GC Donegal’s Mellow Merlot
Seal Point Himalayan Male
CH Donegal’s Rock A Hula Baby X Jaemak Diamond Inclusion of Donegal
Chocolate & Dilute Carrier
Born 9/9/11

Merlot granded in only four shows, finishing at 206 points on November 11, 2012.

I want to extend a sincere thank you to all the judges who recognized his merit, especially Kathy Black who made him Best AB Champion over 30 other cats. Merlot is now retired from shows to produce some future Donegal Cattery show babies.

Click to view Pedigree

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CH Donegal's End Of Your Line Gracie
(Enya)
Seal Lynx Point Himalayan

Click to view Pedigree

Beaubell’s Ceili Dancer of Donegal
Dilute Calico Persian
GC Beaubell’s Boston T’Party X Beaubell’s Pale Ryder
Pure Persian
Born 2/22/12

Caley made her show debut at the Richmond show with Merlot. She was Best of Color against another dilute calico in all rings. She has some more development to do before continuing her show career. So keep watching for her at future shows.

Click to view Pedigree

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Congratulations to Possum on siring his first litter! He and Hoosier produced five babies, two of which are flame point Himalayan females, proving that Possum is breeding was a flame point Himalayan male. Given his dual personality, I guess that makes him both dad and mom! Possum is now retired from breeding and remains at Donegal's Shangrila.

Exhibition
"Possum"
Donegal's Tail of Two Kitties

This kitten is from a breeding of my flame point Himalayan, Irish, & my tortie CPC, Stepper. He is a genetic mutation being studied by Dr. Leslie Lyons of the UC Davis Genetic Laboratory and whose photos will be appearing in presentations by Lorraine Shelton. They both feel "he" is a chimera with DNA from two different zygotes fused into one cat. Genetic testing will confirm him as either a chimera or a mosaic. His colors include white, black, and red, appearing to resemble his flame point sire in the face and his tortie dam along the body, except where the white of the Himalayan pattern has overcome the tortie pattern. I refer to Possum as a boy because he has male genitalia, but he also has female coloration from the tortie pattern. So he is presumed to be both male and female. Look for Possum to appear in shows from time to time as an exhibition cat. He is as sweet as he is both beautiful & unique. And don't even attempt to make an offer, as Possum is staying at Donegal Cattery.

You can read more about how Possum came into existence by clicking on thislink:

junior showmanship

Kasey Milliken at the senior level and her Junior Showmanship Cats:

"My name is Kasey Milliken and I am 14 years old. On November 15th I flew from Charlotte, NC to Houston, Tx for the 2001 International Cat Show.

Many kids from different regions were invited to the cat show for free, but I wasn't. I saved my money from mowing lawns and baby-sitting for the show.

I had never flown to a show before, so it was very exciting for me. My mentor, Jeanne O'Donnell, went with me. We have been going to cat shows since 1999 and I wanted to get into Junior Showmanship showing my CPC Persian, so I did.

At the International Show I had the most fun making new friends and learning. Now don't think because I said learning, that I mean like school, but like fun learning, or getting your adrenaline pumping because it is a competition. I had lots of fun and made a friend named Susan and we talked and talked.

Junior Showmanship is a competition where the kid acts as the Judge and presents their cat. The real Judge judges the kid and not the cat. There is Novice, Open, Junior and Senior levels. I'll tell you that the first few shows are a little scary at first, but then it gets better. I am now an Open and on my way to that Senior level.

Even though I didn't win at the International Show, I still enjoyed the experience. Junior Showmanship is a load of fun, and I encourage all cat lovers everywhere to try it and see how much fun they have, like me, and many others."

Cat Tracks, Winter 2001-2002, page 6

I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the many breeders who have mentored me in breeding and showing my Himalayans and Persians, some of which are listed below.

Teresa Schroeder of NewDestiny Cattery, who was responsible for my interest in breeding show quality Himalayans by giving me a challenge I couldn’t refuse and selling me my first breeder.

Garry Hollingsworth of Impression Persians, who provided me with Topsy, my first grand.

Linda Fisher of InTheWind Cattery, who sold me my foundation cat, Ronan, responsible for siring some beautiful show cats.

Anita & Deane Marlin, who have provided me with some beautiful cats for breeding.

Gail & Jackie Ogden who made it possible for me to produce a show kitty that had a stupendous show career as a kitten, CH Donegal's Hawaiin Ginger.

Colin & Lyn Bayliss of Beaubell Cattery, who entrusted me with one of their beautiful show kittens, a dilute calico, to enhance the Persian type in my chocolate & lilac breeding program.

Many others who have become my wonderful show friends.

And last, but not least, Kasey Milliken, without whose help I couldn’t have handled the enormous task of showing all my cats.

CH Donegals Irish Step Dancer (Stepper)