MILLIE'S STORY: 'More about Millie'

(Champion Janzanco Howsweet Thesound)

Millie, aged 6 months

Show Success

Millie was shown as a kitten and she did really well, five first awards in her Open classes, two Best of Breed awards and she was twice nominated for Best in Show. In January, she made her adult debut at the Short Haired Cat Society Show and gained her very first Champion Certificate (CC) and she was awarded Best of Breed.

Her second CC was awarded at the Shropshire Cat Club Show and the all-important third CC (giving her the title of Champion) was awarded at the Cambridgeshire Cat Club show. For many exhibitors and breeders, these 'land marks' may be unremarkable, but for me, each and every one was a tremendous thrill... as Millie is my FIRST EVER Champion! When I began showing in the 1970,s, the classes were very big and I was pleased if I came away from a show with a rosette! I do not even recall seeing the coveted gold cards! I have shown my two neutered cats and am extremely proud of them (they are both Grand Premiers and 'Rosie' has been Best in Show Burmese Neuter twice), yet the day Millie became my first Champion Burmese is one I will never forget.

Champion Janzanco Howsweet Thesound (Millie) in her pen at the Cambridge Cat Club Show, on the day she became a Champion!

Breeding Plans

As soon as I began showing Millie, I looked for a stud cat to use for her, in the future. When Millie was still just 'a baby' - at six months of age - I visited Mrs Doreen Somerfield and her beautiful cat, (Polo), Grand Champion Karlac Leopold Katzkade. Doreen saw Millie's pedigree and we both agreed that Millie would eventually come to see Polo in the future.

After Millie gained her title in March, I waited for her to start 'calling' (come into heat), so I could finally put my plans into action and take her to stud. I was fortunate, as Millie had not yet come into heat - many cats do start calling at a very early age. However, she obliged the very next month, in April (aged 13 months).

I had Millie blood tested (Felv and FIV; this is a common prerequisite), before taking her to Polo. Then, I took her to meet her 'intended', at last! Polo is an experienced stud cat and when he met Millie for the first time, he took absolutely no notice of Millie's very rude language!

Despite her initial reticence, Millie was soon won over!

Doreen Somerfield and Gr Ch Karlac Leopold Katzkade (Polo)

I collected Millie on 3rd May 2004 - now all we had to do was wait!
Preparing for the Birth - or 'being a born-again breeder'!

I think I made as many (if not more) preparations for Millie's 'confinement', that I'd made prior to my daughter's birth, twenty years ago! I prepared our small spare bedroom as a 'nursery' and bought a super disposable kittening box, in advance of the 'big event'.

I then visited my veterinary surgery and stocked up with everything I thought I might need. This 'kitten kit' included sterilising fluid, bottles, teats, replacement milk, nutri-drops, cotton wool, paper towels, cotton sheeting and fleecy blankets.

I began increasing Millie's food (I had switched her onto proprietary kitten food in addition to fresh fish and chicken) as the weeks went by. As she grew around the middle, so did her appetite!

"It started with a kiss" - Millie and Polo, in love!

The Birth

At precisely 65 days (almost to the hour of her first mating) - Millie began the first stages of labour at about six pm. My husband and I decided to take a flask of coffee with us and joined Millie in her nursery-bedroom. I put 'Classical fm' on the radio and we settled down to wait.

We did not have long to wait as the first kitten was born at 7.45 pm! Millie was not at all interested in the 'messy-side' of things and was more than happy for me to help with the delivery by removing the kittens from their birth-sacs, drying them and finally cutting their umbilical cords from the afterbirth. Millie declined to eat the afterbirth, although many queen, naturally do this. By midnight, all was over and we had a family of six kittens, two males and four females!

The Birthing Box

Millie sleeps, with two weeks more to wait

Progress

Every stage of the kittens' development was a complete joy! Millie has been (and continues to be, as we have kept a kitten) a wonderful Mum! There was just one very sad event... one of the male kittens died, at 12 days old. I likened it to a 'cot death' as he simply failed to thrive and faded away.

As it had been twenty-five years since my last litter, I revelled in the marvel of nature...the little, blind 'sausages' - turning into beautifully 'finished' kittens. I think events like their eyes opening; their ear canals developing and their fur growing were all magical! Then comes their first little, staggering steps, clambering into the litter tray, playing and falling over and culminating into 'whirling tornados' zooming around the living room and flying up the curtains - at twelve weeks!

Millie's tummy very full, at 63 days...almost there!

Millie and her kittens, total happiness - for all of us!

Socialisation

I made sure that the kittens were well socialised by ensuring that they were handled frequently, and had plenty of visitors of varying ages. I played the Blue Cross's socialisation tape 'Sounds Familiar' regularly from two weeks of age and when the kittens had had their first vaccines, they came downstairs to encounter the normal experiences of family life.

Every new experience for a kitten will help him/her to settle in his/her new home and ensure that they grow up to be confident, well adjusted little cats.

The photographs below are some of my favourites, featuring some of the 'landmarks' in their lives...

Aged 2 weeks, checking out the fresh bedding

One of the kittens, aged 4 weeks, playing in a favourite toy, the Kitty Castle!

Millie with two of the kittens, aged 8 weeks

Preparing for them to Leave Home!

As the kittens grew, it was time to have everything in order, ready for them to leave home at 13 weeks. My prefix was first registered with the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy in 1977, so I downloaded a registration form from the GCCF website and got the form off in good time. It was such a thrill to use my prefix, Vintarn, again - after such a long time!

I arranged for my friend and veterinary surgeon, Rosey McKenzie, to visit the kittens at home, to give them their first vaccinations at 9 weeks of age. Rosey is a mobile vet and her 'Vet on Wheels' service is invaluable for visits such as this. Rosey gave all the kittens a thorough health check and then gave them a worm dose and first vaccination.
I arranged for a second visit at 12 weeks and Rosey micro-chipped the kittens too, at this time.

When it came to the pedigrees, I was dreading doing what I had done in the 70s - writing everything out by hand. So, I decided to invest in some computer software and chose Breeders Assistant. This software enabled me to produce contracts of sale, diet sheets, and advice leaflets, as well as the pedigrees themselves. I am now building up a database of Burmese pedigrees, using my new system.

Millie and four of the kittens, aged 13 weeks, watching a feather!

Parting

Finding the right homes for the kittens was essential. I had many enquiries over the weeks; many of them were 'a waste of time' which is, I understand, 'par for the course'!

However, the 'right people' came along and I was delighted that all of them were experienced Burmese owners - so they knew what they were taking on by having one of my little Vintarns - 'vivacious vagabonds' - wrapped in velvet velour! When they collected their kittens, each owner was given a 'kitty bag' containing their pedigrees, vaccination certificates, some toys, a fleece and samples of kitten food.

One kitten however, is staying; she is called Vintarn Vania (the name means God's gift), a lilac tortie. The kittens' new owners are all keeping in touch and it is wonderful to receive super digital photographs, very regularly by email.

Millie and her Daughter

I conclude this story, as Vania is about to make her debut on the show bench and Millie resumes her show career, hoping for her Grand Champion Certificates! Their success (if any) will be a bonus as, first and foremost, my cats are my beloved pets. I hope that this time, next year, I can tell you more about Millie...and of course, Vania too!

I would like to finish by thanking Jan Bowen (Millie's breeder), for my lovely girl and Doreen Somerfield (Polo's Mum)...both friends have given me so much help, support and advice to me - 'born again breeder'!

Millie and Vania relaxing at home