How it all began:

Melissa Morton has been breeding and showing pedigreed cats since 1991. Melissa fell in love with pedigreed cats beginning in 1989. Her first pedigreed cat was a seal point Birman female named “Miko” and a seal point Siamese named “Suki” (who have both crossed the rainbow bridge). Although Miko was only shown once, the seed was planted and Melissa was hooked.

Melissa began studying everything she could about the different breeds, health and temperments. After attending several more cat shows, Melissa decided on shorthaired breeds. Her next “child” was a ruddy Abyssinian named “Raja”. Melissa began showing Raja at the ripe old age of 4 months and 4 days! At his first show in Boise Idaho, he made 3 finals! She will never forget the wonderful feeling of those first wins. It was at this point that SlickRock Cattery was born (owned by Melissa and her husband at the time Gary Swenson).

Raja was a bit lonely and needed a friend. Melissa had her eye on several other breeds and after attending another cat show in Salt Lake, she decided on a very lovely blue point male Siamese. Melissa began working very closely with the breeder of “Shinto”, Connie Goller of Geishagoll Siamese. With Connie’s help, Melissa obtained a very lovely chocolate point Siamese female, CH Geishagoll Minuet of SlickRock. Minute had one litter of 4 kittens…1 seal point, 1 chocolate point, 1 lilac point and 1 blue point – a full rainbow litter!

At this point, Melissa had already been involved in the cat fancy for over 5 years. She was very interested in becoming a judge. However, to be considered for a judge, you need to have bred and shown both long and shorthaired cats. Melissa began her search for a longhaired breed, and due to the large amount of breeders of Siamese cats, she also began searching for another shorthaired cat to breed.

Melissa kept showing Raja (who won a regional title) and Shinto but kept looking for that purrfect breed and cat to start her own breeding program. Then fate got involved in the process. Melissa was looking through a cat book and had turned to look at Maine Coon cats. She wanted a large longhaired breed and something that was sweet and gentle. Melissa accidentally knocked the book off the shelf and the page opened to…you guessed it…Norwegian Forest Cats!! Not only had Melissa not ever seen one, she had barely even heard of one!

This is when the studying and reading really started. Melissa spoke to breeder after breeder and learned everything she could about this enchanting cat. She spoke numerous times to Louise Clair of Maineline Cattery in Dallas, Texas (who then moved to San Diego, CA). Melissa specifically chose Louise as she had the quality line, pedigrees, look and health that Melissa was looking for. She also hit it off immediately with Louise, who is to this day her mentor and very close friend. Melissa holds Steve and Louise Clair in very high regard and is pleased to think of them as family.

Melissa purchased Maineline Lestat of SlickRock, a black smoke neuter, who she showed to learn everything about the breed from health to personality to grooming. The plan was also to show Lestat as much as possible as a lot of judges in the western US had never seen a Norwegian Forest Cat, let a lone a black smoke.

Melissa will never forget that day she picked him up from the airport. The second she got the carrier to the car, she opened it and looked inside to see two bright green eyes looking back at her. It was love at first sight! Up until that very moment, Melissa had only seen the breed in pictures. Lestat was the very first one she saw in person!

With the addition of Lestat, Melissa retired Shinto and began showing Lestat and Raja. Due to some personality conflicts, Raja was placed in a home with a very close friend. This now left Melissa without a shorthaired breed, which she needed to pursue judging. Once again, she hit the cat books. This time, a very rare breed caught her eye - a silver blue cat with very large, green eyes and a heart-shaped face. This enchanting cat originates in Thailand and is called the Korat (Ko-rawht). After speaking with many breeders of this breed, she again “clicked” with a wonderful breeder in Vancouver, BC. Shortly thereafter, Skookumchuck All Thai’d up (aka Earl) became a part of the family.

Melissa showed Earl and Lestat, both to the title of Grand Premier in CFA and Quadruple Grand Alter in TICA, with Earl winning a regional title in TICA and a highest scoring cat in show in CFA.

Very shortly after this, Maineline Beyla of SlickRock, a blue mackerel with white female came to live in the cattery. She was Melissa’s very first breeding Norwegian Forest Cat. Beyla went on to birth 3 litters with a total of 13 kittens (4, 5, 4). Beyla’s offspring are spread across the country and are living very happy lives.

In 1998, due to work and personal problems, Melissa retired from breeding and disbanded SlickRock Cattery. Melissa moved to Southern California in July 1999 and once again the cat bug bit. She and Sean Morton started Sangha Cattery. Melissa brought Lestat with her when she moved. Lestat passed away in January 2007. He is missed every day but lives in our thoughts and a little in each of the kittens!