A Complete Price Guide for the Siberian Cat
We desire the highly prized Siberian cats for their sweet and affectionate temperaments. It’s a popular breed valued for its intelligence and loyalty. They’re attractive cats who love to sit on your lap. Siberian cats are a desirable breed that is in high demand. Purebred Siberians are exotic cats that are expensive to buy. We’ve prepared a complete price guide to help you know what to expect to pay for a Siberian cat, along with other information you need to know before you make your purchase.
How much does a Siberian cat cost?
According to Cat Breeds List, the average price range for a Siberian cat is between $1,200 to $2,500 for a single kitten that is purebred and fully registered. This is what you can expect to pay for a cat intended to be a house pet. If you’re interested in a Siberian with an impressive pedigree, or unusual markings, the cost can jump from $2,500 to $4,000.
Why is there a difference in the cost of some Siberian cats?
The gap between $1,200 and $4,000 is huge. You may be wondering why some cats are so much more expensive than others. Multiple factors go into the value of a Siberian cat that impacts its value on the market today. There are several reasons why the cost of a Siberian cat varies. You will pay more for a cat produced by a reputable and experienced breeder.
Supply and demand also affect the price tag. When the demand in an area is higher than the supply, the value goes up in a specific region or country. The quality of the cat including appearance, conformity established standards for the breed, and bloodlines of show quality cats from pedigreed parents further increase the value. The purpose of the cat is another factor that affects the value and the price.
Is a Siberian cat worth the expense?
Siberian cats are exotic animals that originate in the country of Russia. They’re one of the most highly desired cat breeds because of their sweet temperament and their beauty. They make exceptional house pets if you intend to adopt a new member of your family. These gorgeous cats come in a variety of coat and eye colors with a striking appearance.
They also bring you approximately 20 years of companionship and joy. Any animal is worth whatever a person is willing to pay for them. They’re wonderful kitties capable of stealing your heart. Siberians with full registration and physical attributes of show quality have the potential for taking top prizes at cat competitions.
Can you adopt a Siberian cat from an animal shelter?
The odds of finding a purebred Siberian cat at an animal rescue shelter are slim, but it can happen. At a minimum, you may be able to find a Siberian mix, and if you’re really lucky, one that is purebred may show up. There are pros and cons to adopting a Siberian from a rescue. On the plus side, you’ll save a lot of money.
The costs range from $15 to $350, depending on the shelter and its policies. The cost of spaying or neuter is usually included in the adoption fees. You will give an animal in need a forever home, and you’ll also make room at the shelter for other pets in need of rescue, and save money. The downside is that there is no way to confirm the pedigree or if the cat is even purebred. There is often nothing to confirm the medical history of the cat or its exact age.
Adoption from a shelter also requires mandatory spay or neuter. Even if this is the most beautiful cat you’ve ever seen, you won’t be able to produce kittens to perpetuate the line. While weighing the pros and cons, we always support adoption from an animal rescue over buying a kitten because it allows disadvantaged animals to live a happy life in a loving home.
Guide to buying a purebred Siberian cat
There are a few things to know about buying a purebred Siberian cat. When buying from any breeder, you’re going to pay a lot of money, but not all breeders are the same. It’s essential to deal with reputable and experienced breeders to find a kitten or adult Siberian with the highest quality. When we say quality, we’re referring to critical factors that can impact your heart and your pocketbook down the road.
Quality Siberians and any other breed for that matter are divided into two categories. Housepets and show cat qualities will differ. For housepets, the kittens must be healthy with full verifiable registration papers and medical records showing that testing has been done to rule out genetic and other serious health complications.
The same is true for a cat you buy for showing at competitions or breeding with a few additions. These cats must have documentation of registration, the pedigree information that lists what is known about the parents, and it must bear physical characteristics that conform to established standards for the breed.
Importance of breeder reputation and experience
Experienced Siberian cat breeders establish a strong reputation by providing high-quality kittens. The cost of kittens produced by reputable breeders is often higher than the fees charged by others in most cases. According to Cat World, credentialed and vetted breeders take a different approach to the business of selling kittens than those who merely operate kitten mills for profit.
The best breeders produce kittens from healthy adult parents with fully documented adult cats that have their pedigrees in order and are available for viewing. They provide a healthy and loving environment that is clean, allows ample space for cats to move around and explore their environments. They provide each cat with love and human contact for socialization.
This ensures that the kitten you buy will not be wild or afraid of people. Mother cats receive medical checkups and testing to rule out disease or physical/genetic defects. Kittens are screened by a vet and receive their first vaccinations, microchips, testing, and a clean bill of health with the documentation to prove health status. Less reputable breeders are in it for the money alone. You can recognize them by the environment and their methods. Kitten mills house adult cats and kittens in crates or animal carriers with little space for them to move around. The quality of food is often inferior to keep the overhead costs low.
