The Siberian comes in a huge variety of colours and patterns. Recognised colours are brown, black (with its dilute version which is blue), red, (with the dilute version of cream) and white. Patterns are solid, tabby and tortie. The silver gene can be present which also gives smoke and shaded patterns. Colourpointed cats are allowed in all colour variants and all colours and patterns are recognised both with and without white. Amazingly, this gives a total count of 124 possible colour variations! A Siberian’s bright eyes greatly contribute to its alert, intelligent expression; they are large, slightly oval in shape but with a rounded lower line, set wide apart and slightly oblique. Eye colour ranges from copper to green, with blue being permitted only in the Neva Masquerade (colourpointed) varieties.
SILVER and SMOKE colour massively changes from a kitten to 10 weeks, then they will gradually change for years to come and develop in to amazing silvers and smokes .
What color will the kitten be ( NEVA)?
At birth, neva masquerade kittens are born white. The fur is drawn gradually. It is difficult to guess even if genetics gives us some leads. The first clues appear on the ears.
Some dresses (fur) evolve more gradually than others. Red Tabby Point kittens stay longer white and the marks can grow stronger over the years! Silver or smoke can be guessed, diminish, strengthen. However, we declare a loof dress but some very discreet characters can go unnoticed as silver or smoke.
Between one and two months, we are fixed on the main characters. We can then distinguish the seal point, the seal tabby, the blue or the red tabby!
List of colours of the Neva Masquerade
- Seal point
- Red point
- Tortie point
- Seal point and white
- Red point and white
- Tortie point and white
- Blue point
- Cream point
- Blue point and cream
- Blue point and white
- Cream point and white
- Blue point and white cream
- Tabby
- Seal tabby point
- Red tabby point
- Tabby point and white seal
- Red tabby dot and white
- Torbie and white
- Blue tabby point
- Cream tabby point
- Blue cream tabby point
- Blue tabby dot and white
- Dot and white tabby cream
- Blue point and white tabby cream
Silver Units
- Seal smoke point
- Red smoke point
- Tortie smoke point
- Seal smoke point and white
- Red smoke point and white
- Tortie smoke point and white
- Blue smoke point
- Cream smoke point
- Cream blue smoke point
- Blue smoke point and white
- Cream smoke point and white
- Cream blue smoke point and white
Silver Tabby
- Seal silver tabby point
- Red silver tabby point
- Black silver tortie tabby point
- Seal silver tabby dot and white
- Red silver tabby dot and white
- Black silver tortie tabby dot and white
- Blue silver tabby point
- Cream silver tabby point
- Cream blue silver tabby point
- Blue silver tabby dot and white
- Point and white tabby silver cream
- Cream blue silver tabby point and white
What does “tabby” mean?
The colour at the ends may be plain or have patterns. The addition of the word “tabby” simply indicates a striped pattern on the dress (fur).
Tortie
Some females can be tortie, i.e. have red in addition to another color. This red can be so discreet that it cannot be guessed even be seen.
Silver or smoke
In addition to all these elements, a cat can have the gene silver or smoke. In this case, again, this is more or less visible. The result is silvery reflections that darken or lighten the dress. To be silver, one of the parents must be silver.
A fur that can evolve and change ?
The fur is genetically programmed, but our Siberians are full of surprises. From one year to another, they can manifest more intensely certain characteristics and change and grow.