Siberians

Hello, I am new to this site! I tried posting this in the "ethical showing and breeding" forum but it would not let me start a thread for some reason [emoji]129300[/emoji]
Anyways, I have bred dogs for about 8 years (chihuahuas), just small time, only two females at a time and I used a stud dog instead of owning my own male. Right now I have a mother and daughter who are scheduled to be spayed in two weeks, and that will be that, no more puppies for me. But, for the past two years I have been researching and deeply considering breeding Siberians, and in 2016 I would like to take the plunge. I am currently building a small house on about 5 secluded acres, and there is an old milk barn next to where my house is going up (along with some other old buildings) and I would like to turn that into my cat enclosure, I'm thinking, milk barn into an indoor enclosure, with heat and air, and I will have to find a way to make sure the block walls and concrete floors aren't porous, but there is a drain in there (will come in handy if I need to wash the floors) and electrical hook ups already, so I believe I can make it work, then connected to that I will have an outdoor enclosure that they can go into from the indoor one, and then I will probably have a smaller enclosed that leads up to my house, with a doggy door, so that they can go as they please from indoor enclosure, outdoor enclosure, and my house. I will also have to put a spot in the old milk barn that I can section off in case I need to seperate any cats. This is still a rough draft, just in my head, so any advice on this would be appreciated. Now, on to the fun part, once that is all done (hopefully by spring or summer) and I have both of my dogs and my rescue cat all spayed and up to date on all their shots and tested for any diseases and health issues, I will finally be able to bring home a couple of siberian kittens! My problem here is finding a reputable breeder who will sell breeding rights, I have talked to a couple of breeders (with spay/neuter contracts) and they've said my best bet would be importing from Russia, but quite frankly, that scares me! I think it's scary enough having a kitten shipped to you within the country because you don't know if you can trust this person, but a whole other country.. Wow! So as of right now I'm on the hunt for a breeder within the U.S. who is reputable and will sell with breeding rights, even if that means making an exception for me. I am fully prepared to pay anywhere between $1200 and $2500 per kitten, and drive across the country to pick them up in person if I need to, but I would really love to find kittens in the U.S. of the highest standards, that I can continue on their lines.
And of course, since I do have experience raising dogs, I am up to speed on all the breeding laws in my state, licensing, tests and vaccines that they will need to have. And I have had cats have kittens before (though it's been years) plus all of the puppies, so I'm aware of how the gestation and birthing process works. Just looking for solid advice on my cat enclosure, and where to find a breeder I could buy from! Thanks in advance.

This sounds as advanced and solid plans!   So you are in USA.  Which part if I may ask?  What association do you belong to - or plan to belong to?  Do you have friends and associates  cat owners - esp purebred cat owners, etc...  Coming into THAT milieu is good and helping you.   Begin perhaps by visiting some cat shows nearby, and talk with people.

People engaged in sibirians are good, but almost any breed may give you solid info.   Even experienced cat rescuers can give you some info, on cat  behavior, and what home remedies works...  Also, the best vets are of two sorts: heavily cooperating with many breeders OR heavily cooperating with rescuers.   Especielly practical obstetricks and small kitten care...

Active breeders are seldom directly working with rescuing work - they dont want to take any risks. Also, "on the wife of Ceasar not even a shadow of doubt may exist".  But its common breeders DO cooperate with rescuers - giving and getting advices, helping with left over gears,   recommending fostered rescuees as companion cat to those whom already bought their kittens...

For a wannabe breeder  helping some homeless high pregs gives lotsa of invaluable experience, and is a good preparation, not even mentioning its a praiseworthy deed, but as you had your vast experience of puppies you already know most of the ropes here.

Re the homing plans.  They look splendid.  BUT.  Its almost too much for a couple three of them.  And you dont want to be a big time breeder, with lotsa of cats where you barely know whom is whom...   Also, it makes it difficult to socialize them all properly...

HOW exactly make the enclosures - looks also on the Subforum for  Ferales and strays - some of the people there do have nice enclosures, you can probably get some ideas.

Re importing from Russia - one difference with Russia is, they are purists AND have a big gene pool - thus, they dont accept pointed siberians  hunting vigorously after them (of course, nowadays pointed siberians may be registered as Neva Masquerade, so it not the same bloody procedure any longer).  While in countres with smaller gene pool, they do accept pointed siberians.

Othewise I dont think the difference is that big.  Of course, if you want to become big,its wise to take one or two from russia too.

Im also paging our knowleable member, whom is herself a siberian breeder  in Europe.  @Biancavd

@siberiancatgal

Ps.  You know of the standard advice for a wannabe to buy herself into the right circles?  The advice is you buy a spayed / neutered of said breed, and participate in show, become a member of the Siberian club is there is one such (we do have such in Sweden) etc, and get connections, and let yourself be known as a serious student whom whom is made of the proper wood.

