How and Why Did you start breeding?
Werner and I grew up with cats. Our kids wanted a cat so we decided to look for a cat to show. At the time, we were living in Ohio. I saw in the Dayton News where there was a show once a year. I thought I could handle that. Little did I know that there were shows every weekend to choose from! November 1971 our first show was in Hamilton, Ohio with our cat, a Blue Cream Persian, Su Bell Bright Dawn of Bryn Mawr. She received her 4 winner ribbons that was the requirement back then to make her a champion. We were so excited and could not wait to go to our next show. However, after seeing the other cats at the show, we knew we had to improve our quality. After going to a few more shows we met Nancy Davis of Willow Glen who helped us get started with our breeding program.
For 25 years, Irene and Werner Kachel have been breeding and exhibiting outstanding Exotics in CFA. In 1978, Werner began judging and
was a popular judge until health reasons forced him to retire in 1996.
The Bryn Mawr Exotics continue to capture the hearts of judges and exhibitors in show rings around the world. Now you can enjoy an exclusive PandEcats.com in-depth interview with Irene Kachel. |
What were your original goals?
Our first goal was to have a nice cat, to learn the standard and mechanics of showing, to improve the quality of our cats through our own breeding program, and to have some fun along the way showing and making new friends with common interests.
How did you choose your cattery name?
Looking through the Dayton, Ohio telephone book, we began making a list of catchy names and adding cat names to see which name would rhyme and sound best. That was how we came up with Bryn Mawr.
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When and Why did you start in Exotics?
We bred our first litter of Exotics in 1975, at the time when Exotics were still judged as a Short Hair. In fact, Werner used the Exotic as one of his Short Hair breeds when he was accepted to the judging program in 1978.
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When did you make your first National Win?
Our first National Winner was in 1974-75,
Best Kitten of the Year
GC Bryn Mawr Georgie Girl,
a Blue Cream Persian.
How many National winners have you had? How many Regional Winners? How many Grands? How many DM’s?
7 National Winners, 15 Regional Winners, 25 Grands, 2 DM 'S.
What do you consider the Bryn Mawr look?
I think of the Bryn Mawr look first of all as having a certain head and expression with extreme type.
How did you get the most outstanding characteristics of your look?
Breeding from Jovan with what we call the Exotic look and crossing with South Paw lines, I got a a new look with the best example being GC NW Bryn Mawr Bugsy Malone.
What factors do you consider in planning a breeding?
One very important factor is to analyze what your weakness is in your cat and to breed to a female or male that will improve your quality of cat whose complementing its weaknesses and strengths. Structure first.
To what do you think you owe your breeding success?
I think the success was to breed back into Persian lines and cross Exotic to Persian! Persian and Exotic are exactly the same, just the length of coat is different... and bloodlines are so diverse.
Is there a particular cat or cats you believe to have been most important to the development of your breeding program?
Well for sure some cats were very important . The first cat is GC NW GP JOVAN MISS USA OF BRYN MAWR DM, who gave me a solid background and especially my GC RW BRYN MAWR MURPHY BROWN DM who was my first generation homebred Exotic. Then another cat that was very important in my breeding program is GC NW SOUTH PAW GADZOOKS DM. I thank again my very dear friend Judy Brocato who offered me his breeding. And then last but not least, GC NW BRYN MAWR BUGSY MALONE!
Which cat or cats are the most important in your program today?
The most important cat for me is the cat you think you need for the future to improve the Exotic breed.
How did you go about improving type?
Look for the qualities that you want to improve on then look for the male or female that you think will compliment what you have in your cat.
What do you look for in evaluating a pedigree?
To evaluate a pedigree I look for how it was built, how lines are crossed with other lines, the coefficient of inbreeding the cat has, if this pedigree is close or open compared to the cats I want to breed it to.
What do you think are the Do’s and Don’t of Breeding?
In breeding I do not let the cats breed in a cage. I think it's good to let all cats run and get exercise. Diet is very important for a good breeding program as well as the health of the cat and the attention you give them.
Do you breed shorthair to shorthair exclusively?
I do not breed SH to SH exclusively. I have been breeding SH to SH for 2 and 3 generations. I would then breed back to a LH if I wanted to breed to a particular cat or if I wanted to improve type or coat factor.
Is there a fault you would ignore if the rest of the cat was wonderful?
The tail... I would ignore a medium tail if the rest of the cat was wonderful. If the cat were a Bi-Color, I would ignore lack of white.
Is there a fault you would not breed with even if the rest of the cat was wonderful?
I would not breed to a cat who has a genetic problem, such as a tail fault.
What traits did you find the easiest to acquire and set?
Pattern with Tabbies, dome, extremeness and small ears.
What traits were the hardest to acquire and set?
Coat thickness and texture on all colors... plus a special look
How many cats do you think is a minimum to have a quality breeding program?
I have always had a small cattery not over 10 with Persians. And with Exotics I have 4 females and 2 males. I do not think it's how many cats you have - it's the quality the cats produce. If you are working with more than one color or 1 or 2 breeds then you are required to have more cats. It also depends on how many cats an individual feels they can care for adequately.
Do you have a favorite color? A favorite cat(s)?
There is a saying " Build the barn first then add color ". I think a quality cat is beautiful in any color. I have several favorite cats over the years but the one that comes to me now must be GC Bryn Mawr Georgie Girl the year she was Best Kitten
At what age do you usually know you have a show prospect?
2 to 3 weeks.
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How do you decide a cat is campaign quality?
If a kitten or cat has the quality to meet the standard of its breed and you have confidence in the cat, the best way to see if it is campaign quality is to go to several show and test the waters so to speak. If you do well then take the kitten or cat and run with it.
What are your most cherished moments in the show ring?
I have many cherished moments in the 29 years we have been showing. # 1- and the most important, are the true friendships that I have made ,# 2 , the Polish Alley we use to have in the 70 & 80's and all the Guts card games we used to play, and last but not least all the achievements that Bryn Mawr Cattery has had over the years.
What do you look for in the buyers of your kittens?
I ask what the lines are in their pedigree to make sure the lines of my pedigree would be compatible with theirs.
What improvement would you most like to see in today’s cats?
The grooming is the first impression that a judge sees and is as important as having a quality kitten or cat.
If you could wave a magic wand and change anything about the breeding and showing in the fancy, what might you like to see different?
If I could wave a magic wand I would like to see a more relaxed atmosphere in the show halls. Let's get back to having a good time and don't worry about counting points.
What do you look forward to in the future?
To continue breeding and improving the quality of the Exotic breed.
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