PrairieBaby Maine Coon Cats
January 2008
Still not fully convinced about the efficacy of the MYBPC3-Gen test, we finally did test our current breeding cats (I admit the reason was probably rather peer pressure than conviction :-)). So for some of you this mail will come as a surprise from ol' stubborn Judith ;))
Here are the results:
CH Bogy-Cats Xenos of Prairiebaby (Tigger) NEGATIVE
CH Prairiebaby Love Covers (Coral) NEGATIVE
Prairiebaby Prairiepaws'n (Songs for) Grace PP (Prairiepaws) NEGATIVE
Prairiebaby Rise Up and Dance PP (Jelly Roll) NEGATIVE
Prairiebaby Mercy Sweet Spring Rain PP (Rayn) NEGATIVE
CH PrairieBaby River Mercies (Ashanti) NEGATIVE (done by a breeder friend)
Prairiebaby Come to the River (Jericho) NEGATIVE (done by a breeder friend)
Furthermore, about 25 to 30 offspring (probably more by now, I lost count) from our breeding have also been tested for the MYBPC3-Gen test by other breeders. As far as I know, all of them were also NEGATIVE.
In deed I feel very blessed and am thankful to the Lord that we have been spared -- so far. However, to be frank, these results did not come as a big surprise or simply a blessing or "luck". We had been doing the color doppler ultrasound thing for almost 10 full years now! There were many, many generations of testing, selecting and outcrossing. So far we have neither had a confirmed HCM result nor any HCM deaths with our Cattery prefix on it -- so far.......(which does not mean this could not happen in the future, if you hear of any differing info, please e-mail me, I would like to know!) (Actually, I almost forgot and had to be reminded - we did have an HCM case reported to us from Germany of a kitten born from pure show lines in 1999. The sire was Cooncreole Ferraday of Prairiebaby who was also diagnosed with HCM also and neutered immediately after).
Sadly, there were breeders who have been testing for HCM *diligently* and then were brutally hit by hetero gene test results. I do believe though that the *majority* of breeders who had been screening by ultrasound for many years did have BY FAR LESS surprises than the people who were under the impression that it was "wiser" to wait for the gene test (note this gene mutation test is ONLY for ONE mutation and NOT to be considered a substitute for the echocardiogram at all!).
I encourage people not to rely on this gene test to feel safe. Instead please DO keep screening current and retired breeding cats for HCM every few years.
PS: we lost MANY of our e-mail addresses during our big move. Would you PLEASE forward this mail to anyone who might be interested? Thanks.
A Happy New Year to All!
December 2007
We finally found some time to update our health statistics page:
September 2007
Our new Cattery facility with outdoor runs is finally finished!! Here is a virtual tour:
July 2007
We did some high foundation content breedings in 2006. Due to our big move to Thunder Bay, Ontario, most of these breedings were done at the Catteries of good friends.
Here is the link:
A big Thank-You to Phyllis Tobias, Sheila Haskins, Corine Lundquist and Astrid Lykken to make these breedings possible for me!
I am very excited to announce that an F3 foundation female from my breeding made a Champion in Switzerland with a new foundation content of 98 %. Champions in Europa aren't as easily obtained as in North America. That is so cool! Thank you Sabine for showing Roxanne!
Note that some of our pages are still very outdated! Let me know if you find big mistakes :))
June 2007
A couple of beautiful new litters here at Prairiebaby. Pictures are now on our Nursery News Page!
Here is an excellent website with information on Polydactylism:
February 2006
Here are our latest OFA results.
CH Bogy-cats Xenos of Prairiebaby (Tigger) OFA prelim "GOOD" at 7 months
CH PrairieBaby Falling Into Grace Again (Estevan) OFA prelim "GOOD" at 10 months
PrairieBaby Rest In Fields Of Grace (Charlotte) OFA prelim "GOOD"at 14 months
PrairieBaby Come To The River (Jericho) OFA prelim "GOOD" at 17 months
PrairieBaby Hopeful Mission (Angelina) OFA prelim "GOOD"at around 10 months, now owned by Heike Niederstebruch
January 2006
Jericho (Prairiebaby Come To The River) is HCM negative at age 16 months. He has PKD tested anchestry and won't be tested for PKD.
