Siberian

The Siberian is Russia’s native cat and its national treasure, a hardy longhair that survived centuries of brutal winters in the forests and villages of Siberia. It is an ancient natural breed, not a designed one, and it shows in every line of its powerful body.

That body is built for cold. A dense, water-resistant triple coat, a full neck ruff, and a bushy tail let it shrug off snow, and big tufted paws carry it over it. Under the fur it is muscular and surprisingly heavy, an athletic jumper that lands like a cat half its size.

Siberians are slow to mature, taking up to five years to fill out. They are playful, fearless, and dog-like, often fetching toys, following their people, and taking a curious interest in water.

They carry a useful reputation as well. Many allergy sufferers report tolerating Siberians better than other cats, since the breed tends to produce less of the main cat allergen, though no cat is truly safe for every allergic person.

A Siberian fits an active household. It is playful, fearless, and athletic, a strong jumper that enjoys games, heights, and even water, and it stays sociable and dog-like with family and guests alike. It is slow to mature, filling out over about five years.

The thick triple coat is less work than it looks, needing a thorough brush a couple of times a week and more during the heavy seasonal shed. The breed is generally healthy, though like many large cats it can carry the heart condition HCM, so responsible breeders test their lines.