Siberian cats are very
strongly built. They come from Russia, which is why their coat is so long and
dense. The Siberian breed has been known for a long while, and is rumored to be
from present day long-haired cats, like Persians. Interest for these cats is currently increasing in Germany and native Russia, as well as in the United
States. It has also been reported that a few Siberians were brought into
Britain in the late 1800's, but were overtaken by the heavily coated Persians.
Siberians are similar in looks to the Maine Coon and the Norwegian Forest Cat, though their heads and ears are rounder and some characteristics are different. These cats are hypo-allergenic, because they have less dander than most other
cats. People with cat allergies own these cats and have no problem with
sneezing and other symptoms. Siberians do shed their fur and need to be combed or
brushed at least once a week. It is common in Siberians that they have little tufts of fur on the bottoms of their paws and in between their toes, presumably because in their native Russian climate there was need for warmth on their feet.
Siberian Forest Cats, like Maine Coons, are also slower to develop and do not reach their full maturity until around 3 years old.