ForestWind   

Environmental Enrichment is Essential for Siberian cats. This intelligent, active, and affiliation seeking, medium to large sized breed will become bored, stressed, overweight without the proper safety, challenges, and stimulation in their environment. When humans made the choice to keep cats indoor instead of roaming miles a day, we accepted the responsibility for meeting the mental, emotional, social, and physical needs cats historically met themselves by roaming, exploration, hunting, and interactions with other animals. Read on to learn more about what environmental enrichment means and how to provide it for your Siberian cat.

1. https://indoorpet.osu.edu/sites/indoorpet/files/assets/documents/Herron10_EE_for_Indoor_Cats.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">This article approaches the need as a diagnostic challenge and looks at how to resolve it to provide the healthiest lifestyle for indoor felines.

2. https://www.thedrakecenter.com/resources/materials/cats/environmental-enrichment-indoor-cats#" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">This succinct overview of what environmental enrichment looks like is shared by The Drake Center for Veterinary Care. It begins by explaining, " While cats confined to an indoor environment generally live longer and are at less risk for contracting infectious diseases or injuries due to trauma, they are at greater risk for a variety of behavioral problems. These problems include urinating and defecating outside the litter box, anxiety, eating disorders, attention seeking, aggression, self-injury and compulsive disorders like excessive grooming and scratching.

Providing an enriched environment can increase activity, decrease mental stagnation and prevent many of these issues. All cats need mental stimulation, but this is especially important for indoor cats. An enriched environment will give cats the opportunity to create their own positive experiences in an enclosed space. The goal is to “create an environment of plenty” for your cat. That means plenty of room, litter boxes, food, water and things to do."

3. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1098612X13477537" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">This Peer reviewed, published research on Environmental Enrichment is more technical in nature, but is very clear. The authors make it very clear that a cat’s level of comfort with its environment is intrinsically linked tomits physical health, emotional wellbeing and behavior. Having a basic understanding of your Siberian cat’s species-specific environmental needs and how cats interact with their environment willprovide a foundation for addressing these fundamental requirements.

Addressing environmental needs is essential (not optional) for optimum well being of the cat. Environmental needs include those relating not only to the cat’s physical surroundings (indoors or outdoors; in the home environment or at the veterinary practice), but also those affecting social interaction, including responses to human contact.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1098612X13477537" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Five ‘pillars’ framework: The authorship panel has organized the Guidelines around five primary concepts (‘pillars’) that provide the framework for a healthy feline environment. Understanding these principles and the unique environmental needs of the cat will help veterinarians, cat owners and care-givers to reduce stress, the incidence of stress-related disorders, and unwanted behavior in their feline patients and pets. The recommendations in the Guidelines apply to all pet cats, regardless of lifestyle."

4. https://catfriendly.com/be-a-cat-friendly-caregiver/playing-with-your-cat/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">These straightforward guidelines on playing with your cat were written by the American Association of Feline Practioners (AAFP).

5. https://www.fundamentallyfeline.com/environmental-enrichment-for-indoor-cats/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Down to earth advice from Fundamentally Feline on indoor enrichment. Please skip the magnets:  Dangerous!

Continue learning by Googling "Environmental Enrichment for Cats."

Use common sense as per above tip to skip the magnet alpha letters. In these magnets, small magnets easily fall out of plastic letters and can be swallowed by curious kitties leading to intestinal issues requiring expensive surgery. 

Dry food is a huge NO-NO for cats. [Dry food also void the FOrestWind Health warranty]. Dry feeding leads to dehydration and a raft of health complications. Please ignore all suggestions to buy and use "food puzzles." Feed species appropriate diets and save puzzles for finding toys. New advice from feline behaviourists suggests moving your Siberian's food plate around the home to mimic hunting behaviour.

