13 April 2009- First post

They attended their very first show at just under 6 months of age presented by The Queensland Feline Association Inc (QFA) on 15th March 2009. They were entered in the Shorthair Kittens Under 6 months (including Group 3) category consisting of 3 rings and competed against both entire and desexed kittens.

KENZO results:

7th   Best Kitten - by Judge Janis Christison (Ring 1)

10th Best Kitten - by Judge Heather Brown (Ring 2)

Best Burmilla U6 months - by Judge Janis Christison (Ring 1)

Best Burmilla U6 months - by Judge Heather Brown (Ring 2)

Kenzo took the day in his stride and remained very professional for his first show. Everyone was very proud of his results, including himself!

BONSAI results:

Bonsai was missing being able to hang out with Kenzo. They are inseparable, however they did have cages right next to each other. That wasn't quite good enough for Bonsai, however he did come to realise that it wasn't all that bad in the end and settled into his first show nicely. He didn't place in the Top Ten 10 in his first show, however he did receive:

Best Burmilla U6 months - by Judge Lesley Morgan-Blythe (Ring 3).

He did win a lot of hearts from the public though! We are all very proud of him too.

19 April - Sophisticats Club Show

KENZO and BONSAI attended the "Sophisticats Cat Club" - QFA Show today. It was a massive show with more than double the amount of exhibits than their last show, so we all really had to settle in for a long day of judging!

The day consisted of 3 Rings and then a further Specialty Ring for Semi-Long Hair exhibits. The boys are now in the U9 months category and came out with some fantastic results up against 48 other kittens. Hence the reason for a long day!

KENZO's results:

RESERVE BEST SEMI LONGHAIR KITTEN - by judge Allan Raymond (Specialty Ring)

And from the Top 15 Final Best Kittens, he received:

From the Top 15 Final Best Kittens, he received an incredible result of:

Bonsai is very proud of his big rosette ribbon and his placing, however he is not the only proud one today!!!

23 May

The Boys are looking adorable in their Winter coats. KENZO loves his brushes and rolls over for tummy brushes all the time. BONSAI on the other hand has adopted the attitude (or should I say "C-ATTITUDE") of wanting a brush just when he feels like it! He is always too busy playing...or playing with his brush for that matter!

It has been Burmilla heaven at night time. Brisbane has been getting cooler at night now and the Boys are always on our bed`asleep at night. BONSAI is the "cuddler" out of both of them. He cuddles right up close and purrs away while he looks after us at night (so he thinks!). KENZO is just happy the doona has come out and finds a spot somewhere. He is not fussed in that department.

KENZO has really amped up his communication skills with us. He will come up to us, have a couple of things to "say", then run over to the floor rug and roll on his back. He then gets a lovely big tummy rub. He has suddenly just started doing this, so now it is expected. Very smart boy! In the meantime, BONSAI has a favourite spot on the window ledge looking out the study window. He sees all kinds of things like people, cars and dogs. He thinks it is fascinating!

 24th May - Burmese Cat Society QLD Show

Today we all set off to the show hosted by the Burmese Cat Society. It was a bit of a rainy day in Brissie, so probably a great day to be inside. Not that KENZO thought this way. I am sure he would rather have been curled up at home watching "Animal Planet" on TV (yes he actually watches it. Both Boys do!). KENZO was a bit grumpy today, however he still did okay with getting a place in the top 10 kittens. BONSAI just took it all in his stride today and was a well behaved little man with a good result from a total of 27 exhibits.

Their results todays were:

Kenzo and his ribbon

KENZO results:

10th Best Kitten in Show - by judge Rhonda Watson (Ring 1)

Best Burmilla - by judge Rhonda Watson

BONSAI results:

10th Best Kitten in Show - by judge Barbara La Rocca (Ring 2)

Best Burmilla - by judge Barbara La Rocca

This was the Boys final show as kittens. Due to work committments, we are unable to show for the month of June. Come July, they will be grown up's in the adult arena. We are all looking forward to it.

As I write, the Boys have had their after show "special dinner" and have fallen asleep. Well done little guys!

17th June - The Boys are now Adults

The Boys are 9 months old today, so in the Cat Show world, they are now adults! They are still our fur-babies and still soooo kitten like. KENZO has been a little bit sick so we took him to the Cat Doctor. He just had some furballs to get rid off, so he is fine. BONSAI decided he wanted to come to the Cat Doctor also, as they are totally inseparable, and ended up with both of them having a full check over. BONSAI took it all very well and wasn't fazed, however KENZO was very cranky with having his temperature taken. Mmmm. The Cat Doctor advised they are very healthy little Boys.

