About Devon On Earth

The Devon Rex was not the first breed we worked with. It was the Egyptian Mau. We obtained our first Egyptian Maus (Ptolemy & Phoebe) in 1995 as kittens. Ptolemy was a silver Egyptian Mau neuter and is no longer living with us. Phoebe is a black smoke and is still happily running our household. I tried showing them both, but Ptoly would have nothing to do with it right from the beginning. Phoebe figured out that if she took a swat at the judge, he would put her back in the cage. Then she would laugh at the judge and purr all the way back to the benching cage. She was saying "I did good, huh, Mom. Did you see me?"

After Phoebe's show career, she was bred and had a litter of 2 kittens. At 4 weeks after delivery, she plunked them on my face while I was sleeping and as much as said, "OK, I'm done. It's your turn." She did not enjoy motherhood and was spayed after her first litter.

All the time I was showing Maus I kept looking at the Devons in the cages next to them. At first I saw them as just strange looking cats but the more I looked, the cuter they became. I was totally taken in by those pixie faces. Another Mau came into our lives in Feb. 1996. I showed Niles to a regional win in 1997-1998. We had such a great time but all the while I kept seeing those cute little pixie faces sitting in the judging rings right next to Niley. After Niles' regional win, I took a year sabbatical.

The Mau breeder that I worked with taught me many wonderful things. One of the best things she ever did for me was to introduce me to the members in Lincoln State Cat Club (LSCC). I became a member in 1997 and still enjoy the people and every minute I'm with the members of LSCC. Right from the beginning it felt like "home". It was through LSCC that I met Judie Kethley.

When I stopped showing for that year I had been quietly looking around for another breed. One evening, out of the blue, Judie called me and asked me to show Daisy (Bluegene's Love Me, Love Me Not) for her -- saying that she just wasn't able to get her out to the shows. I said that I would be happy to show Daisy so long as she wasn't white. (Little did I know that Judie only had white devons). I agreed to drive down at the end of October to pick up Daisy. When my husband, Robert, and I arrived on Thursday evening, Judie and I began talking cats and stayed up until 4AM doing just that! She finally took me to meet Daisy. We walked into the bedroom and before my eyes I say several beautiful Devons....all of them white. As I bent down to pick up one of the cuties, I turned to Judie and asked her where Daisy was, she turned and said, "You're holding her." Judie and I laugh about this beginning, even today. Judie suggested that she add my name as owner because it would be easier that way (now I see this was the point of no return!). I showed Daisy until the LSCC show in Feb. 1999. The girl has been devoted to me. Anytime I left her benching cage, she wouldn't stop crying. While I sat at the benching cage, she would stare at me the entire day. Daisy only had a few points to go on her grand when Judie asked for her back to finish granding (this was tax season and, as an accountant, I was unable to continue showing her myself) and get her bred. Daisy granded on March 6, 1999.

I didn't get Daisy back until October. She was bred and ready to have her kittens. Our reunion was wonderful. The poor girl missed me terribly. Daisy gave birth to Elmo on Oct 10, 1999 in my lap. Alas, there was only the one kitten. Elmo has become very devoted to Robert. I guess you would say that Robert is Elmo's "Bud" even today.

I tried showing Elmo, but he thought it was fun to watch the judges when he nibbled at their fingers. Therefore, he also had a very short show career. In April 2000 Judie brought Bluegene's Inna Min to me. Inna Min and Elmo became fast friends.

In Daisy's second litter there were two surviving kittens who were a complete joy from the moment of their birth. One of these kittens was a delightful little blue cream girl - DevonOnEarth Love Me Do. She granded in May 2001. "Do" was the first kitty with my cattery name to grand.

Judie asked for Daisy back for another breeding. It was at this time that I finally figured out that Judie had intended to bring me into Devons, permanently. It was the greatest gift I have ever received. I will always be grateful to her and look forward to many years of working with her, showing and breeding these incredible little pixies.

Devon On Earth is a registered CFA cattery located in Southeast Wisconsin. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to write to me, Yvonne Parks, at devons@wi.rr.com