RW SaraJen Highlander of Coonpanion
What's a retired showcat/stud to do? We sometimes get questions about our older cats. Some we place - we only have room for so many cats, after all - but others, we don't. Highlander, so far, is one of those cats. We justify keeping him by saying that we can use him to show our prospective kitten buyers just how big a Maine Coon can get (Highlander weighs in at around 20 pounds). But that isn't the reason either. He's just a loveable hunk of cat.
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Highlander |
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Highlander |
Highlander has transitioned nicely from the stud room to the main household. He gets along with the other cats and is especially good with the kittens. It is interesting to compare pictures of him now, with picture of him during his show career. He has bulked up enormously - going from lean and lithe to just plain massive - he has added some fat since being neutered, but not as much as you would think. His head has broadened, which has spread his earset quite a bit. But for all his size, he is quite good natured, almost timid in some ways. But , for the most part, he is extremely well-mannered and friendly. |
| Highlander came to us in 2000, after our first two years participating in the show circuit and working with a very small breeding program. Our primary show cat at the time was our Alter Tex (SGA Mymains Long Tall Texan), and we decided that we were ready to expand the cattery. Since we had queens already, this meant it was time to bring in a unaltered boy to serve as our stud male. We talked with many of the breeders we respect in the area, and the consensus was to actually go out of the area and bring in a new line. |
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This was not because there were not a lot of really nice cats available in the area, but because if we wanted to do any breeding with the cats in the area, we would need to bring something to the table that the other breeders would want. This, unfortunately, presented a problem. We are well known (I think) in our region, but because we are new and small, we don't have a lot (read that as none) of presence out of the region. Also, while I am familiar with most of the lines and breeders in our region, I was most definitely *not* familiar with breeders out of the area (except for those that came here campaigning thier cats). We needed help - and we got it. We approached several of the judges that we have come to know and asked for opinions on catteries on the East Coast that might have lines that we would be interested in. SaraJen was strongly recommended by one judge, who went so far as to allow us to use her name as an introduction. |
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The result of that introduction is SaraJen Highlander of Coonpanion.
He is a brown classic tabby, born January 22, 2000. We are very pleased
to have been able to acquire him, and want to thank Teri Matzkin of
SaraJen for allowing him to join our cattery!. I have posted a copy of his pedigree online. |
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