Sapphirensteel Siberians

A brief description
A medium to large cat, the Siberian is a cat with 'Heft'.
The overall appearance should be of strength and force. Rounded contours and a ' barrel' shaped torso gives the general impression of circles and roundness.
The Siberian is often confused with the Norwegian Forest cat or the Maine Coon, but when the three breeds are together the difference is obvious
The NFC is described as 'Triangular' in appearance
The Maine Coon is more ' Rectangular'
The Siberian is 'Circular'
Three wonderful breeds, but three very different breeds.
The Siberian body is medium in length and well muscled, the hind legs are slightly longer than the front, giving the cat the ability to jump and leap great heights...
Semi-long-haired cats, the Siberians coat changes with the seasons. Originating from Russia where the winters are harsh and the temperatures low, this Natural breed has adapted to the climate and it's surroundings. In the Winter months having a thick dense waterproof triple coat, to a much shorter more manageable coat in the summer.
Although considered a breed with a coat that doesn't matt, care needs to be taken during the moulting season as they do shed considerably, and can matt if not groomed regularly during this time.
 

     Traditional Siberian (non neva carrier)                      Traditional (non neva carrier)    
             GIC Boris z Kufra Carycy                                Sapphirensteel Love MeTender
                 Red spotted tabby                                            Blue spotted tabby                        

Personality
Siberians are a confident breed when handled from a young age, they are proud, very loyal with a vigorous temperament, independent yet affectionate, confident and very intelligent, in some ways they are more canine than feline, they are very powerful and fantastic hunters still carrying some of the feral traits of their ancestors and they will wander if given the opportunity, in some cases only coming home for food, which is another reason why they cannot be allowed to free roam
They also have a fascination with water...tapping before drinking...splashing and tipping the water bowls over, plus dropping toys, paper balls etc in the bowl...I now have water fountains for all of my Siberians - this way I have no more flooded floors!
With their 'triple' purr and and soft voice made up of chirrups and titters, they are not as vocal as some breeds, but they can still hold a lengthy conversation with their owner, there is something soothing about their purr ...be it first thing in the morning, or last thing at night, you can be sure you're never alone with a Siberian in your home.
All in all the Siberian is a purrr-fect companion to anyone, living with a cat is pleasurable, but in my experience sharing my life with my Siberians has been totally rewarding

Neva Masquerade
You can visit many Siberian breeder websites and read stories about 'When How and Why' we have blue eyed/pointed kittens born from a breeding of the 'Traditional' coloured Siberians, this is simply due to both cats carrying a pointed 'gene'
'When' and 'Why' is still not certain
'How' is simply at some point in the breeds history, a 'pointed' cat was introduced to a breeding program (by man or by nature - I am not the person to say which) but this gene is still carried by many 'lines' today.
Some breeders have their cats tested for this gene and will not breed from those cats if they are positive carriers - some breeders are not concerned one way or another
When I decided the Siberian was for me, my first female who arrived at Sapphirensteel was a brown tabby (Catreba Yasnaya) - she bred to a male brown tabby and their litter included three 'Neva' kittens - one of which is my beautiful girl Sapphirensteel Anastaysia and I adore her - her daughter Sapphirensteel Wannabstartinsunthin (Arina) will be part of my future Neva program.
Sapphirensteel have had many beautiful Neva kittens - which are mostly living as pets in loving homes, but in 2011 I decided not to breed Neva carrying cats to those tested negative for the gene,
This is my own personal choice and not to promote 'one over the other' but simply because I adore the Neva colours as much as I do the 'traditional'
(In 2011 these 'pointed' cats were finally recognised as a 'sister-breed' to the Siberian and are now known as NEVA MASQUERADE (FIFe)
Some information found (permission to use granted)
For those not familiar with the term 'Neva' this word is referring to the Neva River in Northern Russia.
'Neva Masquerade' is a term used to describe a blue eyed - pointed Siberian, and is most commonly used in UK the EU and Russia itself.
The term 'Colour-point' is used to describe the markings on the head/legs and tail in many different cat breeds - most familiar being Siamese and Persians (these 'points' can be either solid or tabby)
As in any Breed, there are differences of opinion about various aspects of the breed. This is just one controversy in the Siberian Cat World.
Many 'purists' or 'traditionals' see the Siberian 'Forest' Cat as developing between matings of the feral wild cats that were around in the towns and nearby forests breeding with Persians and Angoras that were part of the trade market across Russia after the invasion and conquering by the Mongols - and so could not possibly have Colour-point markings.
Purists attribute the Neva markings as being introduced in more modern times, perhaps at the beginning of the 20th century.
Some say this colouration was discovered on the eastern banks of the Neva River, with their distinct colouration. Hence the nick-name Neva Masquerade (River Neva and where the historic Masquerade balls where held)
Others still believe a noted Russian entrepreneur brought back a Siamese cat to Russia in the 1800's, and these bred with Siberians, leading to the colouration seen today.
None of these theories can be verified by historical record. Many though, do not see a Neva as a "true" Siberian, but ancient history has always been foggy as to the Siberians beginnings anyway.
The only history that is well known is that which immediately preceded Perestroika, and following this time when democratic reforms allowed the Russian people to now formally own cats and they formed their own breed clubs You can visit different breeder websites around the world and see the various myths and oral stories - some told in far fetched detail, some written as fact - but fact must be proven with evidence, and the evidence of the ancestral cats that gave rise to the true Siberian breed is hypothesis at it's best
The Neva (colour-point) issues were not apparent here in the UK in the early days, therefore Neva kittens arrived in many of the first litters - and still do as like my own foundation cats – other breeders cats also carried this gene
Only since access to the internet became more available have breeders become aware there are other breeders who are totally against those associated with Neva variety
To be honest, I myself adore the 'Neva' as much as the 'Traditional Siberian' and rather than retire and re-home my carriers (of which I have 3) I made the decision to split my breeding program so that my Neva carriers, will not breed to non-carriers – this way I have both 'types' without distinguishing one 'colour' over the other


    

                    
 
            Sapphirensteel Anastaysia                                     3 Sapphirensteel Neva kittens
            Seal Tabbypoint 'Neva Masquarade'                                                  seal tabbypoint
                                                                                                                        blue tabbypoint
                                                                                                                   seal tortie tabbypoint