberian is a patient cat that can enjoy the company of respectful children and loves to be involved in all daily activities. Our kittens are raised and handled by our children of various ages from birth and are often found snuggled up next to them or following them around the house in hopes of not missing out on what the kids will be doing next. A child that is taught to properly handle a kitten without the pulling of a tail, ears and whiskers, will have a best friend for life!

The Siberian is an intelligent and social cat that when integrated properly and with forethought into a household with other pets, will enjoy having those pets as companions. With a slow proper introduction and with some forethought, the Siberian will make herself at home in no time!

Our kittens are extensively socialized with children of various ages, other cats and dogs of all sizes. This enhances the already social and adapatable nature of a well bred Siberian kitten. Raised in a busy household, our kittens will integrate well into their new families lifestyle.

Feeding a high quality diet is recommended. Cats derive around eighty percent of their required moisture from food rather than the water bowl. A quality soft/canned diet can help keep your Siberian properly hydrated and of course, always have clean fresh water available at all times.

Being a very slow maturing breed, we recommend having your kitten spayed or neutered by one year of age to allow time for proper growth both physically and mentally.

The Siberian Forest cat has a thick water and weather resistant triple coat that will shed seasonally in the Spring and Fall. Grooming twice a week should be sufficient to keep tangles and mats at bay. Extra brushing during shed times can help rid your Siberian of extra loose hair and help prevent fur balls. Baths aren't necessary for the Siberian if regular brushings take place. Keeping nails trimmed, ears checked and cleaned along with brushing teeth are grooming practices that are beneficial. Having scratching posts available throughout the home will help keep your Siberian's nails healthy, instills good habits of where to properly scratch and fulfills her scratching instincts.

We do not require that you keep your Siberian indoors. We do ask that you weigh the pros and cons of letting her out into the world versus keeping her as an indoor only kitty.

Lionheart Siberians does not support declawing which alters a cats paws and severs tendons. Declawing is an actual amputation of the cats first knuckle of the toes which prevents claws from ever growing back. We feel declawing is an unnecessary surgical procedure with severe psychological and physical consequences for the cat. Trimming nails monthly along with training and having scratching posts available throughout your home will help this intelligent breed of cat to scratch in appropriate places.

The Siberian is generally a healthy breed of cat however, they should be screened for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

We recommend planning and having all of the supplies you need for your new kitten before she joins your home. Have food and water bowls ready along with the type of food you plan to feed. Have a brush, litterboxes, scratching posts and toys. We recommend having an additional litterbox in your home, a litter box per cat plus one. Cats don't like to eat or drink near their litterboxes so have a space set up for her feeding station. Have an appointment set up with your vet for her first wellness check up.

We do litterbox train our kittens and by the time they are ready for new homes, they will be proficient at it. Our kittens have a routine at our home and know where the litterboxes are located. You will need to keep an eye on your kitten the first few days and show her/set her into her litterbox so she knows that is her spot. A new place with new faces and activities can distract a young kitten.

Please understand we do not allow home visits. Allowing strangers into our home can be potentially dangerous to our family. Good communication, photos, videos and facetime are all ways to track the progress of you kitten. We want to hear what attributes you are looking for in you Siberian kitten and are confident we will have the kitten you are looking for. We live 24/7 with our cats and kittens and are very experienced in observing the character of each.