News at Chemicoons

Chemicoons Pretty Boy Roy at 10 months of age

July 2008

We've updated many of our pages with photos from owners:

Angel
Henry
Gabby
Ziggy
Roy
Kitty
Topaz
Rosie
Johnny
Igloo
Blizzard
Snow Flake
Snow Drift
McGurk

The last half of June was quite exciting. First, we welcomed Lassie's first litter on June 17. We're thrilled to have a pair of beautiful babies nicknamed Mary & Dale. Our very first red classic tabby w/white and silver classic tabby.

The last weekend of the month was spent at a show where Chemicoons Gunner Blue made his debut and what a debut it was! At almost 11 months of age, this was his first show. Not only did he enjoy the show, he did very, very well. Blue earned the title of Grand Champion Alter the first DAY of the show! He went on to pick up 9 finals, including a Best Alter, and was second best all-breed alter in show! I thank his wonderful owners, Betsy & Tom Vorbeck, for allowing Blue to spend cat show weekends with me. I am looking forward to showing him more this summer & fall.

Blue's traveling companion, our very own Fire, also did quite well at the show, bringing home 10 finals!

The first weekends of the new show season brought us a new Supreme Grand Champion! Introducing Regional Winner, Supreme Grand Champion Witchcraft Flash Fire of Chemicoons. and Regional Winner, Supreme Grand Champion Chemicoons Sin City Sue of LAPD.

Thank you to all of the judges that have given Fire such praise and to Debbie Lopeman who made her Best Cat and thus a Supreme! And to Fire's breeder, Burgi, for this amazing girl.

Thank you to Emmons & Lindy Brown for loving Sue and showing her off so well. And thank you to not the one, but the FIVE judges who gave Sue the Best Championship Cat award she needed to earn the title and making her Best All-Breed Cat in Show!

This past season (2007-2008) has proven to be our most successful yet. This year's Regional Winners include:

*We are especially proud because all five wins are of GIRLS. Beating the larger males can be a difficult task in the breed, let alone finishing the show season in the top 20 of all the breeds. Great job girls!!

I was proud to be witness to the latest Chemicoons' title winner - QGCA Chemicoons Virgil von Vegas, when he did so well at the Longview, Washington, show. It was great to see my sweet boy again and get to show him in a few rings for his mom & dad. Thanks to Karen and Randy for not only showing him so well, but for spoiling him rotten! Click here for photos of their trip with their boys.

The end of the show season is quickly approaching and we are keeping an eye on the standings. We've had a great year and appreciate the 3 week break from showing before starting up again next season (May 3).

Rosie and her babies are leaving us this month. While saying good-bye is difficult, their new owners are overjoyed with excitement for their new additions.

Lassie has been bred to Frosty and we are now awaiting confirmation of her pregnancy!

Fire surprised us twice this month with becoming not only a one-show grand, but a ONE DAY Grand Champion! At her second show as an adult, at barely 9 months old, she became a Quadruple Grand Champion and more exciting than that was she was BEST ALL-BREED CAT IN SHOW! We attended one of the largest TICA shows of the year and to earn such an honor is amazing. Go Fire!

Many thanks to Fire's cheering section at this show which included my mom, grandma, best friend Jan Dell, and the following friends: Margie & Phil Berger, Kim McDaniel, Kris Hurst, Anne Paplanus, Tereasa Brainerd, Micheline England and others.

Tony (at his 3rd show ever) earned the title of Grand Champion Alter and with that, retired from showing (he wasn't all that excited about it anyway).

But the most exciting news is for my best friend, Jan Dell, who now (thanks to Tony and nine other Grand-offspring) has an Outstanding Sire (OS LA IW SGC Woodpile Hoot n Holler) - we love you Hoot!!

Fire has continued her winning ways in the show hall. She was best Maine Coon kitten in show and 4th Best All-Breed kitten (out of 50+ kittens) at a recent show, picking up ELEVEN finals, including a Best All-Breed kitten award.

HCM Screenings Results: Both Lassie (echo #1) and Marie (echo #3) passed their echocardiograms with board-certified cardiologist Dr. Deborah Fine with flying colors! Reports to be posted soon.

