The Breeds Who Came In From the Cold

January 8, 2026

Breeds Which Developed in Cold Climates

Liz Watson, CFA Judge Emeritus

BRRRRRRR!!! Baby it’s cold outside. Those of you who live in the north prepare for that cold weather with layers: long johns, thermal undershirts, sweaters, socks – you know the drill. But how do our furry friends deal with the cold … especially those that come from cold climates? The Norwegian Forest Cat, Siberian, Maine Coon Cat, and Russian Blue are four that come to mind. Granted, those here no longer have to deal with harsh outdoor weather, but what do they possess that allowed them to survive in frigid climates?

 

The Norwegian Forest Cat, as the name implies, comes from Norway where temperatures drop far below 32° F in the winter. The Norwegian Forest Cat is a sturdy cat with good musculature. That heavy build and a double coat protect the cat from the harsh winters. The coat description in the standard reads: “distinguishing double coat, consisting of a dense double coat, covered by long, glossy, and smooth water-resistant guard hairs hanging down the sides. The bib consists of three separate sections: short collar at the neck, side mutton chops, and frontal ruff. Britches are full on the hind legs.”  The cat’s body is solid and well-muscled, the legs have heavily muscled thighs, and the large round paws have tuffs of fur between the toes, which further protect the cat when on snow. The long, bushy tail can be used to wrap around the body for added warmth. While I presume that our CFA cats do not usually deal with weather elements, the standard still preserves those characteristics that allowed them to survive in the cold.

 

Another cold-weather breed is the Siberian, from the bitter cold Siberian forest of northern Russia, where temperatures often run well below zero. The Siberian is well-muscled with substantial boning and is medium to medium-large in size. Unique is its triple coat, which is moderately long. The outer coat consists of water-repellent guard hairs, an inner layer of awn hair, and finally soft down hairs which add to the insulation. Interestingly, those medium-length awn hairs have a flat tip, enabling especially snug protection. Like the Norwegian Forest Cat, this breed also has an abundant full collar ruff and fur between the toes. Both the Norwegian Forest Cat and Siberian are extremely slow-to-mature breeds, often taking five years to reach full adult size and coat.

 

Another breed you might think belongs in this category is the Russian Blue, originally from the port of Arkhangelsk in northern Russia. It is believed to have been brought to Europe by Russian sailors, where the breed we see today was developed. The only remaining evidence we see of living in a cold climate is a dense double coat. While most cold-weather cats exhibit substantial bone and musculature, the Russian Blue is a lithe cat with long fine bones – No ear or toe tuffs for this breed.

 

The Maine Coon Cat is another solid, rugged breed that can endure harsh climates. It is CFA’s largest breed, and certainly the largest of those discussed here. Heavy boned and well-muscled, the Maine Coon Cat has a heavy, shaggy, yet silky coat with long fur on the tail, and has well-tufted paws adding to insulation. Ears may have tufts to protect the tips from the cold, and those tufts can grow amazingly long and thick, as we sometimes see in the show ring. The breed does carry a frontal ruff, but not the substantial collar you find in the Norwegian Forest Cat and the Siberian.

 

What occurs in all four breeds is a coat that exhibits water repellence. While the Maine Coon Cat’s coat is not a double or triple one, it is heavy. This aspect of repelling water protects them and provides insulation from the harshest of elements. Most show cats are bathed regularly and, as might be anticipated, the hardest part of bathing these breeds is simply getting them wet to the skin: Genetics at work! As always, to see these breeds and chat with breeders and exhibitors more about their unique characteristics, please visit a CFA show.