Bizans Turkish Angoras - Dams

 "Abra"

born 10/31/04

     Abra is one our TV stars, that you can see at http://animal.discovery.com/videos/cats-101-turkish-angora.html.  She's in the lap of a man wearing a T-shirt and jeans who is sitting on the floor.  Notice she's born on Halloween?  She knows how to have FUN!  She follows me around everywhere in the house ("follow" nothing! -- she figures out what direction I'm going in and DASHES ahead to wait for me and see what we're doing next), and jumps right on me when I finally "land" on the couch so she can be affectionate and purr like mad. 

     She was a favorite of Barb Azan's and has become one of mine and Ken's as well.  I've noticed something interesting and endearing about Abra.  When some of our kittens reach a certain age or graduate to the general population, the mom cats tend to be finished with them, not even recognizing them as their kittens anymore.  Kind of like "As soon as you turn 18, you're on your own and we're redecorating your bedroom."  Not so, our Abra girl!  She loves on all three of her litters present in the house.  We were careful about the health of the babies and kept them separate, but once the youngest kittens were out of danger of bacteria transmission from the older kittens, those older kittens went back to "comfort nursing" from her, nuzzling and loving on her, seeking reassurance from the bullies in school, asking for dating advice, etc., and she is always there for them, like the best wise, patient mom of older children. [ An update:  Abra was spayed on 9/29/09, and she STILL comfort nurses.  None of the maternal feelings have wained.  What a honey! ] 

     Abra is playful and affectionate and intriguing-looking with those lighter smoky bits around her face, and she comes fully equipped with all the perfect "Turkey traits" of large, high ears, big eyes, and great fur that ends in the plume tail.  And she's SUCH a wonderful lap cat!  She still comes up to me wherever I'm sitting and bumps me for attention; when I bend over to set food or water on the floor, she jumps up and stretches across my back, perfectly comfortable to spend the rest of the day right there!  Too bad I can't spend the rest of my life in that bent-over position just for her.

    We were going to give Abra a long, well deserved rest before breeding her again.  Well, we assumed incorrectly that boys (Cammy in particular) can't breed -- at least, with any results -- after a couple of days post-neutering; so a week after we had him neutered, we thought it was okay for him to be in the general population.  Well, we should have read up more on cat reproduction, anatomy, and birth control.  That's obviously our next project.  Abra's litter of three was born May 25, 2009.  They are GORGEOUS!  See pictures of them in Kittens.

"Camille"

born 5/26/08

     Camille is named for the fact that she's a cameo -- a honey-colored honey of a girl.  Isn't she GORGEOUS?!  I'm in love with this girl, too!  I sleep on my side; Camille sleeps on my shoulder and arm so lightly and quietly, she feels like a soft blanket.  She's curious at the smell of Abra's kittens and loves playing with their feet, extended from under the door of the nursery.  Oh, and her FUR!!!  SO RICH and THICK and SOFT!  Both she and her sister Flash, below, have fabulously huge, proud, soft tails -- just like a "Turk" is supposed to have!  I think I'll keep her for breeding a couple of times at least, too.  Those "Turkey traits" are too terrific not to replicate.  [Update:  Camille is waiting to go to a new home.  We just can't keep as many whole cats as we'd like, so we've had to spay Camille.  It still hurts my heart.]

     And the sweetness!  As I write this, she's half standing on my lap and half sitting on my right forearm.  It's a good thing all of these guys are so willing to take turns for one-on-one with Ken and me; the competition could be unbearable.  No prob here, though, because everyone is so sweet.  And they know there are several places to go -- on laps (or shoulders), beside laps, in arms, on back cushions behind, etc. -- so more can get the closeness they love.  Of course, it's agony for us -- yeah, right.