|
 Name:
Linda Varney (right, with Jezzybear)
Location: South Wales
Prefix: Pawsawyle
Breed(s): British Shorthair
Breeding since: 2001
Tell us a bit about you:
I have kept and loved animals for over
50 years; it all started when my dad was working on location on the
movie "The Quiet Man". He asked what I wanted him to bring me and I
said an elephant! He coudn't manage that but he did bring me a Boxer
puppy from a litter in the film, but that's another story.
 My
husband Jim and I run Pawsawyle Kennels and Cattery, which
incorporates Pawsawyle Cat and Kitten Rescue. We can board 38 cats
and 20 dogs, and when we home a British Shorthair we also try to home
a rescue kitten with them for company. We take feral cats and kittens
and tame them and they all go to good homes. Believe me when I say we
are fussy - I always pick the right person or family for the puss and
they are questioned quite thoroughly! We never advertise cats and
kittens, we rely on word of mouth. I do find it quite easy to tame
cats and kittens but there are also a lot of domestics that need our
help.
 We
have a lot of animals - in fact, as you can see, we are animal mad!
They include 2 welsh cobs, 2 shetlands, 2 sheep (Slack and Alice), 2
goats (Yeah Butt and No Butt), 8 dogs, some quail, cockatiels,
budgies, 2 Greater Patagonian Parrots called Typhoo and Motto - and 25
pet cats, which include Red (above left), our magnificent Maine Coon from
Rose and Eddie Kitching; Bobo, a silver spotted
Siamese-cross-Bengal; Roswell, our Devon Rex; his half-brother
Tug who has the same dad but a Burmese mum; and Jezzybear
(top right, with Linda),
a Ragdoll.
 Why did you choose your breed(s)?
We chose British Shorthairs because they do not wander, they
wag their tails when they are happy, they stick their tongues out
when sleeping (and awake - it just seems to be something they do!),
they are very affectionate and posessive of their people, they
must be involved in any fuss and they love to be hugged.
Why/how did you start breeding?
I started breeding British Shorthairs about seven years ago. My first
queen was and still is Toes (above right), she has given us 4 lovely litters;
then Badge, our tortie, had one litter (Teddyboy, right, was
from that litter) but unbeknown to us she
carried Chlamydia so we had her spayed; and her sister Marbelle
had two stillborn litters so we had her done too.
 Our stud boy Ted
(above left) is very good at his job so our babies are just so beautiful. My new
girl, Sweety, is silver spotted - she has a future husband
called Sparky and he is red silver spotted.
Why did you choose your prefix?
I invented our prefix myself and had to have it patented as someone in
Minehead tried to steal it; I wouldn't mind but all she does on her
website is beg for money which is something I could never do.
 When were your most memorable occasions as a
breeder?
My most memorable time was Toes' first
litter - she was so proud!
Who were/are the most memorable cats you've had?
The cats I remember most had to be
Mac, my silver Norwegian Forest Cat, who was stolen when I lived
in England; and Ski (left), my brown glitter spotted Bengal - he is
still missing from West Drayton since 2002, and he has half his tail
missing and is chipped, so if anyone out there knows where he is
please let us know.
What are your hopes for the future
of your breed/your breeding programme?
My future breeding
programme is to continue breeding the best I can!
 Is there anything else you'd like to mention?
I would like to dedicate this article to
Dobbie, our Siamese, who recently passed away. I should add
that we do what we do for love as there is no money to be made in
keeping animals properly. We love all the animals that we care for,
be they ours, rescues or boarders; if you don`t believe me come and
see for yourself. In fact, we insist our clients bring their humans
for a visit, and anyone else who is interested is welcome too!
Right,
two rescue kittens, now in new homes.
Linda Varney
www.pawsawyle.com
January 2009 |
