About Our Cattery
Royal Esprit, a European Burmese cattery in Zagreb
Founded in 2019 and registered with FIFe, Royal Esprit is a European Burmese cattery based in Zagreb, Croatia. Our work is built around responsible breeding, carefully selected international bloodlines and deep personal involvement in the life of every cat and kitten.
Who We Are
Behind Royal Esprit
Royal Esprit was established in 2019 by Sergej Reiner together with Sanja Ivanov. Since then, the cattery has been devoted exclusively to the European Burmese breed as a serious long-term breeding programme built on knowledge, responsibility and daily personal involvement.
The cattery is registered with FIFe and is a member of Felis Hungarica, one of the largest international clubs within the FIFe system.
Our breeding programme is built on carefully selected bloodlines from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Europe, including respected catteries such as Alba Regia and Malsan. Australian lines in particular have played an important role in helping us broaden and strengthen the genetic base of Royal Esprit.
What Guides Our Work
What Royal Esprit stands for
Responsible breeding
For us, breeding Burmese cats is about improving the quality of the breed, including long-term work on health, phenotype and temperament.
A carefully built breeding foundation
We believe that a strong cattery is built on thoughtful line selection, genetic diversity and the ability to work not only for the next litter, but for the long-term development of the breed.
Temperament and early development
A Burmese cat should not only be beautiful in type, but also close to people, affectionate, emotionally stable and well prepared for family life. That is why we give great attention to living conditions, high quality nutrition, early socialisation and the way kittens are raised from their first days.
Transparency
We believe it is important for future owners to understand who stands behind the cattery, how our kittens are raised and what our breeding decisions are built on. Trust does not grow from promises, but from consistent work, clear principles and real responsibility.
The Genetic Foundation of Royal Esprit
Our breeding philosophy and international bloodlines
We build Royal Esprit's breeding programme as long term work on the quality of the breed, where every pairing should strengthen the health, correct phenotype and temperament of future generations. For us, it is important not only how a litter looks today, but also what kind of genetic foundation it carries forward.
That is why Royal Esprit works with carefully selected international bloodlines from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Europe. This approach allows us to rely on a broader and stronger genetic base and to build our programme not within the limits of a single generation, but with many years ahead in mind.
Australian lines have played an especially important role in the development of Royal Esprit, helping us broaden and strengthen the genetic foundation of the cattery. Our breeding programme has also incorporated lines from respected European catteries such as Alba Regia and Malsan, which have made a valuable contribution to the quality of our work.
For us, international breeding work is not a matter of prestige, but of responsibility to the breed. We believe that a strong cattery is built on depth, thoughtful line selection and the ability to work with the breed systematically and with a long term perspective.
How our cats and kittens live
Life at Royal Esprit
At Royal Esprit, our cats and kittens never live in cages or isolated spaces. They grow up in a real home environment, with constant human presence, calm daily routines, and the freedom to develop naturally as Burmese cats.
A calm and safe home
Each queen with her litter has her own quiet and spacious room, where the kittens can develop peacefully during the most important early weeks of life. In the warmer months, our cats also have access to large protected enclosed terraces, where they can safely enjoy the sun and observe the world around them.
Nutrition and early development
Our cats are fed a high meat, grain free diet that includes steamed wet food and dry food with no gluten or artificial additives. Pregnant and nursing queens, as well as growing kittens, receive especially attentive nutritional support, with additional natural supplements and vitamins during the periods when their bodies need it most.
Raised with people from the very beginning
From their earliest days, our kittens receive gentle daily handling and close contact with people. They are gradually introduced to everyday household sounds, visitors, and calm routines. This early socialisation helps ensure that when they go to their new homes, they are not only physically healthy, but also confident, affectionate, and emotionally balanced.
For us, living conditions, nutrition, a calm environment, and early socialisation are not secondary details. They are the foundation of how every Royal Esprit kitten is raised.