You get experiences and education, including some oncoming mentors, and in a year or most two, somebody will surely let you buy off good breeding stock for a reasonable price, and or be part of her breeding programme.

I have a friend who's aunt breeds Savannah cats, I may be able to get some advice from her. As for rescues, I just have the one and of course she will have a full vet check before I bring home any other cats. I'm in Missouri, I've never showed any animals before so I'm not sure exactly how to find things out about this in my area. I don't plan on getting big, so maybe I won't need to use the milk barn after all, and I really only plan on having one color point cat, I see so many Siberian breeders in the states that have gobs of color points so id like to focus on some other colors. I think the reason there are so many color points is just because people see how cute they are and want to buy them. I'm a little iffy on getting an altered cat and showing it, just because I already have the two dogs and a cat, and then I'll have my breeding cats too, along with my farm animals, all on 5 acres and I don't want to get too over run, but I might look into it

siberiancatgal said:

I have a friend who's aunt breeds Savannah cats, I may be able to get some advice from her. As for rescues, I just have the one and of course she will have a full vet check before I bring home any other cats. I'm in Missouri, I've never showed any animals before so I'm not sure exactly how to find things out about this in my area. I don't plan on getting big, so maybe I won't need to use the milk barn after all, and I really only plan on having one color point cat, I see so many Siberian breeders in the states that have gobs of color points so id like to focus on some other colors. I think the reason there are so many color points is just because people see how cute they are and want to buy them. I'm a little iffy on getting an altered cat and showing it, just because I already have the two dogs and a cat, and then I'll have my breeding cats too, along with my farm animals, all on 5 acres and I don't want to get too over run, but I might look into it

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If you want to be a seriouset breeder - Im sure you want!  Showing will be a necessary part. So,  better to being sooner than later.   In the first stages, when you are essentially just an interested visitor, it doesnt matter very much which associations Shows you will visit.  CFA and Tica are the two biggest and most serious, but there are a couple more to consider.

Simply, do visit all these Shows in driving distance.    Get in touch with their headquarters, get info material. You have perhaps active breeders nearby, and can have ride together?

You dont need to be a Showing Pro chasing after Bestin Show titles, if you dont want. But you must participate at least sometimes with every breeding animal, to get them at least judged as Excellent.   - This may vary somewhat between different associationns.    My experience is from the european Fife (We had russian blue studs).

Observe, to be a successful winner if that is your wish- you must be experienced, its not enough with a beautiful cat. The owner whom demonstrates the cat must too be very experienced.  Or let an experienced "friend" carry them forward - its allowed sometimes.   Another option is to ask the steward do it.  But this method is unreliable - somebody else had perhaps asked first...

After you have started, you must decide which of them big associations be yours.   Be sure you know all this before you get any animals.  Usually its difficult or even impossible to register them afterwards. Better be sure you can register them before you pay and get them.

Although, if your cat is registered with one serious organization, its usually possible to reregister it into another  serious association.   But a non registered cat is practically impossible to register anywhere, save perhaps some fake organisation...

Hi, first of all welcome to thecatsite forums!

I'm happy to hear that you have shown serious interest in the Siberian cat and its little sister, the Neva Masquerade. You also said you already studied for the past 2 years, which is also great to hear. Breeding is rather serious and not just something you do because having kittens seems so "nice". It is nice honestly, but it takes a lot more blood, sweat and tears than you probably imagined. You are familiar with breeding dogs, so I'm sure you know a little what I mean

I unfortunately do not know many Siberian breeders in the USA and I never talked to any of them, so I don't think I am the right person to give you some addresses. I myself am a Siberian breeder in Europe. However, I too would suggest importing your own breeding females (and males) from Russia. This is the place that has multiple old lines and of course it's where the Siberian originates from. I too imported one of my girls from Russia, and I don't think I would ever buy a breeding girl from my own country again as I feel this girl can add so much more to the siberians in my country - yes it's a risk, but you take risks as a breeder all the time, so this is just one extra. It's important to have fresh blood added to the genes that are currently in your country, specially if the breed isn't that much available yet in your area. You will also most likely need your own male, as people do tend to give you a hard time lending you their stud.

I would suggest making a seperate location for your male, that you can visit regurarly so he won't be lonely or completely seperated from people. For the kittens, they shouldn't be able to go outside until a certain age; specially during the colder season you will want to be careful. I don't think it's smart to have an open in and out way for your cats, specially when one is pregnant of when there are smaller kittens walking around. An outside spot is nice and appreciated by cats, but make sure you can close this if you want to keep certain cats inside.

If you have any questions about the Siberian, Neva Masquerade or just about regular cat-breeding, you are free to contact me.

Also, the suggestion about showing that Stefan gave is a very good one. The cat world isn't easily come into, so this might be a nice option if you notice no-one in your country will sell you a breeding cat and you are really against importing a cat from Russia.