PantaRei Guardian Homes
Raise one of our exceptional boys as part of your family
and become a small part of the PantaRei breeding program.
and become a small part of the PantaRei breeding program.
Every once in a while, a male kitten is born at PantaRei who we believe has something special to contribute to the next generation.
He may have exceptional type, temperament, pedigree, genetic diversity, or simply be a particularly exciting combination of all of those things. We would like to keep him in our breeding program, but that does not necessarily mean he needs to spend his life living at the cattery.
For selected boys, we offer another option: a Guardian Home.
A Guardian family welcomes one of our future breeding males into their home and raises him as part of the family. He sleeps on your couch, follows you through the house, plays, cuddles, and otherwise lives much like any other beloved Siberian.
PantaRei retains ownership and breeding rights while he participates in our breeding program.
A typical guardianship lasts until the cat has produced approximately two to three litters. Once he has fulfilled his role in our program, PantaRei arranges and pays for his neutering. After retirement, ownership can be transferred to his Guardian family according to the terms of the guardianship agreement.
The goal is simple: an important breeding male gets to grow up in a loving family home while still contributing to the future of PantaRei Siberians.
Why do we only place males in Guardian Homes?
This is one area where our program differs from many other breeding programs.
Our breeding females stay with us. Pregnancy, delivery, postpartum recovery, neonatal care, and raising a litter are among the most involved parts of breeding. They require close supervision, experience, and sometimes very quick decisions.
We believe those responsibilities belong with us as the breeder.
We want to personally supervise our queens throughout pregnancy and delivery, and we want every PantaRei kitten born and raised here in our home under our direct care.
We believe those responsibilities belong with us as the breeder.
We want to personally supervise our queens throughout pregnancy and delivery, and we want every PantaRei kitten born and raised here in our home under our direct care.
A male breeding cat has a very different role.
Most of the time, he can simply live his normal life with his Guardian family. When he is needed for breeding, evaluation, veterinary or reproductive testing, cat shows, or occasional professional grooming, he temporarily comes back to us.
When that is finished, he goes home again.
When that is finished, he goes home again.
For the right cat and the right family, it is a very workable arrangement.
What does everyday guardianship look like?
Most days, it looks a lot like living with any other Siberian.
Your Guardian boy lives with you as a member of your family.
You provide his everyday home, food, litter, routine veterinary care, grooming, enrichment, and plenty of attention.
You provide his everyday home, food, litter, routine veterinary care, grooming, enrichment, and plenty of attention.
Guardian cats must remain indoor cats and must have active pet insurance throughout the guardianship.
We stay in regular contact with our Guardian families and ask that they keep us informed about health, behavior, and meaningful changes at home.
We stay in regular contact with our Guardian families and ask that they keep us informed about health, behavior, and meaningful changes at home.
From time to time, we will need him back at PantaRei.
This may be for breeding, reproductive or veterinary evaluation, cat shows, or professional grooming and show preparation. Usually these are temporary visits, after which he returns home to his family.
This may be for breeding, reproductive or veterinary evaluation, cat shows, or professional grooming and show preparation. Usually these are temporary visits, after which he returns home to his family.
Your home is his home.
PantaRei remains responsible for managing his breeding career.
PantaRei remains responsible for managing his breeding career.
How long does guardianship last?
Our guardianships are based primarily on the cat's contribution to our breeding program rather than a fixed number of years.
We place promising kittens in guardian homes, which will need to mature before entering our breeding program (usually a male starts breeding around 1 year old).
Typically, we expect a Guardian male to sire approximately two to three litters.
We place promising kittens in guardian homes, which will need to mature before entering our breeding program (usually a male starts breeding around 1 year old).
Typically, we expect a Guardian male to sire approximately two to three litters.
Once we feel that he has completed his role in the program, PantaRei arranges and pays for his neutering. After he has recovered and the guardianship obligations have been completed, ownership can be transferred to his Guardian family.
From that point forward, he is simply your pet.
