BEIGATTI MAINE COONS

Today I am driving to the Utica area to pick up Olive from her tryst with Jiggy. 

Olive is a bit unusual because it is not obvious when she is in heat.  Other cats howl and roll and "present" when they are in estrus, but Olive does not.  After her first birthday, I started paying really close attention...she meows a couple of times and that's it!

Last week, Olive meowed while I was having my morning coffee.  Is this it?  I called to Chris, is Olive in heat?  "She meowed last night, so I think so."  (Really...this is how quiet she is.)  Great!  I have to get her to a male, but I was on my way to Niagara Falls for a conference.  (Cats are great at timing things at the most inconvenient times.)  I called my friend Mary from Aderondak Maine Coons, telling her that I was on my way to Niagara Falls and could I drop Olive off to her boy Jiggy on my way.  Mary agreed right away and I put Olive in her carrier and drove down the New York State Thruway, kitty as my co-pilot.

This really shows what a wonderful community of breeder friends I have.  All of them -- Lynn, Sharon, Margie, and Mary are there for me when I need them.

You'll see us together at show halls.  At the Cape Cod show, Sharon and I were holding two cats upside down comparing paw pad colors to determine if a cat was a blue or black.  Or you may see Mary and I drawing pedigrees to figure out if the solid black cat will produce a mackerel or classic tabby.  Best of all, there is a great deal of laughter, brutal honesty, and support.

Now to bring Olive home.  If this breeding took, we'll have Christmas kitties!!