 For as long as I can remember, I have been an avid animal lover. As soon as I began living on my own, I started breeding and showing dogs … and of course, there was always a pair of housecats around! With the dogs, people would often question why they should pay $X for a “purebred” dog when they could go to the pound and get one for $50. I would explain that by acquiring a “purebred” dog they knew in advance the approximate size, color, and overall temperament of the dog. In addition, they were getting a dog that had been lovingly raised in a healthy environment. It took a while, but soon I realized that I needed to “practice what I preached” and do the same with my cats.  When I began investigating the many different cat breeds I asked myself what I wanted in a cat. I did NOT want a cat that would hide under the bed whenever friends came over. I wanted an out-going, fun-loving cat that would make me laugh; a sociable and healthy breed; and one that was also very loving and affectionate. The Japanese Bobtail is all of these things! My first JBT, Charlie Chan (see above & right photos), was everything I wanted . He got me hooked and I have had only Japanese Bobtails ever since! Before long, I became interested in showing my beloved cats. I was very fortunate to meet my good friend and mentor, Marilyn Knopp. Marilyn established MariCho cattery in 1986. MariCho was a CFA Cattery of Excellence located in New Jersey. Marilyn Knopp, along with a few others, worked very hard to get the Longhair JBT recognized by CFA. I was pleased
to "join forces" with Marilyn in 1994. Since 1995, I have specialized in longhair JBT's. My purpose in breeding is NOT to produce tons of kittens each year; rather, we continuously strive to improve our breed . We breed for quality, not quantity. In addition, the Longhair JBT is considered a "minority" breed ... there are not many LH JBT breeders. So you may have to wait for that very special kitten, but it will be well worth the wait! Occasionally, we have retired show cats available. These young adults make a wonderful addition to almost any home. These cats are deserving of a home of their own and are offered at a price most people can afford. Because we are concerned about the pet "over-population" all our kittens are sold on a spay/neuter agreement. However, adults are already spayed/neutered before being placed in a loving home.In summary, let me just say that all my cats are my "kids" . I love them all! Kittens are handled (fondled, kissed, cradled) from birth. My cats are an integral part of my life! So although it may not be in the contract, you can be sure I will be expecting lots of pictures should you add a Ja-Koi JBT to your family! |
