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We love our cats!This may be a silly thing to admit, but I've been obsessed with kittens as long as I can remember. My dream, since I was 9 years old, was to have a cattery. Who can explain these things? So here I am. Fulfilling my purpose! My husband pretends he's not as enamored with our cats as us girls, but we catch him doing suspicious things like scrambling his eggs in the morning while holding a kitten. So we don't buy it. We're a family of four humans, and of course our cats and kittens. My husband is a PhD student in the Air Force, so we move around some, but currently reside just outside of Dayton, Ohio. We have a few litters of kittens each year, and I put my utmost energy into raising healthy kittens who are loving, social, well-adjusted, and conform to the CFA breed standard. We genetically test all of our breeding cats to ensure the health of our cattery. Our adults enter cat shows whenever possible, to make sure we are adhering to the CFA breed standard. Kittens are born in our master bedroom, and move to the main level of the house around 4 weeks. They are raised surrounded by everyday life with two young children, and a lot of activity! |
So, why am I doing this? (Aside from my lifelong obsession with kittens, of course!) Breeding cats is a daily commitment, and involves a lot of time, patience - and especially poop! But I feel passionate about animals' ability to nurture, heal, and bring life. I believe, without doubt, that animals are one of God's most tender gifts to us.
My personal conviction of this stems largely from a year I spent living in Russia as a 12 year old. It was a lonely year for me, and I was severely depressed; at one point I even stayed in our tiny apartment for seven weeks without leaving the front door! Thankfully, my parents had consented to let me bring my beloved Siryna, a siamese mix. She spent almost every waking moment with me. She slept on me to comfort me, 'talked' to me for hours to keep me company, and, I believe, was God's gift to my sanity. Siryna was a lifeline, and helped me to survive the year. There are many other stories. A dear friend soothed by her new kitten after her father passed away. A young girl with Autism who's best friend is a Maine Coon. My grandmother's hilarious kitty companions when she lived alone. So if you have a deep yearning for a pet and you don't know why, it's ok. You're in good company. |