Untitled - Kyina & Talisker Cats Breeders of Russian Blues in ...

ffiSUNSET, the kitten rnascot, looking for all the world like l porcelain figure'insists on being in the picture at this rnusical evening with Nan Coton-(atthe piano), Jo'an Beec,)tr (centre) and three metnbers of their BraavleieQuaitet. 'iIJw re.d about Sunset and his owners in the article whichstarts below'ft,efagees from tfuu i?faaHEN song r,r.'riters NanCoton and Joan Beechvisited the Crystal CatShow at Olympia in 1950 theyIittle dreamed that it would be thestart of a series of adventures forthem, Being keen cat lovers, theyenjoyed looking at the lines offeline aristocrats on show. Theychatted with breeders, voted forStonor Spiv, the National Savingscat, u'ho was elected " Everybody'sCat," and eventually cameawav with a little bundle of furwhich took their fancy.The kitten thev purchased wasa close relative of Stonor Spiv,a blue-cream with attractive colouringbred by Miss G. Sladen,who is so well known for herManx cats. The kitten waschristened Sunset and later rt'asioined by another Stonor recruit,ihi, ti*e a British Blue male, abrother of Stonor Spiv and agrandson of Blue Sausage,, whobecame dulv registered as BeechcoteSmokvIn 195 l, Nan Coton's motherwas taken seriouslv ill in Nairobiand so rhe little partl ol fourtravelled out there by air. Thetwo cats soon became well knownin Kenya. They inspired Nan andJoan to write a catchy song " MyKitten's Got Rhythm " and afantasy entitled " lfort' the CatGot It's Mia-ow." Sunset wasalways a musical cat and lovedto sit on the piano. So when herkittens arrived they were givenmusicai names Symphony,Rhythm, Melody, Harmony, - Nocturneand so on.Then over the happy scene,there fell the black shadow ofMau Mau, with its horrific symboiof a crucified cat. Nan and Joan