We are having so much fun with our Polydactyl line that we are now more and more specializing in Polydactyl Maine Coons.
October 2005
Results of the ACFA show in Sioux Falls, SD, October 29/30:
Bogy-Cat's Xenos of Prairiebaby
BOB, 6th AB
Comment of one of the long time judges: "I think I have never judged a cat this big" :))
Recent HCM testing:
Prairiebaby Rest In His Shadow (Haley)
clear of HCM at age 4.1 (second test)
Prairiebaby Rest In Fields of Grace (Charlotte)
clear of HCM at age 14 months
Prairiebaby Plowman Songs of Freedom (Coldoldbear)
clear of Hcm at age 3.7 (second test)
August 2005
Jelly Roll P had her babies! Watch for details! We presently have a wonderful selection of Polydactyl kittens.
Show results from the ACFA show in Winnipeg, July 9, 10:
Fresh from the press - we just got home from the ACFA show in Winnipeg on July 9/10, two days, total of 8 rings.
Estevan (Prairiebaby Falling Into Grace Again) was shown both days. He did:
2nd BOB,
3rd BOB,
8th AB
Estevan is a Champion now. I am very happy about these results as Estevan is only F5 and ca. 62 % newer foundation. There was a total of 7 Maine Coons, three of them I believe from pure show lines.
Coral (PrairieBaby Love Covers) was also shown both days. She made her Champion as well, but only through BOC wins. Some judges commented on her lovely body and her good size. We probably won't contiune showing her because she won't be able to stand the competition. Coral is only F4 and also ca. 60 % Foundation.
I also showed my two full foundation siblings Joshua and Ashanti, mostly just for fun. Joshua was picked by one of the judges as a third BOB. Joshua finalled 5th Best Longhair Specialty. He is 100 % Canadian foundation and three of the cats he was up against were from pure show lines. I won't be able to claim titles for Joshua or Ashanti, but yes, I feel a little PROUD! :-D
All four cats behaved very, very well at the show which is also pleasing to me as it was the first show for all of them.
Other News in July:
Brock has now become my neutered pet boy. He managed to breed Jelly Roll as his last stand.
Fayre and Charlotte had their babies. They can be found on our Nursery News Page.
Our new breeding male "Tigger" has arrived!! He is so much nicer in real than he looked on the pictures!!
May 2005:
PrairieBaby River Revival
(Franky Frownsalot)
Clear of HCM at age 22 months
(second test!)
Newest OFA results:
PrairieBaby Grace and Dance (HOwdy Powdy)
OFA prelim "Good" at almost 9 months
Prairiebaby Truth Is A River (Langley)
OFA prelim "Good" at 10 months
PrairieBaby Hope Springs Eternal P (Whalebear P)
OFA prelim "Good" at 2o months
River Songs Of Prairiebaby (Laviolette, mother to Langley)
OFA prelim "Excellent" at 18 months
Kumskaka Matilda of Prairiebaby
OFA certified "Fair"
February 2005:
PrairieBaby Hope Springs Eternal P
(Whalebear P)
Clear of HcM and PKD at age 18 months
PrairieBaby Love Covers
(Coral)
PKD negative at age 2.7
Here are our latest OFA results:
PrairieBaby Even So Come
(Sophia)
OFA prelim "Excellent" at 15 months
PrairieBaby River Revival
(Franky Frownsalot)
OFA prelim "Good" at 17 months
PrairieBaby In The River I Remain
(Jazzie Jazz)
OFA prelim "Excellent" at 21 months
Kumskaka Light Walk of PrairieBaby
(Pioneer)
OFA prelim "Excellent" at age 15 months
PrairieBaby Hope OF Eternity
(Sylvan)
OFA prelim "Excellent" at age 12 months
Canada Graceland Of PrairieBaby
(Canada)
OFA
PrairieBaby Rise Up And Dance
(Jelly Roll P)
OFA prelim "Good" at 16 months
December 2004
Here are our latest HCM/PKD Test Results:
PrairieBaby Rest In His Shadow
(Haley)
Clear of HCM and PKD at age 3.4
PrairieBaby Even So Come
(Sophia)
Clear of HCM and PKD at age 15 months
