Siberian Cat

Siberian cats live 12 to 15 years. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the primary hereditary concern and cardiac screening matters. Pyruvate kinase deficiency, a red blood cell disorder, occurs in the breed. Siberian cats produce lower levels of the Fel d 1 allergen than most breeds, though they are not truly hypoallergenic. Annual vet visits with cardiac monitoring protect long term health.

Your Siberian has a thick, water resistant triple coat that needs brushing two to three times a week. The coat sheds heavily in spring and fall so increase brushing to daily during those periods. Their coat is surprisingly tangle resistant but the neck ruff and belly mat most easily. Bathe every few months. Trim nails every two weeks and clean ears monthly.

Siberians are athletic, agile, and love to climb and leap. They enjoy interactive wand toys, fetch, and games with their owners. Provide tall cat trees and daily active play. Two vigorous play sessions daily keeps most Siberians physically satisfied. They also enjoy outdoor enclosures and leash walks.

Siberians are intelligent, problem solving cats. They respond well to treat based training and learn tricks, their name, and routines quickly. They are confident, curious cats who handle new situations well. Socialize kittens early. Their dog like loyalty and trainability make them one of the more rewarding breeds to work with.

Feed a quality high protein diet twice daily that supports the Siberian large, muscular frame. They take up to five years to fully mature so feed a kitten appropriate diet during growth. Choose foods with real meat first. Monitor weight monthly. Always provide fresh water. Two measured meals daily work better than free feeding.

The Siberian is a natural breed from Russia with a history spanning over a thousand years. Russian folk tales and children books feature Siberian cats as magical forest dwellers. The breed developed in the harsh Siberian climate, producing the thick triple coat it carries today. Siberians appear in Harrison Weir early cat books from the 1800s. The first Siberians arrived in the United States in 1990. TICA recognized the breed in 1996 and the CFA in 2006.