Julia -The Woman behind Avalon Savannahs

Julia has been breeding happy healthy  felines since 1987, her love for all animals , especially cats, is something that has been with her since child hood. Julia and her cats have been seen in magazines in several countries around the world. Julia's interviews have been featured in  pet publications in four countries and she was a guest (with cat) on the Leeza  Gibbons TV show;  In addition Julia's  cats were actually filmed and used as working models for the movie animation Cats & Dogs. Julia's involvement with cat breeding has, she says, been an interesting and rewarding hobby that has gained her many friends over the years. Julia feels that with every cat that she places she extends her family further. Julia lives in Southern California with her husband and children, "out in the hills" where they have a secluded five acres of land. Born in England , Julia lived in the UK until her early teens when her family emigrated to New Zealand ;  Some years later, after returning to England she married her husband Gary who she has known since she was fifteen. Gary was an American citizen raised in England and he returned to his native country where Julia joined him as his wife. Together they have raised five children. Gary's family live in England and Julia's' family are all in New Zealand so "we are in betweenies" she says.

 Julia's passion for Savannah cats is motivated in part by her desire to be closer to the wild cats that she so admires. "The problem is,  as lovely as the babies look they grow up to be  impractical to own;  I personally would not even recommend  an F1 Savannah as a pet for many people. I believe that Savannahs at the F2 stage and beyond can retain enough wild exotic beauty and  still be manageable enough to make great pets.

Recently on a trip to Mexico, Julia was able to hold a lion cub, what a thrill, and she didn't even have to go to Africa to do it.

A Leopard and White Tiger baby, how could anyone resist, but not a practical pet

Julia's breeding philosophy is to build on strength and recognize weakness. If a cat is not good for the breed then regardless of how much money she has invested in that cat she will not continue to breed him/her, one of the hardest parts of breeding is knowing when to let go.  Julia says her cats are always placed, and "I do my best to place them in good homes. I hate the expression  'get rid of ' that I have heard some people use, as in, I have one  kitten to get rid of, or  I got rid of that cat, to me you get rid of garbage not animals."

 Julia is  very passionate about  every kitten she places and she pays to have them spayed or neutered before they leave, she says studies indicate that early spay/neuter lessens recovery time and is much easier on kittens. Julia has been doing early spay/neuters for over fifteen years and says "I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that it is best for the kittens.  When a kitten leaves me I have already  dealt with everything so the new owner will not have to."  See link to Early Spay Report for more on this subject.

Why the name Avalon for a Savannah Cattery ?   The Isle of Avalon is the legendary paradise  where King Arthur of the round table was taken after being injured in battle. Legend has it that the Lady of the lake and the sword Excalibur, which was king Arthur's sword, came from Avalon.  The original Avalon was probably where Glastonbury  (in Somerset England) is today. A place I visited many years ago. Avalon in legend is known as a beautiful nurturing place, this is my Avalon Savannahs.

All pictures and content Copyright of Avalon Savannahs Cattery 2005-10 © all rights reserved
A California Breeder of Excellence since 1987

Email Avalon@savannah-cats.net