Breeders Profile

NoCoatOn Sphynx

Name:

All photos courtesy of Anita Price (pictured right) and Bob Fox

Tell us a bit about you:
I am 43, married with three children who are pretty much grown, although reluctant to leave the nest! I work from home in the property market and on a consultancy basis as a debt advisor. I am Vice Chairwoman of the Sphynx Cat Association and a member of various cat clubs in all three associations. I love showing cats (except in the winter when I have to get up in the cold and dark!) and have made many close friends in the fancy.

Why did you choose your breed(s)?
My first ever pedigree cat was a Burmese and I was smitten with her as soon as we met. For many years that would be the breed of my choice, until a few years ago I met a Sphynx at a FIFe show and was completely overwhelmed by their amazing personalities. Sphynx are so very different to any other breed of cats I have ever encountered. I would have said before having a Sphynx myself, that nothing could beat the Burmese for character, loyalty, love and intelligence, but now I have to say that the Sphynx knock the Burmese into a cocked hat! Nothing can prepare you for the way that they connect with you. They are very childlike in their behaviour and extremely responsive in every way. Sphynx are also a great deal of fun to train and respond brilliantly to clicker training.

Why/how did you start breeding?
I was raised on a farm where breeding and rearing animals was our day to day livelihood. I have always loved animals and couldn't imagine a life without them. I was always very close to our farm cats and would walk around with them tucked inside my coat, where they would stay regardless of the jobs I was doing at the time. When we moved to the city and started our own family, it seemed a perfect way to stay connected to the life of rearing animals, after all - it's a lot easier to fit a few cats into your house than a cow or two! With the arrival of my first ever pedigree cat came the opportunity to have a litter of Burmese.

Why did you choose your prefix?
Ha! Thats an easy one :-) My mum came up with it. I wanted something a bit tongue in cheek that would describe the breed I had fallen in love with. I came up with a few ideas myself but when my mum rang with her suggestion, it just seemed perfect for the job, so that was it - decision made.  As the kitten top left demonstrates - they just have 'no coat on'!

When were your most memorable occasions as a breeder?
My first ever Sphynx litter! I was in awe! They seemed so amazing and my first queen, Bald 'N' Beautiful Shady Lady, Pixie (above right with that first litter), was such an adorable character. It was just so different to the Burmese litters I had ever had and felt very special. It was also a very interesting experience to be asked to bring my cats to be filmed for a Channel Four Documentary on Genetics.

Recently my little girl Nocoaton Buttercup (above left) gained Best In Show 3 -6 month kitten and Best in Category Three at the Winners Show 2007! Also two of my Altered Sphynx, Nocoaton Careless Whisper (below left) and Nocoaton Spiritwalker (right) have now achieved four merits each towards recognition of the breed with the GCCF and Nocoaton Halfasixpence (right) has three, too.

Who were/are the most memorable cats you've had?
A lilac tortie Burmese queen called Dream (bottom right). She was one of the most gentle, loving cats I have ever met. She was an incredible mother and a real soul mate. Nowadays I would be hard pushed to choose between my Sphynx girls - they are so unique in their ways and all so endearing in so many ways. Firefantasy Nocoaton Blaze (above left) is an amazing stud boy that I have and he is a real gentleman in every sense of the word, one of my favourite boys ever to own and show.

What are your hopes for the future of your breed/your breeding programme?
I am working hard to introduce new lines to my program, the Sphynx breed is very much a work in progress in the UK and it is interesting to watch the various traits that different breeders are concentrating on. One of the nicest things about the breed is that they are meant to be a 'medium cat in every respect' so one hopes that there will be no extremes in the breed to bring bad health and conformation. I am enjoying working on a couple of outcrosses - each litter is like christmas time, you never know what to expect and each tiny baby is like an exciting new present :-) Long term I am looking forward to attaining European titles with cats of my own prefix.

Is there anything else you'd like to mention?
Only my friends :-) In particular Pam Williams of Streakers Sphynx and kelly Hampton of Immaculate Spynx both of whom I work with in my breeding program. The cat fancy is a wonderful place to meet like minded people and I have had the most amazing freindship and support from these two lovely people. The Aristocats Club also is a super club with two super people at the helm - Eddie and Rose Kitching, both of whom work tirelessly for the benefit of us exhibitors/breeders. Finally a word of thanks to Beryl McMillan who has done such a brilliant job of the website - it looks amazing and the new additions each month make it an interesting and informative site to revisit - well done Beryl!

Anita Price

December 2007