| So, How I Ended Up Breeding Birmans . . . |
Breeding cats never occurred to me until a few years ago.
I had worked full time as an ICU/ER/Flight nurse for
years, and the crazy schedules were never conducive to
showing/breeding. I had had cats (lots of them!) all my
life, but had never considered breeding until my good
friend and mentor asked me (when I was going totally
bonkers over HER little darlings) why didn't I consider
breeding them myself? Hhhmmmmm . . . OK, sounds good!
And the more I thought about it, the better it sounded. I
had never really thought I would be able to realize this
dream, and it seemed that God had put all the pieces in
place for us to go for it. Sharon was willing and wanting
me to work with her, I had the promise of show quality
cats from her lines, we had just relocated and had the
room, I was working from home managing Steve's business
- no longer a slave to shift work and last minute schedule
changes - and the conditions were ripe for insanity to
ensue.
I had worked full time as an ICU/ER/Flight nurse for
years, and the crazy schedules were never conducive to
showing/breeding. I had had cats (lots of them!) all my
life, but had never considered breeding until my good
friend and mentor asked me (when I was going totally
bonkers over HER little darlings) why didn't I consider
breeding them myself? Hhhmmmmm . . . OK, sounds good!
And the more I thought about it, the better it sounded. I
had never really thought I would be able to realize this
dream, and it seemed that God had put all the pieces in
place for us to go for it. Sharon was willing and wanting
me to work with her, I had the promise of show quality
cats from her lines, we had just relocated and had the
room, I was working from home managing Steve's business
- no longer a slave to shift work and last minute schedule
changes - and the conditions were ripe for insanity to
ensue.
Allie's and Hardy's Kittens -
The Litter from Hell (Or
How I Decided I COULD Be
a Breeder)
The Litter from Hell (Or
How I Decided I COULD Be
a Breeder)
ABOVE: Honey Child, Hugs
& Cisses, Hari Carey, and
Hairy Connick. These kittens
were named with an "H"
before their traditional "C"
year name, to track the
generation numbers for their
lynx pattern. Sharon Hunt
and Anne Hoehn of
Birmnsrus were instrumental
in bringing the lynx pattern
into the Birman breed in
south Texas.
& Cisses, Hari Carey, and
Hairy Connick. These kittens
were named with an "H"
before their traditional "C"
year name, to track the
generation numbers for their
lynx pattern. Sharon Hunt
and Anne Hoehn of
Birmnsrus were instrumental
in bringing the lynx pattern
into the Birman breed in
south Texas.
LEFT: Hairy Connick all
grown up and owned by a
family who thinks he hung
the moon! (Photo
courtesy C. Smith)
grown up and owned by a
family who thinks he hung
the moon! (Photo
courtesy C. Smith)
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At this point, I'd been waiting for a show quality boy from her
to show as an alter for several months. Sharon promptly
introduced me to Allie, who was due for her first litter in about
10 days, packed us off home with many instructions, and
patiently answered all my questions about what in the world to
do when they delivered!?! Allie produced four lovely babies
right on schedule, and I was HOOKED!!! Sharon's rationale was
that breeding is not for the faint of heart, or for those only
willing to give it a half-hearted try. She shook me down but
good on my maiden voyage into breeding, as Allie's babies
contracted a severe URI at three weeks old. I gave meds . . . I
cried . . . I gave tube feedings . . . I cried . . . I gave SQ IV
fluids . . . and I cried . . . and we all survived it. I was STILL
hooked. (At this point, my husband no longer THOUGHT I
needed my head examined . . . he KNEW it!) However, Steve is
a wonderful guy - and he's addicted to kittens, also - so he's
continued to feed my kitty obsession. What a great husband!
So here we are a couple of years later, showing and raising
kittens from our own 'homegrown' kittens. Sharon would have
been so proud. And I am more convinced by the day that God
led me to her on my search for that Birman kitten to replace my
Pissy. I hope I can live up to her faith in me.
to show as an alter for several months. Sharon promptly
introduced me to Allie, who was due for her first litter in about
10 days, packed us off home with many instructions, and
patiently answered all my questions about what in the world to
do when they delivered!?! Allie produced four lovely babies
right on schedule, and I was HOOKED!!! Sharon's rationale was
that breeding is not for the faint of heart, or for those only
willing to give it a half-hearted try. She shook me down but
good on my maiden voyage into breeding, as Allie's babies
contracted a severe URI at three weeks old. I gave meds . . . I
cried . . . I gave tube feedings . . . I cried . . . I gave SQ IV
fluids . . . and I cried . . . and we all survived it. I was STILL
hooked. (At this point, my husband no longer THOUGHT I
needed my head examined . . . he KNEW it!) However, Steve is
a wonderful guy - and he's addicted to kittens, also - so he's
continued to feed my kitty obsession. What a great husband!
So here we are a couple of years later, showing and raising
kittens from our own 'homegrown' kittens. Sharon would have
been so proud. And I am more convinced by the day that God
led me to her on my search for that Birman kitten to replace my
Pissy. I hope I can live up to her faith in me.