Funny enough, I grew up with dogs only, a pair of Beagle twins from my neighbor down the street. I didn’t get my first cat until I was living on my own well into adulthood. He was 13-year-old hospice senior cat. The shelter told me he had cancer and that it was inoperable. He had a URI at the same time too, and required a lot of joint care due to his older age.
We nursed him back to health within the next short weeks, and he had the most beautiful, clear blue eyes hidden underneath the built up gunk. He died a little bit after I took him home, in my bed, sleeping soundly next to me. In the short time we spent together, I fell in love with cats entirely. My next two cats ended up being ringworm foster cats and I then started taking in younger abandoned kittens. I've taken care of and nursed cats of all conditions, breeds, shapes, and sizes since.
Sunkittens started in 2020, with one boy and two girls. Our house, divided into having both a human space and a cat space, has turned into a wonderland for all of our cats, filled to the brim with wall shelves, cat doors, cat trees, and toys. We’re hoping to build a catio soon so our cats can lounge outdoors safely as well.
Our cats are not allowed to produce unless all of these are cleared or continously cleared:
Yearly HCM screening on our British Shorthairs, done through a board certified vet cardiologist.
Genetic testing on all breeds for 50 genetic conditions, such as PKD, PRA, PKDef, Neurological/Musculoskeletal conditions, etc. For example, I've sterilized and placed adults that only came back to be a single carrier for Factor XII deficiency, which is considered harmless in most cases.
Personality evaluation on all breeds, through watchful judgement of a cat's adaptability, reactivity, tolerance, aggression, etc. For example, I've removed adults from my breeding program that showed fearfulness at the vet or were not able to withstand car rides.
Joint evaluation on our Munchkins, currently done through regular x-ray screenings and vet evaluations. We’re currently looking for a vet in the area that has experience positioning cats (especially Munchkins) for OFA or are willing to learn.
No signs of defects in their litters if they produce, even years down the line. For example, I've stopped queens from moving forward when one of their kittens showed potential cryptorchidism, which is considered harmless with neutering.
Ask any of my friends and they’ll tell you I can talk forever about cats. :) Thanks for checking us out. Always feel free to let me know if you have any questions, I’m happy to help. I am fluent in Chinese and Japanese, if needed!
- Mayu
