Neva MasqueradeCharacteristics, history, behaviour and care

The Siberian cat has been known in Russia for almost a thousand years, but the colourpoint variety only appeared in the 1970s–1980s. It is believed that colourpoint cats of Asian origin were crossed, naturally or on purpose, with Siberian cats.

The FIFe profile says its origin is passionately debated: some breeders argue the pattern arose naturally, while the registers show that crosses also took place. When the Siberian reached Western Europe and the USA in the late 1980s, colourpoint cats were shown too. FIFe recognised it as a separate sister breed in 2011.

How the breed developed

• The 1970s–1980s – colourpoint Siberian cats appear in Russia.
• Late 1980s – they reach Western Europe and the USA, together with the Siberians.
• 2011 – FIFe recognises it as a separate breed.

• Active families. It is curious and wants to take part in family life.
• People with time for brushing. The triple coat needs frequent care.
• Homes with room to jump. It jumps exceptionally high.
• People who want an affectionate, “chatty” cat.

It is a strong cat with a barrel-shaped body, powerful, slightly longer hind legs and large, round paws. The overall impression is of circles and roundness. Females are much smaller than males; adults weigh 4.5–9 kg on average. It develops slowly and only reaches its adult body at about 5 years.

General appearance

The tail is bushy, slightly shorter than the body. The back is slightly arched, and the power of its hind legs lets it jump exceptionally high. The eyes are always blue, of varying intensity.

The body is light-coloured, and the face, ears, legs and tail have darker “points”, solid or tabby. The base colours are black (seal), blue, red and cream, with tortie, silver, smoke or golden variants and any amount of white. Many associations do not accept chocolate, lilac or cinnamon.

Related breeds and how to tell them apart

The Siberian is its sister breed: the same body and coat, but without the point pattern. At TICA and CFA, the Neva Masquerade is just a colour of the Siberian. The Ragdoll and the Birman also have the point pattern and blue eyes, but a different body type.

The FIFe profile describes it as affectionate, intelligent and people-oriented. It is curious and playful and likes to take part in the family's daily life. It is self-confident but gentle, and becomes strongly attached to its owners. It can also be talkative.

Socialisation

A kitten gets used to new people, noises and other animals most easily in its first months of life.

Habits at home

Like all cats, it sleeps a lot: usually 12–16 hours a day. It is most active early in the morning and in the evening, but partly adapts to the family's routine.

Cats instinctively bury their droppings, so it quickly learns to use a litter tray. It scratches rough surfaces to shed the old outer layer of its claws, so it needs a scratching post or board.

It is agile and jumps very high; it needs high places and daily play.

Tips for a balanced life

• Change its toys from time to time, so it does not get bored.
• Play with it in short sessions, several times a day.
• If it goes outside, let it do so in a fenced area or on a balcony with a safety net.

Coat care

It has all three types of hair: water-repellent guard hairs, a middle layer and down. The thick coat must be brushed often so it does not tangle; Wikipedia even recommends daily brushing, because it sheds all year round. It moults heavily in spring, when it loses its winter coat, and more lightly at the end of summer. The summer coat is much shorter.

Common health problems

Wikipedia shows that hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a significant problem in Siberian cats and therefore also in this sister breed.

Recommended genetic tests

Ask for the result of the parents' heart ultrasound, for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Is it hypoallergenic?

Cat allergy is caused mainly by the Fel d 1 protein, found in saliva and skin glands; it is behind the allergy in 90% of people who are allergic to cats. Kittens, females and neutered males produce less of it, but still enough to trigger symptoms. No breed is completely hypoallergenic.

Other care

• A check-up at the vet once a year.
• Vaccinations and parasite treatment on the schedule set by the vet.
• Trim the claws if they do not wear down on their own.
• Clean its teeth or give it food that helps keep them clean.

The cat is a carnivore: it needs animal protein. Unlike a dog, it must get vitamin A, arachidonic acid and taurine from its food. Water is very important, because cats usually drink little; several water bowls around the house encourage it to drink.

Tips for a healthy diet

The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual for a healthy adult cat. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram. If you also feed wet food, reduce the dry portion.

• Adjust the portion to its weight: neutered cats put on weight easily.
• Weigh it monthly; the ribs should be easy to feel under your fingers.
• Kittens need more calories: Merck recommends 2.5 times the resting energy requirement.

Dangerous foods and substances

Some common household items are dangerous for cats:

• Lilies (and daylilies): they can destroy a cat's kidneys. Even the pollen or the water in the vase is dangerous.
• Paracetamol: extremely toxic to cats, which lack the enzyme that breaks it down. Never give it human medicines.
• Flea spot-ons and collars for dogs containing permethrin: the concentration meant for dogs is dangerous for cats.
• Foods: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, onions, garlic, grapes and raisins.

Maturity

Females usually reach sexual maturity at 5–10 months, and males at 5–7 months. The age varies from breed to breed.

Mating and pregnancy

Pregnancy in cats lasts 64–67 days, 65 on average. A first litter usually has fewer kittens than later ones. Only healthy cats that match the breed standard are used for breeding.

Blood type

Cats have blood type A, B or AB. Type A is the most common: in a study from England, 87.1% of non-pedigree cats and 54.6% of pedigree cats had type A. This matters for breeding: if the mother is type B and the kittens are type A, the antibodies in her first milk (colostrum) can destroy their red blood cells. The condition is called neonatal isoerythrolysis. That is why breeders test the blood type of both parents.

We found no published data on how common type B is in this breed; the test is done before mating anyway.

Caring for the kittens

Kittens are weaned at 6–7 weeks. They are ready to go to their new home at about 12 weeks, when they can be separated from their mother.

Neutering

Neutering used to be done at 6–9 months, but it is more and more often done before puberty, at around 3–6 months. It prevents unwanted kittens, urine marking in males and the loud “calling” of females in heat. A 2024 study found that neutered cats live one year longer on average. After the operation, the metabolism slows down and appetite increases, so the portion has to be reduced.

How to choose a kitten

• Ask for the pedigree from a recognised cat association (for example, a FIFe member).
• The kitten leaves its mother at about 12 weeks.
• The coat only develops fully after a few years; a kitten does not yet have the rich adult coat.
• Look at the mother and at the place where the kittens are raised: it should be clean, with kittens used to people.
• Ask about vaccinations, parasite treatment and the blood type of the parents.

• A carnival mask. The name “Masquerade” comes from the darker mask on its face.
• Moulting by daylight. The spring moult is triggered by day length, not by temperature.
• It grows until 5 years. The adult body only appears at about 5 years.
• Breed or colour? Some associations consider it a separate breed, others just a colour of the Siberian.

How is it different from the Siberian?

Only in its pattern: the Neva Masquerade has darker “points” and blue eyes.

How much does it weigh?

Adults weigh 4.5–9 kg on average; females are much smaller.

How often does it need brushing?

Often, ideally every day, because the triple coat tangles.

Where does the name come from?

From the River Neva in Saint Petersburg and from the “mask” on its face.