Expert: W - 5/29/2010

Question
QUESTION: Ma'am,
I have never had cats as a child or an adult up until recently when a man brought a cat to my house asking me to please take her because he found her and he was living in his vehicle. It was a Saturday, so he couldn't take her to a shelter. I have come to believe that this was fate bringing me this cat because I have absolutely fallen in love with her and want to know all about her. I have reason to believe she is a Silver Siberian based on comparing her pictures to ones on the internet. I would like to know, by looking at her, do you suppose she is a Silver Siberian? Also, I read that the Siberian is slightly rare in the U.S. because they hadn't started to become imported until 1990. Is this true, are they rare? If you do think she is siberian, do you think she is pure siberian or a mix? Thank you very much.

Sara
(I attached a picture)...her name is Starlit Priscilla

ANSWER: Hi Sara
It is impossible to know the breed of the cat just from a picture
She certainly looks nice and has the appearance of a semi long haired cat. Is she a pedigree I am not sure
Siler Siberians are not rare
She may also be spayed so she canno thave kittens but you cannot tell that either just from looking at her.
Please be a responsible person and take her to your local vet for a check up and ask the vet t examine her to see if there are signs of spaying

Ray


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ray,
I already took her to the vet, she got de-wormed, flea treatment and the feline leukemia shot, the autoimmunodeficiency vaccine and they checked for spaying but said it was indecisive. They said if she didn't go into heat that likely she is spayed and she hasn't displayed signs of going into heat.

If you can't tell a breed by looking at a cat, how would you ever know what is their breed?

Answer
Hi Sara
The way to tell a cat is by actually looking and feeling the cat and a picture does not ptovide that for me.
How you tell is to look at the pedigree and examine the cat.
Can I suggest that you seek out a cat judge in the TICA organisation or CFA and ask their professional opinion when they can actually see the cat for real.

Ray