Buying a Kitten
About Us
My name is Gill Harris and I live in the Hills district of Sydney, Australia, with
my partner and Devon Rex cats. We started breeding in 2005 and only have a
few litters each year.  We believe in doing every thing possible to give our
babies the best possible start in life having put much time and effort into
establishing a solid foundation on which to begin our  breeding journey.
Researching sound husbandry practices to minimise the risk of problems is
always a good place to start, and while it is clear there are no guarantees,
being responsible and committed to health is our primary focus. At this point
we are dedicated to breeding a small number of Devon kittens to go to
selective pet households.

My association with the Devon Rex developed after losing my Oriental girl at
19yrs of age. I decided it was time to experience kittenhood again and began
visiting cat shows to see which breed of cat would be right for us. It was at this
point I decided I would like to meet some Devon Rex face to face as the
appearance of the Devon had held a fascination for me for some years. It is
not uncommon to encounter people who seem surprised that you own a
Devon perceiving them to be an ugly breed.

Well the truth is quite the opposite, I think they are the most beautiful
creatures with their big ears and their large eyes that seem to penetrate right
into your soul. Their intensity can be quite disconcerting for some.

They are intelligent, loving and full of fun, and once they touch your heart you
will never be without one, two or three!!!!. From the  moment I drove home with
my first boy, Kuli, a chocolate and white, blue eyed bicolour, I knew I was
hooked and this little creature was going to change my life. Here I am a few
years later with four devons and on a journey into breeding these exquisite
little creatures.

I hope you enjoy my site and visit the Contact Us page or Guest Book to
leave your comments.
I have designed this site to hopefully
provide people with an understanding
of what it is like to live with a Devon
so you can get an idea if it is the
right breed for you. I have also
included some important links about
health related issues including a very
important feline disease called FIP
(Feline Infectious Peritonitis). FIP is a
fatal disease affecting mainly
purebred cattery cats and cats from
rescue facilities and for which at this
point in time there is no effective
treatment or cure.

While there are many diseases and
feline health issues, FIP is one of the
most challenging to veterinary science
and as it is fatal, I believe it is an
important disease for potential pet
owners to understand prior to
purchasing a purebred cat. There is
still much to be understood about this
disease and research $ are badly
needed.
The first breeding girl I bought
succumbed to FIP at 9 months old in
January 2005. Forunately this happened
before I began breeding  and it was her
death that motivated me to research
the facts and gain a greater
understanding of FIP. While genetic
predisposition is now known to be a
factor in the development of FIP in 50%
of cases, we can't forget the other
factors also known to increase risk. As it
originates from a common feline virus
present in majority of cattery cats,
introducing too many cats from different
sources into the same environment is
dangerous practice. Pet owners need to
take note of the environment when they
visit a cattery to choose a kitten. If you
are buying sight unseen then make
sure you ask the right questions.

There is no test currently available to
identify vulnerable cats, and clearly
there are no guarantees with any living
animal. It is possible however to reduce
risk of all infectious diseases and my
focus is on health and temperament
above all else.

My FIP experience has increased my
knowledge and changed my approach to
breeding as I now understand so much
more about the do's and don'ts when it
comes to optimising overall health in
the kittens I breed.

FIP Information

If you are a pet owner or
breeder  interested in
learning more about FIP go
to SOCKFIP to learn more.
www.sockfip.info
Phone 9659 8050
FIP Information
New pet owners are advised to read this
section.
Rextales Big Jack -
Chocolate and White
2010