Siberian
Russia's native forest cat, with a triple coat that carries it through the winter there. A powerful jumper, slow to mature, and comfortable around water.
Photo by Roswitha Budde, CC BY 3.0
Overview
The Siberian is Russia's native forest cat, large, powerfully built and carrying a genuine triple coat: guard hairs, awn hairs and a dense undercoat, all of which thicken enormously in winter and shed out in spring.
It is also remarkably athletic for its size. Siberians are strong jumpers and confident climbers, and they are considerably more agile than a cat of ten to twenty pounds has any obvious right to be.
Temperament
Confident, affectionate and calm. Siberians are sociable without being clingy, good with children and dogs, and largely unbothered by noise and visitors.
They are quiet cats that trill and chirp, and they are slow to mature, taking up to five years to reach full size. Many of them like water and will play in it.
Care and grooming
A comb through two or three times a week and daily through the spring moult, which is substantial. The triple coat is water resistant and largely self maintaining outside that period.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the main concern in the breed and cardiac screening is the question to ask. Pyruvate kinase deficiency has also been found in Siberians and has a DNA test.
Living and exercise
Space and sturdy climbing structure rated for the weight. They are athletic and they want height.
Siberians are frequently marketed as hypoallergenic and that claim does not hold. Every cat produces Fel d 1 regardless of breed, coat or size, and while individual cats vary in how much they produce, no breed is allergen free. Anyone allergic should spend real time with the specific cat rather than trusting the label.
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