They spend little to no time with the cats and often skimp on vet checkups. Some maintain documentation to increase the value of the kittens, but others are sloppy and often cannot produce verification of registration status, but still charge high prices claiming the animals to be purebred. These are the breeders to stay away from. The quality of the kittens is lower and their health status is questionable.
The environment impacts future health. It’s not worth it to pay a premium price without required testing and screening, for a cat that has had a shaky start in life. Kittens from mills are more likely to develop serious health problems as they age. It can end up costing you thousands in medical expenses and break your heart to see your pet suffer.
Deal locally whenever possible
It’s ideal to find a reputable breeder within driving or flying distance. In the best-case scenario, you will be allowed to meet the breeder, view the environment the kittens are raised in, and see both of the parents. If the breeder does not volunteer information, ask about registration status and pedigree, as well as medical screening and testing. Full documentation should be readily available and passed on to you at the time of purchase.
Is it okay to buy a Siberian cat online?
The answer to this question is sometimes. There are a lot of scammers out there who advertise Siberian cats for sale, then steal your money and disappear. If you choose to deal with a reputable breeder to buy a kitten online and have them shipped, it is essential to confirm that you are talking to the actual breeder and not some scammer that is using the name of the breeder and his or her information they’ve found online. Confirm through multiple sources that you are talking with the authentic breeder and proceed with caution to avoid becoming the victim of a crime. Be prepared to pay more for the shipping costs associated with the process.
The ongoing costs of owning a Siberian cat
The initial cost of buying or adopting a Siberian cat is just the beginning of the expense. Siberian cats are not any more expensive to maintain than any other cat, but if you’re a first-time cat owner, it’s good to have an idea of what it is going to cost to care for your new family member. It’s broken down into three categories that start before the cat arrives at your doorstep. Be prepared for the initial setup with the necessary supplies, which is one of the biggest expenses after your purchase. The second is for monthly upkeep, and the third is for ongoing expenses and medical.
Initial supplies
Before your cat arrives, it’s essential to be ready with all of the supplies he will need. You should go out and buy him food and water dishes, a litter box, kitty litter, a scoop, and high-quality nutritious food that is formulated for kittens or adults, whichever the case may be. You might want to throw in some kitty treats as well.
Siberian cats need grooming once to twice a week. You’ll need to have a pet brush to comb his fur to keep the coat looking beautiful and prevent tags and mats from developing. Monthly bathing is also a good practice, so include high-quality cat shampoo and conditioner to keep his coat looking its best.
Kittens and adult cats have an instinctual drive to sharpen their claws. You’ll never be able to break them from this behavior, but you can train them to scratch in the appropriate places. That’s why one of the most important pieces of cat equipment you can buy is a scratching post. When kittens begin using your drapes or furniture to sharpen their claws, you can redirect them to the scratching post to prevent the destruction of your home. Siberians also love to play.
They need to have their toys to keep them entertained. If a cat does not have toys, he will find other things to play with. Keeping your Siberian in a good supply of cat toys will spare your items. Prepare for annual vet checkups. Your Siberian needs to stay up on his vaccinations to keep him in good health. Your vet will let you know when it’s time to come in for another round of vaccinations and, if needed, de-worming. Vets give your cat regular physical examinations to verify he is developing on schedule. Regular checkups give you added peace of mind.
Final thoughts
Siberian cats are expensive, but they’re exquisite animals that can steal your heart and provide you with a few decades of loyal and affectionate companionship. These beautiful cats are hard to find at animal rescue shelters, so your best bet is to find a reputable breeder. The cost is high because there is an enormous demand for these cats with low numbers to meet that demand. It’s wise to confirm that the kitten you buy comes with all of his documentation in order with pedigree or registration papers, proof of health screening, and vaccinations.
If you can, view the parents and the environment of the breeding facility. It’s best to work with reputable breeders providing all the documentation in order. Only deal with those that charge a fair market price for kittens. Expect some ongoing expenses, but not more than required for any other cat breed. Follow the tips provide in this complete price guide for the Siberian cat to get the best deal on a healthy kitten and prepare for a beautiful life experience.
You can also read:
- A Complete Price Guide for Ragdoll Cats
- A Complete Price Guide for Maine Coon Cats
- The Complete Price Guide for the Abyssinian Cat
- A Complete Price Guide for the Devon Rex Cat
- 20 Fun Facts You Didn’t Know about Siberian Cats