Something about me

My name is Ellen van der Merwe. I grew up in a Christian family where both my parents, Frans and Pauline van der Merwe, taught us to be kind and generous to humans and animals. I have two brothers and one sister and we were very close growing up, having a great adventurous childhood and many family events. After living on my own for some time, my parents moved back in with me and I feel immensely blessed to have them in my life, spending quality time with them. In August 2019 it all changed when I lost my mother when she was 74 years old. My dad continues to live with me and it's a great relief to have him at home to help me with my fur babies when I am away on holiday or come home late in the evenings.

My parents loved animals and had cats even before I was born. Our growing up years was filled with noisy animals sleeping on our beds, running around the house and being part of our family. We had cats, dogs, tortoises (normally a week or 2 before releasing them in the wild again), birds and even silk worms. My parents taught us to have compassion for animals and to have the responsibility to care for them.

I started breeding Maine Coon cats when my cat, Smokey, died and I just couldn't find a breeder from South Africa who wanted to export to Namibia. I wanted to import a pet in 2014, couldn't find a willing breeder and then in 2015 I convinced a breeder to sell me two cats. After that I got help from experienced breeders and recommendations (Petra from The Legends Cattery and Shireen Booyse from Supercoons cattery) and then I imported my next three cats from Germany and Czech and the dream of breeding great quality cats became a reality.

My biggest internal fight is to breed and make people happy to experience the love of Maine Coon cats and at the same time I feel guilty for breeding and taking homes away from cats in rescue centers. It is a constant battle in my head and that is a main reason for neutering and spaying all cats. I don't want to add to the unwanted litters of rescue centers. Rescue centers do great work and they need the support of everyone. I encourage people who buy a Maine Coon cat to adopt a second one from the rescue centers. Maine Coon cats are social and need the company of a second cat or dog in the house.

I am grateful to have lots of animals and I do feel sorry for kids growing up in very quiet sterile homes, who do not know the feeling to love an animal and to have an animal who loves you back with no judgement.

One of my biggest fears is to grow old and move to an old age home with no companion animal. I wish for people to change and become tolerant and kinder to each other and to animals and to allow people in small flats, old age homes, prisons and estates etc with governing organisations to change their views and allow people to own and love an animal.

I am truly blessed to know the love of my human family and also the love of every furry animal friend that has crossed my life. I also know the heartbreaking sadness to say goodbye too soon to each and every one of them. But still with all the sadness of saying goodbye, I will still choose each and every one of them again.