Siberian Cat Guide (UAE)

What is a Siberian cat?

The Siberian is a large, sturdy and strikingly beautiful natural breed from Russia, built for cold climates with a thick triple coat. Despite their size they are agile, playful and affectionate — often described as dog-like for how they follow their owners, play fetch and even enjoy water. Siberians are also the breed most often linked to lower allergen levels, which draws allergy-prone owners to them. This guide covers what a Siberian needs to thrive, with the all-important UAE heat angle.

The triple coat and grooming

A Siberian's coat has three layers — guard hairs, awn hairs and a dense down undercoat. It is surprisingly low-tangle for its volume, but it is a lot of fur, and it moults heavily a couple of times a year.

• Brush two to three times a week, and daily during the big seasonal moults.
• Use a comb and de-shedding tool to reach the thick undercoat.
• Bathe occasionally — the coat is fairly water-resistant, so proper drying matters.

Find brushes and de-shedding tools in our grooming supplies.

Keeping a Siberian cool in the UAE

A cat bred for Siberian winters lives very comfortably in air-conditioned UAE homes, but the heat outdoors and in un-cooled rooms is the thing to manage. Keep them indoors and cool, and never be tempted to shave the coat.

• Keep the home comfortably air-conditioned and always provide fresh water.
• Groom out the loose undercoat in summer — this helps them regulate temperature far better than shaving.
• Provide cool, shaded resting spots away from hot windows.

Feeding and play

Siberians are muscular, active cats that do well on a high-protein diet to maintain their powerful build. They are playful and intelligent, love climbing and heights, and enjoy interactive games well into adulthood.

Feed a complete diet from our cat food range, add wet cat food for hydration in the heat, give them a tall cat tree to climb, and start kittens on a growth formula from our kitten food collection.

Are Siberians hypoallergenic?

Siberians are often said to produce less of the main cat allergen, Fel d 1, and many allergy sufferers do tolerate them better — but no cat is truly hypoallergenic, and levels vary from cat to cat. If allergies are a concern, spend plenty of time with the specific cat (and ideally its parents) before committing, and keep up regular grooming and cleaning to reduce allergens at home.

Siberian health

Siberians are a hardy natural breed and generally very healthy. The main condition to be aware of is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), which good breeders screen for. Keep up regular vet check-ups, year-round parasite prevention, and watch their weight, since these big cats can be food-motivated.

Getting a Siberian in the UAE

Siberians are a premium pedigree breed and less common than some, so expect a higher price and possibly a waiting list. Choose a registered, reputable breeder who health-screens (including for HCM), provides vaccination records, and lets you meet the kitten and its parents — especially important if you are hoping for the lower-allergen benefit.

Frequently asked questions