A
Little Trivia About Us
Hello our names are
Greg & Maryann. We
live on the Central Coast of New South Wales in a beautiful rural
setting approximately 40-45 minutes north of Hornsby via the F3. In
approximately 1980, whilst living in Sydney we started breeding and
attending the show scene with domestic birds and became interested in
color genetics with what were known as new colour canaries. We ceased
this when we moved to the Central Coast in 1986. Having bought German
Shepherd dogs we then registered with the NSW Canine Council breeding
and showing for a short period. Greg's full time employment had him
working away from home quite often which limited our time pursuing
this hobby.
In
1989 Greg sought and gained full time employment as a Driving
Instructor with the NSW Police
Driver Training based in Goulburn. Being involved in a
motor vehicle accident whilst at work on 6th August 1992, he
sustained injuries that couldn't allow return to full time work.
Denial of liability by the work cover insurance company and an
employer determined to return him to full time work regardless of
consequences placed enormous stresses on us. As a family we knew we
needed a hobby or distraction in our lives to help us cope. Something
that needed minimal physical effort.
Greg's employer decided that disciplinary action had to be
taken ultimately forcing him to bow to their irresponsible demands
and returned to work. Co-inciding with this he purchased a pair of
pedigree British Shorthair Cats to keep us company at home during his
weekly absence. As these cats were bought entire to breed from we
registered ourselves in 1995 as Numberrico Cattery with the Royal
Agricultural Society Cat Control (RASCC).
Numberrico is derived from two aboriginal words - NUMBY which
means SLEEPY and BERRICO which means HOLLOW. Sleepy Hollow the name
we gave our property also became the registered name of our
propagation nursery which we had established at our home
address in 1991. This
nursery and our home renovations we are sorry to say also became
casualties of his m.v.a. in 1992.
Our first litter as breeders produced one kitten. The upside
was that she was good enough for us to show with some success
(Kunara) and the next litter the same year also produced one
extremely good kitten that was the 1997 RASCC Female Kitten of the
Year and 1997 British Shorthair Cat Society Female Kitten of the Year
(Holly). Whilst our enjoyment through breeding and showing was on the
increase, the legal and medical problems associated with the m.v.a.
had played out to become a bigger nightmare; the courts determined no
injury and no ongoing compensation, whilst the NSW Police
Service knowing otherwise terminated Greg's employment.
Since the time of our first registered kittens, we have enjoyed
breeding. We have sought to breed kittens of show standard with good
temperament and have bred many Best in Show Kittens/Cats. In 1997 we
bought the first registered Colourpoint British into NSW (Tierman),
shortly after the RASCC recognition of this color pattern. With the
development of these lines we produced the first NSW born and
registered Colourpoint British. Through selective breeding we have
produced self Chocolate and Lilac (Erladyship), tabby, tabby point,
bi-colour and bi-colour points in these new colours.
Over the years health issues largely steming from the motor
vehicle accident have seriously restricted our quality of life and
our showing, however we are still registered as breeders with
Australian National Cats (ANCATS) and continue our hobby specialising
in the British colourpoint and associated colours and patterns.
We currently have one stud male from our own breeding, he is
the old fella at 4 years of age (Champers). We also have two young
guns coming through from last years breeding (Choc Top and Mack) . As
far as females go, we have one beautiful old girl (Chocky Babe) who
has well and truly earnt her upcoming retirement. She is the matriach
of all our current breeding stock bar one. Next in line is a totally
outcrossed female at 2 years old (Ocea Blue). We then have a 1 year
old (Cotton Candy) who proved herself last season and three young
hopefuls from last years breeding (Minnie Mia, Cinder Bearla and
Pinkie). We are not what you would call big breeders. We limit our
breeding at any one time to ensure the ongoing health of our cats and
their kitties by not overcrowding. This also allows more time to
spend with each mother and litter alowing the kittens to learn very
quickly by seeing their mother interact with us.
From our gene pool the colours and patterns we produce
are:
- blue, lilac, chocolate, black
- COLOUR POINTS - lilac, chocolate, blue, seal
Numberrico
Kunara
Numberrico
Holly
Zwei Farbe Tierman
Ch. Numberrico Little Boss,
(ColourPoint) 
Numberrico
Erladyship, (First Lilac)
