The Siberian is a large, rounded long-haired cat from Russia with a triple coat, formally established as a breed in the late 1980s.
It is agile, sociable and increasingly popular in Britain. Claims that it does not cause allergies are unreliable.
The Siberian is Russia's native long-haired cat: a large, powerful, rounded breed with a dense triple coat built for severe winters.
Origin
Long-haired cats have lived across Russia for centuries and appear in its folk tales, but they were not treated as a breed until the late 1980s, when cat clubs formed in the Soviet Union and a standard was written. The first Siberians were exported to the United States in 1990, and the breed arrived in Britain in 2002.
Appearance
Siberians are heavy-boned and barrel-chested, with a slightly arched back, strong hind legs and large round paws with tufts between the toes. The head is a broad wedge with rounded contours, medium ears and large, nearly round eyes. Everything about the outline is rounded, which distinguishes the breed from the Norwegian Forest cat and the Maine Coon.
The coat has three layers, a tight undercoat, a middle layer and long water-repellent guard hairs, with a ruff and a full, blunt-tipped tail. It is thickest in winter. All colours are accepted; the colourpoint variety, with blue eyes, is known as the Neva Masquerade. The cats take up to five years to mature.
Temperament
Siberians are confident, affectionate and playful, and exceptionally agile jumpers for their size. They are sociable with children, dogs and visitors and often take an interest in water.
Care and health
The coat is combed two or three times a week and daily during the heavy spring moult. The breed is generally robust; heart muscle disease occurs, and breeders screen for it.
Allergy claims
Siberians are often advertised as suitable for people with cat allergies. Some individual cats have been found to produce less of the main cat allergen, but levels vary widely within the breed and the studies are small. No Siberian can be assumed to be safe for an allergic person.
Recognition
The Siberian is recognised by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy and the international registries, and has grown quickly in popularity: 308 kittens were registered in Britain in 2023.
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