GC DEL ADENE J'BUSTOPHER BROWN
by Becky Orlando

On the day the 15th cat sired by GC Del Adene J'Bustopher Brown makes its Grand Champion title, there will be champagne corks popping on both sides of the Atlantic in celebration. Finally, our breed will have it's first D.M. sire, who is a short-haired cat. It's hard to believe it has taken so long for a male of our breed to achieve this distinction.

"Butsy" is a beautiful brown tabby Exotic, bred in France by Jean-Albert Abot. Jean-Albert began breeding Exotics in 1988, with a Canadian female import, Mitsou of Del Adene. In the litter that followed was Butsy's dam, Del Adene Flannell. Butsy's sire, Tugley's Charlie Brown of Del Adene, is a brown tabby Exotic who is descended from not one, but TWO, CFA Kittens of the Year, GC, NW Jovan Cheers (brown tabby/white Exotic female) and GC, NW Capodicapi Fruit Loops (calico Persian).

"Busty" is owned by Didier Dieufils and Christophe Chijou, affectionately known in the United States as the "boys from France." They bought "Butsy" from Jean-Albert when they first started out in Exotics, something that Jean-Albert has never regretted. Although Jean-Albert has retired from breeding cats to spend more time with his family, he enjoyed watching from the sidelines as "Butsy" was extensively shown at FIFe shows in Europe.

Didier and Christophe wanted to increase eye size in their cats, so they contacted Becky Orlando in hopes of purchasing a female from her. Becky sent them two cats, Becton's Black Behind Bars and Becton's Pretty Woman, and thus began a friendship which will last a lifetime.

Becky mentioned to the boys that she was returning GC Red Sky Wooden Ships, DM, to Gary Powell -- and, therefore, would be without a siring male for her four females. They graciously offered to send Butsy to her, and he arrived from France in glorious condition. He quickly granded in California and Becky continued to show him until he "blew" his coat.

"Butsy's" first litter at Becton contained seven kittens: all shorthairs -- including CFA Kitten of the Year, GC, NW Becton's Queen of the Desert. Becky was still uncertain at this point that Butsy was homozygous for short hair; however, after three more litters arrived totalling 17 shorthair kittens, the verdict was in! And, not only was he homozygous, "Butsy" also sired 75% tabbies and 75% dilutes while with Becky which made her happier still.

"Butsy" has had a tremendous impact on the breed in two short years, but the legacy he leaves behind in his offspring is something that will resonate for years to come. He was only in the U.S. for fourteen months. Becky was tearful at his leaving -- he is a sweet cat, gentle and a great companion. His is still sorely missed by her.

Here is a list of his impressive offspring:

from GC Becton's Desert Daze, DM:

• GC, NW Becton's Queen of the Desert
• GC Becton's O 2 Cool
• GC Becton's Georgy Porgy

from GC Becton's Summer Jackpot, DM:

• GC Becton's Hey Diddle Diddle
• GC Becton's Lucy Locket
• GC Becton's Constant Motion
• GC, NW Becton's Little Brown Jug of Shimea
• GC Becton's Backdraft of Gogocats

from GC Becton's Forget Me Knot:

• GC Becton's Little Polly Flinders
• GC Becton's Pacific Blue of Sumiyo

from Becton's Pretty Woman:

• GC, NW Profecii's Bear E'More-of-Pettipaws
• DW Profecii's Bless My Soul of Yquem (1998 Best Kitten, International Division)

In his only outside breedings, Pat Helmick's cats gave her a start in Exotics. Those two litters produced:

• GP, RW J'Glenn's Millionaire
• GC, NW Larpa's Curses of Marcus