I saw my first fold 2 decades ago, in a picture on my vet’s wall. I had taken in a stray I'd adopted to be altered and there, in a collage of pictures, was the most incredibly cute cat I'd ever seen. I asked Mark, my vet, about it and he explained that it was a 'new" breed of cat, the Scottish Fold. Two years later, in 1984, a friend asked me if I wanted to attend a cat show with her. I'd had never attended a cat show, so my curiosity was piqued, besides, I wanted to see if any of "those funny looking cats" were there.

At the show, I met Gail, who was the ONLY one with "those cats". She told me about babies she had at home and invited me to come look. I had puppies due shortly, and wasn't really looking for another cat. Still, Gail only lived 10 minutes from me and I finally agreed, thinking...”what can it hurt, I'll just look”. The rest is history. I walked into the kitten room, took one look at the little fuzzy babies running around and I was hooked, especially when I saw a tiny calico, who was just incredibly cute. Unfortunately, she was already spoken for, but by then I knew I had to have a Fold, no matter how long I had to wait. Gail called me several weeks later, to tell me that the people who were taking the little calico had backed out and she was available, “did I want her?” DID I WANT HER??? Of course I did! I went and brought Shannon home and loved and hugged on her for a few weeks, then took her back for her last shots. When Gail saw her again, she couldn't believe how good she looked and convinced me to take her to a show. I was reluctant, but finally agreed. Shannon and I did our first show in May 1984, and by the end of the weekend, I was hooked. Here was this wonderful little baby, and the judges loved her almost as much as I did. She left the show making 5 out of 6 finals, 3rd best kitten in show, at just 4months. Unfortunately, she broke her tail that evening, playing with a puppy and never returned to the showring.

When she was old enough Gail suggested breeding Shannon and I jumped at the chance. Soon, I had 5 folded kittens waddling around the house. Yes, my first litter, I had not only a big litter, not only one of every color, but all folds! What's so hard about this, I thought? Time, like the next 18 years, has shown me. There's been mom's who wouldn't take care of kittens or just couldn't have any live ones, unexpected deaths, like the one of my dear Shannon, when her kittens were only 3 weeks old. Years where I've had under 13% of my kittens fold. It's always something. Still, there's been lots of joy, wonderment and love too...it's why you go on, it's why you do this. The friends that I've made, sometimes from going thru tough times together, are my rock when times get hard. When you get that phone call, email or letter about how much joy and love one of your babies has brought another family it makes it all worthwhile, all the work, tears, money...it all comes down to spreading that happiness, that only a Fold can bring, around.

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