The Neva Masquerade Confusion
Are Neva Masquerade Pure Bred Siberians?
What is the difference between a Neva Masquerade and A Color-point Siberian?
Its same difference between an Eggplant and Brinjal.
Its a term that is more commonly used in different circles.
What is a color-point Siberian?
Point coloration basically refers to the coloration on an animal’s coat where it has a pale body and relatively darker extremities, due to temperature sensitivity.
It is most commonly associated with cats and is due to the Himalayan Gene.
Color pointed cats have blue eyes but not all blue eyed cats are color points.
It is assumed that this color mutation occurred spontaneously in Cats in Asia in the 1800s and these cats made their way all over the world via Trading boats that transported opium, pepper, tea, silk, coffee, porcelain, wood, ivory, spices, iron, textiles into other parts of the world.
This coloration is not unique to cats and can be found in other pets like dogs, rabbits and horses.
Siberian cats first appeared in recorded history around the year 1,000.
They are Russia’s native cats and come from the unforgiving climate of the Siberian forest (Taiga) . They can still be found in the wild Siberian outlying territories today.
The Siberian cat was one of three longhairs represented at the first cat shows. However only in 1987 did the formal breeding and Registering of Siberians Cats begin. Siberians cats had already existed in color point prior to 1987 before the breed was officially registered. (Siberian Article – The Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc (cfa.org))
Contrary to what is alleged, there are no allowable outcrosses in the breed.
A Siberian may only be bred to another Siberian.
The Pedigree of a Siberian will only feature Siberians.
Siberian cats meant for breeding and show conform to breed standards set out by their associations.
Further proof of Color points being part of the heritage can be seen in catteries with purely traditional cats whose pedigrees traced back to the time Siberians were first registered. These catteries sometimes produce color-pointed kittens ( now in 2020) over 30 generations later.
Today there is even more debate to the recognition of colors in Siberian cats.
The one thing that all associations have agreed on is that there were no sepia or minks in the pool and as such those colors are not allowed.
The verdict is still out in some colors, for example , Gold is not recognized as a color in certain associations neither is Sunshine nor bi-metallics.
Color Mutations in Tigers , similar looking color mutations can be found in the Siberian cat.
There are associations that group gold and sunshine as one and the same and others that recognize them as separate. Some go as far as to say the color was introduced recently as there were never seen previously. Further substantiating this by citing that their blood types are inconsistent with the breed pool of Siberians found in Russia.
Debates and opposing views are aplenty amongst Siberian Breeders but when in doubt, consult the most updated breed standards for what accepted in the association you are showing and select a your kitten from a reputable registered breeder that you are most comfortable with.
End day, the most important factor to any pawrent is the support of the cattery, temperament and health of kitten that is joining your family.
Leave the squabbling of these technicalities to the breeders and chairs of the various committees and associations.
Enjoy your Siberian and until the next article. Stay safe, Stay home and snuggle with a Siberian