Neva Masquerade: Neva Masquerade Cats Personality, Care and Price

The Neva Masquerade cat is a subspecies of the Siberian cat with a Siamese color and unique character. Loyalty borders on independence in these pets and restraint and delicacy border on a playful disposition. Masquerade cats – a unique mix of two species at the same time.

Weight	10-20 pounds
Height	10-12 inches
Colors and Patterns	Pointed (including seal lynx point, blue-point, cream-point), always with blue eyes
Lifespan	10-15 years
Suitable for	families that look for an active, playful cat

History of the breed

The Neva Masquerades is a type of Siberian cat formed in the process of crossing color-point cats or as a result of a natural mutation. The Neva Masquerade breed was formed under the influence of the Siamese cat and the Persian-Himalayan wild cats.

The initiator of this new breed was Olga Mironova, a felinologist. She also prepared a description of the first breed standard and brought it into a separate species. The first participation of Neva Masquerade cats in the exhibition took place in 1988; official breed registration took place in 1992. Work on breeding the Neva Masquerade cat was continued by felinologists from Moscow.

The name “Neva Masquerade” was registered as the standard for one of the original colors of the Siberian breed. In 1992, the WCF recognized the Neva Masquerade cat as an independent breed. Later, it was granted this status by several more authoritative felinological organizations, but most associations still recognize it only as a separate color of Siberians. However, this fact does not affect the popularity of these cute creatures, and breeders continue to work hard to improve the breed.

Interesting facts about Neva Masquerades

• The Neva Masquerade cat’s appearance combines the features of Siberian cats and representatives of the genus of cats with a color-point color.
• This breed is strong, massive, and muscular and stands out for its large size.
• Males are distinguished by independence, impressiveness, and seriousness; females are softer and more friendly.
• Despite their large size, the Neva Masquerade is highly dexterous and agile – despite their large size – it demonstrates the excellent jumping ability.
• Neva Masquerade cats are devoted pets that adore their family and need their love.
• The fur of these pets requires routine care, especially during the molt, which occurs twice a year. Spayed pets shed less.

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Personality

The Neva Masquerade is a large and strong cat. They have a very self-confident appearance. The Neva Masquerade is proportionately built – its body is of medium length, not elongated. The skeleton is strong, the neck is powerful and shortish, the chest is voluminous and the muscles are well developed.

The head is proportional to the body (large) and is smooth-edged. The wide, low forehead is rounded, the nose is wide and its length is medium. The cheekbones are set low, the cheeks are plump, the jaws are sufficiently developed. The chin is broad and powerful but not protruding.

The ears of the Neva Masquerade are medium in size, wide at the base, slightly inclined forward and rounded. The distance between them is slightly more than the width of one ear at the base. The outer line of the ear is almost vertical, its base on the outer side is located slightly above eye level.

The eyes of these pets are almost round, the color is blue, but up to a year they may have a greenish tint. The limbs of the Neva Masquerade are of medium length and strong. The paws are large, round and the fur grows between the fingers in bunches. The tail is of medium length, richly pubescent and resembles a fox. The tip of the tail is rounded.

The luxurious semi-long hair of the Neva Masquerade cats, inherited from Siberians, is shiny and water-repellent. It lengthens from the shoulder blades to the croup, falling to the sides and the base of the tail. The coat forms a mane around the neck. In winter, the undercoat becomes long, thick, dense. In the summer, the coat is short and insignificant.

The body fur of the Neva Masquerade is light in color, and on the tips of the ears, paws and tail, the hair is dark. The mask itself on the cat’s face also has a dark color. The contrast between the dark areas and the base coat color should be prominent. Dark fragments on each part of the body of the Neva Masquerade should have the same intensity.