Tips on Selecting your Breeder:  Quality & Value versus Price & Time

Before continuing your cattery search, you may want to take a moment to think about what you are offering to a kitten  and her Breeder so that when you reach out, the Breeder will have a good sense of you and the home you will provide for their Siberian kitten. This is especially important today when most breeders have 1 to 2 year waits for kittens, or have closed their reservations and wait lists entirely.

As you explore various breeders, it can be very useful to have already identified your own 3 top priorities so you can rule in or out various breeders who will be compatible with your bottom line needs.

We hope this blog post on assessing options will provide a helpful scaffolding for you as you consider your needs. 

Generally speaking, established, reputable breeders in the USA have a wait of 12-24 months for a kitten. If you are looking for a kitten “right away,” or just want to learn more about your options when looking for your Siberian kitten, read on to learn the characteristics of a cattery who can meet your needs.

The average cost for a Siberian kitten from a reputable breeder is 2500 to 4500. Breeders who test their kittens for Fel d 1 levels typically charge 3500 to 5500+.

The better quality the breeder, the more is offered, such as desexing, microchipping, nutrition, care (not caged, Siberians are handled frequently), desexing (spay or neuter), and very importantly, a complete and lengthy health guarantee. At a minimum, FIP, HCM, and PKD  are covered for 3 to 5 years. The benefits a breeder offers you are typically reflected in the kitten purchase cost.

Remember, breeders who choose to “pass on” costs such as for microchipping & registering the microchip (75-100), or desexing (450-750+), are able to charge less for their kittens. In the case of desexing, they are also passing on the surgery risk for your kitten from them to you. If your kitten dies in surgery, that is a complete loss for you.

Qualities of a reputable breeder:

Your kitten has a robust genetic health warranty that includes all feline genetic diseases and FIP. If there is an issue, this means you receive a kitten. The warranty is not an increasing cost structure where year by year you are paying more of the kitten’s replacement cost.

Your kitten is raised in a healthy home environment with hardwood, tile, or a water impervious (not concrete), flooring. Kittens and cats are not treated like livestock. They are not caged, are not living in sheds, barns, garages, or basements, and are not locked up and isolated in remote areas of the home.

Kittens have had the advantage of being raised with dogs or being exposed to children, or other experiences that correlate with your own home environment. At the least, your Breeder has experience and is willing to support you in ensuring th is transition is effective. 

Support to kitten buyers is based on years of experience breeding and placing kittens, plus a research based knowledge of the Siberian breed. One would hope to see a Breeder committed to ongoing learning, seminar participation, and ideally mentoring and support of other Siberian cat breeders.

Your kitten is lovingly handled and played with multiple times daily from birth.

Your kitten is not forcibly weaned, instead your kitten experiences a natural transition to raw or at least a quality canned food.

Your kitten is not separated early from a caged mom in order to be socialised before placement, kittens grow up naturally together with their mothers as pets in the Breeder’s home.

Your kitten is available to come home to you between 12 and 16 weeks, most typically between 13 and 15 weeks to allow proper, natural socialisation and maturation.

Your kitten is already desexed (spayed or neutered), and has recovered from surgery before homegoing.

Your kitten has been microchipped with the kitten's microchip registered to you for the lifetime of your Siberian, there are no annual fees, nor other fees if you need to update your information.

Your kitten is protected: treated preventatively to protect against coccidia, giardia, fleas, mites, heartworm, most intestinal parasites, and has been vaccinated twice for "distemper" viruses.

If a show type appearance (conformation), is important to you, ensure that your breeder is showing her Siberians successfully.

The long lived Siberian cat has a life expectancy of 11 to 13+ years. Even 15-17 years is not unusual for a Siberian cat. You will want those years to be happy, healthy years for you and your pet, with a comfortable relationship with your breeder should you choose to draw on it.

If you prefer to look for your kitten by price or speed of purchase, be aware that when you see a buy now option; photos and kitten prices listed to select from; kittens always available; or kittens for sale on Instagram or Facebook, generally these are large scale / commercial breeders.

