Siberian

Typically 11-15 years, and often longer with good care and screened genetics — this is a hardy natural breed without a list of breed-defining defects. The asterisk is HCM: a cat from cardiac-screened lines that stays lean and gets periodic heart checks can comfortably reach the upper range, while undetected HCM is the single factor most likely to cut a Siberian's life short prematurely. Lifespan here is largely a function of the breeder you choose.

Not guaranteed — 'lower-allergen' is more accurate. Siberians produce on average less Fel d 1, the main cat allergen, than most breeds, and many allergy sufferers tolerate them well. But levels vary significantly between individual cats, and no cat is reliably hypoallergenic. If you're buying specifically for allergies, arrange a direct test-exposure to the actual cat (not just the breed) before committing, since reactions are individual, not breed-wide.

Echocardiogram screening for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). HCM is prevalent in the breed and can strike young cats, and it is silent until it causes heart failure or a fatal clot. Buy only from a breeder who annually echo-screens breeding cats, and discuss periodic cardiac monitoring for your own cat with your vet. Skipping cardiac-screened lines to save on purchase price is, statistically, the most expensive decision an owner can make in this breed.

Moderate. The triple coat resists matting better than most longhairs, so 2-3 brushings a week keep it in order — but it sheds heavily and 'blows' coat each spring and autumn, when you should brush daily for 2-3 weeks to control mats and hairballs. Most owners never need a professional groomer if they keep the cadence; the common mistake is letting the seasonal molt outpace brushing, which leads to mats and recurrent hairball vomiting.

Generally very good. The Siberian is dog-like, sturdy, playful into adulthood, and bonds to the household rather than a single person, which makes it tolerant of children's activity and usually sociable with cat-friendly dogs and other cats. Supervise young children as with any cat and provide vertical escape space for multi-pet homes, but temperament is rarely the limiting factor with this breed — it is one of the more robustly social cat breeds.

Expect roughly $1,200-$2,500 for a kitten from a registered breeder who echo-screens for HCM and DNA-tests for PKD; pet-quality from a screened line is worth the premium. Lifetime cost is moderate for a hardy breed, with the one big variable being cardiac care: HCM management (medication, periodic echocardiograms) can run into the hundreds-to-thousands over a cat's life. Paying more upfront for cardiac-screened, PKD-clear parents is the cheapest insurance available in this breed.