Powerful yet surprisingly graceful traditional Siberian forest cats are reminiscent of little wild cats.

Siberian Forest cats are native to Russia and the taiga of Siberia. They are one of the oldest cat breeds, featured in paintings, poetry, and books for hundreds of years. The Siberian Forest Cat adapted to survive in the Taigas' cold, harsh climate. With a medium to large barrel-shaped build, they are well-muscled and have strong back legs, making them robust, agile climbers and jumpers. Their coat has three layers of fur that are matt-resistant and water-repellent. The outer fur is medium to long and usually silky soft. Though the ears are rounded, they appear pointed due to the long tipping hairs. Tails are full and lush like foxes, typically carried high off the back.

Siberians slowly mature and may not fully develop until 3 to 5 years old. A full-grown male can weigh between 15 and 20 lbs, while the female is smaller and doesn't typically grow more than 10 lbs.

The traditional Siberian cat comes in various colours, from red, brown, and grey to blue, among many others. Its patterns can be mackerel (striped), spotted (their stripes are broken up into spots), or classic tabby, to name a few. It is a breed with diverse appearances.

The Neva Masquerade is the colour-pointed subgroup of the Siberian. They are thought to have originated when wild Siberians mated with feral Siamese cats along the Neva River in St Petersburg, Russia, in 1980. This mating produced an appealing and desirable look. Neva Masquerade typically has a white, off-white, or cream body. Their colour only shows on the coldest parts of their body. Their nose, ear tips, legs, paws, and tails can be in various colours and patterns. The facial markings around their eyes appear similar to a masquerade mask worn to a costume party. Like the traditional Siberian, they also come in various colours and patterns. 

Siberian cats are known to be hypoallergenic (hypo meaning “less” in Latin). This means they are less allergenic. While there are many causes of allergic reactions in cats, 60-90% are caused by a protein called Fel d-1. This protein is produced only in cats, their saliva or sebaceous glands (glands in the skin). Siberian cats are hypoallergenic because they have far less Fel d-1. For example, the average cat produces 63,000 micrograms of Fel d-1 per gram, while a female Siberian will create approximately 200 micrograms per gram. While no cat is 100% guaranteed not to cause an allergic reaction, many people do well with Siberians, with some owners reporting no reactions.

By far, the most intriguing quality and our favourite aspect of them is their personalities. They are intelligent and curious, and their antics are usually the highlight of our day. They are intuitive to their owners, sensing when you need comfort or reassurance and always happy to provide a heartwarming snuggle.

Naturally social, the confident and accepting Siberian cat adapts quickly to environments with children, other cats, or dogs. Loyal and loving Siberians will develop strong bonds with their owners and other pets.