Did you know that neither Instagram nor Facebook allows pets sales? In our opinion, a breeder having a quality website is a big plus.

There is nothing wrong per se in buying from large scale breeders, or breeders who meet fewer indicators of a top notch breeder. Simply remember to expect less support post purchase, less information on care and preparation, and a kitten who may have been raised isolated in an out-building, basement, garage, or kennel runs, or if raised inside the home has been penned or caged, with less human interaction, and generally little to no health guarantee.

We want to be clear that not every breeder with kittens available "right now," or at a low cost are scammers or kitten mills. They may be new, not effective at kitten placement, or have some other issue that is not a reflection on their Siberians.

Lower Cost / Lower Quality Breeders tend to have many or all of the following 12 characteristics.

Check carefully for the below characteristics to avoid as you explore each breeder's website, Instagram, or Facebook page.

1. Cattery is large scale.

2. Cattery continually has kittens available right now on Facebook, Instagram, Craigs List (huge no-no), or even on the website, especially if kittens are posted with a “buy now" option, no interview, or a minimal application form.

3. Cattery does not desex (spay / neuter), kittens or cats prior to your Siberian joining you, or if the desexing was done, it has not had time to safely heal (ideally 2 weeks for a kitten or male adult, longer for an adult female).

4. Kittens are not microchipped, or if microchipped, the chip is not registered to you, and you must pay to register chip.

5. Kittens are not vaccinated twice for distemper, nor treated preventatively to protect against multiple parasites with Revolution or Bravecto plus, Tozturzil, and Fenbedazole.

6. Cattery offers no health warranty, or a very brief health warranty, or a health warranty requiring an immediate visit to your vet, or a health warranty that does not include the most common genetic diseases and FIP.

7. Cattery may be located in the south, midwest, or southwest. The costs for Vet care and food are much lower in those areas and there are more large scale breeders. Lower Vet and other costs may be associated with a lower purchase cost to you. 

8. The Cattery is importing entire litters from Russia or China to resell in USA. These kittens are typically only 8-11 weeks old (too young to leave Mama cat). This is occuring frequently currently. Be aware. 

9. Sends kittens home prior to 12 weeks. Ideally kittens go home 12 to 16 weeks, with 13 to 14 weeks the sweet spot.

10. Kittens are available to be shipped cargo. 

11. Cattery is a farm: either just large size and / or is registered with the department of agriculture as a commercial scale breeder.

12. Your questions are brushed off, or you receive no response at all. Conversely, an overly rapid, often pushy response may be the sign of a breeder who values sales over compatibility of fit.

The more of the above list a Cattery meets, generally the lower the kitten price, and the more challenges your purchase may bring for you.

Siberians typically range from 1,200 or so for kittens in large scale catteries who offer weak or no health guarantees and kittens who are not desexed or microchipped, to over 5,500 for kittens from breeders who desex, microchip, and test Fel d 1 levels in their kittens. Health warranties raise kitten costs.

Any Siberian kitten price below 1800 should raise your eyebrows. This may indicate a scam situation, or sick / uncared for / mass produced kittens. Be SURE to ask the breeder why her kittens are so inexpensive. This is a serious red flag.

To conduct a wider search for Siberian breeders, check out the https://www.siberiancatbreeder.info/apps/links/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Links page on our website. Listings there are a resource for you, not a recommendation, so please use due diligence.

We hope this information helps you consider your options and make the choice that is right for you.

One of the least practiced but most important care strategies for your Siberian cat is regular, proper dental care. 

Your Siberian's teeth and gums should be cleaned a minimum of 3 to 4 times a week; a dental exam given by your cat's Vetarinarian every 12 months;  and professional dental cleanings scheduled every 24 to 36 months. 

