Lady Callisto: Birthday & Future Breeding Plans
It’s hard to believe that this sweet girl turns 1 year old today! 🥳 It seems like just yesterday that we welcomed her into our family❣️
Over the the last year we have met some really amazing breeders, some of whom have decades of experience with the breed, and all of whom we admire and respect greatly. A few of these individuals have been helping to guide and educate us, not just relating to the every day life of being a breeder, but specifically surrounding this foundation registered queen.
At the beginning of our journey to becoming Maine Coon breeders we did not know what we do now regarding Foundation (the originals) versus New Foundation (fresh lines being added today) versus TICA or ACA Foundation Registry (paternal and/or maternal ancestry unknown, but registered and approved for a breeding program). We’ve come to learn that while this girl is registered as foundation, and her Optimal Selection DNA tests have come back to show she is clear / not at risk of any gene mutations AND is more genetically diverse than the average Maine Coon, she is clearly of show line quality and therefore not an ideal candidate to start a New Foundation line.
So what does that mean for the future of Lady Callisto? Well, concerning that we are still not 100% decided, BUT... what we do know is that we have come to love and respect the hard work that New Foundation and Outcross breeders are doing and we in no way want to tarnish or confuse the work that they do!
With that being said, we have committed to the fact that Lady Callisto’s line will end with us. That means she will never produce any kittens that will be allowed to join another cattery’s breeding program or be eligible for championship titles within the show hall. IF we do decide to breed her (and right now, that’s a big IF), her kittens will ALWAYS be sold as PET ONLY. Absolutely no exceptions.
This decision was not made lightly, and with the utmost respect for those who are doing the true New Foundation work.
