Guardian Program

Our top priority is giving every cat in our breeding program a full, enriched life as a beloved companion, not confined or isolated. Our Guardian Program ensures they experience the daily love and freedom of a home while still contributing to the future of the Siberian breed.

What is a Guardian Home?

A guardian home is a special partnership where a select cat/ kitten is placed with a local family who agrees to care for her as their beloved pet while also supporting our breeding program. 

Guardian families and Lil' Star Siberians work closely together to ensure the cat’s physical, social, and emotional needs are met. This includes maintaining a similar diet, routine, and care practices to ensure consistency in the cat’s well-being. We stay in regular contact, sometimes weekly or even daily, to offer guidance, answer questions, and ensure everything runs smoothly.

If you live within 30 minutes of St. George, Utah, love Siberian cats, and want to experience the magic of raising kittens, this may be the perfect opportunity for you!

What Does a Guardian Home Do?

• Provide a stable, loving home for the cat.

• Cover all standard pet expenses (food, grooming, routine vet care, toys, bedding, etc.).

• Follow a similar diet protocol to what we use here (more details provided below).

• Keep the cat indoors (except for supervised outdoor time or in a secure catio).

• Maintain open and timely communication with us, especially regarding the cat’s health, behavior, and upcoming heat cycles. We ask that Guardians respond to messages within 12–24 hours to ensure smooth coordination and the well-being of the cat.

• Provide weekly video footage or pictures of the kittens. This helps us document their growth and allows us to share updates with our community.

• Notify us at the start of each heat cycle so we can plan accordingly.

• Allow us to visit the home as needed and be available for scheduled breedings.

🌟 The Guardian Program Compensation

Guardians are generously compensated for each litter they raise, often around $3,500 for a standard litter of four kittens. This helps offset (and often fully covers) the cost of your breeding-quality cat. While Guardians do purchase the cat, typically at pet price or slightly discounted for adults, the compensation you receive makes this a rare and rewarding way to welcome a top-quality Siberian into your home.

Feeding Options & Cost Comparison

We always want the very best for our kittens during their most important early weeks. Nutrition plays a huge role in building strong immune systems, healthy digestion, and robust growth. Though not required, I highly recommend raw feeding, it’s what I use here, and my Guardians are pleasantly surprised that it costs about the same as premium canned food.

Here’s a breakdown of common food options for a typical litter (4–6 kittens over 8–10 weeks):

🍗 Pre-Made Raw Food

(Example: Raw Feeding Miami, balanced options)

• Cost: ~$7 per pound

• Feeding amount: ~½ lb per day for a litter

• Total estimate for 8–10 weeks: $280–$350

• Shipping tip: Use code SHIP150 for free shipping on orders over $150!

🥫 Premium Canned + Kibble (Tiki Cat is our food of choice)

• Wet food (kitten-appropriate): $200–$300

• Kitten kibble (as a supplement): $40–$60

• Total estimate: $240–$360

👩‍🍳 Homemade Raw 

• Ingredients cost: ~$3–$4 per pound

• Total estimate: $120–$200

• Notes: Requires a grinder and basic understanding of balanced recipes (I provide all that info HERE)

🧸 Other Estimated Kitten-Related Expenses

• Litter (frequent scooping + full changes): $60–$100

• Supplies (extra pans, toys, etc.): $30–$50
  Total additional cost per litter: $90–$150

✅ Overall Estimated Total per Litter:

• Canned + Kibble setup: $330–$510

• Pre-Made Raw setup: $370–$500

• Homemade Raw setup: $210–$350

✨ Even though raw may sound intimidating at first, my guardians find it easier (and more rewarding!) than expected, and I’m always here to guide you. 

The Breeder’s Role & Responsibilities

At Lil Star Siberians, we take on the majority of the financial, logistical, and ethical responsibilities that come with breeding. While guardian homes play a vital role in raising kittens, the breeder carries the greater responsibility, liability, and long-term commitment to ensure ethical breeding and the health of the Siberian breed.

Breeding is much more than just having kittens, it requires careful planning, genetic testing, and responsible breeding practices. As the breeder, we:

🐾 Invest in top-quality bloodlines and conduct health screenings before breeding.

🐾 Pay significantly more for breeding-quality cats, as breeders must purchase full breeding rights, which cost far more than pet-quality cats.

🐾 Oversee the entire breeding program, ensuring each pairing is well-matched for temperament, health, and genetics.

🐾 Handle all aspects of finding responsible homes for the kittens, including marketing, screening adopters, and managing the adoption process.

🐾 Cover all breeding-related veterinary care, including genetic testing, pregnancy monitoring, and delivery-related costs.

🐾 Manages the stud cat, which is one of the more logistically involved aspects of ethical breeding. Studs typically need their own space, separate from female cats and other males, to prevent accidental matings and territorial stress.

Gift of Becoming a Guardian

Becoming a guardian home allows you to experience the magic of raising kittens without the full responsibility of running a breeding program. 

This program is ideal for families who:

• Want a high-quality, fully health-tested Siberian cat as a pet.

• Love the idea of raising kittens but don’t want to manage an entire breeding program.

• Are responsible, communicative, and able to follow breeder guidelines.

• Have a stable home environment and live within 30 minutes of St. George, Utah.

If this sounds like a good fit for your family, we’d love to connect! Send me a text at 801-792-9759 to inquire about available guardian placements.