PrairieBaby River Revival
(Franky Frownsalot)
Clear of HCM and PKD at age 17 months
(Franky's LVFWd was a little on the higher range. All other numbers, his pap muscle, mitral valve, left atrial size and ausculation were normal. Franky will be re-tested in 5 or 6 months. We aren't concerned at this point)
PrairieBaby Rise Up And Dance P
(Jelly Roll P)
Clear of HCM and PKD at age 15 months
PrairieBaby In The River I Remain
(Jazzie Jazz)
Clear of HCM and PKD at age 19 months
Athabaske Song of Songs
(Fayre)
Clear of HCM and PKD at age 20 months
TCH PrairieBaby Ambassador of Grace
(Brock)
Clear of HCM at age 3.8 (second test!)
November 2004
HCM Testing News:
Our Coral (PrairieBaby Love Covers) was clear of HCM at age 2 1/2. We have already done a lot of testing in Coral's ancestry, so this is good news! A big thank-you to Natoma Houston for taking my girl to the clinic for me!
*****
October 2004:
HCM Testing News!
The following cats were HCM negative at time of testing:
1.) PrairieBaby Hope Of Eternity (Sylvan)
age: 13 months
2.) PrairieBaby Refuge in Your Shadow (Kasimir)
age: 2 years
A BIG Thank-You to Sheila Haskins for picking up Kasimir from his pet home in Texas for the HCM clinic!
July 2004
Foundation Show News!
Ballet, Nemo and Sylvan became Champions at the ACFA show in Winnipeg on July 3/4. Gracelett needs two more finals to become a Grand Champion. She did 7 x 2nd BOB and also received a 5th All Breed. Nemo did a 2nd BOB and a 10th AB. Ballet behaved much better than at her last show. However, we won't continue showing Lil' Ballet as she just does not enjoy being away from home.
Here is our 9 year old son Julian, showing our Sylvan at the ACFA Junior Class on Saturday:
Sylvan on the judging table,
held by Julian and one of the judges
At Junior class the children have to present their cats, speak about them in detail and fill out a questionnaire about pet care. They are also being watched by the Judges how they handle and treat their cat. Julian and Sylvan received a ribbon and a certificate for second place.:-)
June 2004:
I just received word from Germany that our Eternity (Kumskaka Eternal Mission) is free of HCM for the third time! She was tested at age 2.5, 4.3 and now at age 6. Since we haven't seen any heart problems or sudden deaths in offsprings or siblings of this cat, this HCM test will probably be Eternity's last one.
Eternity is in quite a few newer pedigrees, so this is VERY exciting news!! Hurray!!!!!!!!!!
Here are our newest OFA results:
1.) PrairieBaby Fall Into You P (Dolly P)
OFA prelim *good* at 14 months
2.) Athabaske Song Of Songs (Fayre)
OFA prelim *Good* at 10 months
3.) PrairieBaby Extravagant Love (Bunnypuppy, brother to Coral)
OFA prelim *Good* at 11 months
4.) PrairieBaby Love Covers (Coral, sister to Bunnypuppy)
OFA prelim *Good* at 11 months
5.) TCH PrairieBaby Infinite Grace (Gracelett)
OFA prelim *Fair* at 19 months
6.) Kumskaka Love Everlasting (Evie)
OFA prelim *Good* at 10 months
7.) PrairieBaby Anything for This Love (done early upon request)
OFA prelim *Good* at 6 months
8.) Thunderpaw Simon St. Pierre (Simon)
OFA certified: *Good*
May 2004:
Some close friends have convinced me of the benefits of natural rearing. I have recently switched my entire flock of cats to a raw meat diet. The change in food has definitely doubled my costs in raising a litter. In return we are experiencing many wonderful results in regards to their general health. After mch looking around, we now get our raw meat through the Siamese Rescue shelter in Winnipeg. The food originally comes from an organic farm. We honestly don't know why we haven't considered natural rearing of cats earlier!
