Alice White
The Neva Masquerade breed is a subspecies of the Siberian cat with a color similar to that of a Siamese or Thai cat.
This breed is the pride of Russian kennels, but there are kennels with this breed abroad.
She got her name because of her small face, which makes her look like a beauty gathered for a masquerade ball.
Color-point (easier to say Siamese) has a very elegant color, and bright blue eyes have become a real adornment of the Siberian breed.
Currently, the Neva Masquerade cat is, first of all, a magnificent, very beautiful breed that arouses genuine interest. Siberian cats, dressed in a Siamese fur coat, turned out to be very smart.
A fluffy Siberian cat with a rich collar, with a luxurious tail, as if at a masquerade, put on a dark “mask” and “gloves” of a Siamese cat. The “mask” on the face can be not only dark brown but also other interesting colors.
Neva masquerades can often be seen with a striped “mask”, legs and a tail. They inherited patches from the traditional tiger “Siberians”.
Bluepoints look exquisite with gray-blue silvery markings and a light body. Its representatives are distinguished by good health and long life expectancy.
This is a very large, according to feline ideas, animal, reaching 8-10 kg of weight. Cats are much smaller and more graceful than cats, and their temperaments are softer and more flexible.
But no one has yet succeeded, having seen a real Neva masquerade cat, to restrain an exclamation of admiration!
There is no reliable information about the origin of the Neva Masquerade cat, which, however, is typical for the vast majority of cat breeds.
It is not known for certain where the color gene came from in Siberian cats. This is probably a consequence of the crossing of representatives of the Siberian breed with Siamese (or Himalayan) cats, and possibly a consequence of hereditary recessive albinism.
But in any case, these beauties were a fusion of exotic Siamese color and power of the Siberian breed.
In August 1990, the International Public Organization “Felinological Federation” (SFF) registered an aboriginal Russian breed of cats called “Siberian” with the assignment of the code “SIB”. At the same time, the original color of the Siberian cat was registered under the name “Neva Masquerade” (or “Siberian color-point”). It is from this moment that the official history of the Neva Masquerade begins. In 1992 the breed was recognized by the WCF (World Cat Federation).
Unfortunately, not all international felinological organizations recognize the color-point variation of the color of Siberian cats, in contrast to the classic colors of “Siberians”. This, however, does not prevent true connoisseurs of Nevsky masquerades from loving them and continuing to engage in targeted breeding with the hope of early recognition by all associations and federations.
The lack of accurate data on the history of the breed in no way diminishes the merits of this charming human companion. The owner of an animal is flattered by the very fact of owning such a loyal, intelligent, beautiful, and gentle friend.
It is not for nothing that the Neva Masquerade cats are of particular interest abroad and are readily acquired by experienced breeders.
Durable color-point shorthaired cats became known thanks to the efforts of Mrs. Anne-Lise Hackman – the founder and president of the World Cat Federation (WCF), who first saw them in Russia under the name of Old Siam or Thai.
However, color-point (or Siamese) color in cats has long been interpreted as a serious flaw. And only recently, color-points began to be recognized and bred. But along with this, the requirements for the standard for other breed-forming characteristics (type, shape, and proportions of the head) have become more stringent.
When choosing a kitten, pay attention to the color: the muzzle, legs, ears, and tail should be darker in color.
In particular, the standard assumes the following parameters:
- The pet’s body is strong by the standard.
- The neck should be short enough and wide.
- The limbs should be strong and of medium length. Tufts of wool are observed on the paws between the toes.
- The ears are slightly tilted forward. The shape is medium in size, with a rounded top.
- The eyes are usually set wide apart, of a fairly large size.
- The coat is dense, has a double undercoat. There is a “collar” on the neck, and “pants” on the hind legs.
- The color should not be chocolate or lilac.
Neva Masquerade cats are very elegant pets, in several color variations: only with markings on the head, ears, limbs, and tail – with poinsettias; with striped veins; with various white specks. A sight worth seeing!
Some recognized foreign breeds have similar colors.
