The Latest News on Milo Piddlewhiskers

Here's a 'teen' pic of Milo Piddlewhiskers.  He was the first of 3 kittens born December 7th and is the handsomest young fellow.  His eyes are turning more golden each day, like his parents.  They are pictured at the link above, so you can see that Milo takes after his father, Route 66 King Arthur of Piddlewhiskers & Snugglesworth.
Milo is a blue Selkirk Rex.  Blue is the name of his color, and Selkirk Rex is his breed.  When parents like his have kittens, about half are curly and about half are straight-haired like a normal cat.  So in developing the curly breed we say he is a "Nonstandard".  However, he is definitely a Selkirk Rex, even though he looks almost exactly like a British Shorthair except his tail is a bit long and his shape is just slightly less cobby.  He's going to be beautiful-- with his father's sleek thick light colored fur and his mother's intelligence. 

Milo is the guy who always comes to peep into the dishwasher when I'm putting up the dishes.  He has a fascination with that dishwasher and sort of listens to it run.  He lets me bathe him gently.  We sometimes find him sleeping on the foot of the bed when we wake up in the morning.  And he to my office to explore and be petted.  Occasionally, he wants to see some place he cannot reach-- the bathroom dressing table, inside the shower stall where Gracie and Arthur's 'big cat' litter box is, etc.  I help him out in getting to places that one day he will eventually be able to reach on his own.  He's a little bit shy and hides when company comes over.  He loves to play around my quilting area and tussles around in the quilting strips or watches the sewing machine intently.

We'd like to get to know someone who would like to have Milo as a permanent family member, an indoor cat who will be neutered and current on his shots when he comes to you.  If you ever decide you cannot keep him, then we would like to have him back because we want him to have a great life.  He's so precious, sweet and cuddly. 

If he takes after the Brit side of the family, he'll be an aloof  king of the house, presiding over everyone and everything, calling the shots and letting you know when he will permit you to pet him.  Actually, his father Arthur is a bit more easygoing and approachable, even coming in to remind me when it is bedtime so he can take his post at the foot of the bed until we fall asleep.   Arthur is intrigued by toes.  He wants to lay by them.  He wants to lick them.  And it tickles.  Thus far, Milo has not developed his father's fascination, although Dudley likes toes.

(Our previous Brit, Shadow, was a bit of a curmudgeon in his elder years and would whip his tail around spatting in displeasure--- either just for fun or if he was offended because the water bowl was not quite fresh enough.  Any number of things would merit his indignation.  But it led to running a tight ship just as he liked it around here.)

Milo is named after my great-great uncle Milo Johnson, who had a brother named Dudley also.  But we've held off on registering the litter so his new family can give him a different name if they prefer.  His champion bloodlines on both sides of the family are just amazing, and he has some famous ancestors.  He is of course trained to use the litterbox, current on his shots and will come to you disease-free and neutered.  We would like to find a family for him who is settled down and can make a committment to a pet for 15 years, and we'd be especially happy if he could end up in a home with one of his brothers or another cat so they could be companions.  Please contact me at 918-696-3175 if you would be interested in becoming his 'forever' family.

Dudley Piddlewhiskers

His name is Dudley Piddlewhiskers, but I've reserved back his registration papers in case you would like to name him.  Dudley's birthday is December 7th.  He's a Selkirk Rex breed, and the son of lines of champions on both sides of the family.  You can see Dudley's mother and father here.  Dudley is a cream curly.  "Cream" is the breed standard name for his color. "Curly" signifies that he carries (and expresses) the gene for curly fur.  See how Dudzer's whiskers curl up?  And he is a sweetheart.  He'll wake up from his nap and come over to be stroked on his cheek or arch his back to get petted.  Dudley has always lived indoors and needs to live in a home where he is kept inside.  This will help to keep your pet healthy.  He is up to date on his shots and is screened for possible diseases that might shorten his life.  By getting a healthy kitten, it helps you and your family to have the assurance that you won't become attached to a new 'family member' that could die young or carry a communicable disease.  Our 3 little kittens have been raised in our home, with social interaction with people and their parents.  Dudley is curious and friendly, agile and comical.  Dudley is sort of quiet, but occasionally calls out to see where everyone else is and what they are doing.  At about 12 weeks, he will be old enough to come to his permanent home without being too lonesome.  He would do nicely with a family with children as the only indoor pet, or with one of his brothers in the home of an older couple.  Our agreement with Gracie's breeder, is that if placed as a pet Dudley will be neutered, and he can only be bred by us.  If you are interested in making him a member of your family, we would just be delighted if you'd contact us at 918-696-3175.