(Link copied with permission)
*****
April 2004
Foundation Show News!
At the ACFA show in Fargo, April 3 and 4, our girls achieved the following wins:
1.)
CH PrairieBaby Infinite Grace (Gracelett)
Sire: TCH PrairieBaby Ambassador of Grace (Brock)
Dam: CH PrairieBaby Sonlight of Your Grace (Grace)
BOB
2nd BOB
2nd BOB
9th AB
4th LH SP
Gracelett is F4 and has about 40 % newer foundation lines (Maine/Michigan). We
had 8 rings and there was a total of 5 good quality Maine Coons. I believe that the other 4 cats were from pure show lines.
2.)
PrairieBaby Anything For This Love (Ballet)
Sire: Kumskaka Light Walk of Prairiebaby (Pioneer)
Dam: PrairieBaby Love Covers (Coral)
2nd BOB
2nd BOB
2nd BOB
Ballet is F4 and ca. 60 % from Maine/Canadian/Michigan Foundation lines. The kitten class consisted of 6 fine Maine Coon kittens. I believe that at least four of them were pure show lines.
What can I say? We're happy and thankful!!
*****
The following cats were found free of HCM at time of testing:
PrairieBaby Plowman Songs of Freedom
age of testing: 22 months
Kumskaka Light Walk of Prairiebaby
age of testing: 17 months
February 2004
We just had a healthy full foundation F3 litter. Sire is our Maine boy Simon and dam is our F2 girl Blaze. Details can be seen on our foundation page.
January 2004
The last part of our article on foundation breeding will appear in full color in the next issue of "Maine Attraction". The article deals with questions and concerns that people might have about outcross breeding.
The magazine can be ordered here:
*Maine Attraction* is a well balanced piece of art and a MUST for all Maine Coon Lovers!! Dave and Kim Hawkins have been wonderful people to deal with. They are doing an amazing job!
Before the winter blues fully kicks in, get yourself a copy of this beautiful Full Color Maine Coon magazine soon!
Updates in 2003:
September 2003
Hurray! Little Fayre is here!! Have a look at her page:
August 2003
here are our current foundatin projects:
June 2003:
Cameron's mother Soleil had her 4th healthy litter with the same daddy. Her six babies were born at my neighbor's and she did not need any extra help, like usual. The kittens are F2 and full siblings to our Van boy Cameron. So far there has been a nice consistency in quality and temperament in Soleil's babies, also as grown-ups. So we placed a couple of her kids with foundation breeder collegues who work with early generations. Soleil's son Cameron has also sired three healthy litters. So far he has produced 14 super sweet kittens in a total of three litters (6 with Patchybaby, 4 with Blaze and 4 with Prairiegirl). There were no still births or deformities in any of them. This line is coming along quite well which makes me so happy! New pictures coming soon!
*****
April 2003
Here are some uplifting Show- News for Breeders who are interested in working with new lines:
Gracelett, our F5 female (with approx. 35 % newer foundation lines) was shown on Sunday (one day only) at the ACFA show in Fargo, ND, on April 6.
In a total of 4 rings she did:
2 x Best of Breed
1 x Second Best of Breed
7th Best All Breed (not all judges took MC cats for finals).
Considering the fact that there were 7 whole Maine Coons shown (some of them were already Grands), we think that our Gracelett did very well. The stats below will hopefully convince some people that Maine Coon cats that have been crossed with new foundation lines can do very well at the show hall. Gracelett's show result is also good proof to us that inbreeding is not necessary to set type. We will try to grand Gracelett this season.