A Lifetime of Care
Our Responsibility to Our Breeding Cats
For us, being a responsible breeder means putting the wellbeing of our cats above everything else. We do not keep queens in breeding for as long as possible. On the contrary, we usually complete their breeding programme by the age of 3, and sometimes even earlier if we see that motherhood is becoming physically or emotionally difficult for them.
We treat each queen as an individual, not just as part of a breeding plan. If raising kittens feels like a burden for her, we may end her breeding career after the first litter. Only queens who truly enjoy motherhood, remain relaxed, and show genuine devotion to their kittens may stay in the programme a little longer.
When a queen completes her breeding programme, she most often moves to a new loving home together with one of her own kittens from the last litter. We believe this is the best solution for her emotional wellbeing, because she keeps a familiar bond in her new family. Even years later, these queens and their grown kittens still recognise one another and maintain that special connection.
Our breeding males also go on to live as cherished companions in carefully chosen homes. For us, the end of a breeding programme is never the end of our responsibility. It is simply the beginning of a new and happy chapter in their lives, where each cat continues to receive the care, stability, and affection it deserves.
About Our Founders
The Two People Behind Royal Esprit
Scientific Foundation in Feline Breeding
Sergej Reiner, Founder
Sergej Reiner is the founder of Royal Esprit European Burmese Cattery and a dedicated felinologist. He holds a university degree in organic chemistry. This scientific background later sparked a deep passion for genetics, feline health, and responsible breeding.
Since 2019, Sergej has worked exclusively with the Burmese breed. He has completed extensive professional training in feline genetics and colour genetics, hereditary diseases and genetic anomalies, selection methods, building breeding programs, infectious diseases, immunology, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, parasitology, and breed-specific features of Burmese cats.
Sergej is also the author of multiple online publications on feline health and breeding. Through continuous exchange with leading international breeders and felinology judges, he keeps expanding the knowledge that forms the foundation of Royal Esprit. His commitment to the highest standards in genetics, health testing, and ethical breeding shapes the philosophy of our cattery and every kitten we raise.
A Lifetime Bond with Cats
Sanja Ivanov, Co-founder
Sanja Ivanov is the co-founder of Royal Esprit European Burmese Cattery. Her connection with cats began in early childhood and caring for them has always been a natural part of her life. Long before Royal Esprit was established, she was already deeply involved with cats and naturally drawn to their care, wellbeing and daily needs.
At Royal Esprit, Sanja plays a central role in the everyday life of the cattery. She is closely involved in the care of the cats, the raising of kittens, and the observation of their development from the earliest days. Her daily presence helps ensure that every kitten grows in a calm, attentive and affectionate environment.
Sanja is also in close contact with future owners and remains an important part of the relationship between Royal Esprit and the families who welcome our kittens into their homes. Her warmth, consistency and personal involvement help create the human side of the cattery and the atmosphere in which kittens are raised.
For Sanja, one of the most rewarding parts of this work is seeing healthy, well socialised kittens with beautiful temperaments settle naturally into their new families. For her, this is the clearest sign that the time, care and attention given to each kitten truly matter.
Our Families Worldwide
Families Across Europe and Beyond
Although our cattery is based in Zagreb, Croatia, our kittens have found loving homes in many countries around the world. Thanks to our personal delivery service, they now live in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and many other countries. In total, they have gone to 32 countries so far.
This international reach means a great deal to us. It is the result of the trust families place in our cattery, in our breeding programme, in the way we raise our kittens, and in the transparent and personal care we offer from the very beginning. Many of our owners first discover Royal Esprit from abroad and choose us because they are looking for a serious and responsible European Burmese cattery.
Our relationship with each family does not end when the kitten leaves for its new home. We stay in regular contact, often for many years. It is very common for families who once took one kitten from us to return for a second or even a third. Quite often, people decide from the very beginning to welcome two kittens from Royal Esprit into their home.
Ready to Continue
If Royal Esprit feels right for you, the next step is simple
You can continue by meeting our kittens or by getting in touch with us directly. We will be happy to help you take the next step with confidence.