ForestWind Siberian Cats

This is gorgeous, available Elinora, silver classic with white She turned three months yesterady and is now ready to be adopted  

This is Evlyna, our blue silver classic girl. She is stunning, and also turned three months yesterday. She's ready to snuggle into your lap and purr then night away!

Reproduction in the Healthy Siberian

The average onset of puberty and sexual behavior in cats begins at about five to nine months of age.  Most, but not all, cats who are sexually mature, indicate this through changes in their behavior. Siberian cats, being much closer to nature, tend to come into maturity early.

The old fashion ideas about not desexing cats at a young age increase the likelihood of pregnancies, negative behaviors, and later breast and reproductive cancers. The "have a litter before they are spayed" school of thought has gone the way of the "It's perfectly safe for cats to wander around alone outside" theory.

Males demonstrate sexual maturity through territorial urine spraying, roaming, and aggressive behavior toward other males in their domain –this can even be cats that your Siberian sees outside the windows of your home.

These types of behavior begin to appear even before some of the physical characteristics related to sexual maturity develop. Tom cats often develop jowls (prominent cheeks) and a broad head. Unaltered males are more muscular and may develop a greasy patch of fur at the base of their tail in a condition called Stud Tail.

Female cats typically reach sexual maturity about the same age as males. Females can become pregnant at their first breeding, a fact that has caught many a pet owner by surprise.

Unlike dogs, there are no external physical signs of estrus (heat) in female cats; no bloody vaginal discharge and no swelling of the vulva. Female cats indicate that they are ready to be bred entirely through behaviors designed to attract and encourage males.

A female cat (Queen) beginning her estrous (heat cycle) becomes restless and vocal. She rubs her head affectionately against her owner or any upright object, marking these with the oily secretions on the relatively hairless areas below her ears on her forehead.

A sexually receptive queen will roll on the floor or tread with her hind feet if scratched at the base of her tail.When treading, the Queen alternately lifts her left and right rear feet in quick succession while raising her hind quarters in the air and crouching on her front legs. She might yowl a long, mournful, guttural cry and wander around the house or sit at the door. Many people are unfamiliar with these normal estrous behaviors and think their cat is ill or in pain.

At first the period of sexual receptivity is very short. If there is no successful mating, the hormones that induce this behavior will wane and for several days she will no longer seek out a male or act interested in mating. Eventually, the period of receptivity will last longer and she will go out of heat for only one or two days, only to quickly return to her estrous behaviors of crying, rolling, and treading.

Not all female cats will exhibit the prominent behavior associated with sexual receptivity, very young females in particular. Owners of these cats are likely to let the cat out the door as usual one morning and receive a surprise just over two months later. Hence, all female cats should be kept indoors and away from their male siblings until they have been spayed.

The early age of sexual maturity in the Siberian cat is one more reason that ForestWind Siberians practices early spay/neutering, and your kitten is safely desexed by our Veterinarian before going home with you.

The American Veterinary Medical Association’s

Guidelines For Responsible Pet Ownership.

Owning a pet is a privilege and should result in a mutually beneficial relationship. However, the benefits of pet ownership come with obligations. Responsible pet ownership includes:

1. Committing to the relationship for the life of the pet(s).

2. Avoiding impulsive decisions about obtaining pet(s), and carefully selecting pet(s) suited to your home and lifestyle.

3. Recognizing that ownership of pet(s) requires an investment of time and money.

4. Keeping only the type and number of pets for which an appropriate and safe environment can be provided, including appropriate food, water, shelter, health care and companionship.

5. Ensuring pets are properly identified (i.e., tags, microchips, or tattoos) and that registration information in associated databases is kept up-to-date.

6. Adherence to local ordinances, including licensing and leash requirements.

7. Controlling reproduction through managed breeding, containment, or spay/neuter, thereby helping to address animal control and overpopulation problems.

8. Establishing and maintaining a veterinarian-client-patient relationship.

9. Providing preventive (e.g., vaccinations, parasite control) and therapeutic health care for the life of pet(s) in consultation with, and as recommended by, its veterinarian.

10. Socialization and appropriate training for pet(s), which facilitates their well-being and the well-being of other animals and people.

11. Preventing pet(s) from negatively impacting other people, animals and the environment, including proper waste disposal, noise control, and not allowing pet(s) to stray or become feral.

12. Providing exercise and mental stimulation appropriate to the pet(s') age, breed and health status.

13. Advance preparation to ensure the pet(s') well-being in the case of an emergency or disaster, including assembling an evacuation kit.

