Siberian Cats & Neva Masquerade

Breed Standards - Siberian Cats and Neva Masquerade

Siberian Cat

General

Size - medium to large, females mostly smaller than males

Head

Shape - a little bit longer than broad, softly rounded, massive

Forehead - broad, just slightly rounded

Cheeks - cheekbones well developed, high set

Nose - slightly slanting back, in profile creating a curve from the upper line of the nose

Chin - slightly slanting back, in profile creating a curve from the upper line of the nose

Ears

Shape - medium size, well open at the base, tips are rounded with well-developed hairs inside and tufts

Placement - with good width between, tilting slightly forward

Eyes

Shape - large, slightly oval shaped. A bit oblique, set widely apart

Color - uniform, any color is permitted, but preference is given to green

Body

Structure - well boned and muscled, powerful neck, broad chest, body in proportion to create a rectangular appearance

Legs

medium high, to form a rectangle with the body, strong

Paws - large, round, well tufted between toes

Tail

long, thick, rounded tip covered on all sides by dense hair with no hairs trailing down

Coat

Structure - semi-long, well developed, very dense, undercoat not lying flat, overcoat water repellent, slightly hard to touch, summer coat is distinctly shorter than the winter coat, the winter coat shows a well-developed shirtfront, full frill and knickerbockers

Color - all colour varieties are permitted, including all colour varieties with white; except pointed patterns and chocolate and lilac, cinnamon and fawn, any amount of white is allowed, i.e. a white blaze, white locket, white chest, white on the belly, white on the paws, etc.

Faults

General - too small or too finely built

Head - long and narrow, straight profile, too round head (Persian type)

Ears - too large or too high set

Eyes - round eyes

Legs - too long or too thin

Tail - too short tail

Coat - too fine or silky, lying flat, lack of coat (except in summer)

Neva Masquerade

Neva Masquerade breed standard is to be elaborated by Federation Internationale Feline next year, perhaps sooner.