The Siberian cat is known for her striking yet classic look of a Russian house cat. Where did this breed come from, and what are her looks, personality, and health like?
Breed History
There are lots of rumors and myths about where the Siberian breed came from. According to some sources, Siberian cats appeared in the Siberian taiga, which is why they have certain features that helped them survive in a harsh climate.
The Siberian is a native longhaired breed and owes its traits (looks, personality, and toughness) to nature. These cats are believed to descend from wild Siberian forest cats: predators and excellent hunters.
The standard for the Siberian breed was set fairly recently, in the early 1990s. Breeders identified the features that define the breed. They studied what a Siberian cat should be like and gave a detailed description: what it looks like, its key traits, its personality, and other features.
Read how to care for kittens.
Siberian Personality and Traits at a Glance
| Affection for family | ★★★★★ |
| Shedding | ★★★★☆ |
| Health | ★★★★☆ |
| Playfulness | ★★★★★ |
| Vocality | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Good with kids | ★★★★★ |
| Friendliness toward strangers | ★★★★☆ |
| Ease of grooming | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Gets along with other pets | ★★★★☆ |
| Intelligence | ★★★★☆ |
Siberian Cat Breed Overview
The Siberian stands out from other cats with her sturdy build, face, fluffy coat, personality, and physique. Let’s take a closer look at the main traits of the Siberian breed.
Breed Standard (Appearance)
The first thing that sets the Siberian apart is her size and weight. A powerful, sturdy body with well-developed muscles makes these cats look majestic. Siberian kittens take a long time to build muscle, maturing at about 3 years old, a bit like people.
The front legs are slightly shorter than the hind legs, which gives the cat’s back a slight slope (and that’s what gives the cat strength and agility).
Adult females usually weigh about 10–15 lb and males about 15–20 lb, and some big males get even heavier. Siberians have large, muscular paws with fairly long tufts of fur between the toes, which sets them apart from other cats.
The long coat of the Siberian is often called hypoallergenic. No cat is completely allergen-free, but many people with cat allergies find they react less to Siberians, which makes this breed a favorite pet for allergy sufferers.
The coat has 2 layers: a very dense undercoat and a coarse outer coat that hardly gets wet. Thanks to this “fur coat,” these cats are comfortable in any weather and at any temperature.
The head is fairly large and rounded, and the neck is short but strong. The muzzle is trapezoid-shaped. You may notice tufts on the ears, inherited from their ancestors.
The eyes are oval, medium-sized, and slightly slanted.
The color of a Siberian can vary widely, as the pictures (photos) below show.
Personality and Other Traits
The cat’s origins show. The Siberian is an excellent hunter. Her hunting instinct is so strong that she’d get by in any “extreme” conditions. She can deftly catch not just a mouse but even a rabbit. That same hunting instinct makes her a bit like a dog: she (happily) carries things around in her mouth.
With all this in mind, you’ll know how to pick a name for your kitten; here’s also a list of beautiful names.
Fearlessness. Siberians guard their territory, don’t let in strange animals or people, and let their owners know when “strangers” have arrived. They’re not at all afraid of dogs, people, or the things that scare ordinary cats (sudden noise, traffic, sirens…).
Trainability. The Siberian is smart and well-behaved. She can be trained to use a specific spot as her bathroom.
Intelligence and good judgment. The cat will never climb anywhere without making sure it’s safe. Before fishing a toy out from under an armchair (a dresser, a bed), she’ll think hard about how to do it.
Siberian cats aren’t fussy. They’ll play with anything you give them (a toy, a scrap of paper, a piece of string…).
A love of heights. Don’t be surprised to see your cat on top of the fridge, the dresser, or high up in a tree; for them, that’s completely normal.
Reserved with people. Siberian cats are affectionate but reserved. They won’t constantly ask to be picked up, but they’ll never leave their owner when that person is feeling bad (sick or upset). They won’t adapt themselves to their owners, since they consider themselves the owners. A Siberian cat will only be friends with an owner who respects him.
Their health and immunity are much stronger than those of other breeds. They live 15–20 years on average.
