It is widely believed that the Siberian has been around for approximately one thousand years. They are a beautiful breed with long hair, full coat and a stocky build. They have the resemblance to the Maine Coon and the Norwegian Forest Cat.
Origin:
The Siberian Cat originated from Russia and is the national cat of the country. They were first imported to the U.S. in 1990. Thus, the breed is still relatively new and rare in the North American continent.
Hypo-allergenic:
Siberian cats are famous for their hypo-allergenic qualities. Their coat is known to carry less allergens than any other breeds. Though most of the claims came from breeders and families that have owned a Siberian, there have been few studies. One was conducted in 1999 on four cats of various types, including two Siberians, one mixed breed and one Abyssinian. The test was to find out their Fel d1 levels, the primary allergen present on cats. The Siberians scored the lowest on Fel d 1 along with the Abyssinian. The mixed cat scored exceptionally high. Researchers warned that cat lovers should not base their decision on the test results because the levels presented in the Siberian were still high.
Temperament:
The Siberian is loyal and likes to follow their owner around. They have great agility and strength. They can leap off to a great distance or height with ease.
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberian_(cat)#cite_note-siesta-4
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