Be sure to ask your Breeder about the best way to care for your Siberian's teeth and gums. 

https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-dental-disease" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Feline Dental Disease is a thorough article from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine on the impact of neglecting dental care for your Siberian cat.  it discusses the three most common dental diseases in cats: gingivitis, periodontitis, and tooth resorption, and says that "Dental disease in cats can cause serious pain and discomfort, which can impact a cat’s quality of life. In many cases, dental disease causes a cat to stop eating, which leads to a variety of health problems."

From Cheryl Krause, CEO and President of Cee DeeKay, Inc.

It won't be long before families will be gathering together to celebrate the many holidays that fall in the last two months of the year. Windows will be washed, tablecloths ironed, and cakes and cookies baked in preparation of the arrival of out-of-town guests. Thoughtful hosts and hostesses plan seating arrangements well in advance to make sure that dining partners get along. But what do you do if Aunt Sally is allergic to Rover or Uncle Bill can't be anywhere near Fluffy? What about the guest that has environmental allergies? Can you make your home as welcoming to them as your other guests?

 

Of course you can! With a little extra work and advance preparation everyone can enjoy the holidays together without the worry of a trip to the emergency room or a mad scramble for the inhaler.

 

 

If your guest has a pet allergy, they are sensitive to a protein that is found in the saliva and urine of your cat or dog (bunnies, hamsters, gerbils and horses can also cause allergy problems). This protein gets spread to the skin and fur of the animal when (animals) groom themselves or empty their bladders. The protein dries to the fur or skin (dander) and isshed when the dander is shed. In addition, the dried protein-laden saliva or urine can also flake off on its own and will adhere to thefirst surface it touches. Because the problem causing agent is a protein, it can be denatured or rendered harmless. You just have to know what to do and how to do it.

 

It is best if you can begin preparations several weeks in advance. But if not, don't panic, you can still prepare! As soon as possible, close the door to the bedroom in which your guests will sleep to keep the pets out of the room.

 

Two to three weeks before the visit, begin wiping your pet down* once a week with one of the Allerpet formulas. There are special formulations for dogs and cats. The cat formula can also be used on small mammals such as rabbits and hamsters. These products are 100% safe for your pet and are made of ingredients that will denature the proteins that are already on the pet. In addition, the residual action will help denature the additional proteins collected when the pet grooms.

 

 

Two to three days before your guests arrive, thoroughly vacuum all fiber surfaces. This includes carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, curtains and draperies. Wipe down all hard surfaces such as furniture and damp mop floors. You don't want to do this just before your guest arrives, as most of what we call "cleaning" is really taking settled particles and throwing them up in air directly into the breathing space.

 

After everything is cleaned, go back over the fiber surfaces with a denaturing spray such as the ADS or ADMS sprays made by Alkaline Laboratories. These sprays use organic and inorganic agents to neutralize the protein from animals, dust mites, mold, and pollens. It is not necessary to saturate the fiber. A light misting will suffice.The surface should dry within 15 minutes.

 

 

The ADS is the stronger solution, as it contains tannic acid. Tannic acid is one of the most effective denaturing agents on the market. However, you must be careful in its use. It is not appropriate for water sensitive fabrics such as silks, wools, and Haitian cotton and can discolor white fabrics. If you have any of these fabrics or are concerned about the tannic acid, then use the ADMS spray. It does not contain tannic acid. The Alkaline labs produce a wide range of allergen control denaturing agents and you can read more about ADS, ADMS, and the other products they make.

 

 

The day before your guests arrive, put clean sheets on the bed, vacuum the room, and close the door again to keep out the pet. Lightly mist all fabric surfaces once again with the ADS or ADMS spray and wipe the pet down again with Allerpet.

 

 

When guests arrive, keep the pets and guests separated as much as possible. After you handle or pet your furred family member, be sure to wash your hands before interacting with the allergic family member.

 

 

Lastly, sit back and relax knowing that you have made your home as safe as possible and enjoy the company of your pet-sensitive guests.

 

 

From Cheryl Krause, CEO and President of Cee DeeKay, Inc.

