The Foundation History of HAKUNA MATATA Breeding Cattery

Cats have been part of my life since I was a child. Our family lived in a cottage in the Moscow suburbs. Of course, there was more than one cat in our big house. Most often, those were fluffy Siberians with phenotypic traits. I grew up with a special affection to the Siberians since my early years. And I can declare with confidence now that my love for Neva Masquerade Siberian cats will last forever!

The first Colorpoint Siberian cat came to us back in 1990s literally from the wood. Of course, we had no idea that a Colorpoint Siberian cat is called Neva Masquerade. We just adored its blue eyes, thick paws and snow-white back. It is my firm belief until now that it was my luck and destiny to devote myself to Colorpoint Siberian cats (Neva Masquerade), and this is what I respond to the question “why Siberians?”.

We named her MONA and were happy to learn that the previous owner would not claim for our Siberian beauty. It took only two months before MONA was feeding her first kittens from our phenotypic Siberian called Plut. Time passed and Mona fell out of affection with Plut and for several years in a row MONA had kittens from our neighbors’ cat, a phenotypic Siberian that was huge in size and had bright red hair and green eyes. The love story is worth a novel I should say! It is rare with humans to express such degree of fidelity and tenderness towards each other as those Siberians did. Neva Masquerade Siberian cats are truly devoted to each other!

Back in 2003, when attending a cat show with my husband, we bought a Neva Masquerade kitten called NAOMI. The choice was not easy as there was a variety of thoroughbred kittens displayed, and we didn’t have a clear idea of what we were looking for. I wanted to havea kitten that would look similarly to MONA. Quite by accident, when they were about to leave, we noticed a cage with Siberian (Neva Masquerade) kittens in the corner. Five minutes later we were walking home with a one-and-a-half-month year old Neva Masquerade kitten. And yes, back in 2003 one could easily buy such kittens at a cat show…

NAOMI was growing fast and the color turned out to be different from MONA’s. But it was absolutely inessential. We developed a special connection with this Neva Masquerade cat... We even talked on the phone. Or, it was rather me talking and her listening and purring. I went through several milestones with NAOMI, my Neva Masquerade cat. Thanks to NAOMI, my Siberian (Neva Masquerade) cat I turned into an exhibitor.

But thanks to our blue-eyed MONA from the wood I became a breeder. Mona easily passed certification and was recognized as a Colorpoint Siberian, that is, a Neva Masquerade cat. MONA had kittens from thoroughbred Siberians twice. The second litter was very successful. She gave birth to Neva Masquerade cats Sultan and Salomeya, which are currently part of each pedigree in my cattery. And it was this particular litter that mentioned HAKUNA MATATA as the title of my breeding cattery on file.

By the way, it was impossible to register a cattery without having completed training at felinology courses. I did not limit myself to one course. I attended and then successfully passed exams on three different courses from different lecturers. In addition to the courses, I read a lot and was eager to get more information for the benefit of my breeding activities. The truth is I cannot recollect the exact time the cattery was established in order to celebrate anniversaries. Officially, HAKUNA MATATA cattery of Siberian (Neva Masquerade) cats was registered in WCF(World Cat Federation) system in 2006. But my club that has been registered in WCF as HAKUNA MATATA cattery of the Siberian (Neva Masquerade) cats since 2003. One thing is undeniable. Being a huge fan of The Lion King animated cartoon I chose the name the moment I decided to establish the cattery.

Each cattery should have its own he-cat. As fate would have it, I found the latter at one of the cat shows. It was an adult Siberian (Neva Masquerade) cat, who came for the title for the first time. As soon as I saw this tom-cat, I immediately realized that this was my cat! Two months later Chevalier Tsap moved from St. Petersburg to Moscow. So, my girls got their own pedigree Neva Masquerade macho! The cattery of Siberian (Neva Masquerade) cats finally reached its full value.

During that period, the cattery thrived thanks to the team. I rehomed all promising Siberian (Neva Masquerade) kittens on the terms of joining the cattery and performing the breeding program. Besides, I did not rehome kittens to other cities, let alone countries. This made it possible for the cattery of Siberian (Neva Masquerade) cats to arrange selection and have enough cats for breeding. We did a big job together under my personal guidance. The cats from HAKUNA MATATA started to be recognized and very popular. I am very grateful to all those who took part in my breeding work. Currently many she-cats and he-cats have retired. I decided not to accept any new members to the cattery, as recently there appeared more people aimed only at commercial profit from breeding activities. Such people were excluded from our community. Therefore, the team of 30 people has reduced to the 5 of us, including myself.