Brisbane has gone through a cold snap at night time in the past couple of weeks, which gives the Boys an excuse to cuddle up even closer at night on the bed. Not that they need much of an excuse. They make for great foot warmers!

KENZO has suddenly taken to spending half the night on the bed and the other half in his little cat tent next to the bed. He didn't want to know about the cat tent for months, however, now regards it as a bit of a favourite spot!

BONSAI in recent weeks, has been totally fascinated with a length of fabric elastic about a foot long. He runs around chasing it, jumps at it and pretty much hogs it from KENZO. He is not allowed to have it at night and when we are not home, so he waits so patiently for it to come out in the morning. He is pretty good at fetching and tends to drop the elastic at our feet or brings toys onto the bed from time to time. Very smart little boy he is.

KENZO on the other hand has taken to bringing ping-pong balls into the bedroom at night. With pretty much the run of most of the house...it has to be the bedroom! He has had the rules changed also. No ping-pongs at sleeptime!

Our next show in Brisbane is not until July 26th, so fingers crossed we do well as adult cats!

Kenzo & Bonsai all grown up

Kenzo's beautiful green eyes

26th July - Club 23 All Breeds Cat Show

Bonsai and Kenzo had a big day at the show today. As a matter of fact, so did Kevin! He took the Boys by himself as I was overseas working, so he had his hands full of little paws! Today was their first show as adults, so we were excited to see how they went and we were very happy with their results:

Ring 1: Judge Cheryl Pollock (FCCV)

KENZO - 6th Best In Show
BONSAI - 8th Best In Show

Ring 2: Judge Raewyn Copland (NZCF)

BONSAI - 8th Best In Show (Little Kenzo was a bit of a cranky pants during Ring 2!)

Ring 3 - Judge Allan Raymond (QFA)

KENZO - 7th Best In Show
BONSAI - 4th Best In Show

Our little Boys (I should say little men!) have now received their first lot of Championship points with certificates. After today they are both on 33 points each...on their way to becoming our little Champions!!! Our next show is the Royal Ekka Show 2009 in Brisbane showgrounds in a couple of weeks. It is a big 2 days for all of us, so there will be loads of pampering and preening leading up to the show weekend. Paws crossed we may have some Champion news in a couple of weeks!!!

Bonsai with his rosettes

Bonsai looking too cute (B) and Kenzo napping after a hard day (T)

8th/9th August - 2009 ROYAL QUEENSLAND SHOW

The Royal Queensland Show gave our Boys plenty of time to be on display to the judges, the public and plenty of other cat lovers. We spent 2 big days over the weekend at the show and the best part was that Kenzo and Bonsai were right at the front in their cages for all the world to see! They had the prime real estate position and won many hearts over with the general public! I couldn't help but listen to the "oooohs" and "ahhhhs" when I took the Boys out for a cuddle between judging. The public love our Bonsai's big eyes....and so does mummy Sherin!

The weekend was special in several ways. The first being that this show was the first Feline Show at the Qld Royal Show in over 40 years, so it was great to see such positive support with all the fine exhibits.

Secondly, Kenzo and Bonsai now have enough challenge points to be "Champions"!!!

Thirdly, the little guys did really well! They were both judged in 4 rings over the weekend by the following judges:

Ring 1 : Gail Nell (Sth Africa)
Ring 2 : Geoff Dumigan (QFA)
Ring 3 : Sandi Gemmell (NT)
Ring 4 : Rod Uren (FCCV)

KENZO'S Results:

4 x Best Desexed Burmilla ribbons (in 4 rings)
2 x Best Exhibit of Breed ribbons (ring 1 & 3)

He also received an ACF Award Certificate (ring 2)

BONSAI'S Results:

4 x Reserve Desexed Burmilla ribbons (in 4 rings)

Once again we are all very proud of our Boys and they both deserved their very special treats at the end of the Show.

Kenzo with judge Sandi Bremmel
Kenzo with his ribbons	Bonsai with his ribbons

13th Sept. 2009 - COOLOOLA GOLD SHOW

The Boys were washed and had their nails clipped..pretty much pampered and fussed over for the show today. A bath is not too much fun for them but I must say they have no problems whatsoever, having their claws clipped! In fact they are so laid back about it, maybe because they always get a foot massage at the same time! or maybe it is the treats they get afterwards!

Today was a 4 ring show and as all the judges stated...it was a show of very high standards...finding it very difficult to decide on the top 10 best in show. As a result, the Boys did really well.

In Ring 1, KENZO decided that he liked the judges feather teaser too much and almost ate it...prompting a little round of applause from on-lookers! And when BONSAI was judged in Ring 1, he decided to show off and sit right up and beg for the feather teaser! If only I had the camera ready at that time! BONSAI loves to show off and sit up on his hinds for pretty much everything...he know's how to get the attention of everyone!