Cheryl has owned and operated the Allergy Store in Plantation Florida for the past 14 years. In addition, she has owned and operated water purification and indoor environmental companies.

http://allergystore.com/

 

* As always, ForestWind recommends bathing your Siberian weekly in addition to daily combings. These two steps more than any other cat care routine help reduce the spread of any produced feline allergens in your home.

 

W

Fel d1 is a tiny protein expressed in saliva, skin oils, and via the anal glands. Salivary Fel d1 is spread through the fur during grooming, and sebaceous FEL d1 also spreads through the fur through expression. The FEL d-1 enters the atmosphere via loose hair, dander, and the litter box.. The allergen is very stable and can remain active in the environment for over a year. Anally expressed FEL d1 ends up in the litter box, of course, which is why Unfair Rule # 1 for allergy households exists: Allergic persons should not scoop litter boxes. If you are the allergic party and live alone, consider investing in an automatic litter box. Then use a mask to protect you when emptying the container or washing out the unit.

 

Using an electrostatic air filter on your furnace, and adding a HEPA filter helps to remove the floating hairs and dusts that carry the dander and allergen proteins about your home. If you have radiators or electric baseboard heat, invest in high quality room air filtration units.

 

When selecting furniture, opt for leather and hard surfaces. Use blinds or shades that can be wiped, instead of curtains.

 

Use glass enclosed display areas to keep treasured items from becoming catch alls for dander.

 

Be sure to select a low dust, non scented litter. If you can't find any, consider using play box sand which is fine grained and very dust free. The downside is you will absolutely need to dump this litter every day or so, as the urine will not clump in it. Adding baking soda to the litter box helps neutralize urine odor in between dumpings. An additional benefit to dumping frequently and then washing / disinfecting the litter box is that it is a very good way to maintain cat health, especially if you have two or more cats.

 

Keeping your Siberian groomed reduces loose hair in the environment. Use Allerpet C before grooming to prevent the allergen from becoming airborne during daily brushing or combing. Washing your cat weekly removes the dander and protein from the body. You can simply use tap water or a mild shampoo. It is simply the act of thoroughly wetting the coat, rubbing it, and then rinsing thoroughly that mechanically removes the dander and deposited fel d 1. We use one cup of white vinegar in a bucket of warm tap water as our final rinse (or second to final - you may want to use a neutral smelling conditioner after the rinse if a vinegar scent bothers you!!).

 

Bathing cats with shampoos or grooming solutions which contain tannins or borates deactivates many allergens. Normal levels of the allergen deposits return within a week. Routine bathing of your Siberian, combined with vacuuming rugs, mopping floors, and wiping off surfaces, reduces the allergen buildup in your home.

 

In homes with some allergic and some non allergic individuals, it is realistic to declare certain areas "off limits" to your cat. Bedrooms are top priority. Next is a family room or other area that the allergic person(s) spends a lot of time. Even installing doors to provide a "cat free zone" is a realistic step.

 

Speaking of bedrooms, use the "Transition Room" as a permanent bedroom /retreat for your Siberian. When you go to bed, so does kitty - in his or her own bedroom. Keep the HEPA filter running at all times in there. Also HEPA vacuum daily, and open your Siberian's bedroom window for at least one hour a day. The hours your kitty is in her room are hours that dander is not distributed throughout the house. It is also a great safety measure: you can Siberian proof her bedroom area and not worry about her biting through light cords, or getting into cleaners or medications while you are sleeping. Finally, in cases of emergency, you know where your cat is. With a carry crate in that room, you can easily get your cat safely confined and removed from the house, or let rescue people know where to find your beloved pet, instead of having her terrified and hiding in the house "somewhere."

 

Consider implementing as many of these steps as you can if you are cat allergic and would like to ensure that both you and your Siberian are comfortable at home!

