Siberian Appearance
The Siberian is a fairly large and sturdy cat with a sweet expression. They are considered the national cat of Russia. Their body is similar to The Norwegian Forest. The Siberian is a strong and powerfully built cat, made up for survival in tough conditions. Their body is long and well muscled. The eyes are very large, oval and slightly slanted. There is no relationship between eye color and coat color/pattern. The ears are medium size with rounded tips and their tail is moderately long, and thick with rounded tip. The weight of the Siberian is 10 to 20 pounds. They are one of the largest domesticated cats.
The Siberian cat has a semi-longhaired and water resistant coat that is strong, copious and oily. Their undercoat is dense and abundant. All colors and marking are allowed but they always have three dense layers. The most common colors are: brown classic tabby, Red shaded tabby, Tortie tabby and Brown Mackerel tabby.
Siberian Temperament
Siberian Cats are very affectionate, sweet temperament and have a dog like personality. They are very smart and learn quickly. They are sensible and moderate cat in all ways, not to placid, not overly vocal and never run off and hide under a chair or bed when seeing a stranger. Siberians are slow to mature, taking as long as 5 years to reach full maturity.
Is Siberian the right Breed for You?
They are best paired with an owner that is present everyday. Someone who is out of town a great deal, or who wants a cat that is more shy and retiring should not choose this breed. Siberians loves to jump, run and have a fascination with water. Siberians are very friendly and get along well with other animals, including dogs. They also can get along well with young children.
Siberian Life Expectancy
The life expectancy of the Siberian is around 15 or more years.
Siberian Health Problems
Though the Siberian Cat is susceptible to common ailments to which all cats are susceptible, there are no major known health concerns with this breed.
Siberian Care and Grooming
The Siberian cat requires weekly grooming and regular brushing may be needed. Brush them twice a week with a pig-bristle brush to help manage their coat. When the cat is shedding can be very useful a rubber brush or massage to get their loose hair out of the coat. Bathing is optional. The Siberian cats should not be bathed more often than once every six weeks to keep their skin from drying out. It is recommended for all cats and household pets to have annual vaccinations, veterinary checkups, and a quality diet. Keep the ears clean and their claws trim.
Siberian Shedding
The Siberian are average shedder; you’ll find hair stuck to your couch, carpets, clothes and everything else in your home, although they are not considered too bad for those with allergies as many breeders and owners claim to have had no trouble with allergy sufferers owning Siberian Cats.