Name: CH PrairieBaby Infinite Grace
Sire: TCH PrairieBaby Ambassador-Of-Grace
Dam: CH PrairieBaby Sonlight-Of-Your-Grace
Stats:
Top 2: 17.3 %
Top 3: 31 %
Top 5: 44.9 %
Clones: 12.3 %
COI complete (back to first generation): 4.3 %
*******
We received the OFA papers for Snowleamer, Coldoldbear, Blaze (Glory), Haley, Luisa, Plopp, Cameron and Patchybaby.
Here are the Results:
PrairieBaby Rest In His Shadow (Haley) - F3 Female
OFA prelim at 17 months: *Good*
PrairieBaby Plowman Songs of Freedom (Coldoldbear) - F3 male
OFA prelim at 8 months: *Excellent*
PrairieBaby Plowman Songs of Joy (Snowleamer) - F3 male
OFA prelim at 8 months: *Good*
PrairieBaby Gonna Be Worth It All (Cameron) - F2 male
OFA prelim at 11 months: *Good*
PrairieBaby Cover Me I Will Sing (Luisa) - F3 female
OFA prelim at 22 months: *Fair*
PrairieBaby Fall At Your Feet P (Plopp) - F2 female
OFA prelim at 14 months: *Good*
PrairieBaby Grateful to Tati-Tan (Patchybaby) - F2 female
OFA prelim at 18 months: *Good*
Praylyne Blazing Glory ( Blaze, Glory) - F2
OFA prelim: *Good*
(owned by Phyllis Tobias)
February 2003
We created a special page for our full foundation cats!
January 2003
The Sid x Lilly (Oktober's F1 mother) breeding from fall 2001 had almost been forgotten. Like previously mentioned, we hadn't been too pleased with the looks of their offspring. However, two of the kids were preventatively kept for us by the famers in Oakland. We just went to see them and surprisingly they looked quite decent. So who knows - with a little bit of work and patience from our part, there migth be some third generation full foundation offspring from two of our favorite lines this year! Pictures coming soon!
*****
Updates in 2002:
December 2002
Clarabel's and Brock's son "Nigel Snootbutter" (PrairieBaby Refuge in Your Shelter) was OFA *excellent* at age 8 months.
*****
On December 3, 2002, our Brock (TCH PrairieBaby Ambassador of Grace) had his heart tested at the Illinois Teaching Hospital by Cardiologists Dr. Mark Oyama and Dr. David Sisson and was found to be free of HCM at time of testing. The troponin bloodtest was also negative.
October 2002
We have some recent pictures of Luisa's kids on our Nursery News Page.
*****
We had Waltraud Novak (Athabaske) from Austria visit us here in Canada. She took her baby boy "Nagendrill" home. Waltraud stayed with us for 8 days and we truly had a wonderful time together.
Here is Waltraud sitting in our kitten nursery, being eaten alive:
Waltraud has created an impressive webpage about her stay here in Manitoba. Here it is in English language:
And in German language:
*****
We finally received our OFA papers for Oktober, Kasimir, Clarabel and Gracie, Plowman and Prairie Girl.
Here are the OFA results:
Clarabel (PrairieBaby Shadow of Your Wings): preliminary at 14 months *excellent*
Oktober (PrairieBaby I Love All You Made) preliminary at 22 months *good*
Kasimir (Prairiebaby Refuge in Your Shadow) preliminary at 11 months *good*
Gracie (CH PrairieBaby Sonlight of Your Grace) preliminary at 16 months *fair*
Plowman (PrairieBaby Plowman Songs of Hope)
Certified *good*
Prairie Girl (PrairieBaby Drench The Barren Land)
Certified *excellent*
September 2002:
We have a new boy named Cameron. He is a Cream Mackerel Tabby Van Maine Coon with two generations registered. He is from our Canadian lines and has *superb* temperament.
