Breeders Profile

Mazpahs Siamese, Oriental Shorthairs & Bicolours (Seychellois)

Name:

Photos courtesy of May Ellis, and Bob Fox for the pic of Fernando

Tell us a bit about you:
My name is May Ellis and I am 60 years young.  I have four children three boys and a girl, they all have familes of their own now and between them they have given me six lovely grandchildren.  I share my home with my cats, two wonderful stud boys and four lovely girls, and I enjoy showing my beautiful cats and kittens under GCCF, TICA and FB.  I am a member of the Siamese and Oriental Cat Society, the Aristocats Club and the Trans Pennine Siamese & Oriental Cat Club.  Most of my time is taken up with my own cats but I do some voluntary work for 'The Oldies Club' by vetting prospective adoptive families for both cats and dogs needing new homes.

Why did you choose your breed(s)?
That was easy - Siamese chose me!  I took in a stray many years ago and that was it, I was hooked by their beauty and intelligence - I had to have a  a pedigree Siamese cat.  After meeting an Oriental Shorthair at a cat show I  fell in love again, andthis was the start of my love affair with them.  Bicolours and Seychellois are also in my breeding program.

Why/how did you start breeding?
I bred dogs for many years with moderate success - my prefix was Vadna.  I love the working dogs and had German Shepherd Dogs.  I also had Chihuahuas (from the ridiculous to the 'cor blimey!' you might say!) and there was always a siamese in the home too.  They all got on so well but due to ill health I could not continue with my dogs.  I always knew I would breed Siamese and Orientals, and after breeding my first litter  I knew this was the next chapter in my life.

Why did you choose your prefix?
I was reading a magazine and saw a beautiful ring that had a deep blue stone (like Siamese eyes) - it was called a Mazpah ring, and that was it, my prefix!

When were your most memorable occasions as a breeder?
Breeding the litter that produced the foundation seal point girl for my son Ross at Burnthwaites Siamese - this made me very proud!  Another time I had two litters together, ten kittens in all.  One of the queens lost her milk so I spent hours day and night helping the other queen feed all the babies, and I'm happy to say they all survived.

Breeding my first home-bred champion, Champion Mazpahs Chanablack (above right), and my first home-bred Premier, TICA Quadruple Grand Champion Alter & GCCF Premier Mazpahs Mystic Magwi (left), who also has one certificate towards his FIFe Premier title.

Also, collecting two TICA awards for our beautiful boy TICA Regional Winner/Supreme Grand Champion, FIFe Champion & Junior Winner, Lebreton Fernando (right).  He was awarded TICA Best Oriental Shorthair cat and kitten in EN Region and Best Oriental Bicolour Worldwide as a cat and as a kitten in the same year!

Who were/are the most memorable cats you've had?
My first Siamese Quizzy who started the whole thing off for me she will always be one of my most memorable cats, and my first bicolour show kitten Mazpahs Rebel Roy (below left).

What are your hopes for the future of your breed/your breeding programme?
I'm looking forward to breeding my first  Bicolour and Seychellois champions!

Is there anything else you'd like to mention?
I have met many wonderful people who have the same interests as myself.  There are a few very special people who have given me help and advice and allowed me to share my home with cats bred by them, and for this I'm eternally grateful.  

May Ellis
www.mazpahssiamese.co.uk

February 2010