The Story of my Cattery 

History of 25 years „ of the golden Sunrise“

In 1979 two black domestic cats crossed my way. „Minka“ and „Mohrle“ and brought much joy into my house. Shortly after that I could make my first experience with the beautiful Persian cats. Through the mediation of the Dortmund animal protection organization a 10 year old Persian cat lady with the name „Püppi“ stepped into our life. She was a red shell cameo and joined us almost five years until she went 1984 over the Rainbow bridge.

I missed her so deeply and I started to look for a new persian cat. This is how „Elvis vom Muschelteich“ found his way to us. This red persian boy had soon a new name, we only called him „Rambo“. After initial skepticism, the breeder of Rambo brought me to the point to bring him to a cat show. The addiction had taken me and Rambo became at the age of 8 years European Premior. He was everything for me but in 1994, he left us suddenly and unexpectedly and went into the cat heaven.

In the year 1987 I saw the first lilac / chocolate variants and was very pleased with this colors. Slowly but more and more the desire to breed those chocolate and lilac varieties grew in me. That was how the Cattery „of the golden Sunrise“ was founded, the name was selected from the president and founder of the cat club IMCC, Mrs. Ingeborg Jung.
 

A cream-white persian boy, 2 persian ladies, one tortoiseshell and one lilac-white joined us and Rambo. Later on „Anouska van Lindsay's Home“,a blue-tortie-white female (chocolate carrier) and „IC. Catusje“ a red-white harlequin became also family members.

In the year 1989 a chocolate persian boy „Harlandes Bruno“, called „Charlie“ original from the Netherlands, joined us at the age of five years. Unfortunately he went over the rainbow bridge in 1999 at the age of 15 years. Everybody who knew him will always remember his loving and gentle nature that he has given over generations to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Even in our days I still have descendants in 4th Generation, which are reflecting his nature and the ethnic type.

His son, the „GIC. Laggondas Lilac-Paolo“ took over his breeding succession. „Charlie's“
grandson „IC. La-La-Bay of the golden Sunrise“ became in 1995 our stud boy. At the age of 5 years we decided to retire him because „Charlie's“ great-grandson „Da-An“ stepped into the position as our stud boy. „La-La-Bay“ stayed with us and died 2009 at the age of 15 years.

„Charlie“ is still living in our „Da-An“. He is the absolute one and only cuddly bear.

No visitor is safe from him. With his 11 years he is still very alive. Although he lost one eye this year due to an infection he is still very strong and we hope that he will remain with us for a very long time.

If you are a breeder you know for sure how it is and over the years some cat ladies also joined us as family members. So also from the Cattery „Magic Noirs“. The female „IC.     Magic Noirs Gelaxy“ joined our family in 1999 (I bought her as a wedding gift for my husband and she was his absolut favorite). She was indeed a beautiful cat with a unique fantastic character. Unfortunately „Lexy“ went 2009 over the rainbow bridge.
Luckily we still have her daughter „Cleopatra“ which has the identical character and her size.

During the period of 1999 until 2009 the following additonal ladies joines us:


In the year 2000 3 additional girls from the „Magic Noir's“ cattery. One was „CH. Magic Noir Elektra“ but unfortunately she only reached an age of 6 years and died.

 

My absolute favorite moved in the year 2001 into our house „CH. Cosima vom Kösselstein“. She was such a special loveable cuddly thing, which had to leave us much to early and she will stay in my heart forever.
Here picture can be seen on the cover of the „Leonardo“ cat food for seniors.

In the year 2002 „Gina vom Kösselstein“, a half-sister to her, crossed our life. Since 2007 she is living with friends as a pet.
 

After a long break we decided to get some new bloodlines into our breeding programme so we decided to get 2 new females between 2007 and 2008

One was „Havellandcats Celine“ and the other was „CH. Persian Tigers India“. We had to decide to re-home some of those cats even though it was not a easy step for us and our hearts where bleeding but as you can imagine you cannot keep all neutered cats in a cattery. Especially because we only have two hands and every single cat deserves to get its special loving care. In that case it is better to find a loving pet home where they can get the full love from the families that adopted them.
 

In 1996 I found my interest in the Exotic Shorthairs through a silver shaded female „ IC. Texana vom Kanzlerfelde“. I got her and her daughter „Cinderella“ from a breeder that stopped breeding. „Texana“ got retired but stayed with us until she died at the age of 16 years. Her daughter was the foundation of my husbands Exotic Shorthair cattery „Point of Interrogation“ when we got married in 1999. You can read more about the Cattery „Point of Interrogation“ on the website.

My second husband and me are living since 1999 in Dortmund city in a 160 square meter appartment. So we have enough space that we don't disturb each other and on top of that our cats have enough place to live comfortable. Our kittens are learning that way easily their social behavior towards the other cats and the humans. Also our boys are living free in the appartment.

To prevent uncontrolled matings our girls are getting the pill when needed and the boys have had the new Superchlorin chip. Which has proven that its not reliable. Since we had in 2010 a few more kittens as planned despite chip ;-).

So that this is not happening to us in 2011 we are going on with giving the pill to our ladies again.

Enjoy your visit now on our website.

Sincerely yours,
Ilona Steziw
Grafenhof 7
44137 Dortmund
Tel   +49 (0) 231 9822347