Fairybell’s Nimue

I was waiting for little Nimue for quite a while, or at least it seemed like it. I had first met Becky, Nimue’s breeder, a while ago. We both had our eye on Solise, but unfortunately for Becky, I turned out to be the lucky one, and Solise is now happy and settled amongst the other cats in my colony. To compensate her in some way for her loss, I promised Becky first dibs on Solise’s first white kitten, and in return Becky kindly let me have first choice from amongst her new litter of kittens. Nimue was my first and only choice.

Well, what can I say about this little bundle of fur? Quite simply, she is just amazing. She has the most beautiful coat and colouring — she’s a silver, tortie, tabby with white. I hadn’t seen anything quite like her before. As soon as I laid eyes on her, I just knew she had to be mine.

Nimue is a beautiful little kitten who, I hope, will do very well on the show bench — my fingers are already crossed! When Nimue first arrived, like all new arrivals, I kept her separate from the others for a few days, so that she could settle in. On the third day, though, she ran out as I opened the bedroom door, and immediately bumped into Merlin, who always sleeps on the landing by the way. She went straight up to him, she hissed, and he licked, and with that her first new friend had been made. Over the next couple of days, she met the rest of the family, but she didn’t seem bothered by this, not one bit. She showed them who was boss right from the start, and just got on with job of exploring and playing. I’ve got a feeling that, when the time is right, she will be in charge. For one so small, she seems to have bags of confidence.

So, watch this space, and let’s see how this little beauty develops. Before I go, I’d just like to thank Becky and Fairybell’s for this precious little princess.

Nimue has done so well with her first few shows as a kitten and as a junior. Nimue has received 8 ‘excellent 1s, she has also won best in variety two times’ and has been nominated for ‘Best in Show’ two times, and has won ‘Best in Show Junior.’ If this early success is anything to go by, she has a wonderfully bright future ahead of her: hooray for Nimue! I’d like to thank Becky, and Fairybell’s, for my precious little princess.

Kitty A.K.A Her Lordship who has been made an honorary Wegie by me

Well, where do I start? Kitty has been looking after me now for sixteen years, and still shows no sign of letting up. She leads a well-attended life, with me as her personal assistant. Her Ladyship has been with me half my life, and she’s seen the best — and the worst — of me; but no matter what, she has always been by my side.

Kitty is a loyal lap-cat; to her, it is the best and warmest place to sleep. God help any cat that’s got there before she has, for hers is a deathly stare that can kill from a hundred yards.

To me, though, the best thing about the old girl is that her love is boundless, and also that she loves to talk. In fact, she’s a right old chatterbox; when she’s wants something, you’re sure to know about it!

My house is first and foremost her house, and what she says goes. My other cats give her a wide berth and try not to get in her way; even at her age, she has been known to give Merlin a good telling-off. Where the other cats are concerned, she rules the house with an iron claw, getting the respect that she rightly deserves.

Matilda A.K.A Trouble

Trouble is Matilda’s second name. From the moment that she ran out of her cat box, the world was hers to conquer, and Kitty was hers to tease and wind up. There was a power struggle ahead, but Kitty held in there, eventually coming out on top. Matilda is the most intelligent cat in the world; right from the word ‘go,’ she would want to know what you were doing and why you were doing it. She’d be right there watching your every move; she even sleeps with one eye open.

It took her about two weeks to learn where the food was kept and how to open it. Indeed, this is a trick that she seemed to be quite proud of, soon showing Merlin when he arrived. Many a morning, when I had forgotten to hide the food away, I would wake to find empty and half-empty packets of cat food lying around in the kitchen, and Matilda and her partner in crime looking proud at the fact! I’m sure that she coaxed Kitty in on the scam from time to time.

Matilda is a loving cat, but somewhat of a free spirit. She is loving on her own terms, greeting me in the morning, and never straying too far away, but she is no lap-cat — there are too many things to see and do for that! In Matilda’s world, there are no catnaps, since there’s just not enough time. She is only young, so in time I hope she learns the joy of the lap, but I am not holding my breath.

