Siberian cat rescue and adoption

The traditional way to adopt a Siberian cat into your family is to find a Siberian cat breeder with an upcoming litter. You can check out my post here about Siberian cat breeders in different areas of the world. However, you can also try to rescue a Siberian cat.

There are a few Siberian cat rescue groups in the world and, even though Siberian cats are still somewhat rare, some of them do end up in rescue, so you might be able to find just what you are looking for.

Why do Siberian cats end up in rescue?

Siberian cats are one of the most wonderful breeds of cats. They are friendly, affectionate and absolutely gorgeous. Siberian cat breeders have long lines of potential customers lining up long before the litter is even born. You would think not a single Siberian would end up in rescue, needing a new home.

However, life is always more complicated than that. Often Siberian cats end up in rescue after one or more family members develop an allergy for their kitty. Although Siberians are considered more hypoallergenic than a lot of other breeds due to their reduced amount of Fel D1 production, they can still trigger an allergy in those people who are predisposed to it.

Often it happens at later stages of life when the kitten has grown and turned into a bigger cat. Very little can be done to fully cure/ prevent allergy, and so the owner has to make a difficult decision.

In most cases, the cat would go back to the breeder (breeders usually expect the new owner to return the cat back to them in case they can’t keep the cat.) But sometimes those poor kitties end up in rescue, looking for a new home.

Sometimes, a Siberian cat will get lost and wander so far from home that it can’t find its way back. Even if someone else finds the cat, if it isn’t micro-chipped or doesn’t have a collar with id on it, it’s hard to find the cat’s home. In such cases, the cat is normally sent to a local SPCA branch or to a rescue place.

Sometimes, the cat can end up on the street due to an unconscientious owner. For example, the cat could develop a behavioral issue – start marking the territory, or scratching furniture, or display aggression. Often this happens through no fault of the cat but due to the cat’s circumstances – bad care, health issues, a change in lifestyle, a new child in the family, too much noise, an owner’s inability to provide a good quiet home for a cat, etc.

There could be a multitude of reasons, which all lead to the alienation of the cat. A bad owner would just give up on the cat and send them to rescue in best case scenario, or even kick them out on the street. (Yes, such people do exist.)

The good part is that there are always great people willing to adopt a cat from Siberian cat rescue organisations. Maybe you are even one of them? If so, there are a few ways you can find a Siberian cat rescue in your area.

Why get a Siberian cat? Siberian cat owner review
“You’ll get a soft friend for the rest of its life. My best advice is: if you’re getting a Siberian, you might as well get 2 🙂 The only reason not to choose a Siberian is that there are lots of homeless mixed breeds out there 🙁 If you’re not allergic, pick a cat who really need you instead of buying a pretty cat that most likely will get a home anyway. AND: never get a pet unless you can afford it. Make sure you get a health insurance for your Siberian :)” Read more  

Visit your local SPCA branch

SPCA or any other animal shelter is probably the first place where a cat will end up if it is found on the street. You can look through their websites if you live in a bigger city – SPCA centers almost always have their animals listed. You can also visit a center (or several centers, if you live in a bigger city) and ask them.

You might just find a Siberian cat rescue available for adoption. If you are set on this breed, make sure it is a Siberian as it can be another type of long-haired breed. Shelter workers aren’t always correct when identifying a breed.

Search online

Use websites like Craigslist or kijiji to find out if anyone is giving away a  Siberian cat for adoption. Often people that can’t keep their cat anymore would post an ad on Craigslist or kijiji because they want to find the best home for their pet and want to meet the new potential owner in person.

Check Facebook to see if there are any local groups that rescue Siberian cats or even Siberian cats’ owners groups. Often you will find messages and posts from people looking to rehome their cat for various reasons.

One note here is to always make sure you know why the cat is being rehomed. Do they have a health issue? Is their behaviour challenging? Have they been displaying aggression towards children? Knowing if there is something wrong with the cat will help you make an informed decision about adopting and also help you be better prepared for your kitty.

Don’t act impulsively and just go with any cat. It’s understandable that you might be very excited about having a new pet, but remember that it’s a big decision that will require a big commitment from you and your family members.

 

Would you recommend other people to have a Siberian cat?
“I would recommend a Siberian to anyone who wants a cat to be part of their family like a dog. They are incredibly affectionate and they need attention. Leaving them alone for an extended time isn’t a good idea. I know of many Siberian owners who have other pets to keep them company.” Read more

Siberian Cat Rescue Group

While you are searching online, check this Siberian Cat Rescue Group here. It’s a non-profit group from Texas, run by volunteers, dedicated to finding new homes for Siberian cats that need it and also rescue Siberian kittens from cat mills. They often have available cats but they do not post pictures for privacy reasons, so please contact them directly to inquire about their cats.

You will need to fill out an application on their website to be included in their list of potential future owners. If you are approved, they will send you more information about their available cats and hopefully will match you with a sweet Siberian kitty that needs a home. They will require a small fee for their services.

Another website to look at is Petfinder. You can choose the breed you are looking for (Siberian cat obviously 🙂 ) and your location, and the site will give you information on Siberian cats in rescue and needing new homes.

You can also check RescueMe website, the section dedicated to Siberian Cats: http://siberian.rescueme.org/ . There you can see a map that shows how many Siberian rescues are available in each state (for United States of America) and also numbers and information on Siberians in other countries.

If you find a rescue somewhere, be careful with any financial transactions/fees/payments that might come up, especially when not dealing with an official organisation like the Siberian Cat Rescue Group. Find as much information about the person you are sending money to as you can. Try not to send a big sum of money online right away. Make sure they are a legitimate person and that you will meet and get your cat.

Try to meet them first before sending any payments, if possible. There are many scammers online that will put fake photos and descriptions of a cat and have various other techniques of deceiving people.

If you can’t find your kitty quickly, don’t get discouraged. You will absolutely find your cat with time, and you will find the best one for you. It’s like finding a new member of the family. It can’t be rushed. Take your time, read more about Siberians and prepare your home for a new kitty. It will find you at the very right moment!

Would you recommend other people to have a Siberian cat?
“From my experience Siberian cats can fit most kinds of people: they are quiet with a sweet temper, a perfect companion, kind and loyal. They can live with a family, children, old people. But I think a Siberian cat is a great commitment: they need a lot of attention (a lot more than other cats I had) and activities. They can’t be alone all day. If you can’t give one or two hours per day only to your Siberian cat, you shouldn’t get one. But If you can… you won’t be disappointed with your Siberian!” Read more