Location:   Banstead Surrey.

Breed(s):  Old Style Siamese and Burmese

Breeding since: 1991 Showing since 1987

Tell us a bit about you: I live in Surrey with my cats. I am a nurse by profession and have been owned by Siamese for many years. I had my first Seal Point Siamese when I was 4 years old. I grew up in Kent by the sea and as a family we always had Seal Point and Blue Point Siamese. We also had a Golden Retriever and a Great Dane.I am actively involved with the East Sussex Cat Club and often help at other shows.I breed and show as a hobby. All my cats initially are my beloved pets. If they win me rosettes or give me kittens that is a bonus to me. The health of my cats always comes first. All my cats are the love of my life.

Why did you choose your breed(s)? I have always loved the Siamese but prefer the Old Style Siamese. I bought a Seal Point Siamese kitten in 1987 and was looking for another kitten to keep him company. I went to visit a friend who had just bought a Burmese kitten; I fell in love with him, and a couple of weeks later a Burmese kitten joined me.I have been owned by them cats ever since.

Why did you choose your prefix? Zilaross was my second choice. It is a combination of my name, my initials and the name that my family call me

Why/how did you start breeding?  By accident!! In 1991 a regional adviser for the Burmese CatClub asked me if I would foster a pregnant queen that was due kittens in a few weeks. After thekittens were homed she was happy for the queen to be re homed as well. The cat in question was

Sugarsweet Honeybee and she lived with me as part of the cat family until she died aged 15 yearsThe rest is history and I have been breeding ever since.

When were your most memorable occasions as a breeder?    My first litter of kittens