Helen Gamon Speaks About her Original Chartreux

Helen was born December 16, 1913, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Her mother and stepfather moved to Los Angeles, California, where she met John Gamon whom she married on December 27, 1936. John was born August 16, 1910. Helen died December 16, 1993; John died May 21, 2001.

Taquin de Saint Pierre, Breeder S. Bastide, Ambert, France. Persian on both sides of pedigree

Taquin was born July 30, 1970, and died June 12, 1983, of a spinal/intestinal tumour. Taquin was a productive stud, siring the first litter of Chartreux in the United States with Thilda de Saint Marcoult. The litter was born on September 10, 1971, and consisted of five kittens: Gamonal Utrillo, Ultramarino, Ulana, Usas, Ulmarie, and Umi (who had a broken tail and a white spot so was sold as a pet.)

In November 1971 Helen tells us "Taquin is a beautiful Chartreux, very solid chunky body, very large head, big amber eyes and nearly mute. His fur is even thicker than sheared beaver and is slate grey. He is gentle and sweet and everyone loves him." In another letter she tells us "whie I used to go out of town to shows, several times Taquin would get off the bed, go to the door and growl if he heard someone going down the hall." In her last note about him she says "We shall miss him terribly. My good "watch dog" cat."

Tornade de Saint Pierre, Breeder S. Bastide, Ambert, France. Persian and British in pedigree

Tornade was born April 30, 1970, and died October 18, 1982, of fluid on the lungs. Tornade was bred five times but had no kittens so she was spayed. Of her Helen tells us she was almost mute, coat not as wavy as her half-brothers (Vandale de Saint Pierre) but had a lovely sweet face and true copper eyes.

Valse de Saint Pierre, Breeder S. Bastide, Ambert, France. Persian and British in pedigree

Valse was born March 30, 1972, and died April 6, 1984, of unknown causes. Valse was bred several times and finally had two kittens, Jasmine and Julian, by Cæsarean section and was then spayed.

Vandale de Saint Pierre, Breeder S. Bastide, Ambert, France. Persian on both sides of pedigree

Vandale was born May 16, 1972, and died December 14, 1985, of osteomyelitis of the upper jaw. Vandale started his praying at the age of four months and would sit quite happily on his hind legs and pat his front paws together for attention.

Thilda de Saint Marcoult, Breeder A. M. Dartois, Belgium. British shorthair in pedigree

Thilda was born October 6, 1970, and died September 21, 1976, from poison from a Pulvex flea collar. Helen tells us that Thilda was pearly grey, with copper eyes and a meow, and was a wonderful mother. In one of her letters Helen writes "The mother cats are good to their kittens and play attack games with them, with the first litter I thought Thilda would kill her kittens as she would push one down and grab its throat and hold it, but she was teaching the kitten the proper hold on an enemy for survival."

Jasmine de Guerveur, Breeder the Leger Sisters of Belle Isle. Persian on both sides of pedigree

Jasmine was born February 6, 1974; the date and cause of death are unknown. Jasmine was the result of a half-brother and half-sister breeding. She was different in type from the Chartreux of Mme. Bastide's breeding, being higher on leg, more slender in build. Photos of her taken in July 1975/1978 show this to be evident. There are few records of Jasmine, and no record of her litters. One of her kittens was sent to Mr. Awamura in Japan but no date was recorded.

Tristan de Chatelauze, Breeder A. M. Vivat, France. Sired by a British shorthair

Tristan was born October 18, 1970, but no date of death is given. Tristan was sold to Gina Palinckx of Carson, California, as he grew to look too much like a British shorthair.

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