I've always been a bit of a "Cat Lady" and become familiar with Savannah's in the early years of the breed, finding them intriguing. I'd brought two domestic cats into my relationship when I married, but my husband, Matt, wasn't a cat lover. However, he understood us to be a package deal and came to like the cats more than he'd care to admit, even today. My domestic cats lived to the ripe old ages of 16 and 20, and we had a wonderful life with them. Matt never failed to remind me he didn't want more cats once they passed on, but I couldn't fathom my life without cats. So when they both passed, there was about one year without cats—and it was probably the longest year of my life.

I want to explain the raw truth to those who think that a breeder who posts an “available cat” is a sad or even objectionable situation. It’s important to know that a breeder can only improve their breeding program by either introducing new breeding cats or keeping a kitten from a litter they’ve produced. If a breeder were to keep every retired breeding cat, they’d end up a cat hoarder; NOT a breeder.

Zuri’s first owner had her declawed on all four paws at just six months of age. This act wreaked havoc for poor Zuri until her rescuer sought help for her through botched declaw corrective surgery.