For example, the Burmese Longhair cat, which can be characterized as a collateral line of origin of the Persian colorpoints. As in many similar cases, the origin of the “Burmese” is marked by many beautiful legends that are known everywhere, but not in his historical homeland. Feature of these cats (Hylite Burma) – white markings on the limbs in the form of “gloves” and “spurs”.
Without going into the intricacies of genetic research, it should be noted that the perfect color in “Burma” is a rarity. It is especially difficult to achieve correct symmetrical spurs with an angle towards the middle of the hindquarter joint and well-defined equidistant gloves. You always get something averaged: either scallops, or crooked “spurs”, or even dyed spots on white. And the old Persian head type is by no means original.
Another color-point semi-longhaired cat, the Balinese or Balinese, has a distinctly sophisticated and original type.
The closest in type and color to Siberian color points is the American ragdoll (“rag kitten”), large, soft, and obediently sagging in the hands, like a fluffy clutch. But compare his behavior with the manners of Russian daredevils, who are often not averse to showing even an expert in their field! In addition, Regdol’s head and hair type are close to Maine Coons – North American relatives of Siberians and Norwegians, who, of course, have a slightly different head shape and silky hair that grows towards the back of the body. Well, the Maine Coon’s tail length and fluffiness turn into a fox (more about Maine Coon cats).
So, perhaps, our pussies of the Siberian type and color-point are very original, as they do not completely copy any of the known breeds.
Bearing in mind that color dots in many breeds are called masquerade (because of a specific mask) and that the city of Peter the Great on the Neva was always famous for balls and masquerades, in our romantic impulse (common for most cat lovers on all continents) we named a new breed “Nevskaya Masquerade”.
Neva Masquerade cats differ from Siberian cats only in color. Color-point (in other words, Siamese), very elegant color and bright blue eyes have become a real adornment of the Siberian breed.
The head is in the form of a short, wide trapezoid, well proportioned to the body, massive. The forehead is wide, slightly rounded. Smooth transition from a low forehead to a wide, straight bridge of the nose. The nose is of medium length, wide; a slight depression is visible in profile, but without stopping. The cheekbones are low, the cheeks are full, the jaw is well developed. The chin is wide, strong enough, but not prominent.
The neck is short but very strong.
The ears are of medium size, wide at the base, the distance between them is greater than the width of one ear at the base. The outer ear line is vertical, with the outer edge of the base of the ear just above eye level. The ears are slightly tilted forward. Rounded tips. Brushes and tassels are desirable.
Eyes Large, rounded, wide, and slightly slanted. The eye color is blue, saturated, evenly colored. The distance between the eyes is quite large.
The body is of medium length, dense and massive, with strong bone and well-developed muscles. The limbs are of medium height, strong, forming a rectangle with the body. Powerful neck, wide chest; the body forms a proportional rectangular contour. Paws are large, round, with tufts of hair between the toes.
The tail is wide and strong at the base, almost equal to the length of the shoulder blades, well pubescent. The tip is rounded.
The wool is semi-long; the overcoat is dense, shiny, water-repellent, extending from the shoulder blades to the rump, down to the sides, and to the top of the tail. On the sides, the coat is softer, loose, very thick. The undercoat, depending on the season, is double: in the warm season it is short and close-fitting, in winter it is much long, very dense, and very dense, with a fine texture. The decorating coat is long but dense, in the form of a mane, full collar, and frill. Lush “pants” and a perfectly fluffy tail. Short hair on the shoulder blades. With seasonal molting, there is practically nothing left of decorative wool.
Neva Masquerade cats have the following color variations: Seal-point, Blue-point, Red-point, Torty-point and all indicated striped colors, as well as all colors with white or two-tone. Not so long ago, a silvery shade (… silvery) was introduced on these variations of glasses. All colors are recognized today, except for variations of chocolate and purple. All colors are allowed, except for chocolate, lilac, cinnamon, and fawn, as well as Abyssinian trivia. For Neva Masquerade cats, any harmonious combination with white is acceptable.
