Breeders Profile

Rustiblu Birmans & Maine Coons

Name:

Photos courtesy of Julie Stanton (right), except 'Leia', by Bob Fox

Tell us a bit about you:
My name is Julie and I have had a lifelong love of cats.  I have always had moggies, until about 3 years ago my daughter wanted to get me a kitten as a birthday present, so we began searching the local papers, the internet and the RSPCA.  Whilst on the internet I came across the website of the Lincoln Cat Show, which was the following week, so along with my hubby-to-be I went.  It was a brilliant day out, and I had never seen so many different breeds of cats and kittens in my life before!  I thoroughly enjoyed the day, and there and then I decided I wanted to show.  I don’t drive but with Jeff’s support we try to go to one show a month.

Why did you choose your breed(s)?
We first saw Birmans at the Lincoln show, when I saw their blue eyes and elegance I knew I had to have one.  Maine Coons - again at Lincoln, when we first saw them it was WOW, we were hooked!

Why/how did you start breeding?
I am an Aries and I get my own way!  After doing my homework/research I found a breeder in Hull, Donna Irvin of Kirstavin.  From her I got my first show/breeding queen, a Birman we call Gracie (left).  Donna has become a great friend and support, she helped me get started in the show world and has given endless advise on breeding, especially as we are newcomers to this new 'way of life’.  A few months later I bought Harley, our first Maine Coon Breeding queen as a birthday present for Jeff.

Why did you choose your prefix?
Rustiblu was my first choice.  My daughter Katy is a natural red head (she wont be happy I’ve announced that on the internet, ha ha!) and one of her many nicknames was Rusty.  Also because Harley is a red mackeral tabby and Gracie is a blue point Birman.

When were your most memorable occasions as a breeder?
After only two years we haven’t got many, but when Gracie won her first CC, and then had her first Litter; when harley had her first litter (below right) and I had to help her, and when her daughter Leia (below left) won her open classes as a kitten at the Maine Coon Cat club show and The Maine Coon Breed Society show along with Best of Breed, and most recently Gracie’s daughter Misty (left, with AJ) won her first CC, on her very first show, that was a good  feeling - I was ‘giddy’ all day!

Who were/are the most memorable cats you've had?
When Katy was little we had a moggie called Tina, Katy would dress her up and push her round in her pram all day, Tina was brilliant and didn’t seem to mind!  She passed away in 2002 at age 17 and she is still missed.  At the moment all our cats are memorable in their own way but I must mention AJ (left, with Misty, and above right), our only male neuter, he has to be the most laid back, friendly cat I have ever known, he always greets people at the door with a kiss and will persist till he gets one.

What are your hopes for the future of your breed/your breeding programme?
We hope to have many happy years ahead breeding healthy, happy, well socialised kittens.  Obviously I cant wait to see a ‘Rustiblu’ champion!  I have a litter of Maine Coons at the moment and one is reserved by a fellow breeder for showing, so that is a great feeling, so thanks to Diane of Loncoon Maine Coons.

Is there anything else you'd like to mention?
As I have said previously, we haven’t been breeding and showing for very long, but we have met some lovely people who have helped/are helping us to get established, so a big thank you to Diane and John Longley (Jeff and John share the taxi runs), Val Kaye of Cocoon for AJ our gentle giant and to Donna, Anne Waite, Jim Warrender and Ron Mylward for stud services (not literally, ha ha!).

Julie Stanton

January 2008