Welcome to Island Blues ~ UK
Traditional SIAMESE & Traditional BALINESE ~ Cats & Kittens
Relocated to the UK. We are now in South West Scotland ~ at Kirkdale House ~ in the village of Carsluith ~ Wigtownshire ~ Dumfries & Galloway
We are building our first real website: www.IslandBlues.co.uk and ask all to have patience with us while we bungle through it ~ long over due. Meanwhile please enjoy our cats and kittens here and contact us ~ until further notice ~ NORTHISLANDBLUES@GMAIL.COM or call Ellen at +44(0)1557.840.278

This is our homegrown blog ~ here to introduce you to our homegrown cattery. We raise traditional Siamese and Balinese ~ otherwise known as "Old Fashioned" "Classic" or "Apple Heads". Our kittens grow-up in our bedrooms, underfoot with children and dogs. Please enjoy the pictures ~ and contact us if you are looking for a kitten of your own.

Read on for history and fun stories or follow the link to the right to see what kittens are available. Again please write to be put on our mailing list or to reserve a kitten now!

Based for years in and around NYC, my husband decided to take a year or 2 abroad, teaching and finishing his research of ancient stones. We moved to Forres Scotland in February 2007 and then to Carsluith in January 2008. Before we left the US, we had heard that there are very few Traditional and Classic Siamese in the UK. And Traditional Balinese you just can't find. We had several calls from the UK asking us to import kittens, but it is virtually impossible to bring any pet into the UK without a 6 month quarantine. So I decided to bring 2 adult females, who were expecting. As you can imagine it was very tricky. It took us (my daughter Dania and me) close to 9 months to get the girls ready to come. Now they are here, our mission is to plant a few new seeds and hope for the best. What we didn't expect....

Our Beginnings ~ History
The name Island Blues comes from our deep connection with several special islands around the globe. We do not consider ourselves "breeders", just a small family who share our lives with a small family of cats. We have had Siamese since I was 8 yrs old (a very long time ago) and have had litters now and then.

Today we have 3 beautiful moms: Lili, one of our blue point Siamese girls above, and her daughter Oolah, a stunning lilac Balinese, have moved to the UK with me and will have a litter or 2 over there. Her aunt Nina, a darling sweetheart, seal point Balinese still lives in NY on Long Island, with our son Noah (but not for long as she, Danny, Bear and Fiona are preparing to cross the pond too). Each of our girls has come from excellent TCA registered catteries, with a long line of handsome traditional parents. We are committed to raising only healthy traditional Siamese and traditional Balinese (also known as appleheads). They are (as all Siamese owners claim) very witty and wise, extremely affectionate and keep us continually amused.

Do read about all the goings on here since the beginning below. Or go to the links at the top right, to see what kittens we currently have available. Other links include: sales of Sherpa Pet Carriers ~ at greatly reduced prices, funny stuff, extended families, and reservation forms. Have fun.

Where are we?

Scotland News: We are finally home. In January Joe and I moved to the southern coast of Scotland on the Soloway Firth - between Gatehouse of Fleet and Newton Stewart. We live in a manor house on an estate owned by the Hannays since the 1500s. Our neighbors raise organic belted Galloways, make brilliant art installations, carry the post, keep the game, are writers and mechanics, those who've retired here from South Africa and those who've been here all their lives. We have decided to stay - whatever it takes, we wish to stay.

Sorry to say that means - we have no plans to have any litters in the US anytime soon. We are in the process of getting all the family ready to come here; Fiona, Bear, Nina and Danny - and Charlie too. Our dearest Muffin will probably stay in the US with one of the kids; she belongs to Oraibi, Danya, and Noah and doesn't need to make the big crossing at 16 to be happy.

As for our cats already in Scotland -- Lili and Oolah had babies in November. All were the most wonderful kittens - I know I always say that. But this time I had several of the kittens for close to 4 months. One was preparing to go to Singapore, another had to be old enough for a rabies vax to go to Fontainebleau France. I've decided never to keep a kitten that long and try to part from them - it's just too hard. Oolah had but one baby born still, but revived by Joe doing mouth to mouth. This is Mo (Joe's very own) and cousin Sweat Pea - who lives in Singapore.

Poor Oolah was confused and her milked dried up right away - so Lili took that one in and raised him as her own. Oolah accepted but was very sad. She went into heat with in days and stayed in heat until we decided to breed her in the new year. Oolah (now Ulla) gave birth to 5 kittens 3 weeks ago. She is so very very happy. This is the story of Ulla's remarkable kittens:

Much News!
Life has thrown us a curve - perhaps a boomerang! Living in the magical land of southern Scotland on the Soloway Firth, we decide to have Oolah (also known as Ulla Gaelic for hidden Treasure) give birth to one last litter. Then we'd spay her and she'd either return with us and Lili, her mom to the US or stay here with Steve. So Ulla was bred in January to Levi - a wonderful blue Balinese here in the UK. Meanwhile, we've been thinking seriously about staying here - renting a cottage for a year or 2 maybe longer.