International Champion Tuulikki Solise A.K.A. Princess

Many, many thanks to Linda and Colin Griffin for letting me be the custodian of this magnificent snow princess. They have now both become firm friends, having shared their wealth of knowledge and wisdom with me. What’s more, Linda can talk as much as I can. She’s a lovely person, and I can be sure that a ‘quick’ phone call to her will last at least three-quarters of an hour.

I fell in love with Solise at first sight. Whilst surfing the net, as you do, I happened across Linda and Colin’s website — and there she was! With one blue and one green eye, and her brilliant white coat, she looked amazing. That was it; I just had to have her.

Solise was six months old when she arrived at home with me, and, my, was she a pampered mummy’s girl! There was no question: I had to keep her in standards to which she had become accustomed. My bedroom, just about measuring up to her high standards, became her room, and she soon settled in.

Solise is an independent lady. Not being too fussed about other people, she will come and size you up, and then go about the daily business of keeping herself looking beautiful.

Solise’s best friend — apart from me, of course — is little Bella. They spend most nights curled up beside me, either purring away like little steam trains, or washing me: obviously Merlin isn’t doing a good enough job!

Solise is a loving cat that, like Kitty, does not stop purring. Her favourite game is hide-and-seek. Sometimes, I can spend ten to twenty minutes looking for her, only to find that she is on a shelf pretending to be a book, or in the wardrobe pretending to be a pile of towels or sheets.

Solise has had a very good first year on the show bench. As a kitten and a junior, she was awarded ‘excellent 1’ three times, as well as three nominations for ‘Best in Show.’ As an adult cat, she continues to win accolades; having officially been awarded the title of International Champion, she is now on her way to becoming a Grand Champion. What’s more, she was given the opportunity to go to the winners’ show, where she competed with the country’s top cats. Also, at the Milton Keynes 2008 ‘Viking Cat Club’ show, Solise won ‘Best Norwegian Forest Cat,’ then going on to win ‘Best in Show.’ What else can I say, apart from, ‘Well done, Solise!’ Let’s all hope that she continues her winning form, as I’m sure she will.

THERE IS A PLANNED MATING THIS YEAR BETWEEN Solise AND Grand Champion Landsker Neo (http://www.normagikatt.co.uk/). FINGERS CROSSED, WE SHOULD HAVE A LITTER OF BEAUTIFUL NORWEGIAN-FOREST-CAT KITTENS IN THE MIDDLE OF JUNE!

Champion Normagikatt Esma A.K.A Bella Boo

Well, what a little gem I have found. I take my hat off to Jeanette who bred this amazing, well-adjusted, adorable, sweet and fearless little lady who is a non-stop purring machine. Thank you very much for letting me take her home; she will do Mountain Spirit proud.

Bella has so much love to give. At every moment, she wants to be where you are, right by your side. Usually, she gets to the top of stairs just as I take the first step. Then, the minute I open the bedroom door, she is there on my bed. Her favourite spot is my pillow — its a good job I have four!

Bella is such a confident little girl, fearing neither man nor beast. When she first met the family, she went straight up to Merlin, who was staring at her defiantly, and swiped him on the nose. Poor Merlin ran like a baby, and she settled in right away. There was no mistake: this was her home too! Now, I could not imagine my home, or life, without her.

My dear little Bella has done herself — and me — very proud on the show bench, both as a kitten and a junior. Gaining four scores of ‘excellent 1’ and three nominations, Bella was also given the opportunity to compete in the winners’ show, where not only was she nominated for ‘Best in Show,’ but went on to win ‘Best Norwegian Forest Cat’ in the junior category. Bella has recently been made a champion, and her rise to fame deserves congratulations, too, but — if I’m honest — I always knew that she would be a winner! Well done, Bella Boo!

THERE IS A PLANNED MATING THIS YEAR BETWEEN Bella AND Champion Norskwood Greebo (http://www.norskwood.co.uk/index.html), SO KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED AND WATCH THIS SPACE.