Just recently, I was reminded of a breeder’s unfathomable generosity. Cat breeders are one of a kind. They give of their time, expertise and mentor without judgment especially to new, fledging breeders. Whether it’s at the start of the journey or somewhere in between, they have perfect timing and the skills of an investigative reporter to ask the right questions to get to the heart of the problem. This story serves as a testament to my journey, but I also hope it will inspire younger breeders who are still climbing that mountain.
When I was first getting started in the early 2000s, I fell in love with a silver mackerel tabby male, Emerald Forest Czarevich bred by Jill Peterson, Emerald Forests is still active and has archival pictures and information though Jill has long since retired. Czar was a gorgeous male that felt perfect for my program, but it was 2001 and I had just gotten started with my program (IndigoMoon) and couldn’t afford him at the time. Czar is one of those cats that you follow, watch his offspring and compare others against. Fast forward to late 2005, and Angela Turner (Purrshka) in Canada was wrestling with the decision of offering him to other breeders or retiring him altogether.
When I got word, I wrote to her and explained why I was interested in Czar. I shared how I had watched his progress from kitten to adulthood, why he was the “unicorn” for me, and the many ways he would complement my program. She knew he had more to offer, he was an excellent specimen (built like linebacker, amazing heft and type) especially when it was difficult to strong males that produced as good as themselves. To my delight, Angela said “yes” and gave me a very fair price. She was one of the kindest people I’ve ever meet in the breeding community, and we agreed to work together again in the future. Through her generosity, Czar had a phenomenal impact on my program and accomplished several milestones for me, improving size and boning in my program. Sadly, due to circumstances beyond my control, I retired from breeding two years later and we were not able to partner further.
Unfortunately, Angela had passed away in 2018 but every time I work with other breeders who share the same passion she had for the breed, I’m reminded of her generosity of spirit and kindness and try to pay it forward.
