Nevsky Masquerade

Abbreviation:

Neva Masquerade

FIFe abbreviation:

NEM

Place of Origin:

Russia

Ancestors:

Siberian Cats, Persian with badges

Breed type:

Semi-haired cat

Body type:

Firmly built, muscular

Weight:

4 - 10 kg

Colour variety:

Black-brown, blue, red, cream, tortoise, blue-cream colourpoint

History: Although this breed, with some of its features, looks like a Maine Coon Cat and a Norwegian Forest Cat, it is not as popular breed. Outside of Russia and the former Eastern Bloc countries, it is rare.

There is little known about the origin of the breed. Probably these cats in Siberia have been existed since time immemorial, although cat lovers have only discovered them recently.

While other organizations regard a New Masquerade as a colour variety of Siberian Cats, FIFe colouring for Siberian Cats does not consider as  a natural colour and therefore it is categorized as a sister breed. However, crossbreeding of both breeds is permitted.

Inheritance of colourpoint gene is recessive. Therefore, it is the case it can happened that full-colour Siberian cats in her litter there will be born the kittens in colour with badges.

Nature: As we’ve mentioned, the character of Siberian Cats resembles a Norwegian Forest Cat. They like to climb. They like the attention, care and cuddling, but they are not curious about the ingenuity. They keep their dignity at all costs. With other cats and dogs they are getting well, as well as with children.

Body: The body is medium-sized and muscular, slightly longer than high. The neck is short and strong, the legs are medium-length and the toes between the fingers must be interspersed. The tail is thick at the root, with a slightly rounded toe. The cat's head should be ideally short, blunt and triangular, rounded profile. The nose is broad and slightly bent, but it does not have a stop. The faces are massive, the chin strong and distinctive. Ears are large with rounded toes. There are earbuds and distinctive ear-plugs. The slightly oval eyes are large and lie quite far apart.

Coat: Siberian Cat hair is medium to long, self-cleaning, does not waterproof. The touch is pleasant. The undercoat is dense, the hairs are long and oily. On blades, the coat is usually slightly shorter. There is a distinct difference between summer and winter coats.

Care: Siberian Cat's coat does not require much attention. Out of time, it is enough to comb only once a week. We must be careful that during combing not to comb out a lot undercoat. It is advisable to comb the coat in a place where it may snap like ears between fore and hind legs or chest. Like a Norwegian Forest Cat, it is going through a brief, intense moulting period in summer.

Colour variety: Colours of badges are allowed in the same natural shades as full-colour like by Siberian Cats: seal, red, tortoiseshell, blue and cream. Frequent is pattern, silvery variety and white spotted are possible.