Starting from 2012,I began to actively exhibit the output of our cattery’s breeding work. Since that year my cattery has become the best among the catteries that house Siberians. In 2013,we collected a harvest of victories.

I exhibited the litter of Siberian (Neva Masquerades (several kittens, a kitten, and a junior), which were later exhibited in adult group, and also exhibited Rokfeller HAKUNA MATATA, a Siberian (Neva Masquerade) cat (owner: Klimashina Tatyana).

As a result, our kittens were recognized as the best in all categories of Siberians. Hercules HAKUNA MATATA kitten became the best kitten among all breeds in Russia. Rokfeller HAKUNA MATATA joined the list of top ten cats among all breeds in the world ranking with the 5^th place and the 6^thplace was with Yudif HAKUNA MATATA.

I longed for more. In 2014 and 2015, Hercules Hakuna Matata represented the cattery of Siberian (Neva Masquerade) cats. For two years in a row, Hercules was at the top of the world ranking.

Those were victories from major cat shows. Hercules is the top award-winning Siberian. At the same time, Hercules is an active participant in the breeding program of my cattery. A father, a grandfather, and a great-grandfather. Hercules is a breeding participant that is too valuable to do inbreeding. In 2015, we also exhibited a Siberian (Neva Masquerade) cat called Titan HAKUNA MATATA as a junior (owner: Kryukova Kristina).

Titan became the best junior in the world ranking, and reached to seventh place among all breeds in the world rating.

The best opposite cat in the Siberian breed in the junior class was my Siberian (Neva Masquerade) cat Dolce Vita HAKUNA MATATA. And the best baby-kitten in the breed was Siberian (Neva Masquerade) cat called Grand Prix HAKUNA MATATA (owner: Vanessa Guk).

In 2014 and 2015, my cattery was top-rated according to the world rating, and I got the title of the best breeder.

It is so nice to realize that your hard work has been rewarded! And it is even more pleasant that Hercules enjoys winning, traveling around the cities and countries, going back home to his cats, and playing with the kittens.

In 2016, the cattery was represented by the Siberian (Neva Masquerade) cat Grand Prix Hakuna Matata (owner Guk Vanessa). The cat became the best junior in the breed, and later the best adult cat and the best in the breed of Siberian (Neva Masquerade). 

And the best opposite junior in the Siberian breed was my cat Almaz HAKUNA MATATA.

For the whole period that HAKUNA MATATA cattery for Siberian (Neva Masquerade) cats has been operating, we actively advertise the Siberian breed in the media. We published info in specialized magazines, broadcast on radio and television. The breed has acquired many fans around the world. I am very glad that my cat lives in Japan with the Governor of the Prefecture Akita. Mr. Norihisa Satake was presented with a cat named Mir by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. Another cat from our cattery belongs to Patriarch of All Georgia. A lot of Siberian (Neva Masquerade) kittens and cats from HAKUNA MATATA cattery are scattered around the globe. They live and please their owners!

And I am moving forward! I have not reached all of my goals. And I have not conquered the highest peaks.

We have discovered new horizons in TICA, a US-based organization that judges cats in rings at the cat shows .

Hercules HAKUNA MATATA participated in 16 cat shows in 8 countries during the TICA season of 2017-2018. 69 judges inspected Hercules. He reached 94 finals. Hercules won the 1^stprize in the breed and color. Actually the 1^st prize in the breed was our goal with Hercules. 6^thplace in the region plus RW title.

Siberian (Neva Masquerade) cat, Hercules HAKUNA MATATA, joined the list of 25 best longhaired cats. Hercules also got IW, which is a very valuable title.

Our show year went completely unplanned. Therefore, I consider our achievements not just excellent for the first serious year in TICA, but super-successful! I am very glad that the beauty of my Siberian (Neva Masquerade) pets touches everyone!

I hope the story will be noticed and those who want and can join the world of cats and Siberian (Neva Masquerade) breed of cats will knock on our door!