They are a wonderful big pussy cat! friends had one, very outgoing friendly cat. I'm not sure I could do the long-hair thing, but apparently they don't mind being groomed (I assume if you start off as a kitten). If you like that breed, you might also consider the Maine Coon cat.
Cats physically mature faster than our labs do, so a year old, its likely finished growing. I would think however, that all of the things we worry about with labs, apply to other creatures in the same way.
I did a 3yr rabies with my girls, and nothing else after about age 3 - the thought these days is if properly vaccinated when younger, lots of the vaccines are good for life, and don't need to be re-done every year. Even the Rabies I stopped once they got to about 10 or 11 years old. Very low risk, since they weren't outdoors at all. I'd check on the Feline Lukemia one, and the others too.