Colorpoint Siberians / Neva Masquerade
Seal Lynx Point Siberian Kitten in adolescent triple coat.
Often mistaken for Ragdolls and frequently used in product placements , the color-point Siberian is essential for a Siberian Cattery’s health and future.
There are minor physical differences between these 2 breeds with Siberians having a fuller coat, rounder eyes and rounder muzzle.
Ragdolls are known for their floppy nature whereas Siberians have their signature doglike personality as they are better in social groups, hypoallergenic, and intelligent. Siberians do not carry certain genetic diseases found in Ragdolls.
So why is so little known about the Color-point Siberian?
In truth, there is a divide between purely Traditional Siberian Breeders and one that does not differentiate or separate the two.
Traditional Black Brown Spotted Tabby
Siberian In full dense triple coat.
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At WinterForest we breed for health, temperament and adherence to show standards set by the various associations, colors and patterns are always secondary to type.
Many new pawrents to the breed have a misconception that a traditional line means that it is older or more established. The term traditional just means that the cats do not look like their color-pointed/ neva masquerade siblings or relatives.
It refers to the color of the coat. It does not in anyway reflect on the coat, quality, standard, build, structure, health or length of pedigree.
All color-pointed cats have blue eyes but not all blue eyed cats are color points.
There is also a gene that produces the dominant blue eye color as well as other factors which allows a traditional Siberian to have blue eyes.
Research will show that from the time the Siberian breed was shown and established they came in both traditional and color-points.
A purely traditional cattery will only have breeding cats without the color-point look. Their cats must have a minimum of 3 generations without the gene and will retire cats that produce kittens that are color-pointed regardless of quality.
This active limitation of choices has its repercussions.
Based on a study by the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis USA. The color-point (Blue eyes) gene is deeply prevalent within the breed and eradication of the color-point gene would substantially limit the current gene pool. (Study ) The study tested 38 Siberians and showed the color point gene was found in at lest 68% of the gene pool.
Having only cats without that gene in a cattery, effectively results in a less diverse gene pool.
This lack of diversity leads to higher production of the FEL D ( Less hypoallergenic) ( Berkely University of California Study) and increased evidence of the prevalence of immune disorders like FIP (feline infectious peritonitis) which affects both domestic and wild cats.
Effects of lack of diversity in these cats have been well documented in breeding programs run by various conservationist and universities world wide.
The color-point gene, is recessive and will show up even when both parents are traditional colored. Sometimes they show up in pairings where both cats have no color-points in their 5 generation pedigree.
There is a concern that with color points being more popular, having better adherence to show standards that the traditional Siberian colors will be lost. Certain breeders are requesting cat associations to differentiate the breed in the show ring, much like Persians and Himalayans. WinterForest is registered with TICA where this distinction is not required.
Regardless of the rationale behind the segregation, there are lovers of both. Allergy suffers tend to do better with lighter colored, non silver Siberians, this is perhaps due to the diversity in such lines more than the actual colors of the cats.
For a more in-depth reading on Siberians, we recommend reading “The Siberian Cat by Alice Wright” a trainer, instructor and breeder of Siberian Cats in the USA