Cats have always been part of my life.
A time after our dearest 19 year old Sebastião left us we decided that we wanted to have another cat as part of our family.
We started looking for information about different breeds and especially about Norwegian Forest Cats, in our research we consulted Clube Português de Felinicultura website and we realized that in the next weekend there would be a cat show in Arruda dos Vinhos so we decided to go there and have a look.
Although we are four, Jorge (my husband) and our two children, Rafael and Inês, when we left the stand there was no doubts – we elected the Norwegian Forest Cat as our favorite – because they are marvelous cats with fascinating wild-looking eyes, but sweet and with an excellent temperament – almost impossible to describe in words.
After some search, Megan became part of our family, and it was this beautiful tortie that woke us up to this world.
I started researching everything that I found about the breed – characteristics, breeding, grooming, talking with more experienced breeders, and so more and more I became addicted, I began to take Megan to her first shows. Inês became my partner.
It was basically this way that the project “Dandy Tails” took form – a small cattery situated in Almada, just a few kilometers from Lisbon. Jorge made our website and all drawings were made by Rafael, so one way or the other all our family is engaged with this project.
We belong to Clube Português de Felinicultura (CPF), member of the Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe) and our Affix is nº. 319.
In May 2013 I completed the third level (G3) of the known project for breeders – Pawpeds and where I began to be course leader.
I think that any responsible breeder should have, as a goal, breed kittens that are:
- – healthy – so all our cats are tested for several diseases such as FeLV (feline leukemia), FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) by blood test; GSD IV (glycogen storage disease type IV) and PK Def (pyruvate kinase deficiency) by genetic test. They make regular screening for HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) by echocardiography;
- – excellent character and happy – so they stay with their mother and siblings up to 14 weeks and we dedicate them all our love wich contributes to a socialization and adaptation that we want the best possible;
- – and finally we try to balance the above characteristics – standard – with all the physical features of the Norwegian Forest in a harmonic and balanced way.
We feed our cats taking into account their health – with raw meat (BARF), wet food (cans), grain free dry food – but of course they also receive their “confort” sweets.
Our kittens are raised in our home as family members, they have access to all the house – play and sleep wherever they want which contributes to their perfect socialization. They also have access to fully fenced outdoor areas.
We usually take our cats to show, excellent occasions to be with other breedrs and see their work, it’s always a good opportunity to hear what the judges have to say about our NFO.
I intend to do only a few litters per year because I think babies deserve the maximum dedication time possible, see them grow healthy and happy so we can find the right family for them that love and respects them unconditionally where they will spend the rest of their lives.
We hope you enjoy our kittens and our website and please if you have any questions feel free to contact us.