A history of Bo-Kitty’s Cattery (AKA How we lost our minds to the cats) by Bob & Kitty Bays
In 1980, we decided we wanted a cat to raise. With the nickname of Kitty, what else could be expected? Kitty undertook courses in Veterinary Assistant to improve her knowledge. Bob was raised on a farm and had a background in carpentry, so he was able to build cages if needed and knew a fair bit already of cats, and other animals. The stage was set. We had seen what was at that time called the Himalayan and chose that breed to raise. We started with one called Carousel, a Seal Point. We started attending cat shows, just getting familiar with the aspects of showing cats. We then found and purchased a young male for her aptly called, Giddy-Up-Go. Giddy-Up was a Blue Point Himmie. A desire to communicate with others that were interested in the welfare and love of cats caused us to decide to join an association. We joined TICA, an infant organization that seemed to have the same goals and ideals we had, and CFA, already established and large. Registering our cattery name as it presently is, Bo-Kitty’s Cattery, we chose the Himalayan as the breed of choice. While attending shows, we kept observing the Abyssinian cats and found them to be enchanting. In 1982, we had to place the cattery into a pause mode, due to military commitments taking us places we could not readily bring the cats. We did not stop keeping up with the cat world, just had to do so without any cats on hand, (a most depressing venture). Shortly after retiring from the Navy, we decided to start back with having cats and showing them. This time, we decided to start with the Abyssinian. Obtaining our root stock from Pat Harbert of OhMyCats, was a double blessing. Not only did we find some gorgeous cats, but we found a friend that imparted many words of wisdom that helped in reestablishing our cattery.
She was also raising a delightful kitten, Piglet, that we found was a very new breed to the world of cats, called the Highlander. She had such a charming and unusual disposition, that we fell in love with the breed. We obtained our Kissia, a Seal Lynx Point. With the background she has and the almost Wild Cat look she has, we felt that this would be an ideal breed for our cattery to venture into as well. We are now ardent supporters of the inclusion of this amazing breed into the registry of pedigreed cats. Read more about the Highlanders by simply linking to the page above or below this document.
Both breeds of cats now own the Bo-Kitty household.
