Why Choose a Siberian?
Let’s get one thing out of the way first...
I’m a cat lover. I love basically all cats. If I see a cat, I’m automatically drawn to it — and, conveniently, they usually seem to feel the same way about me.
So this isn’t an article about why Siberians are better than other cats. Every breed has its own personality, beauty and something special about it.
But Siberians have a particular combination of qualities that completely won me over.
And the more time I spend with them, the more I understand why.
It starts with their character
For me, this is probably the biggest reason.
Siberians are intelligent, curious and incredibly engaged with the people around them. They tend to want to know what you're doing, where you're going and whether they can come too.
There is a very interactive quality to them.
They aren't simply beautiful cats who happen to live in your house. They become part of what is happening around them.
And then there is that wonderful quality people often describe as being “dog-like.”
I understand exactly what they mean.
The loyalty is something else
One of the things I've found most extraordinary about Siberians is the relationships they can form with their people.
My son has a golden tabby Siberian who is absolutely the love of his life.
They adore each other.
It's one of the sweetest relationships I've ever seen between a child and a cat. They genuinely miss each other when they're apart, and when they're back together, the reunion is very obvious.
There is a loyalty there that I hadn't experienced with cats from other breeds.
Of course, individual cats are individuals, and there are wonderfully devoted cats in every breed. But Siberians seem to have a particular ability to form a very deep, involved bond with their humans.
That dog-like attachment is one of the things I love most about them.
They have a certain luxury about them
And then, obviously, there is the beauty.
A Siberian has presence.
There's something almost luxurious about the breed — the substantial body, the expression, the coat, the beautiful ruff and that enormous, fluffy tail.
I think the effect is particularly striking with the Neva Masquerade.
Those blue eyes and colourpoint markings give them an almost regal quality. They look wonderfully extravagant without looking delicate.
But I don't think that luxury feeling belongs exclusively to Neva Masquerades.
At Auralune, we specialise in Neva Siberian Colourpoints, but Siberians come in an extraordinary range of colours and patterns. We may sometimes use an external stud, for example, and the resulting kittens could combine a beautiful Neva Masquerade girl with a magnificent ginger or golden tabby Siberian.
That combination can be spectacular.
There is something particularly charming about seeing that regal Neva look alongside the warm, almost storybook quality of a golden tabby.
Their coat is beautiful — but surprisingly practical
A Siberian's coat is one of the things people notice first.
But living with one is different from simply looking at one.
The texture, density and way the coat sheds are quite different from what many people expect from a long-haired cat. They don't necessarily leave you covered in fur all day, every day.
I've written more about this because Siberian shedding is one of those things that really needs to be experienced rather than judged from a photograph.
And yes, they are fluffy.
But they're not just fluff.
Underneath all that coat is a strong, substantial, athletic cat.
They're still relatively rare in this part of the world
Another thing I love about Siberians is that they're unusual.
I've always had a weakness for things that aren't everywhere.
Siberians are still relatively uncommon in Thailand and across much of Southeast Asia compared with some of the more established pedigree breeds.
That was part of their appeal to me when I first became interested in them.
There's something special about having a breed that feels distinctive — not simply because it is beautiful, but because you don't see one on every corner.
At Auralune, we're fortunate to be introducing these remarkable cats to more families in Thailand and, increasingly, to people looking for Siberians elsewhere in Southeast Asia and Asia.
They take their time growing up
This is another huge part of their charm.
Siberians mature slowly.
A kitten can remain gloriously kitten-like for much longer than you might expect, while gradually developing into the magnificent adult cat underneath.
I love that.
You don't suddenly go from tiny kitten to finished adult. There is this wonderfully extended period where they're growing, changing, becoming more coordinated, developing their personality — and still looking ridiculously adorable.
It's one of the reasons I sometimes joke that one of the best things about Siberians is that you get kittens for longer.
They're incredibly adaptable
For a breed with such an impressive coat and such northern origins, Siberians can be remarkably adaptable.
That's particularly interesting to me because we live with Siberians in Thailand.
The climate is obviously very different from the cold environments associated with their origins, but the cats adapt remarkably well when they're properly cared for.
They still have that magnificent Siberian appearance, but their coats respond to their environment rather than blindly following a Russian winter schedule.
That adaptability is one of the reasons I find the breed so fascinating.
And then there's the allergy question
The Siberian's reputation for producing lower levels of the major cat allergen Fel d 1 is another attraction for many people.
For me, though, it was never the reason I fell in love with the breed.
It is more like the icing on the cake.
The character came first. The beauty came first. The intelligence, the personality, the coat, the rarity and that extraordinary relationship they can develop with their people — those are the things that made me fall for Siberians.
If lower Fel d 1 makes it possible for someone who struggles with other cats to live happily with a Siberian, that's an amazing additional benefit.
But I wouldn't choose a Siberian just because of allergies.
I'd choose one because it's a Siberian.
So, why choose a Siberian?
For me, it's the whole combination.
They're beautiful without being purely ornamental. Intelligent without being aloof. Affectionate without necessarily being demanding. Majestic-looking, but often completely ridiculous at home.
They can have that luxurious, almost regal appearance — particularly the Neva Masquerade — while still being playful, curious, affectionate cats who want to be involved in your life.
And perhaps most importantly, they form relationships.
The bond I've seen between my son and his Siberian is something I hadn't expected when I first fell in love with the breed.
That's what keeps surprising me about Siberians.
The more I live with them, the more I realise that the thing I love most isn't actually how they look.
It's who they are.
Auralune Siberian Cattery Thailand - Neva Masquerade Specialist
For more information about Auralune, our Siberian cats in Thailand and upcoming litters, follow us on Instagram. You can also find updates on available kittens and our waitlist there.
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WhatsApp: +66 97 210 4130
Email: auralunecats@gmail.com
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