How I Started!

by Lucille Westbrook of Chayat Cattery

Since I am one of the oldest - could we make that "longest term" breeders of Russian Blues - I was asked to write an article about getting started, lines used, and honors achieved.

After our daughter took our family cat with her to college, I decided I wanted a pedigreed cat. I read books, went to cat shows, and selected the Russian Blue for the breed I wanted. Of course this brought some surprises - certainly they can be more difficult to show, they are smarter, neater (less shedding), and more wonderful than I had anticipated.

My first cat was a pretty little girl, Alexandra (born 1980), with a marvelous thick light silver coat and completely emerald green eyes; but her ear set was close, and her fine bones were shorter than desired. Velva and Quiet Blues were strong in her background.

Next came OS GR Czar Nicholas of Chayat (from Les Joy, Silverton, Velva, & Hy-Line lines), and absolutely marvelous boy who became an Outstanding Sire. In 1984 he sired Second Best Int’l Kitten and Best SC Kitten - Camelot’s Silva Selena.

In 1985 I kept a kitten from my two cats - Chayat's Anastasia and continued attending a few shows. She did so well that other exhibitors encouraged me to campaign her and explained the process of getting to as many shows as possible. SGC Chayat’s Anastasia became 1986 18th Best Int’l Cat, 6th Best SC Cat, an All American Winner, and Best Int’l RB. I kept two of her girls, Supremed one and let the other go to live as an only cat - her choice.

Then I got QGC Chaskara Christiana - a beautiful girl but difficult to show. The day she made QGC I kept thinking that if we completed the day, she could go home and breed that night, which she did, and never go in another ring.

Czar Nicholas and Christiana were an excellent match and produced:

IW SGC Chayat’s Alexei (born ‘93) - 1994 16th Best Int’l Cat, 16th Best Int’l Kitten, Best SE Kitten, 3rd Best SE Cat, Best Int’l RB Cat and Kitten.

RW SGC Chayat Petrouchka (born ‘ 91) - 1995 16th Best SE Cat, Best Int’l RB.

Chayat’s Viktor of Kitty Hawk - 1995 Best Asia Kitten, Best Int’l RB Kitten.

RW SGC Chayat Czarina Nikita of Jabooti - 1994 12th Best SE Cat and Best Int’l RB.

Nikita and Chaskara Pushkin (who carried Alexandra in his line and helped regain some of her outstanding traits) produced:

IW SGC Chayat’s Rurik (born ‘95) - 1996 19th Best Int’l Kitten, 12th Best Int’l Cat, 4th Best SE Cat, 4th Best SE Kitten, Best Int’l RB Cat and Kitten.

IW SGC Chaskara Lvinya Dvibrok of Chayat (born ‘95) joined us (it was love at first site) and became 1997 10th Best Cat, 4th Best SE Cat, and Best Int’l RB. RW SGA Chayat Princesska (born ‘95) from Rurik and Nikita (yes, I do line breeding) was 1996 Best Int’l RB kitten, 16th Best SE Kitten, Best Int’l RB Alter, and 15th Best SE Region Alter.

Through these years I have met a lot of the nicest people in the world and had more fun than I thought possible, which are probably the real reasons for going to cat shows. I know where there are outlet malls and bakeries, bluebonnets and parks, and statues and waterfalls. And there are my plans for next year ... and the next .... Hope to see you soon at a cat show!