Interview with Vera Brännström

Interview with Vera Brännström, from S*Knjaze Cattery in Arboga, Sweden

Vera is a devoted breeder and one of the Siberian Cat pioneers in Sweden.

When did you start breeding?

I started in 2001

Why the Siberian cat?

I am from Russia and I have always loved this breed. I just wanted to have a Siberian cat as a pet in Sweden. There weren’t any Siberian cats here at all at that time and very few people knew about the breeds’ existence.

S Knjaze Izumrud Bek, beside the barn

First importations to Sweden

I made the first importations together with Gunilla Wikström from S*Staffansgårdens, in 2000. We imported ten Siberian Cats and I started my cattery with four females and one male.

What do you like mostly about this breed?

In Russia the Siberian Cat has been popular for generations. It is appreciated for its intelligence, majestic appearance and independence. There is a saying in Russia that goes:
- If you have a Siberian cat then serenity moves into your house.

How many cats do you have?

Five cats, four of them live with me. They are not the same which came from Russia in 2000.

1. GIC S*Knjaze Anfisa Krasa SIB ny 11
2. GIC S* Knjaze Elena SIB g 09 23
3. IC (FIFe) ECH (WCF) Malvina Adagio SIB a 09
4. IC Balzam Sibirkij Prestige SIB ny 23

Anfisa is from my first litter. She is the primadonna and the alpha female. I have had three studs in the cattery. They all liked her. EC Svetozar Chingi-Tura and ICH Balzam Sibirskij Prestige wanted only to mate with Anfisa, no one else.

GIC S* Knjaze Elena, I call her Blomma and she’s from my own cattery. A typical tortie keeps herself close but not too close to the owner.
A diplomat, if any of my cats are about to start fight, Blomman comes in between, lifts her big paw and interrupts the quarrel.

My third female is IC (FIFe) ECH (WCF) Malvina Adagio, from Moscow. Malvina thinks she owns me. She stretches her front paws against my thigh, asking me to lift her up. When I lift her, she rubs her chin against my glasses. Sits on my shoulder and purrs. She’s the one who gives me a morning wake up with her soft paw. Anfisa and Malvina didn’t get along at first, i.e. Anfisa bit Malvinas’ tail once leaving it with a large wound. I had no choice but to show them both that I love them equally. Finally, after several weeks they became best of friends.

Malvin and Anfisa, help each other with the kittens

IC Balzam Sibirkij Prestige, I fetched him from Siberia in 2005. The kindest male you can ever dream of. Loves his children, licks them and plays with them gently.
Everybody loves Balzam and Balzam loves everybody.

IC Balzam Sibirkij Prestige SIB ny 23

WCF WCH, Nikita Orekiss, I bought last summer from Russia. He stays with my friends together with his new buddy, a neutered Siberian female.

What’s the most difficult thing in breeding?

• To find good breeding material
• Not to keep a kitten from your litters, even if they all are so nice.

What’s the most fun part in breeding?

• Happy kitten owners who write and call me, telling how their kitten is special.
• Meeting the owners at the shows and seeing how content they are with their cats.

S Knjaze Izumrud Bek likes to swim

What is your opinion about the Siberian Cat, with no colour point/mask?

It is the only Siberian Cat.

What is your opinion about the Neva Masquerade as a Siberian Cat?

- A sensitive matter for many breeders and judges. I try to be brief in my explanation:
I have been interested in cats as long as I can remember. The last 40 years, when Russia was still Soviet Union, I lived in places like Azerbaijan, Stavropol and Leningrad (St.Petersburg).My travels took me all the way from Belarus to Sakhalin.

I have never seen a Neva Masquerade there.
No one of my breeder contacts has seen or heard of a masked Siberian cat, except those from former Leningrad, now St.Petersburg.

In my archives there is an old cat magazine from the Soviet time. A famous judge and the president of the first cat club in Leningrad (St.Petersburg) KOTOFEJ, Mrs. Olga Mirinova wrote in the magazine like this:
“The masked cat is a new breed existing only in the Leningrad area. The masked semi long coated cat is a result of uncontrolled matings between the Siberian Cat and other masked breeds. These masked breeds entered the Soviet Union in 1960’s and became very popular amongst the cat lovers.”

- I am not against the Neva Masquerade, I do appreciate the work the breeders do when developing new breeds, like the Neva Masquerade. However, I wonder why these cats are called Siberian Cats?
- What would we think of a masked Main Coon or Norwegian Forrest cat?

How to choose a Siberian Cat

Look for cats that represent well the breed. Make sure that the kitten is healthy and from healthy parents. Pay attention to genetical diseases as well.
Trust your taste and intuition. There is always the one for you that makes you a happy cat owner.

Grooming

Daily brushing is enough. The coat of a Siberian is easy to manage. It takes 2-3 minutes to brush it through.

GIC S Knjaze Elena SIB g 09 23

Show preparation

Test the shampoo and the conditioner few weeks before the show. Cats with golden and black colours have a silkier coat structure. I have tested a lot different brands and finally found the best products for each cat. Use plenty of water when rinsing the off the shampoo. Ask for advice from your pet supply store when choosing shampoos.
To dry and comb the coat is important. Remember, the Siberian Cat should have a coarse coat, not silky.

Cat Food

I have tested different brands, wet and dry food. I think Hill’s is best amongst the dry foods. My cats eat regularly raw meat, fish, and liver. Cooked ham and some vegetables, I do not serve raw pork to my cats.

S Knjaze Izumrud Bek looking at birds

Happy Siberian

Always in good mood, feels loved and gets exercise.
It is a true pleasure to own a Siberian Cat.

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