The Siberian cat, of which the Neva Masquerade is the colourpoint variety, is a relatively
new breed dating from only the end of the Communist regime in Russia.
However, the lines from which the pedigree cats have come date back
over many centuries. It is possible that long-haired cats evolved
in Russia and are the ancestors of all the modern long-haired &
semi-longhaired breeds.
Although they are named Siberians this breed is actually more closely
associated with the St Petersburg area, especially the Neva Masquerade. Cat breeders from this area
wanted to protect and promote their local indigenous long-haired
cats and so decided to have them recognised as a pedigree breed.
Because of the many natural variations of the breed it has been
difficult to establish one breed standard for all the registering
bodies worldwide. However, the standards are generally very similar
with only minor variations between bodies. |
The Neva Masquerade has exactly the same physique & breed standard of points as the Siberian, colour is the only dfference between the two varieties.
Siberian cats are described as medium
to large in size, muscular and powerful. They are a semi-longhaired
breed, their coats having an extremely dense, wooly undercoat covered
by a longer, waterproof outer coat.
Although they have many similarities to both Maine Coon and Norwegian
Forest cats, Siberians are a very distinctive breed. The Siberian
head is rounded with wide cheekbones, wide-set, rounded ears and a
level eye-set, most unlike the MCs and NFCs. They are also shorter
in the leg and have a more "cobby" appearance. The Siberian
tail should also be shorter, only just reaching the shoulder-blades
but wide and bushy.
The Neva Masquerade is the colourpoint version of the Siberian.
The only colours not recognised are chocolate and cinnamon.
Some studies have shown that Siberians are deficient in an allergen
in their saliva linked to allergies in humans. So some people who
normally suffer an allergic reaction to cats find this does not happen
with Siberians. |
Like Siberian cats Neva Masquerades are described as affectionate
yet independent. They enjoy human company but also socialise well
with other cats.They are very inquisitive and love to spend time with
their owners. They are active and playful but can easily adapt to
life as indoor-only pets provided they are given plenty of toys. They
are quick to learn and are very adept at copying other cats to learn
new tricks. They can also be quite stubborn.
Siberians do chirrup but tend to be less vocal than Norwegians. The
Siberian purr is, however, very loud. They have a loving nature and
Siberian girls make very good mothers.
Despite its dense nature the Siberian coat is very easy to maintain
and does not require vast amounts of brushing.
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