Siberian Cat Breed Information
Also known as: Siberian Forest Cat, Sibirskaya
Large, agile, triple-coated cat from Russia with a reputation for producing lower levels of the Fel d 1 cat allergen. Affectionate, family-oriented, and at home in cooler NZ regions.
A highly affectionate, great with young children, highly playful cat. On the practical side: minimal drool. The trade-off is sheds plenty.
About the Siberian.
The Siberian is a large, agile, triple-coated semi-longhair from Russia. The breed reached Western pedigree registries only in the 1990s after the fall of the Soviet Union, but is now well-established in NZ through Catz Inc and NZCF breeders. The breed’s most notable feature beyond size is the lower-than-average Fel d 1 production, which makes Siberians a deliberate choice for mildly-allergic households.
Adults run 4 to 9 kg with a slow growth to full size over four to five years. The coat is dense and weatherproof, with a softer feel than a Norwegian Forest Cat.
Personality and behaviour
Siberians are family-oriented, openly affectionate, and tolerant of the noise and movement of busy households. They form bonds across the whole family rather than fixating on one person. The voice is soft, used in chirps and trills more than meows.
They get on well with children, other cats and respectful dogs. The breed is athletic and likes to climb, jump and chase, but settles easily into household routine. Siberians are middle-of-the-road in trainability, taking well to harness walking and clicker work.
The surprise for new owners is the agility relative to the size. A 7 kg Siberian can land soundlessly on a high shelf.
Care and grooming
Twice-weekly brushing manages the triple coat through most of the year. Daily during the heavy spring shed. The breed is less prone to matting than a Persian thanks to the texture of the outer guard hairs. Bath every two to three months or as needed; many Siberians enjoy water play.
Indoor vs outdoor in New Zealand
Indoor, catio, or a lifestyle block with secure containment. The breed has a working farm-cat heritage and a real prey drive, so the SPCA NZ wildlife containment case applies. Suburban traffic and theft are the other usual arguments.
Where to find a Siberian in New Zealand
The NZCF and Catz Inc breeder directories list NZ-registered breeders (NZCF Siberian, Catz Inc Siberian). Expect a four to nine month waitlist, NZD 1,500 to 3,500. For mildly-allergic households, ask the breeder whether they offer a contact visit before commitment so the buyer can confirm tolerance. Confirm parents have been screened for HCM.
Insurance and lifetime cost
The Siberian’s claim profile is dominated by HCM in middle to late life. Other heritable issues are rare. Lifetime cost is mid-range to high for a pedigree cat at $300 to $450 a month all-in.
The Siberian, by the numbers.
Each trait scored 1 to 5 on the AKC scale. The verdict synthesises the data; the panels below show the strengths, group averages, and the full trait table.
Top strengths
Family Life
avg 4.7Affectionate with Family
Good with Young Children
Good with Other Pets
Physical
avg 3.5Shedding
Grooming Frequency
Social
avg 3.5Openness to Strangers
Playfulness
Adaptability
Independence
Personality
avg 3.0Trainability
Energy Level
Vocal Level
Prey Drive
Mental Stimulation Needs
Living with a Siberian.
A 24-hour breakdown of how this breed's day typically goes, scaled to its energy, mental-stimulation, and grooming needs.
What a Siberian costs to own.
An indicative NZ lifetime cost: purchase, setup, then food, vet, insurance, grooming and other annual outgoings. Adjust the inputs to see how your choices change the total.
A Siberian costs about
$181per month
$42
$6
$33,250
Adjust the inputs:
Where the monthly cost goes
Food
$46 / mo
$550/yr · breed-appropriate dry & wet food
Insurance
$38 / mo
$455/yr · lifetime cover protects against breed-specific claims
Vet (avg)
$49 / mo
$590/yr · routine checks plus breed-specific risk
Grooming
$23 / mo
$280/yr · brushes, shampoo, professional clips
Other
$25 / mo
$300/yr · toys, treats, dental, boarding
Indicative NZ averages calculated from breed weight, grooming need and screened-condition count. One-off costs (purchase $2,500 + setup $300) are factored into the lifetime total but not the monthly figure.
How does the Siberian compare?
This breed
Siberian
$33,250
14-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$2,800
- Food (lifetime)$7,700
- Vet (lifetime)$8,260
- Insurance (lifetime)$6,370
- Grooming (lifetime)$3,920
- Other (lifetime)$4,200
Reference
Average NZ cat
$23,600
14-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$500
- Food (lifetime)$7,000
- Vet (lifetime)$5,600
- Insurance (lifetime)$5,600
- Grooming (lifetime)$1,400
- Other (lifetime)$3,500
A Siberian costs about $9,650 more over a lifetime than the average nz cat, mostly highervet and highergrooming.
What to ask the breeder.
Reputable NZ cat breeders test for these conditions and share results. The bigger health drivers for the breed appear in the Common group.
Common
1 conditionDental disease
A common condition in the Siberian. Ask the breeder about screening.
Occasional
2 conditionsHypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
Reported in the breed. Annual cardiac screening from age 2 sensible.
Hip dysplasia
An occasional condition in the Siberian. Worth asking about.
Rare but urgent
1 conditionPolycystic kidney disease
Rare in the Siberian but worth knowing the warning signs.
The Siberian in NZ.
- Popularity: A growing Catz Inc and NZCF breed in NZ, often chosen by households researching lower-allergen cat options.
- Typical price: NZ$1500–3500 from registered breeders or rescues
- Rescue availability: rare
- NZ climate fit: Triple coat thrives in South Island winters and Otago cold. Watch for overheating in upper North Island summers; provide shade and cool surfaces.
- Living space: Houses and lifestyle blocks suit. The breed climbs and benefits from vertical space.
Who the Siberian is for.
Suits
- Mildly allergic households (lower Fel d 1, often better tolerated)
- Families with children
- Cooler-region NZ households
Less suited to
- Tiny apartments without enrichment
- Owners unwilling to deal with twice-yearly heavy shed
- Outdoor-roaming setups
Common questions.
Are Siberians actually hypoallergenic?
How is a Siberian different from a Maine Coon or Norwegian Forest Cat?
Is the Neva Masquerade the same as a Siberian?
If the Siberian appeals, also consider.
Breeds with a similar profile that might suit your household.
Maine Coon
One of the largest domestic cat breeds. Friendly, dog-like in temperament, with a magnificent long coat and tufted ears.
Norwegian Forest Cat
Large, robustly-built semi-longhair developed naturally in the Norwegian forest and coast for centuries before formal recognition. Calm, independent, weather-adapted, and one of the larger pedigree cats in NZ.
Ragdoll
Large, semi-longhaired and famous for going limp when picked up. Affectionate, calm, indoor-suited and great with families.
Turkish Angora
One of the oldest documented cat breeds, the Turkish Angora is a long-haired single-coat cat originally from the Ankara region. Athletic, intelligent and people-oriented, with white the original and most-recognised coat colour.
Last reviewed:
Sources for this pageInformation only. Breed traits and health notes on this page are aggregated from public registry and breed-authority sources. Individual animals vary; this page is general information, not veterinary, behavioural, or insurance advice. Always consult a registered NZ vet or breeder for guidance specific to your situation.