Cat breeder Laura Thomas' entry, Anna, won the CFA Southern Regional Dinner award for best bicolor. Anna is Laura's blue eyed bicolor Persian cat. Anna's name in the breeding world is GRC Purrinlot Anna's Gift. ( http://www.purrinlot.com/
Anna has become world famous as being the first and only blue eyed bicolor Persian Grand Champion. To the common person, this may not seem like a big deal, but in the breeder world, GRC Purrinlot Anna's Gift is an amazing cat.
Laura Thomas had come up with the vision of a blue eyed bicolor Persian cat years ago. But other breeders told her that there are none. She was told that officially bicolor Persian cats have only copper eyes and were not even genetically possible to breed. They also told her that even if a blue eyed bicolor Persian does exist; it could not be registered, which means that a blue eyed bicolor Persian cat could not be shown at cat shows.
Laura commented, “I became hardened and resolute in my vision of blue eyed bicolor Persian cats”. She determined that she would not only breed them, but find a way to register and make it legal to show them. This went contrary to all of the experts.
In May 1999, as one of the voting members of the bicolor division of the Persian Breed Council, Laura voted in favor of approval of the addition of odd-eyed bicolor and specifically blue-eyed bicolor Persian cats for champion status with the Cat Fanciers Association to be both registered and shown.
Laura felt so endowed with this vision that she was telling everyone that she believed God would make a blue eyed bicolor Persian cat for her. Many did not believe her and thought it was impossible. Laura believes Anna's Gift is a fulfilling of her faith or belief without seeing first. Anna's Gift is her living proof of what at the time could not be seen.
Anna caused a large stir. The judges were so perplexed by Anna's appearance at the champion show that they each had to look through their rule books to find if she was truly a legal entrant. Once they concluded her legality, it was easy to choose Anna as their champion. Anna created great excitement for the judges as well as the breeders and cat lovers at the show.
Anna was a big enough story to get her photo in several Sunday papers, including the Washington Post.
Laura’s company- Castle Baths, created her breeder developed designer pet line- named after Anna. The Anna Designer Pet Line carries natural products such as pet shampoo’s, soaps and soaks for the pet loving public, and breeders alike.
Laura sums up her faith story by saying that after more than ten years of telling people that God was going to make a blue eyed bicolor Persian cat, everyone asked her how she did it. Laura just smiles and answers that it was a simple thing for her. She just let God do it.