 

Warmly,

 

Kate Stryker

ForestWind Siberians... pure, healthy kittens since 2005

ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT

 

# 1 strategy for a physically and emotionally healthy feline: a best friend. It is simplest to provide that best friend from the beginning / early on. There are a few Siberians who prefer solo life / king or queen of the castlehood, and we make that clear at kitten selection time.

 

#2 providing activities and enrichment for your Siberians to involve them in activities and interests while you are gone.

bird feeders hanging outside, or attached to windows;

bird baths in yard;

to cat videos (portraying fish, birds, small mammals, insects, etc in natural settings);

to soothing music, such as Harp for Hope ; or soothing piano music;

to interactive and safe toys Kong, Catit Play Circuit; sturdy and safe bell balls, crinkle tunnels for playing chase; turbo scratchers - which have both cardboard scratcher inserts as well as grass inserts; eight track ball toy;

providing a variety of cat scratchers in different locations in your home;

providing several different ways for your Siberian to be "up:" shelves, poles, climbers,  leaping stations, cardboard creations, snugglers, lotus shelving;

supplying catnip or organic grass stations;

and

placing cosy cuddlers throughout your home. 

 

#3 engaging in person:cat play sessions of at least 10 minutes in length twice daily, ideally these sessions are at least morning and late evening right before bed time. Teasers, https://www.chewy.com/s?query=laser%20toyss&nav-submit-button=" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">laser lights, balls to throw, any toy that involves you, your Siberians, and lots of running are ideal.

 

#4 grooming and snuggling kitty daily. Cats groom each other both out of necessity (parts of body they can't reach easily - back of head, jaws, etc), and also to bond and reenforce affiliation. Combing, brushing, stroking, and talking with your kitties provides this same type of sensation and well being to them, as well as allows you to know their healthy bodies well and therefor to be aware of early changes if your cat is not feeling well or is in ill health for some reason.

#FridayFYI two 15 minute daily sessions of interactive play with your Siberian cat are essential for physical and mental well being of your pet. 

Multiple Siberian cats at home? You need multiple scratching posts!

 

Why? It reduces Cat: Cat tensions, and increases liklihood of using proper scratching surfaces

 

Remember to offer tall, sturdy posts in a variety material (sisal, cardboard, wood), and a variety of locations.

 

Learn more from Pam Johnson-Bennett, a Cat Behaviouralist in her post Multiple Cat Homes Need Multiple Scratchers. 

Pet Insurance is not right for everyone. It is both an emotional and financial decision specific to each pet owner. We strongly urge you to research pet insurance to decide if it’s right for your family. Prior to making any commitment with a company, ask every question you can until you hear the right answer for your family, read the entire contract to the end, and pay very close attention to the fine print. If you don’t understand what your contract says, inquire to its meaning.

 Here are some broad points we’d like you to consider when beginning your research: 

 

Coverage

1) Comprehensive covers both accidents and illnesses - from broken bones, swallowing a foreign object, to diabetes and cancer

2) Wellness or Preventative Care covers basic veterinarian appointments handling vaccinations and annual visits.

3) Accidents is exactly what it sounds like - basically any problems your animal gets into which isn’t illness or disease related.

 

Deductibles: A deductible is your personal payment prior to the pet insurance company covering the bill. Pet Insurance has changed drastically over the past decade. One major change many companies are now offering is customizing your reimbursement and deductible percentages. This ranges between 50% to 100% depending on the insurance company. Generally speaking, the less you pay monthly to the insurance company the more you pay at the vet and vice versa.

 

Benefit Limits

1) Lifetime Benefits - No ceiling on coverage after original deductible is paid.

2) Per Incident Annual - Usually regarding an illness or disease, companies creates a cap in how much they’re willing to cover.

3) Maximum Annual - Some companies create a set amount as to how much they’re willing to pay out annually

4) Lifetime Maximum - A company sets a cap as to how much they’re willing to pay regarding an individual pet.

