Siberian

Who it suits

A household that wants a cat with character. The Siberian is even-tempered, affectionate without being pushy, and unlike the quieter breeds it still plays as an adult.

It developed naturally in the Russian climate rather than in a breeding programme — hence the solid build, the dense coat and health that tends to be above average. It is agile, likes to climb and jumps high.

It usually attaches itself to the whole family rather than to one person, and gets on well with children and with dogs.

The truth and the myth about allergies

This is the reason many people choose the breed, so it is worth stating precisely.

Allergy is not caused by hair but by a protein called Fel d 1, which the cat secretes in saliva and skin oils and spreads through its coat while grooming.

Siberians have repeatedly been measured as producing substantially less Fel d 1 in some individuals than an average cat. That is not a property of the breed as a whole, though — it is a property of the individual cat, and it varies even between littermates.

What that means in practice: anyone with an allergy should not buy a kitten on trust. Spend time with the specific cat at the cattery and decide on that basis. The claim that Siberians are hypoallergenic is not true.

What it looks like

• Weight: males 6–9 kg, females 4–6 kg
• Body: strong, muscular, with large paws and a broad chest
• Coat: semi-long and triple — guard hairs, awn hairs and undercoat; a dense ruff and a bushy tail
• Colour: almost every colour is accepted, including colourpoint, which in this breed is called the Neva Masquerade
• Lifespan: usually 12–16 years

It matures slowly — full size comes at three to five years old.

Coat care

Brush twice a week, daily while moulting. The dense triple coat comes out in quantity in the spring moult, and clumps of it literally drop.

Mats form behind the ears, in the armpits and on the hind legs. The cat does not need bathing — the coat is naturally water-resistant.

Feeding

An adult needs roughly 60–90 g of dry food a day depending on weight, or the equivalent in wet food. The Siberian is active, so obesity is less common than in calmer breeds — but it should still be fed in measured meals.

It grows for a long time, so kitten food is worth continuing for longer than in small breeds.

Common health problems

The Siberian is among the more robust breeds, because it arose by natural selection. That does not mean testing is unnecessary.

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) — thickening of the heart muscle; breeding cats should have a heart scan.
• Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) — less common than in Persians, but tested for by DNA.
• Pyruvate kinase deficiency (PK-def) — an inherited anaemia with a DNA test available.
• Hairballs during moulting — with a triple coat this is a routine problem.

This is not a diagnostic guide. A cat breathing rapidly, losing weight or suddenly listless belongs at the vet.

Anything else to consider

The Siberian is a jumper. High shelves, wardrobes and the top of the fridge are no obstacle — adapt the flat to the cat rather than the other way round.

And expect hair. A triple coat means the spring moult is noticeable throughout the flat; brushing is the only defence.