It has been a while since I have put pen to paper so to speak. Yesterday I had cause to reflect on human emotion and saw the Heart of Esperanza.
Let me start at the beginning by way of explanation.
The journey started many years ago when my Sweetheart Breeze saw and fell in love with the Ragdoll cats. For our first wedding anniversary , in 2011,I was able to give her Mr Bojangles, a stunning blue bi color boy.
The first time we showed him at a cat show we were clueless. Much to our surprise and delight he won Best in Show.
The bug was starting to bite. Breeze started her researching of the Ragdoll breed on line. She looked all over the world from Australia,USA , Canada and Europe. After some kind advice of another breeder she settled on importing a female from a small cattery in Italy. Belle arrived and the first steps were taken.
The research and study continued in earnest. Hours were spent looking at the breed type and standard, pedigrees and the catteries. The next step was import a stud. The legendary Jo Jo arrived. He is well known in the show circles as being the most friendly and amenable stud to judge. The others cats followed and came to our home.
From there the cattery known as Esperanza, named in honour of her late father, was born.
Breeze continued to study and take online international breeding courses. She questioned, researched and put in long hours. Then the breeding started. She has been at every birth except for 2 kittens , where yours truly attended. She encourages the cats at the birth as if they were her daughter, “push mommy push” The little ones are weighed and marked with little coloured collars. Birthdates, genders and weights are strictly recorded.
Where the kittens are a bit small and extra feeding is needed Breeze does so every 2 hours. If hand raising is required she steps in and does so. The little kittens grow up under her watchful eye. She knows all their names and can tell you their different personalities. They are her cat children.
Not everyone that wants gets one of her “fur babies”. The prospective parents are strictly vetted. And allocations are done putting the right kitten with the right owner.
And so Esperanza has grown and come of age. Getting accolade after accolade. Breeze being awarded the best breeder in KZN for 3 years in a row. Her kittens being owned and shown throughout the country.
Amongst the joy there have been sad and traumatic moments where one of the little ones have not made it. Grateful that these times are few and far between. But when tragedy strikes Breeze heart breaks onto a million pieces. Tears are shed and the question is always asked “could I have done more?” and “what could I have done differently?” The answer my Sweetheart is No. You always do all you can and more. You carry all your cats and kittens in your heart. You are both Heart and Soul of the Esperanza Cattery. You keep its life blood flowing and it’s hopes and future alive.
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