I’m Hazel Hanratty and Boreal Siberians is our small, family-run hobby cattery, based in East Lothian in the South-East of Scotland. I run Boreal Siberians alongside my husband Karl and our young son and daughter, and our cats are very much part of our everyday family life.

At Boreal Siberians, we’re passionate about breeding happy, healthy, confident kittens who grow up to be much-loved family members, as well as wonderful examples of the Siberian breed. Ethical breeding and excellent welfare are incredibly important to us. Our cats and kittens live in our home, not in cages, and are first and foremost our cherished pets.

I’ve always loved cats and have previously been involved in cat rescue and rehoming while living overseas. Like many cat lovers, I also have cat allergies and struggled to live with domestic shorthair cats. This led me to research hypoallergenic breeds, and the moment I discovered the Siberian, I knew this was the breed for me. We imported our first Siberian girl, Ronja, in 2023, and that was the start of our Siberian journey.

Siberians are such a joy to live with and make fantastic family cats. They’re affectionate, sociable with other cats, and very devoted to their people. Often described as “dog-like,” they love being involved in whatever you’re doing, whether that’s following you from room to room, supervising housework, or curling up on the sofa for a cuddle. They’re also wonderfully sweet-natured and “chatty” without being noisy, they have a gentle chirrups rather than a loud meow!

My daughter and I really enjoy attending cat shows, both near and far. It’s a fun experience for us, to see the other cats and connect with other breeders, but it’s also an important part of making sure we’re heading in the right direction with our breeding plans and continuing to work towards the Siberian breed standard.

Siberians are a truly special and beautiful breed, and preserving them responsibly is something we are passionate about. Our future breeding plans include working towards a great example of the sunshine coat colour found in Siberians, although health, temperament, and good type will always come first.

All of our breeding cats are genetically screened. We use the Laboklin genetic testing bundle, which screens for over 50 conditions and traits, and all of our cats are genetically clear of all conditions tested for, including PKDef and PKD.

Our kittens are raised in the heart of our home, with lots of early handling, cuddles, playtime, and exposure to the normal sights and sounds of a busy household. Because of this, our kittens tend to be very confident and usually settle quickly and easily into their new homes.

Boreal Siberians is a GCCF-registered cattery, and we follow the GCCF rules and code of ethics closely.

We love supporting our kitten families every step of the way — before, during, and long after adoption. We’re always happy to answer questions and offer advice throughout your cat’s life, and we absolutely love staying in touch and seeing our kittens grow up through photos and updates!

If you think a Boreal Siberian kitten might be the right fit for your family, we’d love to hear from you!