Beware of Siberian cats: gentle, cute, but not only that...
Strange, surprising: there are practically no articles or studies on the health risks of Siberian cats. At least not in French or English; I confess I can't read Russian... And when your kitty gets sick, you feel helpless... It's better to be informed, though.
According to the internet, this breed of cat is supposedly almost natural, resulting from selection linked to the harsh Siberian climate.
See my humorous video on the subject:
• Les CHATS SIBERIENS sont-ils vraiment HYP...
So, since we have a similar climate in Alsace and the Vosges mountains, we think these hypoallergenic cats are perfect!
And yet, here's my experience: my Siberian cat developed kidney stones, leading to a urinary obstruction (blockage). We had to rush him to a veterinary clinic, where the operation narrowly saved his life. An isolated incident? A "classic" statistical case involving a neutered male cat? I might have thought so, until I learned that some veterinarians have identified a higher tendency in Siberian cats to develop kidney stones and urinary blockages, and recommend preventative measures to avoid the onset of the disease.
In short, I had to warn the other happy owners of these adorable, sweet, and...talkative cats (yes, really, watch the video to the end, when my "little" cat stops being shy...)