 

Other Points to Consider:

-Many insurance plans range from $38 - $70, depending on your choice of coverage, reimbursement, deductibles, and benefits. Unfortunately, to receive a personalized quote, you must enter your email for each insurance company.

-It is very rare for pet insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions. Should you choose to get pet insurance, the earlier the better.

-Most pet insurance companies require you to pay the veterinarian bill out of pocket, reimbursing you at a later time.

-Different insurance companies have better track records when it comes to reimbursement time and communication. If this is important to you, read multiple customer reviews from multiple sources before deciding.

-Many insurance companies include medication and treatment within plans - but not all.

-Most insurance companies do not cover dental unless the dental issue is accidental.

To explore Pet Insurance Options, check out this helpful page: 

www.consumersadvocate.org/pet-insurance/a/best-pet-insurance?

[ Editor's note: that many companies require you to register to get quotes. You may want to create an email address specifically for this purpose to keep your inbox from being flooded].

Shannon O'Keefe

ConsumersAdvocate.org

Lots 81-82, Street C

Dorado, PR, 00646

We place most of our kittens into cat allergic and / or asthmatic homes. 2019 is our 15th year in Siberian Cat breeding. During these years we have only needed to rehome three (3) kittens who were placed into allergy or asthma homes.

We believe a large part of our success rate is our careful screening and support of prospective Kitten Families. (To define "Kitten Family:" it can be one person + a ForestWind kitten, or multiple people living together as a family + a ForestWind kitten). ForestWind Siberians is not focused on kitten sales, but rather on making successful kitten placements. By successful, we mean we want to ensure - cat allergy family or not - that there is a proper fit between our kitten and your home.

We want to also be sure there is a comfortable fit between you as the buyer and us as the breeder. Making the decision to purchase your Siberian kitten from a breeder one is not "in synch with" results in not asking for help with any questions or problems that arise. It means that one might make unnecessary expenditures at the Vet's when other advice fits the situation better, or that one is not armed with the knowledge one needs to be comfortable asking a Veterinarian for the proper testing and treatment of your Siberian.

We help our prospective Kitten Families consider the strategies and routines they will want to inplace when bringing their Siberian home. These steps go from the early transition period; to proper nutrition for your Siberian (which even impacts allergy levels and temperament!); to keeping your Siberian emotionally and physically healthy - unstressed cats produce less allergens; to cleaning strategies for the home to ensure the majority of any allergens produced are removed; to our step by step support on allergy friendly bathing and grooming routines for your Siberian.

We have allergy assessment strategies for pre-approval that may involve a fur sample challenge or an in-person allergy challenge. These challenges help one assess the level of reactivity the cat allergic or asthmatic person(s) may experience.

We ask allergy / asthma questions to provide us with information about the home / allergy - asthma situation that allows us to provide targeted, situation specific information on the chances of a successful purchase, as well as steps to take to ensure one’s purchase decision is an informed, effective one.

We do *not* approve every home. In situations where it is clear that a kitten purchase would not be successful for you, we explain why. In some cases, we are able to make alternative suggestions - such as buying a kitten from a cattery that allergy tests its kittens. Fel d 1 tested kittens are normally $2800 – to $3500+, dependent on Fel d 1 level and the length of breeder’s health warranty. In seriously impacted allergy / asthma situations this option is safest and best.

We place each kitten intending the home is permanent (not “try it and see”;). To that end, we require a Safe Home. This is a non-asthmatic, non-cat allergic person who co-signs the purchase contract agreeing to provide a forever home for the ForestWind kitten should issues around allergy / asthma arise that necessitate re-homing. We find that this requirement weeds out people who want to use a Siberian kitten purchase as either a magic bullet (no work necessary on their part), or as a "try it and see" situation - either of which is terribly unfair to the kitten, and heartbreaking to family members.

By supporting our Kitten Families with information, advice, and care strategies, we ensure that those families who bring home a ForestWind Siberian kitten are ready to enjoy many years of happiness and comfort with their sweet pet.