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Siberian

Recorded history shows the Siberian breed has been around for at least one thousand years. They were first mentioned in Harrison Wier's book Our Cats and all About Them, which included information about one of the earliest cat shows held in England in 1871. However, finding written information in Russia is fairly difficult. Despite the fact that the Siberian is a natural breed and is the national cat of Russia, its very ubiquity makes it taken for granted rather than worthy of note in Russian literature. Add to this the vast expanse of Russia which encompasses 13 time zones as well as a multitude of ethnic and cultural diversity and you have a cat that seems as difficult to standardize as the country which gave rise to it.

The Siberian was first imported in 1990. Despite its popularity the Siberian is extremely rare in the United States. Most breeders have waiting lists for their kittens. In 1995 breeder Lynda Nelson discovered accidentally that the Siberian has non-allergic fur.

Though no scientific studies have commenced, many people that cannot tolerate felines in their homes because of cat allergies, are now proud owners of the Siberian.

The Siberian, considered a semi longhair, has a rich full coat in the winter while the summer allows for a somewhat shorter less dense coat. The Siberian can come in just about every color of the rainbow but because of the rarity of the breed those colors may not be available in your neighborhood.

The Siberian tends to be both a great problem solver and also, rather like dogs, are loyal to their adopted families. Siberians are extremely agile and can leap great distances and heights to "fly through the air with the greatest of ease!" However, their agility also means they usually navigate potentially breakable brick-a-brac without leaving a path of destruction in their wake. Prudence dictates that one would still want to think twice about placing a Ming Dynasty vase on the mantle.

Breed Profile

The Cat Fanciers' Association

Size:

Large

Size:

Medium

Origin:

Russia

Color:

All Colors

Siberian cats are loyal, agile and have a "dog-like" personality. They are also good with children.