We live on the outskirts of Rangiora in North Canterbury where we have a small farmlet with sheep and chickens.

I love all animals and have had quite a range starting my younger days with chickens and ducks. I then had a fox cub Mum caught in the chicken coup. Her mother left her behind when she took one of the chickens. It was really tiny and my Mum being a softy bottle fed it. Then I used to keep it in my old pram. It was just like a puppy and I would take it for walks and do all things you do with dogs. It was really cute.

I started breeding back in 1970 not with cats but dogs. The lines I had, carried the more unusual colours and I loved not knowing exactly what I was going to get. Today I still feel the same but now breed my feline friends.

When we came to NZ from the Isle of Man I missed the Island so much I thought I would get a Manx cat but couldn’t get a breeding cat anywhere. Two years later I got one from Dunedin. That was the start of my Manx breeding then I got a British to mate to my Manx but used it in a British line as well.

I just kept breeding the Manx and the British untill 1999 when I thought I’m breeding Manx I should breed the Japanese Bobtails as well. So in 2000 the first JBT (Japanese Bobtail) arrived from Tasmania. In 2001 we had two arrive from the Kurisumasu Cattery in the USA. Rainbow arrived pregnant and had 4 kittens. We were so excited it was like Christmas. We have since imported another JBT but a longhair this time and he came from Tasmania too.

We now can breed long and short hair Japanese Bobtails, British Blues, Lilacs, Creams, Bluecreams and possibly Colourpoints and in the Manx we can have all colours if we can find the right stud cat.

I enjoy all cats and have a boarding cattery in Rangiora.
Ashley Boarding Cattery

Here are some links we think you may be interested.

New Zealand Cat Fancy
The Cat Fanciers Association
Boading Kennel And Cattery Association