The Regal Siberian Cat

Siberians seems to possess a special knack for winning over those who steadfastly proclaim to be strictly “dog people.”

At first glance the Siberian resembles the Maine Coon and the Norwegian Forest Cat

but he is differentiated by having a more rounded body and head. He also stands out for his large yellow-green eyes, tufted ears and neck ruff. The Siberian coat comes in many colors and patterns, but brown tabbies seem to be most popular.

From Russia with love:

that's the Siberian, a glamorous native cat from the taiga of Siberia, a forested area with a subarctic climate that no doubt contributed to this cat's long, thick, protective coat. The cats have been known in Russia for some 1,000 years and often figure in Russian folktales.

The Siberian is one of the largest breeds of domestic cat.

Breeders note that Siberian males range between 17 and 26 pounds and the females range between 13 and 17 pounds. As befits a cat that has survived the harsh climate of Siberia, the Siberian possesses a long, thick coat with a full ruff and a tight undercoat that becomes thicker in cold weather. The coat's oily guard hairs give the coat its classic water resistance. All colors and patterns are accepted except pointed colors, although pointed Siberians exist in Russia and are called Nevsky Masquerades.

Very agile and powerful, the Siberian can easily leap and reach high places, including top of refrigerators and even doors.

This is truly a gentle giant who enjoys the company of people and pets of various species

Mellow and quiet, the Siberian is very loving and devoted.

When resting in your lap, they love to chirp and purr their pure contentment. They are very quiet and tend to chirp and emit soft mews.

The Siberian matures slowly, sometimes not reaching his full physical development until he is 5 years old. Some neutered males weigh up to 25 pounds.

This is a medium-size to large cat who is strong and alert. His head is a modified wedge shape with rounded contours.

He has furry, medium-large ears and medium-size to large eyes that are almost round. The body is solid and muscular, supported by medium-length legs and big round feet adorned with tufts of fur on the toes. The long coat comes in all colors and patterns, including colorpoint, with or without white.

Three Similar Cat Breeds: Siberian, Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest Cat:

The Siberian is the third of the look-alike triangle of Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest Cat and Siberian. Indeed, several registries were reluctant originally to accept the Siberian for that very reason. According to a Cats and Kittens article, breeders used the argument that "[Siberians] are a constellation of circles and curves, while Maines are a confederation of rectangles, and Norwegians are triagular in theme."

Siberians are said to have been taken originally from Russia to Siberia

where they developed their thick protective coats against the harsh winters; then, ultimately brought back to Russia where they were bred, primarily in Leningrad and Moscow. This will have to remain a legend, as no substantial proof seems to have been offered of these events.

Regardless of their origin, Siberians are glorious cats, with personality-plus, which qualifies them as an all-around good candidate for a pet.

The Siberian’s heart is as warm as his homeland is cold.

He loves people and wants to be near them, so expect this affectionate cat to follow you around, including to the bathroom, and to "help" you with all of your reading, TV viewing, computer work and meal prep. Sitting in your lap while you comb his fur may well be the highlight of his day. When you come home from work, he might not have a martini waiting, but he will be pleased to tell you all about his day in quiet, pleasant trills and chirps, interspersed with a few meows and purrs. Guests will find him to be a genial host; this is not typically a cat who is shy in the presence of strangers.

Besides being loving and attentive, the Siberian is also active and playful.

He will instigate games of fetch by bringing you a favorite toy to throw. Any item can become a plaything for this clever cat, so keep jewelry or other potentially intriguing items out of his sight. Teaching him tricks is a fun and easy way to challenge his agile brain.

Because of his heritage as a forest dweller, he likes playing with water

perhaps it's a genetic memory of going fishing for his supper. Don't be surprised if he enjoys splashing you in the tub, drinking from a fountain or faucet, or making puddles by batting his paw in his water dish. As befits a working and hunting cat, he's highly athletic and you may find him balancing atop a doorway or propelling himself to the highest point in the room. In fact, Siberian coaches may well be the secret to the success of Russian gymnasts

Activity and noise won’t bother him a bit.

His calm nature gives him the potential to be a therapy cat. If nothing else, he will be happy to snuggle with you when you're down with a cold or other illness. And although he loves attention, he's not needy and will wait patiently until you have time to devote to him.

The Siberian is notable for having a long triple coat with guard hairs (the outer coat), awn hairs (the middle part of the coat) and a downy undercoat.

He has an abundant ruff around the neck, thick but slightly shorter hair on the shoulder blades and lower part of the chest, and thick fur on the belly and britches (the upper hind legs). The undercoat thickens in cold weather. The coat comes in all colors and combinations of colors, with or without white.

He looks powerful and alert, but gazes out at the world with a sweet expression.

His head is a modified wedge with rounded contoursbroad at the top and narrowing slightly at the muzzle. Medium-large ears are well furnished with tufts of fur. The nearly round eyes can be green, gold, green-gold, or copper. White Siberians or Siberians with white patches may have blue or odd eyes.