How to Choose a Responsible Siberian Breeder

Finding a Siberian kitten should be exciting, but it can also be confusing. There are breeders of every kind online. As a breeder myself, I have put together the questions I would ask if I were buying a kitten today.

1. Is the cattery registered?

Look for registration with a recognized association such as TICA or CFA. Siberian Legacy Cats is registered with both, and I hold an Ethical Breeder certificate with TICA. Registration means the pedigree is documented, usually for four generations or more.

Ask to see the parents' registration, and make sure the kitten will be registered, too. In our cattery, TICA papers are emailed once you send proof of spay or neuter.

2. Can I talk to the breeder?

You should be able to speak with the person who raised the kitten. Ask questions, and notice whether the answers are clear and patient. When you contact our cattery you speak to me personally, and I gladly video chat with you to introduce the available kittens.

3. Where are the kittens raised?

Kittens raised in a home, surrounded by family, are better socialized. Ask whether they are handled daily and used to noise, brushing and bathing. A breeder should also be willing to let you visit, or at least show you the space by video.

4. What health testing is done?

At a minimum, ask whether the breeding cats are tested for FeLV and FIV, and whether they are vaccinated and dewormed. Ask about screening for inherited conditions. Ours test negative for FeLV and FIV, and the cats imported from Russia came with DNA tests.

5. What vaccinations will my kitten have?

A good schedule includes deworming from about six weeks, and FVRCP vaccines at 8 to 9 weeks and again at 12 and 13 weeks. Rabies is given after 12 weeks. You should receive complete vet records.

6. Is there a written contract and health guarantee?

Never buy without a contract. It should explain the health guarantee, spay and neuter terms, and what happens if you cannot keep the cat. We provide a one-year health guarantee, and the contract is available when you place a deposit or on the day you take your kitten home.

7. How old will the kitten be?

Kittens should stay with their mother until at least eight weeks, and in my cattery they go home between 9 and 12 weeks. If someone offers a kitten younger than that, walk away.

8. Does the breeder ask you questions?

A responsible breeder cares where the kitten goes. Expect questions about your home, experience and other pets. It is a good sign, and it means the breeder is matching temperament and household.

9. Will the breeder support you after you take the kitten home?

You should be able to contact the breeder for the cat's whole life. Our owners are invited to a Facebook group to share photos, and I answer questions any time.

Red flags to watch for

• Many litters available at once, or several breeds
• Pressure to send a deposit immediately
• No registration or health records
• Refusal to video chat or allow a visit
• Prices well below the usual range
• Meeting in a parking lot rather than at the home
• No contract

About imports and pedigree

You may see terms like "group 1" or "old Russian bloodlines." A group 1 Siberian has no outcross in its pedigree for several generations. Our male, Maximus, is group 1 and has an extremely rare pedigree, with only a handful of breeders in the world producing cats like him. Ask any breeder to explain what their terms mean.

What to expect from us

We are a small hobby cattery raising cats as part of our family. We breed for hypoallergenic qualities, disposition and breed quality, and each queen has only two litters a year.

If you would like to start the conversation, join the waitlist, read about our cattery, or contact us.