Alchemist Persians

Prior to breeding Silver and Gold Persians, I bred Smokes and Cameos

under the cattery name of Sweet Lorien . . .

The story behind the cats of Sweet Lorien

My love of Persians began back in the late 1970's when I went to my first cat show in Atlanta. At the show I fell in love with a little female shaded cameo kitten. Shortly after that cat show, I acquired my first purebred Persian, Iris, a white female, from an ad in the local newspaper. A few years later, I adopted a Seal Point Himalayan male, Ben. Both were great pets and they lived with me until they eventually passed of old age.

After their passing, I felt the need for a new kitty and remembered the cameo kitten I saw at the cat show so many years earlier and that began the quest for my heart's desire - a female cameo. With a Cat Fancy magazine in hand, I called several breeders who advertised cameos only to come up empty handed. This was long before the days of the internet and free long distance phone calls so searching for a cameo kitten was difficult.

My quest finally led me to call a lady in Montana, Jean Logan of NightFlight cattery. We instantly became friends because of our shared love for cameos. She went on to tell me that she thought I had what it takes to be a breeder and she would teach me everything I needed to know about breeding and showing cats; and so Sweet Lorien cattery was born and I set out to make my own cameos.

Marianne Byrne of Midas cattery gave me my start with a beautiful Shaded Tortie, Boo Cat, and later sent me a red male, Red. Jean Logan (NightFlight) allowed me to send Boo Cat to her home in Montana to be bred to her Keeperkit black male, Montovani, for my first litter; this is the litter that produced Dixie and Taxi. I also worked a bit with Dot Brown of EZluvin cattery here in Georgia and she allowed me to breed Boo Cat to her Marhei black male, Easy, for my second litter which produced my first Grand Champion, Sweet Lorien's Black Ice. A few years later, I decided to pursue dilute smokes and went again to Dot, acquiring Tuffy.

After more than 12 years of breeding and showing Smokes, I grew tired of the dark colors and started looking for a new challenge. This is when I fell in love with the Silver and Goldens. Their brilliant coats and beautiful green eyes opened up a new world of genetics for me to explore.

Below you will see pictures of some the cats that I showed while using the cattery name Sweet Lorien (some pictures are forever lost). And although these cats have long since passed, they are still dear to my heart and I will never forget the wonderful weekends my daughter and I spent spent together at CFA cat shows throughout the Southern Region.

Thank you Jean, Marianne, and Dot who taught me everything I know about breeding and showing Persians, and for your undying encouragement and support. I'm a better person because of the friendship we shared.

Black Smokes