14. Making alternative arrangements if caring for the pet is no longer possible.

15. Recognizing declines in your Pet's quality of life and making decisions in consultation with a veterinarian regarding appropriate end-of-life care (e.g., palliative care, hospice, euthanasia). 

AVMA Guidelines for Responsible Pet Ownership Oversight CHAB; EB approved 11/2011

10 Steps to take before allowing your Siberian kitten free roam at home:

1. Remove poisonous plants. (Check out our Health section on our Links page for a list of poisonous common plants!).

2. Tape or remove loose wires or cords. 

3. Secure or put away fragile art and glass pieces.

4. Ensure all windows are safely screened and not open more than two inches. Anything wider and a curious kitten can press against the screening and fall out. 

5. Evaluate placement of pets such as birds and fish to ensure their safety. 

6. Cover plugs with caps. 

7. Consider removing curtains or tying them up temporarily. 

8. Look at the house with an eye to where a curious kitten might exit and discuss with your human family how to protect your kitten from accidental escape. 

9. Register your precious Siberian's microchip in case she is accidentally let out of your home. The highest risk time will be immediately on first access to your home. Just because your Siberian is a kitten who has never shown an interest in getting outside doesn't mean that an open door and an inside commotion might not scare her into running out.

10. Be SURE to take initial introduction steps if you have household pets. Do not simply open the transition room and let all your pets mingle. While sometimes this will work, at others it sets up a lengthy animosity between your pets - horrible for them and difficutl for you.

Bathing your ForestWind Siberian kitten or cat is simple. We start our babies young at ForestWind, and it's important for you to continue their bathing routine.

You can easily split up the nails, ears, and actual bath over three days when you start. Since so many of our families adopt two kittens, this description explains how to do two kittens at the same time. 

First, clip nails: press gently on paws, clip off the "hook" at the end of each nail. Siberian cat nails are most often whitish like ours, no fear of cutting into the tender quick!

Second, clean ears: with cat safe ear cleaner - squirt fluid in ear canal, fold over flap of ear, rub gently. Let kitten shake head. Use soft towel or strong kleenex to wipe out outer ear. 

Third, comb out coat: using a metal comb, remove all tangles, and extra fur. If left in the coat it makes it hard to dry and the tangles get set and really pull your Siberian's soft skin. 

 This is a photo of our bathtime tools

Fourth, prepare bath: Set out several thick paper towels, a warm fluffy towel and a thick absorbent hand towel for each kitten, a brush, a metal comb with close tines, a quiet hair dryer and a terry washcloth each for faces/heads. Fill two deep buckets with bath temp water. Put Dawn detergent in one and white vinegar in the other. Thoroughly soak the two terry cloth washclothes and leave to the side.

Fifth, give bath:

Start with soapy bath: Scruff kitten, put other hand under butt, lower butt first into soapy water. Shampoo your Siberian starting with the neck area / under chin (do head later with the terry wash cloth). Finish up by cleaning haunches and butt.

If necessary, use the metal comb to remove any stuck poop and place on the paper towels (to throw out, of course). Finish soaping - check under tail and the 'feathers' on the legs.

Remove as much soapy water as possible:  Lift Siberian from  her soapy ,and squeegee the soapy water from her fur. Once the soapy water has been squeezed out of coat, lower your Siberian into the vinegar water tub.

Rinse coat in vinegar water: Using the hand that was supporting the butt, rinse the fur carefully and thoroughly rinse the neck and haunch/bottom areas. Use the washclothes to wash off the face and head. Again squeegee the kitten's fur.

Begin to dry kitten: Wrap kitten in the towel and blot her dry. Give to a helper to hold while you wash kitten # 2.  While your partner is holding kitty # 2, take kitty #1 and "scruff" off the wet as much as you can with a thick terry hand towel.  Do this for both kittens.

Fifth, Blow dry your kitten: As you are learning, we are leaving blow drying to last. Turn your quiet hair dyer on low heat and low air. You might want another stack of towels nearby to set the hair dryer onto now and then in order to free your hands up to do more towel drying or brushing out. This is very helpful if you are drying solo.  If you are solo drying takes a bit longer. If you have an assistant, one person can wield the blow dryer while the other uses the brush on the cradled kitten to lift and fluff her coat. Fluffing the coat allows quickest dry time, since the warm air is most easily able to reach all her fur.