On March 10th Ulla gave birth to 5 lovely fluffy Balinese, only 1 girl - 2 lilacs and 3 blue. After a week it became clear that our little lilac girl was losing her coat - she was getting pink and warm to the touch. Full of fear we went to the vets, had scraping and fur samples to check for ringworm, mites, etc. Other causes for feline alopecia were checked: congenital hypotrichosis, allergies, over grooming, nerves? All were coming back negative.

Thing is the kittens were all eating well, getting fat, comfortable -- but by 2 weeks 3 (three) of the 5 kittens were losing all their hair. My vet in the US had a few suggestions, but when they were all exhausted I turned to the internet. I started looking up what gave rise to the hairless breeds. First I read all I could about the Sphynx - eventually I found out about the Peterbald (and the predecessors of the Peterbald - the Don Sphynx). I was struck by the similarity between my little moggies and the Peterbald.

Around 17/18 days the little girl was going through stage 3 - regrowing a very fine pelicule of velor / chamois / moleskin... the 2 boys remained in limbo one completely hairless, the other still losing his coat slowly. We finally began to realize we might have something really special here - possibly a new breed...? And the kittens began to grow on me - like no other. New breed or a fluke in time these babies are very cool. And no matter what they'll be a part of our family forever.

But is it a spontaneous mutant gene? or rare recessive non-autosomal event, needing one chromazone from each parent to present the trait? (I still don't know what I'm talking about). Thing is neither mom or dad has anything close to hairlessness in their backgrounds. Then again maybe that's what happens when you repeatedly breed recessive to recessive -- at some point the natural world says "enough" and the silky soft long haired cat goes bald naked, transforms into a primary original state.

Not knowing how to answer, we've agreed to let the kind scientists of the University of Edinburgh take some samples and perhaps share them with UC Davis Feline Genome project. I'll let them do the pondering, while I set about trying to determine where these little beauties will spend the rest of their days.

I do plan to rebreed Ulla to Levi - to see if the same thing happens again. Or we might breed her mom Lili to Levi to see if we can trace this back a generation. Or we may consider breeding Ulla to Levi's dad? Perhaps a year or 2 from now we'll know more and be breeding the little girl or her brothers. My hope will be to continue in my number one pursuit: well balanced, healthy happy traditional cats, who have terrific personalities and live as long as possible. I figure a hairless oriental breed that created itself is as organic and traditional as it gets. In any case, I won't be manipulating nature or promoting mutations that weren't meant to be.





All this to be continued weekly I plan....

Hello Everyone ~ long awaited news!!
We are expecting kittens in November 07 ~

Lots of little Balinese this go-round,

as we had a visit from the lovely and most affectionate Valentino

of Cann-Dee Apples cattery. Valentino is a Lilac Balinese male. He will have kittens with Nina

our sweetest seal point Balinese mom who will have kittens in NY. Our blue point Siamese mom Lili

will have her kittens in the UK. Please call for more information or to reserve a kitten of your choice.

Wonderful News

Lili gave birth to 6 in Granada Hills, CA ~ March 18th; 4 girls, 2 boys and all 4 colors. We think the one Balinese is a blue girl. Some of Lili's will travel to NY to find new homes if we don't sell them to folks in LA.


and Oolah (Lili's lilac Balinese daughter) gave birth to 5 in Westbury, NY on March 26th, 2007. Oolah has 3 Balinese ~ 2 Lilac (a boy and a girl) and one chocolate linx point boy ~ a hidden trait from Judah's grandmother.

The Siamese are both girls ~ a lilac and a seal ~ a real Judah's girl.

An Update ~ Much News
As the last of our winter kittens finds a new home, we prepare for the end of an era and the beginning of new ventures. Joe and I will be moving to Scotland in a week or two ~ as soon as I can be moved. We plan on taking 2 of our girls with us, right away ~ Fiona and Oolah. One day (by next fall) we hope to have kittens available to the wonderful people of the UK.

Meanwhile, Lili will be moving to the Valley (California) with Noah ~ my youngest son. She will have a litter out there this spring and then join us in Scotland next summer.

Danny and Bear, Nina and Judah will continue to live with Dania, Ora, Maritza and Ian (maybe brother Mike as well) here in NY. They may have another litter this spring.

If our stay overseas is prolonged we'll gradually bring the whole family over. Otherwise we'll reunite back here in a year or 2. The ache of separation is already very strong.

So hard to say goodbye.

The last of Lili's and Bear's leaves today - oh it has been hard. Bear officially retired this week, with others to follow suit soon. We do have a few babies left from the litter born December 13th and expect one more litter before we leave at the end of January. If you are interested in a kitten from us don't delay. Looking forward to hearing from you all. Do keep in touch.

Last little minx - went to her new home last week.

