What a breed is my cat?

[apolo1]

Hello, 

I've just joined your forum. We got our cat as an inheritance from our grandmother and now we are wondering what is a breed our cat. I have found already some photos on the Internet and I suppose that the cat is like Ragdoll or Nevskaya maskaradnaya (a type of Siberian breed). I live in Russia and the cat is originally from St. Petersburg (the city on Neva river), so probably the second one is close to the truth.

In any case your help will be appreciated.

 

[orientalslave]

Given where you live I suspect she is more likely to be a Siberian.  I looked up the GCCF (UK cat registry) policy on Siberians:

"Unregistered cats from Russia: A Siberian that was born in Russia before January 2002 with an unregistered parent or
parents will be accepted in Siberian pedigrees."

I suspect she would meet that definition.  Most people asking here what breed their cat is have one that's a domestic pet - a non-pedigree cat.  You cat is probably non-pedigree (unless you can find papers) but I feel your cat that is almost certainly the type of cat the breed was developed from and calling her a Siberian may well not be going too far.

She is rather gorgous!

 

[pushylady]

She is beautiful!

 

[northernglow]

Given where you live I suspect she is more likely to be a Siberian.  I looked up the GCCF (UK cat registry) policy on Siberians:

In FIFé the registry is still open to take novices into the breed, for Neva Masquerade that is. (And Siberian of course). I'm not too familiar with NEMs so can't say much more.

 

[maewkaew]

I believe also in TICA,  Siberian is still in Registration Category II,    which means it is possible to register cats from Russia who meet the breed standard as Siberian .   (and they include the Nevskaya maskaradnaya  as a pattern variation within  the Siberian breed;   I have seen them in shows in USA.  )  Along with  FIFé and TICA,  possibly WCF (which is made up of many different clubs including some in Russia)

 She is probably similar to cats that have been used in the development of the breed .   I think she's longer in body than they are now trying to breed for,  and maybe not quite so heavy boned as some I have seen (she looks like she has at least medium-heavy boning .   but some of these Siberians I have seen have legs that look like tree trunks!  )   but the foundation cats would have some range of type.  so  I think it's probably fair enough to say she is within the type of cats that have been bred to develop that breed. 

    If you really want a more exact opinion or to try to register her you could have some Siberian / Neva Masquerade  breeders or cat show judges have a look at her.  

She is a beautiful cat! 

 

[StefanZ]

Given where you live I suspect she is more likely to be a Siberian.  I looked up the GCCF (UK cat registry) policy on Siberians:

Neva Masquerade IS a pointed Sibirian.  

Among Sibirian-purists are points "masque" forbidden, they hunt after the carriers many generations back.  But now when FIFE did recognized the Nevas as a sister breed I imagine there is somewhat calmer, I imagine.  Better to get your point registered as a decent Neva Masquerade, then having the shame and be humilited as getting a point in your Sibirian litter.  

In russianenglish, Neva Masquerade may be interpreted as New Masquerade. But as we saw from Apolos letter, the root is really from the Neva-river.  Thus it is what the saying is, a play of the words, a double meaning.  

Nice, one of the very few cases where we can say a moggie is not only a somewhat look alike a breed, but for most practical reasons, we CAN think it may really be a breed cat.

Althogh Siberians tend to be a little more massive "thicker" in paws and body.  I suppose it is so with N.M too.

Welcome to our Forums, Apollo!

Good luck!

 

[missymotus]

Neva Masquerade IS a pointed Sibirian.  

I think Oriental mean Sib over Rag, as was mentioned in the first post.

 

[orientalslave]

I think Oriental mean Sib over Rag, as was mentioned in the first post.

I did, and in the UK I believe the pointed ones are still called Siberians.