|
As long as I can remember, I have always had cats around me. When I was first married in the sixties I had a seal point Siamese who lived to the grand age of twenty. A string of moggies came through the house some just arrived on the doorstep, one was born under the house and abandoned by the mother. In all we had four moggies - one ran away as she couldn't cope with the Siamese, one died of natural causes and two just grew old. A very neglected red Persian and a Burmese also found their way into our house, they both went to good homes. I was now ready for a pedigree kitten so like you I hunted around and made many enquiries. The Internet wasn't available then. I wanted a semi longhaired kitten with a lovely "apple" head, one that was affectionate, that I would then breed from. The first time I saw the Birman I fell in love.
Mandy joins the family
When Mandy had her first litter I was very nervous, as I really didn't know what to expect, she was not going to have her kittens where I had organised her box!
Now many litters later it has not been without heartache. I have learnt that so many things can go wrong. Mandy, I lost during one of her pregnancies which was heartbreaking. Another one of my girls would have her kittens over several days, some still born and others dropped around the house; one litter she had a Caesar then a second Caesar when she only had one kitten and was then desexed.
Country life beckoned
We moved a couple of hours from the city in 1996. Fresh air, hills and gardens for miles around. I had built a lovely Cathouse for all my Cats. My kittens were born in the wardrobes and the bedrooms and lived in the family room, where all the family enjoyed giving them playful affection. I was breeding in a fairly small way so I was able to socialize with the kittens and mums. At that time I had four girls of various ages. When breeding one needs to be very conscious of pedigrees and to make sure we are bettering the breed. A Birman on the Show Bench should be as perfect as possible to the Standards. Kittens that have pedigree faults such as odd socks are sold as pets. In fact 99% of our kittens are sold as pets, however, some show quality kittens do find themselves settling into loving homes.
The Next Step
Mid 2010 we moved a little closer to Sydney, to Mittagong. As I have been breeding my lovely Birmans for around 22 years I felt it was time to scale down. I was able to rehome three of my faithful girls to lovely homes; our son has the wonderful Tchin and I as I had lost my beautiful Stud Leo who produced some great kittens including Tchin and Jazz. I now have Sunny who belonged to a dear friend and mentor, I didn't want to commit to twelve years or so to a new Stud, but I needed to keep him happy so kept one girl.
My kittens are still reared in a delightful and chemical free environment. They are all house trained and wormed; fed on the freshest of minced roo and chicken wings with the best professional dried food. All have been "Vet. checked" when they have their first Vaccinations, and are micro-chipped and registered with the Australian Animal Register. I do prefer them to be desexed at ten weeks where possible and are usually ready to go to their new homes soon after.
Show Time!
I have also enjoyed Showing my cats. My first Boy Leo did well, he was a NSW Champion and a ACT Grand Champion. I had many kittens from Leo/Rosie mating who have done well. Mostly, after desexing, these kittens went to homes where they could sit on laps and sleep on beds!
My most successful Show Neuter has been Jazz who has many titles - NAT SH CH CCCA TR GD CH & DIA DB GD CH & ACT DIA TR GD CH (or you might say - National Show Champion Coordinating Cat Council of Australia Triple Grand Champion & Diamond Double Grand Champion & ACT Diamond Triple Grand Champion!). He is a beautiful Seal Point Birman specimen who also has a fantastic temperament. He has won many beautiful ribbons, has been ACT Associate Members Neuter Cat of the Year for two years and has been placed in the Top 5 in the Neuter NSW CFA Cat of the Year in 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2011.
His stable mate Tchin Tchin is a Blue Point, a lovely cat with great temperament who has been successful but has not won quite as many titles as Jazz. He is now with our son.
GD DB GD CH Conde Drama Girl has been in the Top 5 Spay in 2010 and 2011.
I have enjoyed going to Shows with my Cats and meeting new friends and talking to the Breeders. For the last five years I have organised the Goulburn Cat Show.
The Birman is a relatively easy care cat, very affectionate, playful but not highly strung, they love company but if left during the day will usually curl up on a bed and greet you at the door when you get home. We recommend that they be kept inside lest they stray, are stolen or get into fights with the neighbourhood 'Tom'.
You will not be sorry to own a Birman - many people have come back for a second kitten.
I truly love my Birmans.
Cats Past and Present
STUDS
Leo : NSW CH & ACT GD CH Juliska Artic Leopold
(deceased)
Sunny : BZ DB GD CH Sikander Kei-Sun
Jazz : NATSH CH CCCA TR GD CH & ACT DIA TR GD CH Conde
Bajazzo (desexed)
Tchinny : BZ DB GD CH & ACT CH Conde Tchin Tchin (desexed & rehomed to our son)
GIRLS
Rosie : Amalaise Fair Rose has moved to
Adelaide to sleep on beds
Goldie : Conde Golden Beauty (now a Spay)
Jess : Sikander Sujessy (deceased)
Shiki Camellia - Moved to loving parents to take over their houses
Shiki Laska - Moved to loving parents to take over their houses
Blondie : GL DB GD CHConde Drama Girl (now a Spay)
JB : Conde Jessabella
Lil : Conde Lylybella
Conde Birman Cattery
NSW CFA Reg. 65970
PO Box 105, Mittagong NSW 2575
Phone: (02) 4872 4132
Phone mobile: (0412) 917 708
For further information please contact:
Should you like to be notified when a new litter is born, simply say so in
an email, and you will be placed on our "Birth Announcement" register. Let
us know if you would also like to receive an accompanying photo of the
kittens by email.
We
promise not to disclose or use your email address for any other purposes
whatsoever.
Thank You for visiting Conde Birmans.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
© Conde Birman Cattery 2001-2012
All photos are copyright Margaret Keith. Web by inkslingerart.com
|
| 
