Here is a list made in groups to help establish what type of work would be considered a Siberian breeding program.
Above all, a Siberian breeder should be concerned about preserving the breed’s genetic pool and avoid any sort of mixing with colourpoint cats or other breeds.
There is a lot of controversy regarding the colour-point cats called “neva,” which originated from the mating between Siberians and color-pointed cats. This mating could have happened either accidentally (considering Siberian cats were mostly farm cats, street cats, etc.) or from intentional man-made matings.
Either way, what is important to know is that ”colorpoint” is not only a simple fur pattern and color variation. Along with the colorpoint gene, other characteristics typical to these cats will also be passed on to offspring. There will be a page discussing the matter, but for now, you will find here the list of groups to help better understand how a Siberian breeder should work in order to preserve the breed’s genetic pool.
Attention: These groups are in no way related to FIFe colour groups.
- Croup 1: breeding exclusively Siberian bloodlines free of CS carriers, which is relatively uncommon.
Explanation: This is uncommon because there are only a few lines available and sometimes (but not always) highly inbred. Working only with these lines is not possible (see why in the text below). They are still important and serve as good work tools. To belong to group 1, every cat present in the entire bloodline from the foundation must be Sib (of course) and not carry the colourpoint gene. Group 1 is not the “best” group, and the numbers are merely for classification purposes. In the opposite group 1 cats are often severely inbred.
Foundation cats are not group 1, and they are more like a big “?” (a big question mark) we do not know what is behind. Buying an empty ped because it is “group on” is not a good idea. Please take a look at the breeding with empty genealogies page.
Group 2 is a more relaxed modality, which involves breeding lines without any colourpoints in the genealogy (even if there are CS carriers somewhere).
Explanation: These bloodlines are “neva free” because there aren’t colourpoint cats in the registered genealogy, but there are cats that are known to be CP carriers.
The fact that one or another cat is a CP carrier does not necessarily mean that this cat’s ancestors have been mated with a Neva. It simply means that one ancestor encountered a colourpoint cat on its path, and there was a mating. Kittens from the match will carry the gene and pass it on.
*Extract from clean genealogy group: Some may think that if there are CS carriers on these clean pedigree lines, there had to be some nem cat at some point behind. Indeed, if we could look back, we may find a colourpoint cat here or there far behind. A simple Colourpoint cat, but this cat would not be a “neva” but something closer to any of the colourpoint original breeds.
We may find other undesired traits, not just a colourpoint, behind Siberian genealogies. Another undesired genetic heritage that doesn’t belong to the Siberian genetic pool, just as the CS gene doesn’t belong.
The same goes for any other breed. If we were able to look far behind, what surprises could / would we find? This happens in other breeds, genes passed on by an accidental mating or bred purposefully to create a variety of that breed, like in the Persian Exotic short hair.
The point is that this past is irrelevant. It is impossible to consider something that cannot be checked accurately, and what is important is to be consistent with our principles as Traditional Siberian breeders and therefore stay consistent with the characteristics of the breed (phenotype) and nowadays with genetic testing, also with genotype and of course with the records we have on registered documents and stud book. This is what matters.
Group 3: breeding the way most people do, accepting the lines with Mars as foundation (or other colourpoint in the foundation cats).
Explanation: Cats that only have one Neva at the foundation. Some of our best bloodlines have been built on these cats with one nem at foundatiion, and these lines must also be preserved and maintained in breeding programs. They have become as rare as neva-free Siberian group 1 or 2.
I would like to mention here Nyusya, a color-pointed cat born on a farm. The owners killed all tabby litter mates, keeping only Nyusia because of the different fur and blue eyes. Nyusia was born in the 90s in a farm and was given a pedigree as a Neva.
Group 4 would be those who do not have any problem with whole neva families in the pedigree. Any neva after foundation is considered to be a family.
Explanation: There are very beautiful and good cats in group 4, but there are also those full of nem, and entire nem families are everywhere. With this group comes a rather complex subject because group 4 is like an OPEN DOOR for nem mixing, considering the most used argument for nem mixers is: “But this cat already has several nem in its genealogy; it doesn’t make any difference”.
Group 4 is also an open door for even further mixes, such as those that are happening in Germany nowadays, but with other breeds aiming for new colours and patterns.
Therefore, it is a question of common sense: You are a Siberian breeder, you own a cat group 4, and it is up to you to decide if its genealogy is worth being kept in the Siberian genetic pool. Keeping this important fact in mind, you decide if it would be better to keep this cat as a “pet maker” or if it would be a loss for the Siberian genetic pool to lose it.
Obviously, for future purchases of new Kings and Queens, the ideal is to search the entire genealogy of the cat and stick to groups 1, 2 and 3.
I also would like to say that the primary concern about cats Group 4 is not only about genetic expression, but about principle. By breeding with mixed cats, we are keeping an open door for further mixing.
It is also possible to test kittens and select them according to all the usual essential selection criteria, including the CP gene. The primary concern is to keep the Siberian genetic pool SIBERIAN as free as possible from any interference.
Group 5: They are the Neva breeders and mixers.
Explanation: Neva breeders need good Siberian blood to retype their cats, and they mix good Siberian lines with their Neva cats, or they consider that Nem and Sib are the same thing and mix.
The results are a disaster, and considering the majority of people want to have a variety of “colours” and sell kittens, as well as those who choose to mix, knowing the consequences for the breed.
Mixers outnumber Siberian breeders.
A good, responsible Siberian breeder will not sell kittens to mixers and avoid buying from those who don’t care and sell beautiful Siberian bloodlines to nem mixers.
Group 6 It would be an extreme of just nem x nem for the Neva breeders.
This is entirely acceptable and meets our goal, considering these breeders also desire the total separation of breeds, with SIB and Neva being distinct breeds.
WE NEED You who believe Siberians are great natural cats and want to preserve their genetic pool, keeping them as close as possible to what they used to be.
P.S. This was written over 10 years ago, and nowadays, breeding only from groups 1, 2, and 3 is challenging; I do not recommend prioritising these groups in terms of selection or when buying studs and queens.
If you are a Traditional Siberian breeder, you can always select your genealogies in a slightly more relaxed way and avoid cats that are severely mixed.
Explanation: a cat with a few nem in the 9th or 10th generation is an acceptable group 4 cat. On the other hand, if you find group 4 cats with entire nem families in the closer generations, I would avoid these cats.
I continue to breed only from groups 1, 2, and 3, and I will maintain this approach for many years, as my work was planned several years ahead, and I can do it comfortably. However, I do not advise or encourage any radical moves to keep the cats in these groups. The most critical factors are health, temperament, and type, and then select your cats carefully from lines that are not severely mixed.
Daniela Barros.