Hello, friends and fellow catlovers!

I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and my cattery.

Wildwood Cattery is the culmination of many, many years of being a devoted animal lover. I have a background in nursing but have always been animal crazy. Even as a small child I helped my father raise Bassets and Beagles. I remember spending many hours in the woods helping him train them ... I even rescued a baby bunny I named Buggsy and rehabilitated his broken leg! My husband and I raised and showed English Cocker Spaniels for 15 years, garnering many breed and specialty wins and Breeder of the Year award from the English Cocker Spaniel Club of America.

My original experience with cat breeding involved wild spotted cats, which I have always loved. I was developing the Bengal breed in the east at the same time breeder Jean Mills was working on them in California. We became good friends and with the help of other dedicated breeders persevered through the difficult process of developing a new breed and getting it recognized for championship status with TICA.

I was fortunate to breed and show the first Supreme Grand Champion in the breed and Number One Bengal in the US that year. He was an almost-human cat and a great ambassador of the breed, a big sorrell cat named "Buzzer" who made a million friends while he was showing.

I was introduced to Sphynx cats through my friend and fellow breeder, Lynn Taylor. During the years when she was looking for her first Sphynx, I thought the breed was awful! But when her first Sphynx, Yoda, arrived from Carol and Walt Richards of Britanya Cattery I truly did forever lose my heart to him ... and to the breed.

Through the kindness of Carol and Walt I acquired Velcro, a black and white variant who, when bred to a Yoda son names Mose, produced a tortie-and-white female I named Zelda. When Zelda was bred to a black male named Shineola (who I literally stole from Carol Richards at a show) she produced my first champion Sphynx, Zinger.

I went on to acquire a sweet, lovely red and white boy named Dock from Juanita Poulson of Kittypen Cattery. Dock was bred to a female named Sassy (who I co-owned with Lynn Taylor) and the pairing produced two of my favorite girls, Brie and Biscuit. Sassy's out of a Dutch female from Eveline Smits' Badyr Cattery and by an Amenophis male named Jay.

I recently added a new chocolate mink and white boy named hershey (who is out of Sassy and by Lynn's odd-eyed white Gobi). Hershey was renamed Chocolatta Mojo of Wildwood as the name hershey had already been used. He has an adorable little sprite of a friend named Peekachu (out of Biscuit and by Dock) and the two are now hitting the shows quite successfully.

I am deeply devoted to the breed. I love to show and admittedly have a strong competitive streak that has mellowed with age (as does everything else!) Having grandchildren has really shifted my priorities. I could no longer be away weekend after weekend - I know I would miss too much of what has really become important in my life, which is being part of the nurturing and growth of two lovely little girls.

I show to keep in touch and network with other breeders, to visit and socialize with many close friends made at cat shows over the years, and to be sure of maintaining focus on a well-rounded, sound in type, mind, and body Sphynx. The vast majority of my sales are to pet homes and my main goal is to provide the utimate companion cat.

What good is a lovely type Sphynx that's not a cuddle-bug buddy to its owner?! I try to be aware of inherited problems within the breed and avoid them. I'm lucky to have found a great up-to-date lady vet who adores the breed, agrees that they're special, and does not hesitate to use contacts at vet schools to help solve problems.

There is something about breeding Sphynx that brings out the fire-breathing, protective and defensive "she-bear mom" feelings in all of us. I truly think any of us are capable of doing bodily harm to any who may dare to harm our "kids". It's sort of scary to think that these little innocents bring out such depths of feelings. All I know is I could never be without one of these soul-grabbing, purring, shoulder-sitting cuddlers. I've been "Sphynxed"!

Judee