The first of the month (and year) brought to us not only a new girl, Witchcraft Flash Fire of Chemicoons, but also her breeder, Walburga Petz, who came from Austria to deliver her! We are very excited about Fire and she's already proven to be a great show cat earning 7 finals in her first US show! Thank you to Burgi for such a wonderful young lady!

After a 10 hour labor & delivery marathon, Rosie found herself with a litter of six fat & healthy kittens on January 29! Five boys and a girl.

I have recently been appointed to the Awards Review Committee of The International Feline Foundation and look forward to working with the committee to establish award criteria, review award applications and make funding recommendations to the TIFF Board of Directors.

What a SUPREME month it has been. The first weekend of the month, Chemicoons McGurk Momie, became the first supreme of the month - now having the title Supreme Grand Champion Alter after picking up not only the one required Best needed, but earning a total of four over the weekend and being 2nd Best All-breed alter in show. Our sincere thanks to Gurk's owners, Carol & Steve Welch, for showing him so well.

Two weekends following, the month got even better as we came home from Indiana with TWO more Supremes - SGCA Woodpile Americium of Chemicoons (aka Glitter) and SGC Woodpile Combustion of Chemicoons (aka Lassie). Lassie did this at the age of 9 months & in just three shows (an incredible feat for any cat, let alone a female)!

We're also thrilled that Rosie has been bred & is expecting her first litter in mid-January. Also, see what's we're planning for Late Winter/Early Spring 2008 for Lassie.

Our sweet Lassie not only became a ONE SHOW Grand Champion, at 8 months and 3 days of age, she was also 3rd Best All-Breed Cat in Show! To add to it, the following weekend our Virgil (Chemicoons Virgil Von Vegas) became a Grand Champion Alter! Way to go Karen & Randy.

We continue to watch Marie & Hoot's litter develop into a beautiful & fun group of kittens.

Lassie ended her kitten career in Salt Lake City with 9 finals (the last one she earned was a BEST)! I look forward to continuing to show her in the adult class.

Pictured left is (front) Grand Champion Alter Chemicoons Virgil Von Vegas & his brother (back) Grand Champion Alter Woodpile Fletcher Fitzgerald. They are spoiled by Randy & Karen in Washington.

The first of the month I found myself at my first ever TICA Annual (the largest show of the year) and I was happy to be there with friends. I could never have imagined that I would also be bringing home the 3^rd Best Maine Coon kitten in show! In a class of 22 Maine Coon kittens, 68 longhaired kittens and 130+ allbreed kittens, sweet Lassie did amazingly well. She took Best of Breed twice and earned 3^rd Best & BEST awards! See photos.

At the end of September, Rosie had her heart evaluated and was found to be free of HCM or any other abnormalities of the heart. She will have her hips x-rayed at the beginning of October and should be bred sometime late October or early November!

The beginning of the month & we already have exciting news - Marie & Hoot welcomed their second litter together on August 4. We have a litter of seven babies! Four brown classic tabbies, two brown classic tabbies with white and our very first BLUE classic tabby with white. Our sincere thanks to dear friends The Dell's for allowing Marie to spend another summer with Hoot. Hoot is a very special Maine Coon & we are honored that we were able to repeat this incredible breeding.

Regional Awards for the 2006-2007 Show Season: No top 20's this year, but our cats did earn many color & breed awards. Glitter was Best Blue Torbie w/white in the GL Region & 2nd Best Blue Torbie w/white Internationally! Izzy was second best silver tabby w/white in the GL region and Marie was BEST Brown Tabby in the GL Region for the 2nd straight year! And for breed placement - Rosie was 5th Best Maine Coon Kitten (with just showing at 4 & 5 months of age), Glitter was 2nd Best Maine Coon Alter and McGurk was 5th Best Maine Coon Alter - for the GL Region!

We took the month off from showing as we are raising Izzy's kittens and expecting a litter from Marie the beginning of August!

Kittens, Kittens, Kittens! Izzy surprised us (x-ray only showed five) with a litter of six on June 1.

The newest addition to the Chemicoons' household is Woodpile's Combustion of Chemicoons. This brown torbie fit right into our home & is Rosie's new best friend. Thanks to the Dell's for another outstanding kitten.