Adaptability	overall 3 out of 5
Adapts to apartment living	2 out of 5
Tolerates being alone	3 out of 5
Tolerates cold weather	4 out of 5
Tolerates hot weather	3 out of 5
All-Around Friendliness	overall 4 out of 5
Affectionate with family	5 out of 5
Kid-friendly	5 out of 5
Dog friendly	3 out of 5
Cat friendly	4 out of 5
Health Grooming	overall 4 out of 5
Amount of shedding	4 out of 5
General health	4 out of 5
Trainability	overall 4 out of 5
Easy to train	4 out of 5
Intelligence	4 out of 5
Activity	overall 4 out of 5
Energy level	4 out of 5
Exercise needs	4 out of 5

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The character of Neva Masquerades

In a homey atmosphere, these cats are calm and balanced. They like to be given attention, but they never show obsession like other cats.

Like the Siberians, the Neva Masquerade has innate hunter instincts and loves physical and mental activity. In their natural environment, these cats constantly had to survive, relying only on their ingenuity, intelligence, ability to navigate the terrain, strength and fearlessness. They are very curious: if the owners are doing housework, they will always come running to find out what’s going on and demonstrate a desire to participate and help. They will not bypass any new item in the house with their attention.

READ MORE: Maine Coon: Personality, Size, Lifespan, Price, Rescue

Care & Health

The long fur of these domestic cats have unique dirt and water repellent properties, and, at the same time, it does not tangle and is practically hypoallergenic. As with any long-haired cat, the Neva Masquerade needs regular grooming. The coat should be brushed twice a week and washed no more than two or three times a year (be sure to use special shampoo for long-haired breeds).

The diet of the Neva Masquerade cat does not differ from that of its closest relative, the Siberian cat. If possible, it is better to choose premium and super-premium varieties of food, such as lean meats (beef, rabbit, turkey or chicken), boiled offal and egg yolk (once a week). Occasionally, the cat can be fed boiled fish; for example, salmon, but try to pull out all the bones from the treat. Regularly include fermented milk products in the diet; for example, cottage cheese, kefir or fermented baked milk and unsalted cheese. For carbohydrates, you can give your pet barley, rice and buckwheat porridge, as well as thermally processed vegetables, like zucchini, cabbage and carrots. Any delicacies from the master’s table are unacceptable in the diet: fatty, smoked, salty, spicy foods. All of these can cause an allergic reaction or serious digestive problems. And, of course, do not forget to pour clean water into its bowl.

In good health, cats of this breed can live up to 20 years; on average, they live 10-15 years. The most common disease is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (stagnation of blood in the pulmonary vessels) – a very dangerous disease that begins and proceeds almost asymptomatically and can lead to the death of the animal. Don’t forget to complete the entire course of necessary vaccinations, as well as a regular treatment for parasites and helminth prophylaxis. And always take your pet to the vet if you think it is lethargic or not feeling well.

Adoption

If you want to adopt a Neva Masquerade cat, you should find a shelter of this breed. A respected shelter must be registered in one of the felinological systems, as well as have its own website and reviews from the newly minted owners of their graduates.

To check the responsibility of the breeder, specify the procedure for purchasing an animal and the conditions for return in case of an allergy. Many people call the fur of the Neva Masquerade cat hypoallergenic. But this is not entirely true. Cat allergies are usually not caused by fur, but by a protein found in saliva. In the Neva Masquerade breed, its concentration is low. Therefore, some catteries specializing in the breed do not sell kittens to allergy sufferers. Others may let the prospective owner keep the kitty for a few test days. ^[1]

To be exchanged for a pedigree, Neva Masquerade cats must be sold with a transfer of ownership agreement, a veterinary passport with a note of two vaccinations, treatment against parasites and a metric.

Conclusions

The Neva Masquerade cat is a large, strong but very graceful animal. Cats are especially impressive in size. Neva Masquerade cats are very affectionate and attached to their owners. These cats get along well with family members, young children and other pets (including dogs).

FAQ

Article Sources:

1. 1. Schmitt, Kristen. “There’s No Such Thing as a Hypoallergenic Cat.” Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Apr. 2018, smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/theres-no-such-thing-hypoallergenic-cat-180968819/.