Suggested Equipment List for Your Siberian
Things that our cats enjoy.
Cat Tree
I highly, highly recommended every cat be provided with a cat tree. This one piece of specialized furniture provides your cat: exercise, a get away place, and something of their very own. Cat Trees take up minimal floor space and provide much needed vertical space for your kitty.
Since Covid started, the availability of quality cat trees has fallen. Catsplay Furniture is an exception. Here is a link to their website Click Here
Cat Scratch Post: Kitty City XL Wide Premium Scratching Woven Sisal Carpet My new Favorite! Holds up well, moderately priced, tall enough for Siberians, highly recommend.
Cardboard Cat Scratchers
What?! Another cat scratcher?! Yes! Providing an assortment of scratchers keeps your cat happy and your furniture safe. Cats love to scratch cardboard.
If floor space is limited, I’d recommend The Original Scratch Lounge. An excellent cardboard scratcher, which comes with some catnip for sprinkling. The cardboard pieces are also reversible for good value.
If you have the floor space, then I’d recommend the stylish and tough Pawhut 34″ Deluxe Cat Scratcher Lounge
JLA Cat Napper Window Perch Cats love lounging in this fabric hammock while watching birds through the window or just taking a snooze.
Be aware that the online picture of the JLA Cat Napper (below) isn’t entirely accurate, but this is it!
Grooming Your Siberian
You only need a few tools and you’re set. Siberians do not require a lot of grooming, however most enjoy it and it is a wonderful way to strengthen the bond with your cat. Along with removing excess fur, and providing a healthful massage, it gives you a regular opportunity to examine your Siberian head to toe. Early detection of anomalies can mean quicker healing after a visit to the vet.
Zoom Groom by the Kong Company The rubber tips gently grab onto loose fur while also giving your Siberian a great massage!
7 ½ inch Stainless Steel Comb
A classic workhorse. Perfect for Siberian “britches”, removing occasional mats under the arm pits and in the groin area. Very nice for combing under the neck and for your Siberian’s tail.
Furminator Small Soft Slicker Brush This brush has a dual head with straight bristles on one side and bent bristles on the other side The straight bristles are more gentle, while the bent bristles are more aggressive. It is also split down the middle so each half can follow the contours of kitty’s body. Although the packaging says it’s for dogs, it works great on cats. Both the Zoom Groom and the Furminator slicker brush remove excess fur, leaving your Siberian soft and silky.
Nail Scissors A weekly trim will keep your Siberians nails well manicured.
“While our fine feline friends usually do a great job keeping themselves clean, they occasionally need some help from us. Our products clean your cat gently and naturally, leaving her coat brilliantly soft and shiny. With no parabens, artificial dyes or fragrances, phosphates, or toxins, you never have to worry about what might be left behind on your cat or the environment.”
http://www.earthbath.com/cats.php
This brand has excellent: Cat Wipes, Shampoo and Waterless Grooming Foam Shampoo
HotCats brand Catnip Sausages Generously stuffed with pure catnip and no fillers. HotCats come in a bright assortment of eye-catching colors, patterns, and prints, including bright stripes and florals. Tough – will withstand mauling – Sturdy denim twill fabric Fresh and Potent using only certified organically grown #1 quality catnip leaf and flower – not sticks & stems.
This is definitely a favorite! Available in single or four linked “sausages.” Our cats use this product as stress relief as well as fun.
Single sausage
Four linked sausages
Feather Wands
- Encourages your cat’s hunting instincts
- Great for interactive play
- Provides exercise opportunities in the form of chasing and jumping fun
Small toys Just a few toys that our cats have enjoyed.
! ! WARNING DANGER ! !
Especially during their first year of life, Siberian kittens will chew on toys and other household items somewhat like dogs. The kitty’s adult teeth are coming in and other natural urges urge kittens to chew. Some toys intended for cats, and even intended for chewing have a history of being chewed into pieces. Then the young cat eats the pieces. If they are lucky they will vomit out the chunks of plastic. If they are not lucky, they will get a bowel obstruction requiring life saving surgery. Signs of obstruction: vomiting, lethargy, not eating. If you see these signs RUSH your kitty to the doctor. They need to have Ultrasound equipment to visualize the obstruction, because soft tissue details cannot be captured well enough by x-rays.
Recommended crate for automobile
This is a sturdy crate which will offer some protection for your Siberian in case of a car accident. Also, if your cat has an “accident” or vomits, the crate will contain the mess until you can attend to it. The crate comes apart so you can wash or bleach it (I wash mine in the bath tub), and you can nest the two halves to take up less room when not in use.
PetBuckle Kennel Restraint System for Vehicles
The final step to keep your cat as safe as possible while traveling, is to buckle up that hard sided crate.
Secure the travel crate in the car, so in case of an accident the crate won’t be tossed about. A flying crate could hit you in the head or be thrown from the car.
Travel by Air Your kitten or cat can travel in the airline cabin with you. For this situation I recommend a soft sided carrier. Here are a few models.
1. Pawfect Pet-Large Black Soft Sided Travel Pet Carrier Around $40
Black Soft Sided Carrier made of High Quality Durable Microfiber Material Construction. Soft washable fleece bed included. Rigid insert panel designed for pet comfort. Easy to clean and folds flat for storage.
Meets on board requirements of most major domestic airlines. Fits under front seat with your pet safely and securely inside. For pets up to 18 pounds. It measures 17.7 x 12.2 x 11.8 inches (LxWxH).
2. Incognito Pet Carrier in Limited Edition Prints $84
This attractive & ultralight design includes a double zippered side door entry and top for easy access to your pet. When you want to be Incognito, cover the mesh windows with attached privacy flaps and no one knows what’s in the bag! Flaps stow away into convenient storage pockets when discretion is not needed. Additional large pockets on each side will keep paper work dry. Other features include, slim padded carrying straps, zipper safety security clips, safety tether and a luggage handle loop. A washable fleece comfort pad is included! Recommended for pets up to 10 pounds.
3. Sturdi Products also offers more conventional soft sided carriers.
Suggested Litter Box
I highly recommend simple, open litter boxes. Cats are more comfortable using a box when they have good visibility of what’s around them. Elimination is a time when a cat is vulnerable to being attacked and eaten by hawks, coyotes, wolves etc. This is a cat’s natural instinct.
Bus boxes from restaurant supply stores are very durable, easy to clean, and are affordable. Siberians generally want a good sized box, about 21 inches long, 15 inches wide. and 7 inches deep.
Suggested Reading
Total Cat Mojo: The Ultimate Guide to Life with Your Cat
Jackson Galaxy eloquently explains an overall compassionate relationship between cats and humans that is the basis for everything else we have to learn/do regarding our feline companions. This isn’t simply a book about how to “solve” your cat’s peeing problem -it’s about the fundamental nature of cats and how humans can embrace that nature for our mutual benefit.
This book should be put into the hands of anyone embarking on a relationship with a cat: especially new adopters.
The authors show owners how to keep their felines happy, healthy and well-behaved. From the basics of cat care to understanding their complex body language and vocalizations, they provide in-depth information on kittenhood and the adult cat, solid advice on feline problems and proven techniques for modifying behavior.