Lilac Selkirk Rex

Lilac Selkirk Rex of Piddlewhiskers & Snugglesworth

While searching for the time to launch our cattery website for Piddlewhiskers & Snugglesworth, here is an updated pic of this sweet little female Selkirk Rex lilac.  We're assuming she is a female, that is.  And we are also assuming she is a lilac, for she has the soft wispy color more like her father who is a lilac British Shorthair.  Her new family can give her her real official registered name, and for now I am informally calling her Lilly Piddlewhiskers.  Her registration name will begin with Piddlewhiskers.  She is beginning to open her eyes (12/22/2010).  She is the curious one, who approaches everything to investigate, on wobbly legs.  Well, it is more like she raises up and falls forward or rolls to the side.  I think she will be walking soon.  Her nose is dark purple but her paw pads are bright pink.  If she were a brit, that would meet the lilac color category at TICA (The International Cat Association, Inc.).  She is officially a Selkirk Rex, or will be when the litter is registered.   She has her daddy's smile.  And she has thick long, long whiskers like her father, too.  Maybe her name should start with an M because she has an M on her forehead.  She carries for dilute, smoke, red, black and white, agouti.  Her ancestors are Brit and Selkirk, Persian and Exotic... and of course a famous ole black and white curly barn cat named Oskar No-Face Kowalski.

The Good Mother

Lyriccurls Gracie Piddlewhiskers, Selkirk Rex

Gracie's litter of 3 chubby baby kittens were born in December, and she seemed surprised when she had them, but has taken to motherhood with amazing skill.  This pic is rare because it shows her curly whiskers.  That's how you know a Selkirk curly at birth-- and one of her 3 babies does have the characteristic curly little whiskers.  Two, we think, will be "straights" or darling fuzzy kinky pet kittens but just not so curly that they'll be suitable for carrying on the Selkirk qualities.

Buttercream curly female.  Buttercream isn't an official breed quality, but it best describes the colors of this sweet pudgy lil female, and she has the curls.   She is Gracie's special one, and almost intuitively Gracie holds her close under the paw.  I think they say that Tomcats sometimes try to seperate away the kittens that they think are not their own.  The time will come that we will have to part with these darlings, but for now we're delighting in having a kitten family.  She is going to have Gracie's prominent cheeks and pointed chin.



Announcing Selkirk Rex Kittens

On December 7th, 3 new kittens were born in our family.  The mom is Lyriccurls Gracie Piddlewhiskers, a registered Selkirk Rex.  The father is Route 66 King Arthur of Piddlewhiskers & Snugglesworth.  The first was the blue cream ticked or spotted  agouti.  See how the one on your right has a bicycle handlebar light mustache?  It is probably a girl.  Next was a cute little curly cream, which looks like Gracie's sister Daphne.  The youngest was this little dark smoke, shown on the left.  Before this one was one stillborn with long smoke blue straight fur.

I'm writing this on Day 3.  Each kitten is developing a unique personality, or perhaps already has a unique personna that we're beginning to notice.  The cream-colored kitten  is Momma's Favorite.  Gracie holds her between her arms when sleeping, gently, warmly and protectively.  The spotty blue cream one has a big wide head like Arthur, and will carry more of the cobby type of a British Shorthair.  This is a characteristic that breeders are encouraged to develop by mating Selkirks with Brits.  And the sweet little smoky dark one is the most easly satisfied.  At the moment it is having a bodacious milkfest, having awakend from a nap underneath the creamy kitten. 

They seem to be interested in seeing the world but just can't quite open their eyes.  The first day, their little ears were pinned down and now those cute ears are 'flowering'  but still look like the ears of an American Curl.

Gracie is a Selkirk Rex, registered with CFA.  Her heritage traces back to Oscar No-Face Kowalski, the first generation from the first curly cat:  Miss DePesto.  Gracie's sire is Merlin (Kurlipurrz Merlin), a Blue Silver Tabby Longhair.  He was named #1 in the TICA Southwest Region as a kitten.  Gracie's mother is Kurlipurrz Josie Blue Belle.

Arthur is a Lilac British Shorthair and is registered with TICA.  Piddlewhiskers & Snugglesworth, our Cattery is also registered with TICA.  TICA stands for The International Cat Association.  Arthur's sire is Alcmena Smokey, and you can see his picture.   Arthur's mother is Anahata Evelin (known as Misty to her family) and her baby pics are here.  You can see her pedigree, too.

These kittens will be for sale. Their gender has not yet been determined. The cream curly kitten will probably be $1,200, including breeding rights. The "lilac" blue cream will be about $800, including breeding rights if curly, or $250 if straight. The sweet darling little smoke will be a precious pet, neutered, about $250.  It is customary to reserve a particular kitten before it reaches 12 weeks of age and can go to its new home.  We want to make sure that our kittens will have good homes, because they are our family members. 