End of the month, the Good & the Sad....Rosie ended her kitten career with a BEST Longhair kitten award (and a handful of others) at the Indiana, TICA Cat show. I've had a blast showing this beautiful girl as a kitten - too bad she split the show season due to her birthdate. She will, however, be starting her adult career in July/August. And Lassie, Woodpile's Combustion of Chemicoons, at just 4 months old, proved she can take on her big sister, Rosie, and the other beautiful Maine Coon kittens, earning two Best of Breeds and four top 10 finals (including a 2nd Best Longhair Kitten) at the same show. And the best part of all was that she enjoyed being shown!

Now for the sad news, Chemicoons' has lost its first cat - Chemicoons Mr. Papagiorgio (aka George) passed over the Rainbow Bridge on June 27, 2007.

Rosie's show career has begun with much excitement & success. Unfortunately, due to her birth date, she split the show season, but we are thrilled to report that she was in her (and our) first Best of the Best presentation the last weekend of April. She was 3rd Best All-Breed kitten in show. The following weekend, she did even better - 2nd Best All-Breed kitten in show & Best Longhair kitten in show! She's definitely exceeded my expectations and has a wall full of rosettes already at just 5 months of age.

Marie & Hoot's litter of four have all hit the show halls this month and found great success! Each have earned no fewer than 3 finals in their first shows and both Rosie and Virgil brought home Best Kitten awards! Photos coming soon. Also having show success this month was Chemicoons McGurk Momie as he now has the title of Triple Grand Champion Alter and sister Chemicoons Madame Marie Curie as she has the title of Double Grand Champion - we couldn't be more proud of this big, sweet guy and his equally lovely sister!

We said good-bye to Gale (Marie & Hoot kitten) as she headed home with our friend, Christine, of Belgium, after a nice visit. Gale will be a breeding cat at Mainewalk cattery.

We're happy to report that Izzy & Jack screened clear for HCM at Ohio State University & are expecting their first litter in early June! Marie had her second annual echocardiogram and also passed with flying colors. A hot date with Hoot is on her dance card for the early summer.

And if this month didn't have enough to brag about, we're thrilled to learn that two more of our cats are featured in magazines!

Pictured above is a beautiful painting of our cats Barney & Marie done by artist Veronica Blazewicz.

We've decided that we're keeping Rosie from Marie & Hoot's current litter. See photos of her & her littermates here.

We're thrilled to announce Marie & Hoot's litter arrived on Veteran's Day (Nov 11)! See them here.

And although we miss her terribly, Glitter is now a Quadruple Grand Champion Alter and lives with my parents in Chicago where she'll continue to be shown.

We're thrilled to announce Marie is expecting her 2nd litter (due mid-November)!

We've also received lots of photos from Bella & Allie's new family. They are best of friends, as they were when they lived at our house.

Sadly, after spending the summer with us, RW SGC Chemicoons Catalyst of Woodpile, went back to Washington. We really enjoyed having the Rowdy Rascal with us & hope he'll come back!

We're thrilled to announce that Allie has gone to live with the Carvers, who recently adopted kitten Bella form us! We know she'll be just as spoiled & loved as Bella.

We're thrilled to welcome Coonbitzky Isotope of Chemicoons (aka Izzy) into our home. Thanks to our good friends, Laura and Joe, for another Coonbitzky beauty!

Our little princess (yes, we still refer to her as this) Chemicoons Tawnie Momie (formerly kitten Ava) was FINALLY able to beat her handsome brothers, Seamus & McGurk, and other Maine Coon alters in a show, thus earning the TICA title Champion Alter. Way to go Princess!!

We've received pictures from both Bella & Caesar's new families and they're both settling in well. Click here to see them.

Late in the month, we sadly said good-bye to kitten Caesar as he went to live with his forever family. We miss him terribly, but are thrilled to know he's loved so much by his new family. Stay tuned for pictures.

Our most exciting news of the month was the final standings for the 2005-2006 TICA show season. We had our first Regional Winners & most successful season yet!

Thus far, we've had a pretty exciting month - our sweet girl, Glitter aka Woodpile Americium of Chemicoons, became a Double Grand Champion. Upon "granding" she made her mom, CH Pinecoon Tapestry of Woodpile, an Outstanding Dam. And she did so in great style, with a Best All-Breed Cat Award! It was our very first Best Cat & we are so pleased with her. Now she will look forward to being a mom (we hope). Her heart & hips have also been screened & she's got a mid-summer date planned with with Rowdy (SGC Chemicoons Catalyst of Woodpile).

