Breeding policies

As breeder I tend to have only two litters on each of my queens, every time with a different male. I choose the males extremely carefully, keeping the inbreeding coefficient as low as possible and developing the type always correcting the females' weaknesses. I will never copy my combinations. My purpose is to breed typical Siberian cats of high quality and with wide possibilities to re-breed the best offspring. I can promise unique cats for show and breeding, no copies of earlier litters.

I believe in open information. All the pedigrees of my cats are published in PawPeds. I'm publishing all the test results, all health information, and my home is open for anyone, who wants to know more. You can read more about this topic:
"Omerta - The Breeder's Code of Silence"

My breeding priorities:

1. Health

To secure the good health of the kittens, all the breeding cats are tested for blood type, FIV and FeLV. I'm taking care of my whole cattery population by annual health examinations at a high quality vet clinic. I'm also giving my cats and kittens only the best quality cat food and additional raw meat.

In the beginning of the year 2005 I have started continual HCM-testing in my breeding program. My breeding cats will be screened first before mating, at the age of 12 months, and the last confirming test at the age of 6 years. I will publish the results, and if HCM-positive, leave the cat out of breeding.

2. Temperament

My cats are brave, gentle and social. From each litter I pick up the friendly and human-directed kittens for breeding. No hissing, no spitting, no growling while handled from the very first day. It's very important, that the becoming show cat has nerves of steel, never going upset.

3. Type

The FIFe-standard for Siberian Cat is written for a traditional type of the breed. It's giving a clear vision of a natural forest cat with no extreme artificial properties. The cat should be strong and rounded, with a thick coat, and give an impression of coming from wildness.

To separate NEM to its own lines I have dna-tested my breeding cats to secure, that they are not colourpoint-carriers. I have already two homozygote non-carrier litters (C and D), because their both parents are dna-tested to be non-carriers of cp.

Having a long-living cat as pet demands well established conditions and good knowledge of the special character of cat. For that reason I leave my kittens only to an adult owner. Because of the risk of allergies* I don't recommend a cat for a family with little children. The cat should have possibilities to safe outings and free access to normal family life.

*Hence the latest research points that especially a cat in close contact to a child during his/her first year is an effective protection against later allergies and asthma while the contact continues at least until the child's school-age.
(Professor Rüdiger von Kries, Allergy-magazine 2004)

Still this result doesn't change the fact that the most common reason to give up a cat is "allergy in the family".