My Herkules "adventure" started in 1982. I was determined to buy a Persian for my daughter Heidi and visited the  Tchamina's Cattery. Vigdis Giltun, who had been rearing colourpoint since 1977, was by then one of the most firmly established and enthusiastic colourpoint breeders.  

Earlier I had seen only plain coloured Persians and was totally fascinated by Vigdis' charming cats who sported masks and bright, blue eyes. I chose a tortiepoint girl CH Tchamina's Honey. In 1984 the breeder name Herkules was registered, and Honey had her first litter.

As you'll see from this photo of IC GIP Herkules Bonnie from the 1980's, the colourpoint had quite a different appearance at that time. In those days most colourpoints had longer bodies and a more slight bone structure. Eyes were slanted and the nose' position was lower than today. Their fur resembled semi longhair

In 1985 I acquired IC Mishka af Skrim. She was raised by the judge Lena Rigsskog, who was a very conscious breeder. In earlier years, Mishka had a short cobby body, nice doming, with a wonderful coat factor. Mishka turned out to be a very good breeder - and is the origin of many a Herkules cat. She has transmitted the good bone structure and high-quality fur to her descendants.

In 1988 Mishka was mated with IC Thabitas Don Juan (owner Unni Andrèn). He descended from the well-known English import CH Cirrus Justin Tyme and IC Thabita av Persicum. With this combination I wished to improve the breed. This litter had been of main importance for the further development. GIC Herkules Ginette is the mother of  EC Herkules Unique Baron (owner Lisbeth Johansen) and Herkules Naughty Boy  (owner Wibeke Sæter Ludviksen)

When Vigdis and I visited England in 1988, we were deeply impressed by the American Madame Nu-cats we saw there. The Americans had been importing on a large scale from England, breeding a type more similar to the one we have today. When Mats Rosenqvist later imported the flamepointed Madame Nu's General Custer, I was fortunate enough to employ him in our breeding. From this brood of Mishka in 1989, I decided to keep a bluepoint male for further breeding; Herkules Impossible Dream.

Impossible Dream was later on lent to the Quarnetorp Cattery in  Sweden. A half brother mating was later done with Quarnetorps Sunny Girl. Two nice males were born, of which one was brought back to med, the creampoint GIC Quarnetorps San Fernando.

In 1990 Mishka was mated with the red Lovelymate Mystic Flame, son of the well-known Lauralas Dusty Miller. Here Herkules Naousa was born. She herself is not typical of the breed but she has later been the origin of many nice offsprings, among those EC Herkules Lovely Sunshine (owner Lisbeth Johansen) and IC Herkules Hope. I've kept the latter myself. She sports a beautiful appearance, and among her advantages are a incredibly nice, curved top and a dashing forehead.

In 1993 I acquired S*Vite Knuts Moonlightwonderland from Astrid Magnusson of Sweden. He is a large, muscular cat who fits his name "Bamse" (Bear) quite well. He is son of the impressive USA import  EC Blossomaire Kissed By The Sun. He has furnished his descendants with the same strong bone structure and long fur, plus small ears.

In 1994 Bamse was mated with Hope, and I then kept EC Herkules Ramona. She was a third generation colourpoint carrier, a bluecream - and she turned out even better than her mother.

Same mating was performed in 1996, and among the offsprings was EC Herkules Katinka who has done remarkably well both during exhibitions and breeding. Katinka has a lovely appearance, with a nicely curved forehead and a light-coloured fur with nice contrasts.

In 1992, while my husband and I were vacationing in USA, we visited several colourpoint breeders on the east coast. I had the intention of adding a new cat to my cattery, and my choice fell on the Callyn Cattery. The cat's name is Callyn's Starry Eyes, a small sealpoint female, extremely typical of her breed - and with sapphire-blue eyes. Star has so far got only a few offspring but I've kept a Star daughter with Quarnetorps San Fernando; Herkules Petite Fleur. She was mated with "Bamse" in 1995, and this brood sported many beautiful cats, amongst these EC Herkules Cavalier (owner Wenche Østerhagen), Herkules Candyman (exported to Australia) -  and my own seal pointed CH Herkules Cinderella.

In 1995 I bought the IC Permobiles Rosemary by Jane Käll of Sweden.  This cat is a daughter of the famous USA import Lauralas Star Flower. Rosemary had a very nice brood with Alison Arentz Schjetnes' IC Tweeget Excalibur. Those were Herkules Juliette and GIC EP Herkules Jackpot. I decided to keep both of them myself, while Jackpot later was taken over by Rita Hindenes.

When Rosemary was mated with "Bamse" in 1997, a nice male -  EC Herkules Shadow Dancer was born. He is a hefty boy who's got about everything that a Persian should have.

As time goes by I have come to the conclusion that some new lines are needed in my breeding program. Joachim Salèn gave me a hint about Laurie Suffield who managing the  Everclassic Cattery in Canada. I went over and chose the flame pointed GIC Everclassic's Corn  Flake.

As I've always been fascinated by tortiepointed cats, I simply also had to have the CH Everclassic's Miss Marple, with toe most vividly blue eyes you can imagine. 

These two Canada imports have nicely shaped, short bodies - light-coloured and with a good fur quality. Besides that, an excellent temper

Corn Flake has brought many a nice offspring, among those Mona Lisa, Moonflower, Marco Polo,  Mary Poppins and Nadia. Of these I've kept Nadia myself. This is the 4. generation Herkules, and she's an immensely promising girl.

We had the first brood from Miss Marple and EC Herkules Moonrider in August 1999. Miss Marple has transmitted her beautiful eye colour. From this brood I've kept  Herkules Rigoletta

This is the history of my cattery so far. It's been a very exciting experience to participate in the development of the colourpoint through all these years. 

In my breeding program I put a particular emphasis on good health, a strong bone structure and a good fur quality. Other important issues are a nice, blue eye colour, and "open" expression - and small ears. I feel I do know our lines' strengths and weaknesses, and I consider this as being very important and making it easier to avoid unwanted results.

This photo shows me, my husband Bjørn - and Wenche Østerhagen, on the right, visiting the CFA Show in Atlanta, USA