Siberian — questions to ask before paying a deposit
A responsible breeder will have these readily available. Deflection is a red flag.
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD1)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
An inherited kidney disease in which fluid-filled cysts form in both kidneys, often visible before 12 months old, and enlarge over the cat's life until they cause renal failure, usually later on. UC Davis names Siberian specifically as an appropriate breed for this test, alongside Devon Rex and the Persian-derived breeds where the mutation originated.
Ask to see: PKD1 DNA test on both parents, showing an N/N (clear) result
UC Davis VGL — PKD1 test (https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/pkd1-cat)
Erythrocyte pyruvate kinase deficiency (PK deficiency)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
An inherited haemolytic anaemia in which red blood cells break down early, causing intermittent lethargy, weakness, jaundice and weight loss; onset age and severity both vary and cannot be predicted from the genotype alone. UC Davis found the mutation at meaningful frequency in Siberians specifically, not just as a generic domestic-cat finding.
Ask to see: PK deficiency DNA test on both parents, showing an N/N (clear) result
UC Davis VGL — PK deficiency test (https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/pk-deficiency-cat)
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
A thickening of the heart muscle that can lead to heart failure, blood clots or sudden death, and is the most common heart disease in cats generally. HCM is specifically documented in Siberians, but — unlike Maine Coon and Ragdoll — no causative mutation has been confirmed in this breed, so a DNA result cannot stand in for a cardiac exam.
Ask to see: A recent echocardiogram report from a veterinary cardiologist for both parents. No DNA test exists for HCM in this breed
EveryCat Health Foundation (Winn) — SNP analysis in Siberian cats with HCM (https://everycat.org/grant/mt08-001-snp-analysis-in-siberian-cats-with-hcm/)