We've also received updated photos of Chemicoons cats Sofia & Oscar, who live together in Illinois.

We also received the good news that Marie, Rowdy, Glitter & Striker are negative for the one known DNA mutation associated with HCM.

Unfortunately, we have two positive results - on our first Maine Coons, Barney & Gus. Both are neutered and thankfully, never produced any kittens.

I've also finished & published my first issue of MCBFA's "Scratch Sheet". If you are interested in a subscription or would like to see a preview click here.

January 2006: Well, 2005 ended in very sad news.....RW SGC Calicoon Sherman, OS (father of our previous litters) died at the age of 14. We are extremely grateful to his owner/breeder, Lynne Sherer, for letting us have litters from Sherman and even more so, for letting us get to know him. Sherman was not only an outstanding sire & show cat, but an all-around wonderful cat. His daughter, DGC Chemicoons Madame Marie Curie, reminds us of him everyday. Rest in peace sweet boy, and thank you.

There was some good news this month. First, I was thrilled to be appointed the editor of MCBFA's newsletter, The Scratch Sheet. If you are interested in a subscription, click here. Also, we are overjoyed at the announcement of the breakthrough in HCM research. Find out more details & how to contribute by clicking HERE.

December 2005: We've started yet another month with exciting show news. In Seattle, at The Maine Event's show (a club we're members of), I was thrilled to be present for our first SUPREME - Chemicoons Catalyst of Woodpile is now a Supreme Grand Champion! Our very first. Also at the show, his littermate, Chemicoons McGurk Momie, became a Double Grand Champion Alter and thus making his mom, whom we leased for the litter, an Outstanding Dam! Four of the five "grands" came from our litter (at did it at less than 10 months of age).

Topping off the weekend was Allie's performance at her last kitten show, also at the Seattle show. We'll be keeping an eye on the regional standings for her final placement. She had a wonderful kitten career and we look forward to showing her as an adult.

November 2005: We're very excited about the newest addition to our home & breeding program, Woodpile Americium of Chemicoons, aka Glitter. Glitter is from our good friends, Jan & Peter Dell, of Washington. She's a blue classic torbie & white, a different color for us, completely unrelated to either Marie or Allie, and the sweetest kitten in the world (Jan says that's just like her dad, Ahnold). More details and pictures coming soon!

Marie's hips & heart screened clear, so she'll be ready to be bred this winter/spring.

October 2005: Yet again, Rowdy (Chemicoons Catalyst of Woodpile) has given us much to be proud of. At the age of 8 months and 1 week of age, Rowdy earned 14 of 16 finals, and the title of Triple Grand Champion. Not only is he the first Chemicoons grand champion, he earned that title in one day! The following weekend, he became a Quadruple Grand Champion.

Later in the month, his siblings followed suit. At only 8 months of age, we're very proud to announce yet another one-show grand, GCA Chemicoons Seamus Momie & a two-show grand, our girl, DGC Chemicoons Madame Marie Curie. Show pictures coming soon.

Toping that, our Allie (Coonbitzky Aldehyde of Chemicoons) has made her presence known in the kitten class. Stay tuned for more of her results, and also pictures.

September 2005: The month has started with a BANG...thanks to Rowdy (Chemicoons Catalyst of Woodpile). See pictures of him at TICA's Annual or view the TICA International Standings. Rowdy's been racking up the Best Kitten awards. We couldn't be more proud. Even Brad is excited!

August 2005: Sophie and Sherman's kids continue to make their presence known across the country in the TICA show halls. Click here for more results.

We're also proud that both Allie & Ozzy had a great summer show. Ozzy earned four finals and the title Triple Grand Champion Alter. Little Allie is just 4 months old, not eligible for similar titles, but did bring home 7th & 8th Best All-Breed kitten awards.

July 2005: It's been another busy month. The first of the month we found ourselves, and our kitties, traveling cross-country. We've temporarily relocated to Las Vegas. We'll be living between St. Louis and Vegas, so if you are interested in a cat/kitten, please feel free to contact us.

Our house warming gift from Mocha was the birth of her son, Mr. Papagiorgio. This was her last litter.

