This was a photo of Jazmine (L) taken at the Global Pet Expo and we immediately thought she was a Maine Coon like our handsome boy, Zee (R).

When Dan and I adopted Jazmine she was a former feral kitten and her paperwork coined her as a “DLH,” meaning that whoever rescued her determined her to be a domestic long-haired cat of mixed ancestry. Since her parentage is unknown, that is a fair assessment, but based on our own Maine Coon, Zee, we thought she was also a Maine Coon. That is until Dan posted a picture of her last week on Facebook and someone asked us if she was a Siberian.

Siberian cat – photo from Google images.

Even though I am a huge cat lover, I have to admit I am no expert on cat breeds and I had no idea what the traits and characteristics of a Siberian were and so when I looked it up, I was shocked to find out that we might actually have a Siberian cat! Jazmine’s smaller head and neck ruffle as well as the thick fur on her belly and britches are one giveaway as well as her nearly round golden eyes.

But what really sealed the deal were the personality traits – the Siberian is native to Russia and they are known first and foremost for their hunting abilities. Whether an unsuspecting live bug that has made its way into her path or a stuffed toy, Jazmine is 100% wired to the hunt and kill gene. She might be an adorable ball of sweet fluff on the outside, but don’t let that precious face fool you for one minute…

Yeah… cute cat but you might want to turn your head… what happens to this mouse next is bound to be brutal…

Siberians also love people and want to be near them, affectionately following them around to help with all they are doing, accompanied by delightful little trills, chirps, and purrs. Jazmine is definitely a social butterfly, supervising EVERY activity in our house and when she speaks, which is constantly, it is a charming series of chirps, squeaks, and trills that sound like words such as “meep” “me-yup,” “eep,” “meek,” and “per-ring.”

Hey! Wait for me!! You can’t go anywhere without me following you! Do you hear me?

The Siberian is also an active and playful cat, instigating games of fetch and throw with just about anything that comes their way! This just so happens to be Jazmine’s all-time favorite game ever and she would literally play fetch all day and night if we would let her!

Here… I brought you these dangerous feathers…. now throw them so I can bring them back to you… again and again and again…

They are also highly athletic jumpers and balancers as well as cats who like to play with water – check, check, and check when it comes to Jazmine! So much so that when we make dinner, as soon as she knows we are going to sit down to eat she jumps in one single leap from the kitchen counter where she was previously helping me make dinner to the couch where we sit down to eat. It happens so quickly that she is already at the couch before we even get there!

This is dinner making at our house every night… Jazmine sits on the top shelf not only to supervise me, but to make sure I don’t forget to give her a scrap or two of something yummy and delicious to snack on!

So yeah, perhaps our little darling actually is a Siberian Cat. If not, no matter – we have other occupations she could easily handle if the cat thing doesn’t work out for her such as:

Thief – Yup… Jazmine is the ultimate Artful Dodger from Oliver Twist and there is not a single straw in a mixed beverage within a two-mile radius that is safe from the paws of this little hooligan! All it takes is a split second turn of your back and the straw will be gone – just like fetch, this is a game that never gets “old” to her. Oh, and not to mention, she will steal your heart as well, but that’s a given…

Politician – Jazmine knows how to play a crowd for votes – one look at this darling girl and you will be putty in her perfectly formed paws!

Actress – Oh yes indeed. From playing the adorable, but bratty little sister, to playing the love interest to her favorite mancat, Kizmet, this girl can change her personality like a well seasoned actress! Get ready for an Oscar nomination Jazmine!

Voice Over – Her sweet little chirps and trills are a shoe-in for anyone who needs a cat that sounds like a bird or a mouse. She is especially good at sounding like a Road Runner – meep, meep!

Dog – Between her be-by-your-side loyalty, playing fetch, and bold personality, this girl could pass for a dog were it not for the fact she is a cat…

Scholar – Jazmine is a highly intelligent cat – she doesn’t forget anything and will gladly remind you when it is dinner time, snack time, play time, nap time, snuggle time, open the window time, brush me time, pet me time, converse with me time, and so on…

It is tough work being so on top of things so a well deserved nap is in order for our multi-talented Jazmine! Sweet dreams precious one!

All that said, I am still not 100% certain – the Maine Coon and Siberian traits are very similar and truth be told, it really doesn’t matter. We love our little girl because she has stolen our hearts and it doesn’t matter at all what breed she is. Besides, she is one of a kind and maybe a new breed needs to be invented in her honor – any suggestions for new breed names that would be suitable for this powerhouse of purrsonality?