Lundberg Black Panther x Obravo Lilyia of Cartier
Breeding Program
Cartier Siberians
Brown (Black) Mackerel Tabby
Her Story
On April 1, 2009, Liliya went into labor with her first litter. As a first-time mother, I stayed close by to help if needed. Before the first kitten arrived, Alena came into the room and headed toward Liliya’s nesting area. Thinking I was preventing a distraction, I reached down and picked Alena up.
Liliya had other ideas.
She let out a scream, launched herself through the air, and clamped onto my little finger with astonishing determination. I looked down and calmly said, “Let go.” She looked back at me, bit down even harder, and shook her head like a dog with a bone. At that point, I abandoned all attempts at staying calm and screamed one word—loud enough to bring my husband running upstairs to see what had happened. Looking back down at Liliya, I repeated, “Let go.” This time, she obliged.
The first kitten born during all that excitement was a beautiful brown mackerel tabby female.
From the moment I saw her, I couldn’t stop saying the same thing.
“She’s just so pretty.”
That became the name of my first TICA-registered kitten, Cartier So Pretty. Around the house, she was simply Sophie, although I never missed an opportunity to remind her that she really was “so pretty.”
Unlike the generations before her, Cartier So Pretty was the result of the first breeding I planned entirely myself. After months of studying pedigrees, I had selected two remarkable kittens from Russia—a handsome, masculine solid black male named Darth Vader and a breathtaking seal torbie point female named Christmas Kochana. I had every intention of bringing them to Cartier Siberians.
During one of our many conversations about Fel d1 research, I mentioned my plans to Tom Lundberg. He strongly discouraged me from purchasing those cats, expressing concerns about their bloodlines, and instead convinced me to purchase one of his own young males, Lundberg Black Panther.
Although Panther wasn’t the cat I had originally envisioned, his pedigree fascinated me. As I studied it more closely, I found myself drawn to the Dikaya Krassa bloodlines behind him. While RW TGC Kotik Dikaya Krassa of Sonoma was not in Panther’s pedigree, I greatly admired him after discovering the Dikaya Krassa cattery website. Curious to learn more, I contacted the breeder, who generously shared photographs of Panther’s parents as kittens and explained how her lines matured over time, what she looked for in newborn kittens, and which qualities told her a kitten was worth watching as it developed.
When I picked Panther up from the airport, I have to admit I was disappointed. He possessed substantial bone, a rich black coat, and one of the sweetest temperaments I had ever encountered, but he wasn’t the handsome, masculine male I had imagined. I seriously considered neutering him before ever giving him the opportunity to sire a litter.
Around that time, respected breeder and International Winner Kris Hirst reached out to introduce herself. She would eventually become both a trusted mentor and a dear friend. When I shared my doubts about Panther, she gave me advice that has stayed with me ever since.
“Genetics are forever. What will it hurt to breed him once and see what you get?”
She was absolutely right.
When Kris saw the kittens, she smiled with that unmistakable grin that said, “I told you so.” That single litter changed the way I evaluated breeding cats forever. From that point on, I learned to judge a cat not only by appearance, but by the quality of the kittens it consistently produced.
I have never forgotten her advice.
“Genetics are forever.”
She also gave me one other piece of advice that I have never ignored: always keep a towel within reach when a queen is in labor. If contractions become intense and she redirects that pain toward you, a towel can protect both of you while allowing you to continue helping her safely.
Thankfully, I have never needed that lesson twice.
Her Legacy
Cartier So Pretty marked a turning point in the development of Cartier Siberians. She represented the first generation created entirely from breeding decisions I had made myself—from selecting the sire to evaluating the resulting kittens.
She inherited her mother’s balanced structure and affectionate temperament while benefiting from the strong bone, rich coat, and exceptional temperament Panther consistently passed to his offspring. More importantly, she proved that careful pedigree research and patience often reveal qualities that cannot be appreciated by appearance alone.
The confidence gained from that breeding influenced every pairing that followed.
Looking Forward
Although So Pretty has long since retired, the lessons she taught continue to guide my breeding decisions today.
Her descendants remain an important part of the Cartier bloodline, but perhaps her greatest legacy wasn’t genetic at all. She reminded me to trust thoughtful planning, remain patient, and evaluate cats by what they consistently produce—not simply by first impressions.
Every breeding program has a moment when it truly becomes its own.
For Cartier Siberians, So Pretty was that moment.
Her Bloodline
Sire
Lundberg Black Panther →
Legacy Carried Forward By
Cartier Emerald Raine →
Cartier Aurora Rose →
Cartier Arman Koral →
Descendants
- Cartier So Foxy →
- Cartier Skyy Blue Diamond of Sibano →
- Cartier So Vain
- Cartier So Mysterious →
- Cartier Moscow →
- Cartier So La Vie →
Continue Exploring
Explore the foundation cats, breeding cats, and cattery journal that document the history and continuing evolution of my Siberian breeding program.
← Foundation Cats
Discover the cats whose bloodlines established the breeding program.
Breeding Cats →
Meet the cats carrying these bloodlines into the next generation.
Cattery Journal →
Read breeding updates, health articles, and the ongoing story of Dainah Rico Siberians.