Cameron now has his own page with more pictures and information. Updates on this lovely boy to follow!
*******
Gracie (CH PrairieBaby Sonlight of Your Grace), Kasimir (PrairieBaby Refuge in Your Shadow), Luisa (PrairieBaby Cover me I Will Sing) and Clarabel (Prariebaby Shadow of Your Wings) had their hearts and kidneys tested at Winnipeg Tuxedo Animal Hospital (by a heart specialist vet, done on color doppler equipment). All of them tested HCM and PKD negative!
August 2002
Our new outdoor enclorure is finally finished. Please have a look!
July 2002
Brock (F5), Grace (F4) and their F5 daughter Gracelett did very well at the ACFA show in Winnipeg on July 13/14. Brock and Grace did a few BOB and both of them finalled (Grace three times and Brock twice). Grace made her Champion and Brock needs one more final to become a Grand. The kitten out of Brock and Grace (Gracelett) did BOB three times and finalled 6 times out of 8 rings and even did 2nd and 3rd All Breed. We also showed one of our F3 white Plowman sons. He finalled three times in HHP class. Two judges said:"This is not a HHP, that's a Maine Coon!!" I said, "yes, just that his parents are Canadian and Maine barn cats!" Having two judges mixing this boy up for a Coon cat could be read as a sign that these lines are heading into the right direction huh? :-).
*******
June 2002
Luisa had babies from Brock. 6 happy, healthy coonletts are laying in our basket. They are F4 and around 60 % from newer Canada/Maine/Michigan lines. Four of these six are Solid colors. Coral one of them and now has her own page.
April 2002
Our F5 Silver Tabby Male Brock *PrairieBaby Ambassador of Grace" made his Champion at the ACFA show in Fargo. He also did 2nd Best of Breed twice (out of 4 rings). He was shown one day only.
March 2002:
Grace had five lovely babies from Brock.
******
February 2002
Oktober had her second litter, this time with our Sid son Plowman. These lovely babies are F3 and around 90 % Canadian/Michigan/Maine Foundation. Five "every so gently" kittens in this beautiful litter! We are keeping some offspring. Coldoldbear is one of them.
Updates in 2001
December 2001
We decided to let Sid have his last stand with Oktober's mother Lilly to create a full foundation F2 litter. We did not care for the looks of the kittens too much, so all five went to pet homes. However, we have reserved ourselves the right to use some of the offspring later if they develop OK.
September 2001
After much running around and many disappointments, we finally had a full foundation F2 litter born. Father is a Polycoon, found right here in Canada. Mom is our Moudine. All kittens are Polydactyl. We are keeping a little girl from this litter She can be seen under PrairieBaby Fall At Your Feet P on our females page. More about this soon on our link *the story behind it*.
******
Clarabel had her babies with Fear no Evil. This was Fearless's second healthy litter. There are 5 babies. All have wonderful temps. We are keeping a Black and White boy from Clarabel's litter. We called him "PrairieBaby Refuge In Your Shadow, short Kasimir.
******
Fearless and Clarabel both had hips, hearts and kidneys checked and are fine. After these two litters (6 and 5 kittens), we feel even more confident's about Fearless's line. We have collected much data about Fearless's ancestors as well. Offspring from his little son Kasimir might be available to breeders next year if all goes well.
March 2001
Our Canadian F1 girl Moudine had her babies. We are keeping a brown tabby boy from this breeding. His name is Jaquinto or *PrairieBaby Shake Off the Dust*.
******
Also, our F2 Canadian Male PrairieBaby Fear no Evil had 6 healthy babies with one of our Sid daughters Monkeygirl. We are keeping one of the girl babies. Her name is Fayre, and she is a very lovely girl.
**********
Our Canadiana Project where Manitoba resulted from, is still inactive. We have given up on this line.
***********
Since we just started our update page in 2001, there are no further events on this page. Keep checking in for more news!
