Cat's Name & Age:
Mimic is 14 months old.
Best Characteristics of the Breed
Siberians are hypoallergenic, fluffy, soft, sweet, and intelligent.
Most Challenging Characteristics of the Breed
Siberians are too smart for their own good.
When, Where and How I Got My Cat
I met my first Siberian when I went to a friend's house for a sleepover party. I have moderate-to-severe cat allergies, and was upset when I saw a cat in her window as I pulled in. Sure, he was beautiful, but I didn't have any allergy medicine with me, and I had visions of an evening shortened by my runny nose and itchy eyes. But to my surprise, Iggy didn't make me sneeze, and I was able to stay the night in his house.
I researched the breed and breeders, and ended up choosing to meet the same breeder who bred Iggy. After passing an allergy test in her home, we put down our deposit on the perfect kitten.
I'd Describe My Cat As…
Mimic came from the breeder already really well-trained and well-behaved. He immediately recognized his litter box, food, and of course toys. It took less than a week to convince him to scratch only his posts. And he adapted to our lives in no more than a few days. He was a dream, and I credit that all to the wonderful breeder. I also credit her with his so-far near-perfect health (he has had one respiratory infection, and nothing else).
He is a really sweet cat, and he knows he's beautiful. He has, since we first met him, always loved the sound of the camera, and looks straight into the lens. That was one of the reasons we knew he was the one, as we both enjoy amateur photography.
He does require a bit of effort to keep his coat in order. His long fur needs brushing at least twice a week, and daily during the spring shed. Lucky for me, he enjoys his brushing, so it is a bonding experience for both of us.
He definitely has a mind of his own, and when things are not "just so" he will complain, vocally and by banging on doorknobs. It takes a lot of patience to try to stay one step ahead of him, and to help him realize that banging gets him nowhere. Especially since banging on one of the knobs does cause the door to open...
Along those lines, he has reasoned out quite a few things I was not expecting. He can open doors that swing away from him and can turn on and off several lights in the house. He has also been known to sort his toys, for example putting all of his mice in a box, while leaving other toys scattered about.
He definitely loves to play. He's especially energetic in the mornings and just after I return home from work. During those times, he bounds around the house with tons of energy. He also insists on playing with an interactive toy before bed, which he must be allowed to chose from his collection.
He is also very good around other people, though we are clearly "his." He socializes when we have guests, and even allows his favorites to hold and pet him. He's a very good host.
He really is a love, and we adore him.
Advice
- Research breeders thoroughly before handing over any money.
- Make sure to test your allergies over at least a half hour (an acquaintance of mine still has skin reactions, even to Mimic's very low Fel-D1 dander, but it took some time to show).
- Cat-proof your home before you bring home your new kitty.
- Consider using a low-dust litter to help with your allergies.
- If you are very allergic, have someone else in your household do the brushing.
- Make sure to keep claws trimmed, as a sharp claw can still cause me an allergic reaction (though Mimic really doesn't claw anymore).
