How I became a cat breeder
My first Siberian, Lapushonok, from one of old Russian catteries - Dostoyanie Sibiri. He was born in 2017.
I have always had a passion for breeding animals and plants. As a teenager, I experimented with breeding different types of aquarium fish, but my efforts didn't pan out as I had hoped. Eventually, I decided to focus on plant breeding and aimed to create my own variety of violet flower. However, I quickly found myself losing interest in plants.
Understandably, my school years were marked by a keen interest in biology, particularly genetics. I have always been fascinated by the immense power of knowledge. Without the need for Tarot cards, cosmic rays, or any other mystical means, it is possible to predict the potential offspring that could result from a specific pair of parents and assess the likelihood of certain diseases appearing. From my school days onward, breeding cats became my dream.
Understandably, my school years were marked by a keen interest in biology, particularly genetics. I have always been fascinated by the immense power of knowledge. Without the need for Tarot cards, cosmic rays, or any other mystical means, it is possible to predict the potential offspring that could result from a specific pair of parents and assess the likelihood of certain diseases appearing. From my school days onward, breeding cats became my dream.
I attended a university in a nearby small town, choosing genetics as my major. However, I soon realized that the limited opportunities in that small town could not satisfy the ambitions of a future scientist like myself, so I moved to a larger city. My childhood dream began to fade...
While studying at university, I started working at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics, where I had the opportunity to meet the renowned Russian popularizer of evolutionary biology, Pavel Borodin. He invited me to be an editor for his upcoming book, "Cats and Genes." This book ignited my interest in cat genetics, prompting me to delve deeper into the subject.
After I had become financially independent, the first thing I did was to buy my first pedigreed Siberian. Then, I bought another one, opened up this cattery, and finally became the breeder that I dreamed of for a decade.
While studying at university, I started working at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics, where I had the opportunity to meet the renowned Russian popularizer of evolutionary biology, Pavel Borodin. He invited me to be an editor for his upcoming book, "Cats and Genes." This book ignited my interest in cat genetics, prompting me to delve deeper into the subject.
After I had become financially independent, the first thing I did was to buy my first pedigreed Siberian. Then, I bought another one, opened up this cattery, and finally became the breeder that I dreamed of for a decade.
My first breeding cat, Black Beauty Iz Odissei (now retired)
I have continued to be interested in cat genes after that. Pavel and I co-authored the popular article about the most recent advances in cat genetics.
As you can see, this cattery is not just a hobby or a passing thing. I treasure every cat or kitten. All of them hold a special place in my heart, and when some of them unfortunately die, a small piece of my heart goes with them.
Arya (UK)
Biennale (New York, USA)
Kirin (New York, USA)
© Lyubov Malinovskaya, September 2022