She is a chocolate Siamese born October 18th

The most original of the bunch

The nautiest and sweetest and most endearing too.

We hope she has to stay.

Good Bye

The most amazing kittens - born 10/13 and 10/18

But aren't they all?

As we near the last days of November we prepare to say goodbye to the last of Bear's and Lili's babies. (See Avalailable Kittens to know what we have left)

We have 2 more litters due - one soon the other later, and then...

We'll be off - to Scotland

Judah the quintessential father, home for a meal

A mix of Bear's and Lili's

Lili's own

New Arrivals!

Bear gave birth to 6 on October 13th
3 girls and 3 boys, 3 Balinese
4 colors - we think
Looks like 1 chocolate, I lilac, 2 blue and 2 seal

to the discerning eye

cousin Pheobe babysits

a pair of Siamese

Lili gave birth to 7 on October 18th
6 boys, 1 girl, all colors - we think
Not too much to see yet

but oh there are pinks and tans

a nose that has more color

droopy ears, longer top-coat

Kittens will be ready to go to their new homes beginning mid-December -- Reserve now.
3 Balinese

Flying solo

a tiny lilac

the get away

Lili's guys are constantly moving

I mean constantly

But they are happy

Hello again - Long time no...

On August 23rd Nina gave birth to her fist litter.

Four healthy sweethearts, just like mom.

She had 2 female seals (1 Balinese) --

and two males, 1 blue, 1 chocolate (both Siamese) 

One of these two - blue pt Siamese females - is still unattached. The three blue girls are so much alike that their new families haven't been able to choose yet. This week we'll know.

Beautiful blue Balinese boy - taken

Benton the only seal boy born 6/30 - taken

The one and only lilac pt Balinese male - taken

I think this is "Blue Genes" one of our 2 seal pt boys. Taken

Bethany plans to stay. She convinced me she belongs to our grandson Ian.

Growing up already - kittens born 6/13/06 are all but gone. We have a blue Siamese and a chocolate Balinese (both girls) left.

Eleven kittens and counting. Lili's litter was born June 7 and Luna (Bea) gave birth on June 13th. Sisters always doing things together. Please call or check the link to the right to see about availability.

Lili loves her little ones

And so does Bea.

New Arrivals are Here

Just hours before Lili was in heaven.

Loving everyone and everything.
And the next thing you know... 4 new souls

As happy as can be. She waited a long time for this.

RECENT HISTORY ~ SPRING 2006

Our most recent kittens (born Feb 06) are all happy and in their new homes. It was hard to let them go. Judah, most of all, seemed to really miss the kids and has been displaying rather odd behavior on occasion.



This was a bumper crop - all shined with their endearing personas. They really had a lot of fun with us, secret clubs - hide and go seek...


And the rest of the family is growing up too.

This is uncle Dan our biggest lapcat ever and below with sister Nina, who will one day be a mom too. They are best friends.


Look for our new pages (links to the right) including: How to get a kitten from us. Sherpa Pet Carriers for sale. Contracts and other information. Thanks for stopping by.

We were happy to say we had 2 litters at the end of February, many colors, Balinese and Siamese. But before I had time to post these pictures all of the kittens were spoken for. We hope to have two more litters this coming summer, so if you're looking you might want to reserve in advance. Best to all our extended families - we're still waiting for pictures. E


A small pile of 4 week old kittens


Bear's Bally Blue Boy - the one and only

Straddling to nurse.


Overwhelmed

It's been quite a while. Much news. A few new arrivals and many tales and photos to come.

First taste of babies born February 25, 06
Please see Available Kittens link to the right for more information.

Update 10-01 - Our oldest babies are beginning to go to wonderful new families.



Bear's littlest boy giving Aunt Lili a hard time.



An assortment - a blue, a seal and a chocolate

Where have all the kittens gone?

For available kittens clink on the link to the right.
Or go to http://kittensoct05.blogspot.com

Dance

Beds!!

Mom, prison warden

We didn't do it

Private club

Ready for retirement

A new toy

Sleepy weasels

For those of you who have asked what we had and when - here is our present kitten chart. Please note that many of the kittens are already spoken for. The first litter will be ready to go to homes mid-October. For more information please call.

Fiona's baby boy begins curling up for a nap.

The kittens are becoming individuals. Here is Lil's Bali son and Fiona's seal girl.
For availability and pricing, please see our classified ad on the TCA website - link to the right.

Ian Oraibi Voumard

At last we've returned from Peru; a country of glorious antiquities and unimaginable present day struggles. I can not help but include a photo of our grandson Ian here with all these images of our other beautiful babies. It was so hard to leave and so painful to return to the US and our country's devestation. The beauty and sadness in the world...

Wrestling lying down is much easier then standing up!

Oh soo curious!

Bear rests her head on Lilli whie she nurses.

Lilli and one of her boys.

One of Fiona's blue eyed kittens posing for a picture.

"Mom, my eye's are open but I am still bumping into the wall."