About Us

I am probably best described as the mad cat folk in the valley! Well at least that is out in the open!

I am a qualified adult and sick children’s nurse. However I have moved into the dark side of NHS Governance.

I have a very patient husband who competes for attention next to the cats (and fish).

I have kept a variety of pets, however cats have always been the cornerstone of my life. I have kept cats for over fifty years and I am still surprised by them. After mourning the loss  of two pet moggies I started to build a collection of rescue cats normally those that had been poorly treated. And that was the beginning…

About Our Norwegian Forest Cats.

I started off with three purchased locally that were clearly either crossbreeds or cats not part of a breeding programme. I call these our Norwegian Lites. However, they had enough of the ‘personality’ and phenotype to pique my interest. As a consequence, I have purchased a number of full pedigree Norwegian cats. I am an addict!!

Our Ethos – Evidence Based Practice

Over the last half a century I thought I had learned a significant amount of how to care for a cat. Not so when you bring pregnancy and litter care into the picture. Luckily I was supported by the practice of a small group of passionate breeders. They gave me a significant leg up the knowledge tree. From there I was also lucky enough to partner with some excellent and committed vets who helped support my quest for knowledge.

Since my days as a nurse I was never satisfied with the care I provided. I would never have the temerity to call myself an expert. Every day I learn something new. I am always reading the latest research and written text hoping it would provide answers to: – Should I always do this? Does this benefit the cats or kittens? Can I do what I do better? Should I use this? Now there is some ‘spurious’ research out there but also some gems. Like medical and nursing care, veterinary and breeder care must constantly question itself and move with the proven changes i.e. evidence based practice. ‘I have always done it this way’, is not care but a failure to care as everything we do should be backed up by solid research.

The Breeding Programme

I do not breed for breeders or to please show judges. My aim is to produce the most beautiful, healthy, well behaved (mostly) and emotionally responsive pets. Kittens that will become at one with you and your household and provide you with years of love & happiness. There are champions and grand champions in my bloodlines however my breeding programme is based on feedback from my kitten owners and my own experience. Other than my studs all my cats live in the house with me and my long suffering husband. I believe that this creates cats and therefore kittens that are loving and love to be in human company. This is supported by my visitors through the years. The studs don’t miss out either. You will often find me nodding off, cuddling a stud in their cosy, heated chalets.

I am committed to supporting all the breeders round the world that are striving to maintain the traditional Norwegian Forest Cat.

When the Norwegian Forest Cat was recognised to become a breed of its own a cat was chosen as the breed standard. But this is only for show.

Norwegians come in different weights and sizes just like people do. Some are shaggy some have shorter fur. Unless you want to show the breed standard is not important other than…

Unfortunately, the Norwegian Forest Cat breed description is currently being challenged by some breeders and judges who feel that they have the right to impose their personal views on how the breed should look. This is changing fundamental aspects of the Norwegian Forest Cat such as the overall size, placement and size of ears, eye shape. We disagree and do not support this trend. As I have said earlier the breed standard is an invention by show judges for show. A Norwegian cat is a Norwegian cat from Norwegian parents not a measurement tool where the eyes should be!

Cat Shows

Not a big issue for me as i do not show my cats. Respect to the breeders who do however my cats do not like to travel. I will not put my cats through an unnecessary trip that they will hate so that I can win a ribbon. I know my cats are beautiful pedigrees and that is all I need together with the lovely feedback I get from our visitors and kitten owners.