We'd like to COONgratulate Allie & Mr. Papagiorgio's dad, IW, RW, SGC Coonbitzky's Dillon the Bandit, LA, on his amazing accomplishment, earning TICA's coveted Lifetime Achievement award.

June 2005: We're thrilled to announce the arrival of our newest girl, Coonbitzky's Aldehyde of Chemicoons. We also brought a very pregnant Mocha home. Thanks to Joe & Laura for our sweet Allie, loving and caring for Mocha so well, and for their hospitality.

May 2005: It has been a busy month. Since we raise our kittens "under foot", all eight of Sophie's kittens have been, literally, under our feet since they started running the entire house in early April. Now, as they start to leave, our home is feeling empty. In addition to seven of the eight leaving (Marie is staying with us), both Sophie and Tardy are leaving.

We are anxious to have Mocha return to us and she's pregnant! Additionally, there will be some exciting events this summer so stay tuned for further details.......

April 2005: We're thrilled to report that Mocha's 2nd HCM screening again showed she is completely clear of the disease. Color Echocardiogram and examination was performed, as it was last year, by Dr. Deborah Fine of the University of Missouri's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Her daughter, Carbon Tetrachloride, was given an assessment, no echo due to her young age, and at this time has no murmur. She'll be screened later this year when she is a year old.

I've finally finished modifying an article about the cost of pet-quality kittens. Click here to read it.

March 2005: As if February wasn't hard enough, we had to say goodbye to our very first kitten, Laurel. She's now Chemicoons Carbon Sulfide and lives in Champaign, Illinois, with Molly & Kyle who love her as much as we do. And since it was so hard to see her leave, we've decided to keep her sister, Tardy....who is now Chemicoons Carbon Tetrachloride (Chloe). A special thanks for my mentor, Betsy Tinney, for understanding our need to keep one of our first babies (she was slated to be a Pinecoon cat).

February 2005: We're very sad to say that we decided to place our girl, Ginny, as an only pet. She grew increasingly unhappy in our house and we wanted her to be happy. She's living life as a spoiled, only pet in Kansas now. We miss her terribly.

January 2005: Sophie's brew has arrived. We have a house full of brown classic tabbies! Just like Mocha's, Sophie's babies are all brown classic tabbies (all EIGHT of them). Click here to learn more.

November 2004: Mocha's girls have arrived! We're thrilled with our two beautiful brown classic tabbies. Click here to learn more.

September 2004: We're thrilled at the new addition (albeit only temporary) of CH Woodpile Sophisticat. Sophie is on lease to us from friend Jan Dell of Woodpile, and is Mocha's half-sister. We will be breeding Sophie and hope to have babies from her sometime this winter.

We're also happy to report that our only non-Maine Coon cat, Scooby, is now certified as a therapy cat. She passed her intensive training and evaluation with flying colors. Although Barney remains my primary "visiting" pet, she does have one facility which she will call her own.

August 2004: It is with very heavy hearts that we report the loss of Mocha's first litter. They were born more than a week too early and couldn't be saved. Mocha has recovered very quickly and will be bred again to Sherman sometime soon. Paws crossed the second time is a charm.

July2004: Mocha finally went into season (after 2 months of being away from home) and was bred on the 4th of July. We're expecting our first litter on September 7 from CH Pinecoon's Carbon of Chemicoons and RW, SGC Calicoon Sherman, OS. A huge thank you to Lynne Sherer and Beth Hicks for caring for Mocha those 2 LONG months and for their support, advice, and friendship.

The Spring 2004 issue of IAMS' Your Cat Magazine has arrived and not only features Gus for the first time, but also our little Ginny. Click here for the pictures. Barney has been our family's only star, but seems like Gus & Ginny are going to give him a run for his money!

April 2004: Although Mocha didn't quite make the title of Grand Champion, at just her second show as an adult, she did get 1/2 way there. Our Miss Mocha was awarded two Best Maine Coon Cat honors, and a 3rd and 4th Best All-Breed Cat awards! We couldn't be happier. This all occurred at a TICA show in Chicago.

After a thorough inspection by our licensed vet (the house/cattery, cats & our breeding goals) and passing with a perfect rating, we've been awarded the highest distinct in TICA as a OUTSTANDING CATTERY and in CFA as a CATTERY OF EXCELLENCE! In addition, we're part of TICA's Responsible Breeder Program.