Is there a cost to become a Guardian Home?
Yes.
There is a $600 guardianship deposit when a cat is placed with a Guardian family.
The specific terms of the deposit are described in the Guardianship Agreement so that everyone understands the arrangement before the kitten goes home.
The specific terms of the deposit are described in the Guardianship Agreement so that everyone understands the arrangement before the kitten goes home.
Guardian families also receive a small compensation each time the cat produces a litter for PantaRei.
Guardianship is not intended to be a financial arrangement for either side. The compensation is simply an acknowledgment of the Guardian family's participation and cooperation in our breeding program.
Guardianship is not intended to be a financial arrangement for either side. The compensation is simply an acknowledgment of the Guardian family's participation and cooperation in our breeding program.
What does PantaRei remain responsible for?
PantaRei retains legal ownership and all breeding rights while the cat participates in our program.
We make all breeding decisions and manage his breeding schedule.
We are responsible for veterinary care and testing specifically related to breeding and reproduction.
We also cover expenses associated with cat shows, professional show grooming, and other activities that we arrange as part of his breeding or exhibition career.
We are responsible for veterinary care and testing specifically related to breeding and reproduction.
We also cover expenses associated with cat shows, professional show grooming, and other activities that we arrange as part of his breeding or exhibition career.
When his breeding career is complete, PantaRei arranges and pays for his neutering.
Guardian families are never expected to manage breeding themselves.
That remains our job.
Guardian families are never expected to manage breeding themselves.
That remains our job.
Who makes the best Guardian family?
Guardianship is not the right arrangement for every household, and that is perfectly fine.
The strongest Guardian Homes for our boys are generally homes:
• in or reasonably close to the Austin area;
• with no other pets;
• without very young children;
• where someone genuinely wants a close relationship with their breeder;
• where communication and flexibility come easily;
• where the family is comfortable living with an intact male cat for a period of time;
• and where the family understands that we will occasionally need to take the cat back temporarily for breeding, showing, grooming, or veterinary purposes.
• in or reasonably close to the Austin area;
• with no other pets;
• without very young children;
• where someone genuinely wants a close relationship with their breeder;
• where communication and flexibility come easily;
• where the family is comfortable living with an intact male cat for a period of time;
• and where the family understands that we will occasionally need to take the cat back temporarily for breeding, showing, grooming, or veterinary purposes.
A quiet, predictable household is especially valuable for a young breeding male.
We may consider individual circumstances outside these preferences, but our first priority is always finding the environment in which we believe that particular cat will thrive.
What if guardianship no longer works for us?
Life changes.
A move, a change in family circumstances, allergies, another animal, behavioral challenges, or simply realizing that guardianship is not the right fit can all happen.
If a Guardian family is no longer willing or able to continue, the cat comes back to PantaRei.
We do not want a family to feel trapped in an arrangement that is no longer working.
We do not want a family to feel trapped in an arrangement that is no longer working.
At the same time, because the cat remains part of our breeding program and remains legally owned by PantaRei during guardianship, he cannot be sold, given away, surrendered, or rehomed independently.
If guardianship needs to end, just talk to us.
We will take care of our cat.
Interested in becoming a Guardian Home?
We only place a small number of male kittens in Guardian Homes.
Not every litter will produce a boy we want to retain, and when one does, we choose his Guardian family very carefully.
If you live in the Austin area and this sounds like something that might work for your household, we would love to hear from you.
Tell us a little about your family, your experience with cats, whether you have other pets, the ages of children in the household, and what interests you about guardianship.
Tell us a little about your family, your experience with cats, whether you have other pets, the ages of children in the household, and what interests you about guardianship.
The first step is simply a conversation.
If you have any questions, you can contact us here:
anna@pantareisiberians.com
or simply fill in the form below
If you have any questions, you can contact us here:
anna@pantareisiberians.com
or simply fill in the form below
Guardianship Application Form
Thank you for your interest in our Guardianship Program! We will get back to you within 48 hours.