✅ Cat NEVA MASQUERADE

The Neva Masquerade cat is a colorpoint patterned variety of the Siberian cat, although it is currently listed as an officially recognized breed by the Fédération Féline Internationale (FIFE). This cat was first seen in the Neva basin in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Although the Siberian cat has been the long-haired cat of Russia for the past centuries, it was not until the 1980s of the last century that the breeding of the colorpoint variety, i.e. the Neva Masquerade, has been improved and separated from Siberian.

The Neva Masquerade is a large, gentle, long-haired cat with a very good character and quite active, so he enjoys frequent play and interaction.You want to know more ? Read on to know all the characteristics of the Neva Masquerade cat, its origin, character, care, he alth and where to adopt it.

Origin

Europe
Russia

FIFe Rating

Category II

Physical Characteristics

Thick Tail
Big ears
Strong

Size

Large

Average Weight

Life expectancy

18-20

Character

Active
Extrovert
Affectionate
Smart
Curious

Climate

Cold

Hair type

Long

Origin of the Neva Masquerade

The Neva Masquerade cat is native to the regions of the Neva River basin in Russia. This is actually a Siberian cat with a colorpoint pattern, possibly resulting from crossing Siberian cats with local cats and even Thai cats, hence the colorpoint pattern.

" These long-haired cats were rare in Europe until the 19th century. They were part of the first cat show at Crystal Palace in London in 1871, however, they later fell into obscurity due to their mixing with other breeds such as Persians. During the 1980s they were bred again and in 1985 an experimental breed was established with long haired cats imported from Russia to the German Democratic Republic.These cats were exhibited from 1986 and in 1987 were recognized as the Siberian Forest Cat, gaining more and more followers. They were first exported to the United States in 1990, and systematic breeding of the Siberian cat began in Russia at the same time. In 1991, the name changed to the Siberian Cat to better differentiate it from another feline breed, the Norwegian Forest Cat. To this day, Siberian Neva Masquerade cats are bred independently of Siberians who do not have the colorpoint pattern."

Features of Neva Masquerade Cat

The Neva Masquerade cat is medium to large in size. It weighs between 4 and 9 kg and develops fully only from 2-3 years. It is a cat with a robust, elongated, muscular and very strong body, with short and robust legs, provided with the tufts of hair on the fingers and a tail which measures half the length of its body, wide at the base, hairy and opulent.

The head of these cats is short and triangular, with a curved forehead and a prominent chin. The nose is wide and the eyes are large and oval, of an intense blue color that matches the fur. The ears are large, triangular and erect.

Neva Masquerade Colors

The fur of these cats is soft, dense and long, especially on the sides and chest. Undoubtedly, what distinguishes this breed is the colorpoint pattern present at the ends of its body, that is, the ears, the face, the tip of the tail and the legs; these parts have a darker shade than the rest of the animal's body. The coat color of these cats can be as follows:

" Seal point - equivalent to the color of a Thai cat, their ends have a brown color."
" Blue dot - equivalent to the color of a Birman."
" Chocolate Point - equals the color of a Siamese, lighter than Seal Point."
" Fawn point - between beige and white."
" Lilac dot"
" Cinnamon dot"
" Cream point"

Neva Masquerade Character

The Neva Masquerade cat has a temperament similar to the Siberian cat, that is to say, it is affectionate, gentle, curious and very cuddly. It is an ideal and family-friendly companion, as it is also sociable and outgoing, so it gets along well with other animals and children.

The Neva Masquerade is an active cat that needs to climb, hunt and play to be in continuous motion because, despite its robustness, it is agile and athletic. He sometimes likes to communicate with his guardians, but he is not a breed that has the habit of meowing, like the Oriental type cat. Being also very intelligent, he loves games that allow him to practice his intelligence and thus provide daily training.

Neva Masquerade Treatments

Neva Masquerade cat needs to have guardians who care about maintaining its activity level and who are always designing new games so it doesn't get bored or frustrated. If you have a balcony or patio where they can safely hang out, your cat will appreciate it. Likewise, it is essential to maintain a provided environment in the house so that it is well stimulated.

A very important thing to consider when determining the care of the Neva Masquerade is its coat type, as it requires daily brushing, especially in the spring and fall, as that is when that they are experiencing hair loss. This is important to avoid the accumulation of large amounts of hair in its digestive tract, which predisposes to the formation of hairballs which can clog it and compromise its he alth. The use of m alt is also important for its prevention, in addition to good hydration.The bath will be necessary if it is very dirty and tolerates it or if it requires dermatological treatment in the form of shampoo.

His ears, eyes and teeth should be cleaned frequently to prevent infection and inflammation of these body structures. Likewise, this cat's diet must be intended for the feline species, complete and balanced, with a good amount of protein of animal origin to maintain its strength and muscles and thus obtain the essential nutrients on a daily basis. Be vigilant and make sure to always leave water at his disposal.

Neva Masquerade He alth

Neva Masquerade cats are strong, he althy cats with a life expectancy of 18-20 years. However, they seem predisposed to heart and orthopedic diseases due to their large size. Among cardiac disorders, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy stands out, a pathology in which the muscular wall of the left ventricle thickens, thus reducing the filling volume in diastole or in ventricular relaxation, creating a dysfunction that can lead to heart failure.Regarding bone disorders, we distinguish hip dysplasia, in which there is an incongruity between the bones that make up the hip joint (acetabulum and head of the femur), which causes instability in the joint, which can cause pain, osteoarthritis and lameness in affected cats.

In addition, it is imperative to ensure that your Neva Masquerade cat receives good preventative medicine with routine checkups and deworming, as well as frequent updates of their vaccines, among other care, in a veterinary center.

Adopt a Neva Masquerade cat

The Neva Masquerade cat can be hard to find at animal shelters, but it costs nothing to ask the shelter if they have any. On the internet, you can search for specialized rescue associations for these cats or for Siberian cats, because they are very similar.

Before adopting a cat, you will need to be aware of whether you are a good candidate to take care of it or not, whether you have the possibility of offering it everything it needs on a daily basis and covering all his needs for him to be happy and maintain a good quality of life.