Sweet Gracie Piddlewhiskers

Sweet Little Gracie Piddlewhiskers, Selkirk Rex Breed

Sweet Gracie Piddlewhiskers has an announcement.  She will be having some darling little grey blue curly babies, about the second week in December.   Gracie is registered with CFA and the father is Route 66 King Arthur of Piddlewiskers & Snugglesworth.  He's a big lilac British Shorthair of international grand champion ancestors.  This is her first litter, and she's sort of clued-in to the fact that something is brewing in her tummy.  She's very affectionate.  She's always looking for yet another nest, and has about 5 ideal suitable locations scoped out for December.

Kittens will be sexed and typed by Christmas, but will be ready to leave home around Valentine's Day.  If you would be interested in a show, breed or pet kitten, contact me at ktibbits@lrec.org , so I can let you know more as the news develops!

Gracie Models Green Topper Quilt

Green Topper Quilt

Gracie Piddlewishkers, aka The Vanna White of Zion Community, is here modelling a green topper quilt, one of several in a series of quilt tops for the descendants of Bertie Carter.  Gracie is not only an attractive model but also a sewing helper extraordinaire.  She's wanting to snuggle because it is late and I am preparing this blog ahead of time.

Gracie's Easter Picture

Gracie Piddlewhiskers

Selkirk Rex

This photo ws taken by Katy Winbray Brinkley, who is Gracie's big sister and a real human.    

I am amazed at how different breeds have different characteristics.  Some cats come from an ancient history of catching their prey around the watering holes of Asia and Africa, and these cats are not shy of water.  We know a lot about Gracie Piddlewhiskers because we have her family history back twenty plus years.  And there are no Servals or Asian Leopard Cats in there.  Yet, she is a water-tolerant cat.  Today, I gave her a shower.  And she comes running if she thinks there is an opportunity to watch the bathroom sink faucet running or.. even better... to watch the toilet flush.  After she has a shower, she licks her curly fur all over.  I thought that was about the sandalwood perfumed soap I had used on her last time, so today I only held her in my arms under the water (all but her head) and didn't use anything for fear that she might ingest soap that would upset her tummy.  But she licked her fur down anyway.  Afterward, she seemed pleased to be so curly and all primped up.  She spent a lovey morning on Dennis' lap and then took over his office chair when he left to go to the school where he was holding a speech pathology clinic today.  

Our other cat is Zigmund Cadbury  Snugglesworth, a British Shorthair cat.  The wisdom is that British Shorthair breed cats are distinctively not 'luvvey' cats-- they're aloof and dictatorial.  I don't see Ziggy as dictatorial, but Shadow his predecessor certainly was the boss around here.  He'd whip his tail as if to say, "YOU don't call the shots.  I make the decisions around here."  And he'd jump up and rub his tail right across your mouth as if to say "zip it" if he didn't like something.  As for Ziggy, he's just spooky and shy and aloof.  Somehow these qualities make one feel honored when he does come around for petting or just to be in the milleu of Den's computer game or my quilting.  His eyes are stunning.  I'll post a picture update for him soon, as his previous family in OKC must be curious about how he looks now at almost seven months of age.  

Gracie Discovers Mudme

 

It makes a world of difference to be able to create hand-dyed fabrics during the day, when natural light helps with color decisions.  Last week I was preparing  fat quarters for a custom order, and found that I had stockpiled some white cotton squares.  It was news to me.  I'd forgotten that I was prepping them for the dyebath.

When I had leftover chemicals that I didn't want to waste, I made up these great cheery color squares.  They are not sewn together... they are just laid out in a possible pattern for a quilt top.  Buy all 9 for $40 and sew them together yourself as a weekend project.  Or pick out which one you'd like for a quilt focal point, just $4 and mailing costs of $1.75.  Note that these are not fat quarters... they are squares, about 21 inches.

My cute lil model is Gracie Piddlewhiskers, our Selkirk Rex female teenager cat and art muse.  She's always nearby to help with art projects.  Your squares will be again prewashed before mailing, so you don't have to worry about allergies.

Look for these squares at Island Retreat or via Oklahoma Food Cooperative, or email me about purchasing.

Gracie Kisses The Camera

Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.   

~ Howard Thurman

 Gracie Kisses the Camera

Gracie Piddlewhiskers

from Lyricurls Cattery 

Meet Gracie.  She's a Selkirk Rex.  Here she just kissed the camera with her nose.  She's very sweet and affectionate.  She comes to us from Lyricurls Cattery.  She has one sister, Daphne, who is just darling and is ready to get a home.  Special thanks to Delaina Jones for letting us become Gracie's humans.  Lyricurls also has a long-haired cute black and white kitten available.