We no longer have a dog…….

I was very lucky when I started breeding, in that I was greatly helped to devise a breeding programme that would enhance both the phenotype and genotype of my kittens by a very well-known breeder judge of the time. She warned me that if I followed her advice I would not have instant success on the show bench but if I had the patience I would develop a sound base for the future.
She was right – it took seven years to breed my first Champion (Sithee Noughtnobbut Nowt) although I bred a number of cats who achieved one or two CC’s during that time. I still use the bones of that original programme in my breeding decisions today which has help to produce; amongst the many titled cats I have bred since, Imperial Grand Champion Sithee Lillibullero who is Noughtnobbut Nowt’s great, great granddaughter.

I was a founder breeder of British Colourpointed cats where I applied the same principles in my breeding programmes and, a little known fact, bred a litter of Chinchilla’s – too much hard work and hair involved with them for more than the one litter!

I soon became coerced into sitting on committees; decided to become a judge and have gradually become more and more immersed in the cat fancy but I wouldn’t change a thing!

On a personal note, I’ve been married to Jan (one of those invasive Poles) for 47 years, one son, two grandchildren – one allergic to cats and the other scared of them – just my luck!, worked as a nurse for many years before returning to university and training as a primary school teacher – a career I remained in until my retirement two years ago. When I get some time free of cat related activities I enjoy gardening, cooking, reading and travelling.