Confessions of a Cat Breeder

During my first few years of breeding I encountered many couples where the wife loved cats unconditionally, while the husband only tolerated them. Such was the case with the pilot and his wife.

It was at the time Liberty's second litter of kittens were ready for placement that I met Dolores. With grown children no longer at home, Dolores was experiencing 'empty nest syndrome'. Her husband, after some pressuring, had reluctantly consented to let her bring a kitten into their lives.

Dolores stayed for over an hour watching Liberty's kittens at play. She finally selected my favorite kitten, a little flamepoint male that she would eventually name Rusty.

Instead of leaving a deposit, she gave me a check for her new baby for the full amount. I know now that she was worried that her husband, Nick, might change his mind if she only left a deposit to hold her kitten.

Before she left the cattery, I told her to come back often to visit her new kitten until he was ready to go home with her. She thanked me, but confided that her husband didn't care for cats, and in fact, she couldn't even convince him to come in with her. Sure enough, I looked out the window to see Nick sitting in the car reading a book.

I told Dolores that, in my experience, many men who proclaimed to not like cats had just not found the right one. I knew that she had picked a special kitten that was both playful and affectionate. He had inherited his mother's sweet nature, and his father's humorous idiosyncrasies, and would likely be a lap cat. He was the perfect feline to bond with a man who had never loved a cat before.

"Your husband will love him", I reassured her, and I predicted that she would be back in the Spring for another kitten, but it would be her husband who would be looking. She shook her head in disbelief, but long before Spring, she called asking if I had any more kittens available.

It was Christmas time, and Candace had a litter of six kittens for placement. Dolores confirmed that I had been right about her husband. In fact, Rusty had bonded so tightly with Nick that she really needed a kitten for herself. Rusty loved her, but he was totally devoted to Nick, and it was his lap Rusty chose to occupy in the evenings. She giggled a little, and said that at times she was jealous, but she couldn't decide if it was from not having time alone with Rusty, or having enough time with her husband.

Nick was a commercial pilot who spent long periods of time away from home while flying. However, when he was grounded, Rusty was his constant companion. When Dolores returned to the cattery this time, Nick came in with her.

For a breeder, there is nothing so sweet than to witness the love of a man for his cat. This was especially true for me, since I had taken part in converting this former cat non-lover.

Although the new addition to the family was to be for Dolores, it was Nick that chose Cricket, a sweet Blue Persian male. The couple stayed for several hours, while Nick told his favorite stories about life with his 'boy', Rusty. I assured them, that when Cricket was old enough, I would show them how to introduce him to Rusty and his new home.

The following Spring, Dolores again contacted me for another kitten. This time, her daughter was visiting from the East Coast, and was soon getting married. Her only request from her parents was for one of my kittens.

The engaged couple visited my cattery and selected a four-week-old Himalayan female that they would eventually name Lucy. Eight weeks later, Nick arrived dressed in his pilot's uniform to pick up the kitten. The baby was going to ride with him in the cockpit--no cargo hold for her--and Nick would deliver her to his daughter in person. How wonderful it was to see a man who appreciated felines so much!

Within six months, I was asked to pick just the right companion for the little blue point baby. A few months later, Nick arrived at my door once again to pick up a Sealpoint female that would be named Cookie. Cookie was also flown in the cockpit with her personal pilot. I was later told that I couldn't have made a better choice, as both girls became totally devoted to each other.

I respected Dolores for always keeping in touch and consulting me whenever she had a question or problem about her cats.