The Boys results were:-

BONSAI

5th Best in Show - Ring 1 (Michael Bowra QFA)
7th Best in Show - Ring 2 (Liz Haimes QFA)
Best Burmilla in Ring 1 and Ring 2

Bonsai with his ribbon

KENZO

10th Best in Show - Ring 1 (Michael Bowra QFA) 
Best Burmilla in Ring 3 (Janis Christison QFA)
Best Burmilla in Ring 4 (Dorothy Dever QFA)

Kenzo with his ribbon

After a big day at the show we all went home for a good hearty meal of...TUNA with prawns...the Boys favourite after show dinner! And then a bit of play time in the bathtub (no water) with the ball...then sleep, sleep and more sleep...for ALL of us!!!

Bonsai in bathtub

Kenzo in bath tub

FLASH FELINES SHOW - 4th October

A Cat Show a bit closer to home, allows us all to sleep in just that little bit longer, even if it is just half an hour! The recent dust storms travelling through NSW and QLD meant that Kenzo and Bonsai had been bathed 3 times between the last show and today! Showing a Burmilla when it is "Pink Shaded" through dust, doesn't quite fit the "standard". After going through the usual day before routine of the said bath, nail clipping, grooming and general primping and preening, we had a successful show day! Quite a large show this time, there was some pretty stiff competition in the de-sexed arena. Of all the days when we did really well....I forgot my camera!!! It was either go back home for the camera or miss benching time....not a hard decision to make though! Thank goodness for phone cameras!

The Boys results were:

KENZO

RESERVE BEST IN SHOW - Judge Valerie Cashman (QFA )
3RD BEST IN SHOW - Judge Liz Haimes (QFA)
3  x  BEST BURMILLA AWARDS (All 3 Rings)

BONSAI

10TH BEST IN SHOW - Judge Valerie Cashman (QFA)

KENZO also received an ACF (Australian Cat Federation) Award for his fabulous efforts today. When he receives 10 of these awards he will be honored with an AoE (Award of Excellence).

Mummy Sherin was so proud she bought the Boys a new toy at the show. What I like to call a "Fly Fishing Feather Teaser" which bounces feathers around on the end of a small fishing rod-like stick. KENZO went nuts over it when we got home! Usually BONSAI tends to hog any new play things but this time he didn't get a look in!

Mummy Sherin also won a prize at the show in the raffle...a fantastic Cat Book! I am sure the Boys will appreciate it in some way, shape or form! The Boys have had their special after show dinner, so it will be an early night for them tonight.....well......KENZO has his on the new toy.....so maybe not!!!

Kenzo hogging his new toy

Bonsai helping with the blog

QFA Championship Show - 22 November 2009

BONSAI and KENZO actually had to be woken up this morning before we all headed to the final QFA Show for 2009. The show started a little later than normal and the Boys were having a cat-nap when they should have been getting ready to get into the car!

The weather was very warm early in the day and got to 35 degrees during the show with a lot of humidity, so ice packs and fans seemed to be the order of the day.

Todays show consisted of 3 rings. KENZO was a little put out today, he would have rather have stayed home in the air-conditioning, so he resulted in being "huffy" all day. BONSAI on the other hand took it all in his stride. The results of todays show were:

BONSAI
3 x Best Burmilla Exhibit in all 3 Rings
5th Best - Ring 1 - Judge Margaret Sim (NSW)
8th Best - Ring 2 - Judge Terry Barrett (QFA)
9th Best - Ring 3 - Judge Judy Lewis (QFA)

KENZO
10th Best - Ring 1 - Judge Margaret Sim (NSW)

As a result of todays show both BONSAI and KENZO have received their "DOUBLE GRAND CHAMPION" status.

We have since received confirmation that our beautiful KENZO has won "BEST OF BREED - BURMILLA LONGHAIR EXHIBIT 2009" in the Metropolitan Cat of the Year Awards. He will receive his award at a special luncheon this coming weekend.

KENZO's award details and his photo in the gallery can be seen on the QFA Website.

Kevin and I are both really proud of our Boys for their efforts in their first year of showing. Lets hope 2010 is just as fun and successful for them.

Kevin and I (and the Boys) would also like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Isabella for helping to produce our amazing cats. It has been a wonderful year of watching them arrive in QLD on the plane, having the most amazing and cheeky kittens and watching them all grown up now. Isabella's support, encouragement and passion has been faultless. Thankyou from the bottom of our hearts and paws!!!

Have a happy and very safe Christmas everyone!

Naughty Bonsai

 

Copyright © 2007 Aaralyn Cattery and Isabella Catography