Siberians are marketed as 'hypoallergenic,' but no cat breed is allergen-free — every cat produces the Fel d 1 protein that triggers allergic reactions, and while research suggests roughly half of Siberians produce somewhat less of it than average (about a fifth produce notably little), the rest do not, so the only reliable way to know if a specific cat works for an allergic person is to spend real time with that individual cat first.
Health tests to ask the breeder for
There is no CHIC program for cats. These are the DNA and screening tests that the testing laboratories and cat health bodies name for the Siberian. A breeder who tests will show the certificates; a DNA result of "clear" for one variant is not a guarantee against the disease.
- Erythrocyte Pyruvate Kinase (PK) Deficiency DNA test (UC Davis VGL / Langford Vets) screens for inherited haemolytic anaemia
- PKD1 DNA test (UC Davis VGL / Langford Vets) screens for autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (low prevalence; VGL lists Siberian for PKD1)
- Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) by a veterinary cardiologist, repeated regularly for breeding cats screens for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM); no DNA test covers this breed (GCCF and Cornell list the Siberian as HCM-predisposed)
When to spay or neuter: by five months, whatever the breed. That is the one answer the AVMA, the feline practitioners and AAHA all give, and the spay and neuter page has why, and the two weeks after.
Sources: vgl.ucdavis.edu · vgl.ucdavis.edu · langfordvets.co.uk · gccfcats.org. Checked September 2026. Check a breeder has the questions.
Adopt a Siberian near you
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Living with a Siberian
The triple coat looks demanding but is often manageable most of the year, then sheds heavily and needs real daily brushing during the spring and fall coat blow. Siberians are large, slow-maturing (about three years to full size), and genuinely dog-like in temperament — affectionate, trainable, and happy to follow you around — but the hypoallergenic reputation shouldn't be the reason you commit to one sight unseen.
Health you should know about
- No cat, including this breed, is truly hypoallergenic — allergy sufferers react to the Fel d 1 protein all cats produce; some individual Siberians measurably produce less, but this varies cat to cat and isn't guaranteed by the breed label.
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and polycystic kidney disease (PKD) — both are screened for by responsible breeders; PKD risk rises further if a line is crossed with the breed's pointed sister variety, the Neva Masquerade.
- Various recessive conditions tracked through breeder genetic testing, which can affect kitten pricing depending on a line's test results.
Read the full Cat Care Guide first — costs, daily time, and everything a cat needs before you choose a breed.
Naming a Siberian? Russian dog and cat names, 80 of them, with what they mean.
Sources — 4 references
Last reviewed October 2026. 4 sources listed below. Written and maintained by Petdeals.io. General care information, not veterinary advice — for a sick animal, call a vet.