The Story Behind Mindeelyn Siberians
A Lifelong Love of Animals
Animals have always been a central part of my life. I simply cannot imagine a home without cats and dogs.
Long before I became a Siberian breeder, I spent many years as a wildlife rehabilitator in Quebec, specializing in orphaned baby squirrels. Interestingly, a baby squirrel is called a kitten. What began with a single orphaned squirrel found by a neighbour gradually grew into something much larger.
Over time, I became the largest squirrel rehabilitator in Quebec, caring for approximately 250 orphaned squirrel kittens each summer. For several years, the Montreal SPCA entrusted all of their orphaned squirrels to my care.
Although squirrel kittens mature much more quickly than cat kittens, many of the fundamentals of neonatal care are remarkably similar.
During my years as a wildlife rehabilitator, I learned how to hand-feed fragile babies, recognize the earliest signs of illness, monitor weight gain, maintain a meticulously clean environment, and respond quickly when something simply wasn't right.
Those years caring for orphaned squirrel kittens provided an invaluable foundation that later helped me raise healthy, thriving Siberian kittens.
An Unexpected Phone Call
It was during those years that an unexpected phone call changed the direction of my life.
Dr. Robert Langill, owner of Liesse Animal Hospital in Montreal, learned of my work with orphaned squirrel kittens and generously volunteered to provide veterinary care for them at no charge. His kindness and encouragement changed the course of my life in ways neither of us could have imagined.
Through Dr. Langill, I later met one of his clients who had recently imported a Siberian cat from Russia. Until then, the only Siberians I had ever heard of had four legs and barked!
What captured my attention wasn't simply the cat's beauty—it was the fact that its owner, despite being allergic to cats, was living comfortably with her new kitten.
That immediately sparked my curiosity.
Several members of my own family suffered from cat allergies, including my daughter. If there were truly a breed that many allergy sufferers could enjoy, I believed it could improve people's lives while also creating a unique opportunity to build a successful breeding program.
Rather than rushing in, I decided to test the idea for myself. I purchased my first Siberian and introduced it to my daughter. To my delight, she experienced none of the allergic reactions we had expected.
Convinced the breed had enormous potential, I decided it was worth investing both my time and money to see whether I could build a successful breeding program around these remarkable cats.
Building a Siberian Breeding Program
I began building my breeding program with cats purchased from Canada and the United States.
Like many new breeders, I made mistakes—mistakes that today could probably have been avoided.
Some cats suffered from serious health problems. One possessed such an extremely timid temperament that it passed those traits to its kittens. Two others introduced ringworm into my cattery, resulting in nearly a year of treatment and recovery. Even obtaining proper registration papers became an unexpected challenge.
Looking back, those early disappointments taught me lessons that became the foundation of everything we do today.
I learned that beautiful cats alone do not make an exceptional breeding program. Health, temperament, honesty, and responsible breeding practices matter far more than appearance.
Determined to improve the quality of my breeding program, I began importing breeding cats from Europe. That presented a completely new set of challenges, from language barriers and international banking to transportation, pedigrees, and registration requirements.
Every obstacle taught another lesson, and with each passing year the breeding program became stronger.
Growing Through Experience
In 2004, I moved to Ontario and continued building the breeding program.
Year by year, I retained the very best kittens from my own breeding program while gradually replacing all of my original breeding cats.
Demand for Siberian kittens grew steadily, and before long there were far more families looking for kittens than I could possibly accommodate.
Those years reinforced one of my strongest beliefs: exceptional breeding programs are not built overnight but through continual learning, careful selection, and never being satisfied with "good enough."
In 2008, I relocated the breeding program to Texas to be closer to my son. During the following several years, the breeding program continued to grow and gain valuable experience.
In 2014, I returned to Canada, where my daughter, Merrie-Lynne, joined me in beginning the next chapter of our breeding program.
A Family Tradition Continues
Although Merrie-Lynne officially joined the breeding program in 2014, her journey had actually begun many years earlier.
As a child, she grew up surrounded by the wildlife rehabilitation work that filled our home. Like her brothers, she helped care for orphaned squirrel kittens in meaningful ways, learning how to hand-feed them and, more importantly, developing the instinct to recognize when a baby animal simply wasn't quite right.
Those early experiences taught lessons that cannot be learned from books. They fostered patience, careful observation, compassion, and the ability to notice the subtle changes that often signal the beginning of a health problem.
Having shared my lifelong love of animals, it was only natural that, when I returned to Canada, Merrie-Lynne joined me in the breeding program.
Since then, we have worked side by side, combining my years of breeding experience with her natural instincts, dedication, and commitment to the daily care and well-being of every cat and kitten.
Our Philosophy Today
Over the years, our breeding program has evolved. We have bred traditional Siberians, colourpoints, and today have developed a special interest in the rare Sunshine and Sunshine Silver colours.
While the colours have changed, our priorities have never wavered.
The Principles That Guide Us
Health comes first.
Temperament comes second.
Beauty and breed type come third.
Those simple principles continue to guide every decision we make.
Every generation has taught us something new.
Every challenge has made us better breeders.
Every kitten has strengthened our commitment to producing healthy, affectionate Siberians that enrich the lives of the families who welcome them into their homes.