Working together, move around the kitten's body over and over so that no one area gets too hot and starts to sting. When you think you are done drying kitty # 1, let her play in the room while begin to dry # 2. Once you've completed Kitty # 2, go back and dry #1 some more - you will be surprised at how damp that thick Siberian coat can still be!

Keep your Siberian warm post-bath: Ensure the room is warm through the next day and there are dry cosy blankets to sleep on (we always make sure to have clean wool pads available at this time).

Bathing can actually get to be routine! As you become more confident, you will learn that you can "quick bathe and dry" your Siberian in less than 20 minutes

When you take the time to properly Transition your Siberian kittens, phase two - meeting the household pets - is a lot easier Remember - this is just like a second transition and it is important to let your "householders" completely control the pace. Your ForestWind Siberian kittens may be badgering you to have full home access, but until you are certain your original pets are comfortable you will need to limit interactions and access.

Below is a description of the meeting of the senior adult cat and Wheaten Terrier with the new Siberian kittens, after a succesful transition period. During the time the kittens were in their transition room, the new Mom wisely fed her Wheaten and her domestic cat outside the Transition Room door. This allowed all of her pets' scents to mingle and the good feelings from eating to flow over to the new household members.

"They have been in the same room as the old cat and it went beautiful.  Dasha chortled and made light, sweet throaty noises that sounded like a little bird singing to him and he touched her little face with his big face and she dashed off rather coyly and engagingly and then came back and they did this face thing again. And then Pushkin did the same and stretched out his little paw and touched our old cat as if to shake hands.  They touched faces and then the old one walked out, dignified and grandfather like and the babies went on with their play.  It could not have gone better. 

Our dog also was in his crate in our bedroom.  This is a very open crate so he is totally exposed. The kittens gingerly walked up to him and they touched noses, and so this again was beautiful to watch."

Remember - patience and understanding is the key. Taking time with these essential steps yields years of calm, confident and happy pets!

Many ForestWind Kitten Families have found the craftsman made  “Cat Power Towers” a hit with their Siberians.  

We’ve just received notice that these wood and sisal Towers are on sale for almost 40% off.

A limited Supply of three tier “Cat Power Towers” is on sale for $ 250. Normally sold at almost $400 a piece, this 150 dollar off sale ends when the 50 remaining towers are sold.

Coupon code for Natural Finish Towers: Natural.

Coupon code for Early American Finish: EA

There are 10 Natural and 40 Early American Towers available.

Sale ends when Towers are sold. Coupon code is not case sensitive.

Update from Cat Power Tower: helpful note to folks who are registered customers of the Cat Power Tower Website: do NOT sign in. For some reason "signing in as a registered customer" erases the ability to use the coupon code.

The Early American finished 3 tier tower is pictured above.

http/www.catpowertowerstore.com/

1. Reduce their chance of becoming allergic. Researchers have noted that when children grow up in a home with a dog or cat they are less likely to develop allergies.

2.  Build their immune systems. Children who go up with pet cats have higher levels of certain immune system chemicals indicate a stronger immune system activation, which will help keep them healthy as they get older.

3. Increase physical fitness and improve rest.

Pets need to play, and playing with a pet is an excellent way to release excess energy. Both children and Siberians who've had plenty of exercise find it easier to fall asleep.

Kids and Pets = A Natural Pair!

Studies show that children who are attached to their pets tend to function better emotionally. Your child’s self-esteem is enhanced by owning a pet.

Helping to care for the family pet teaches children how to nurture a dependent creature. And, the positive feedback your child receives from you for caring for a pet helps him to feel competent and responsible.

When a child interacts with a pet that is totally dependent on its owners, she learns to understand the needs and feelings of animals, which naturally translates over time to a desire to understand the needs and feelings of people. This is how your youngster learns compassion and empathy for other living things.

Your child’s pet also provides an important form of social and emotional support. Whereas social feedback given by humans can feel critical and threatening, the nonjudgmental affection offered by a beloved pet makes your child feel unconditionally accepted.

Family pets facilitate your teaching your children about important life events like birth and death. Helping your child to understand and express feelings of sadness and loss when a pet dies or is euthanized can influence how he copes with the experience of death throughout his life.

Finally, the Siberian cat offers a special benefit to cat-allergic families. Here is a pet who is less likely to cause allergic reactions, while their beautifully thick coats offer a comforting tactile experience for your child. Studies have even shown that children raised from brith with cats are less likely to be allergic to animals as the grow up.

For these reasons and more, adding a Siberian kitten or cat to your home is a wonderful way to invite in relaxation, love, and playfulness to every day.