Kittens. Siberian cats can have litters of 5–9 (rarely) kittens. A female can stay fertile until about 18, but a male only until about 11.
Care and Living Conditions
- These cats keep their coats in good shape on their own, so owners only need to brush them now and then: during shedding season (about 10 days) and the rest of the time (1–2 times a month is plenty).
- When it comes to diet, feeding these cats isn’t hard. This breed is genetically built for a natural, varied diet, which makes choosing food easy. There’s just one thing to keep in mind when feeding Siberians: how much protein they get while growing. Since a kitten’s muscles keep developing until about age 3, the diet in those years should be mostly protein (about 70%).
- Don’t forget how much they love freedom: give them safe time outdoors now and then, for example in a catio or on a harness and leash.
Siberian Cat Photos
Here are photos of Siberian cats in various colors:
- blue
- Neva Masquerade
- red (with a golden tint)
- white
- silver
- black
- calico
- tortoiseshell
The Bottom Line
A Siberian soul lives in the Siberian cat’s powerful body. This friendly, open creature has kept many of its ancestors’ habits: a love of hunting and natural powers of observation.
The intelligence of these cats is legendary. You don’t need to teach Siberians tricks or put them through training; they watch people and figure out on their own what’s expected of them.
The Siberian is a wonderful companion who knows how to keep her dignity. They have a strong sense of home, and in that way Siberians are a lot like dogs.
Fearlessness is another of their traits. What scares an ordinary cat will, at most, amuse a Siberian.
Siberian cats are quiet; don’t expect any unnecessary noise from them.
The Siberian has no hereditary diseases.
Siberian Cat Owner Reviews
Konstantin: “A 20-pound furball, that’s our Masik in a nutshell. We got an exceptionally friendly cat. Even though we adopted him as an adult, Masik adapted to our family pretty quickly, and today we can’t imagine our family without this Siberian. Masik is kind and playful: when he’s bored, he finds a toy mouse he’s hidden somewhere, brings it into the room, and nudges it with his paw with the sweetest look on his face. He’s been a dad more than once, and I have to say all his kittens got his best traits.”
Albina: “We’ve raised our Siberian cat from tiny claws: when we got him, he was only six weeks old. Back then he was a scratching ball of fur, and three years later nothing has changed. Unfortunately, our cat never learned to play without his claws, and all of us walk around scratched all year round. Siberian cats hold grudges and don’t forgive even an accidental slight. If you bump into the cat by mistake, you can be sure that 15 minutes later he’ll leap out at you from around the corner, claws at the ready. But he sleeps so beautifully belly-up that we forgive him everything for that sight!”
Gleb: “Lexus needs premium tuning. Lexus is my cat, and he’ll only accept the most expensive sausage, the freshest meat, and farm-fresh sour cream. In return for these riches, he’s ready to pay me back, first, with lively laps around the house at 5 a.m., and second, with a couch beautifully shredded by his claws. Despite his size, Lexus is a bit of a coward and a bit sly, and very charming. He’s friends with me and my son and puts up with my wife and mother-in-law. A real man!”
Where to Buy a Siberian Kitten in the US
You can buy Siberian kittens from a cattery or a breeder. Many things affect the price (pedigree, color, and other features). In the US, a purebred Siberian kitten from a reputable breeder usually costs about $1,200–$4,000. Pet-quality kittens are usually at the lower end, around $1,200–$2,500, while show and breeding kittens cost the most.
Start with the breeder directories:
- CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association) Find a Breeder – https://find-a-breeder.cfa.org/;
- TICA (The International Cat Association) breeder listings – https://tica.org/find-a-cat/find-a-cat-breeder-listings/.
Some US Siberian catteries:
- Cyberkoshki (CFA; breeding Siberians since 2015) – CFA listing;
- Petite Siberians (Brooklyn, New York; TICA);
- Basilic Blessing Siberians (TICA) – https://sites.google.com/site/basilicblessing/.
Choose a fluffy kitten from a cattery or breeder, and you won’t regret making a Siberian cat your friend.
