The Siberian breed is one of the three recognized ‘forest cats’, alongside the Norwegian Forest Cat and the Maine Coon. Native to Russia, the glamorous Siberian breed is known for its luxurious long coat and fun-loving personality. This breed is so ancient that it is believed to be the ancestor of all modern long-haired cats.
Siberian Breed Profile
Siberians are powerful-looking felines with long rectangular bodies, wedge-shaped heads, and large rounded paws. Their ears are rounded and set wide apart on the head and they boast gorgeous large oval eyes.
The Siberian is one of the largest domestic cat breeds with males reaching weights of up to 11kg. Females tend to be significantly smaller, weighing between 5-7kg on average.
Coat
The impressive dense, shaggy coat of this breed is double-layered, with a thick soft undercoat that is perfectly suited to the cold Russian climate. The hair is generally shorter near the shoulders and the breeches consist of just the plush undercoat. Siberians come in a wide variety of coat colors including cinnamon, tabby, bi-color, and various shades of chocolate.
Eyes
Siberian cats can have gold, green or copper eyes. Cats with white coats or white patches can have blue eyes or mismatched eyes of different colors. Color-pointed Siberians should have blue eyes.
The Siberian breed is known for its gentle, playful nature. They are loving without being overly demanding and are known to be incredibly tolerant of young children. They are high-energy cats but their patient nature makes them just as happy to curl up on the sofa with you, as they would be chasing a mouse.
Personality
Siberians are social cats that love to greet strangers and family members alike – they do not shy away like many other cat breeds! These cats are highly intelligent and curious so they love the mental stimulation that comes with clicker training. Like the other forest cat breeds, Siberians mature quite late in life; only reaching full maturity at around 4-5 years of age. This means they retain their kitten-like playfulness well into adulthood.
These cats can adapt well to living indoors as long as they have plenty of items to climb on and plenty of toys to investigate. An interesting personality trait of this breed is that they love water, so expect to see yours tapping the water coming out of the tap with excitement!
Siberian cats make perfect family pets as they are known to be gentle around children. They have also been known to get along well with dogs they have grown up with and even smaller pets. However, you should still supervise any interactions just in case your Siberians’ strong hunting instinct gets the better of him.
Grooming
Siberian cats boast long, thick coats that require regular grooming to prevent mats and tangles. They grow slightly thicker coats in the winter which they will shed in the spring months so you may need to groom more often during these times. Groom your Siberian several times a week with a metal comb or slicker brush to keep the coat in good condition.
Siberians are gentle giants with a sweet disposition and stunning wild appearance. Looking to adopt one of these beautiful kitties? Here are a few pros and cons to consider:
Pros
Siberians are easy-going felines that get along well with both children and other pets. They love to be involved in family activities and can be taught a variety of tricks from learning to play fetch to being taught how to sit on command. Despite being affectionate, these cats are also capable of entertaining themselves which makes them suitable for owners who have to leave the house for long periods.
Cons
Due to their long, double-layered coats, Siberians are not suitable for people with allergies. During shedding season, they shed their fur in large clumps so be prepared to get the hoover out often! Siberians are also fairly energetic cats that love to climb so make sure you can provide this breed with plenty of opportunities to exercise.
In Short
The Siberian is a truly stunning cat breed with the temperament to match. They are very adaptable felines that get along well with everyone, including other pets. If you are looking for a confident companion that thrives on human companionship, the Siberian could be the breed for you.
Siberians are considered to be a relatively healthy breed however they are known to suffer from several health conditions that you need to be mindful of. These include:
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A heart condition characterized by the thickening of the heart muscle. It is commonly seen in Siberian cats, with signs often developing in the middle-aged to senior years.
Periodontal disease: Even though all cats are susceptible to this disease, it seems to be prevalent in Siberians. It can be affected by an inappropriate diet and can usually only be treated with the removal of the affected tooth.
White Siberian cats are known to be pre-disposed to hereditary cancer. The first sign of this disease is usually the development of an abnormal lump on your cat's body. Other symptoms include weight loss, chronic fatigue, and muscle stiffness.
