"Willy"   Solid White April 20, 2007   His parents are: CH Coonwyck Papollo of R P Cathouse & CH N2Katz Butterfly Kisses   Pedigree

I am majorly thrilled to announce Grand Champion R P Cathouse Wld Thng of Moosecoons (applause, happy dance :-).  Call name Willy, or Wild Man Willy, and of course he has his two songs I sing to him ... (Little Willy by the Sweet and Wild Thing by the Trogs). 

I fell in love with this little guy when he was 7 weeks old.  I kept telling Stella and Rose, I don't do whites, I don't WANT a White Maine Coon, but I want this kitten... Everyone told me I was crazy <lol> "Judges don't see white unless it's a Persian or a Turk" was one of the comments I heard, and in too many cases that's probably true enough, but this boy has such phenomenal type I wouldn't rest until he titled. It was a particular joy for me to present my dear friend Stella Gaylor of R P Cathouse with the first Grand of her breeding.

Willy showed well as a kitten and on into adulthood, keeping a pleasant demeanor in the show ring.  He has been such a trouper, allowing great indignities done to him in order to keep him actually white (some of the more private areas needing particular attention!) The judges who supported him were consistant and truly appreciative and I thank each and every one of them. One judge said in her final "this cat could be purple and he'd still be an excellent example of the breed" I couldn't agree more :-)

I never could  get a truly good photo of the Wild Man! He does such weird twisty things with his head when in quest of a toy!

 

 All white cats "mask" another color - Willy is masking some kind of blue, and from his children I suspect it's Solid Blue (as opposed to tabby).  He had a "kitten cap" of blue on the crown of his head as a baby. Usually solid whites with a kitten cap of color aren't deaf, and he certainly isn't!  The white masking gene inhibits color from the hair during the development of the fetus, starting from the bottom which is why often white kittens have a dab of color on the crown of their heads.  It usually disappears as they mature but not always.  A very simplified explanation: when the masking expression crosses the eyes, they usually turn blue and sometimes it crosses the ears as well and somehow turns them off, which is why blue-eyed whites with no color cap seem to be more likely to be deaf. 
There are of course exceptions to every rule though!  There are plenty of blue-eyed and odd-eyed whites with perfect hearing and I know of gold-eyed whites that are deaf.  Of the deaf cats I know, not a one appears to "suffer" from a disability! They don't know anything different and it's just normal life for them :-)

At 2.5 years old (left), Willy has grown into a magnificent young male!  He still doesn't photograph well, but you can see his wonderful head and muzzle.  He has so  much coat I keep him shaved down; here he's about 3 months grown out.  His body feels like a rock, he's so packed with muscle.  I honestly think he's one of the best examples of the breed I've ever seen, and his offspring are wonderful!   His daughter Puff (out of Kissy Girl) is just so beautiful and so sweet, she's suckered me into staying here!   My Willy  boy is gorgeous and silly and sweet and I feel very blessed to have had him in my house.

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