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Search forPets win prizes for brave Glenys
Saturday, November 22, 2008, 07:57
But for one Neath woman, a cat has become not so much a friend as a life-saver.
This blue-eyed wonder has helped Glenys Hawes cope with the trauma of breast cancer for a second time.
Now Glenys is hoping to have two reasons to celebrate.
She and husband Peter have been breeding and showing cats for seven years and have finally made it to the most prestigious event of its kind in Britain — the feline equivalent of Crufts.
Not only that but, after completing her second course of chemotherapy, 60-year- old Glenys is keeping her fingers crossed for the all-clear when she sees her consultant next week.
"It goes back seven years when I started looking for a little hobby," said Glenys, who lives with Peter and a menagerie of moggies at Ridgewood Gardens in Cimla.
"I had to look after my elderly mum. I wanted a hobby that I could keep myself occupied with while I was at home.
"We started with four Blue Point Birmans, started breeding them — and realised we had one of show quality."
The pick of the litter is officially named Imperial Grand Champion Glenpeter Concerto.
However, outside of shows she is known simply as Cherie, after the then-Prime Minister's wife.
"We have shown other cats but we stopped when they weren't winning," said Glenys.
"Cherie is just so wonderful and she has matured with age. She looks better the older she gets."
The seven-year-old star performer has picked up numerous prizes at shows around the country, as well as her first UK Grand Champion title.
Today her owners were hoping for a second in the Supreme Cat Show at the NEC in Birmingham.
"It's the Crufts of the cat world," said Glenys.
"You don't hear so much about cat shows and I don't know why. This one is of the same high standard as Crufts.
"You cannot parade cats around, so you put them in a pen and the judges pick them up and inspect them one by one.
"It's about grooming the cats and getting them into pristine condition.
"There is also a vet who checks them out to ensure they are free of any infections.
"This is the first time we have been in this show, the highest we have got to, and it has taken us seven years to get to this stage, seven years of taking part in shows every month."
For a while now the couple have had to fit those shows around the treatment Glenys received for breast cancer.
She has just finished another gruelling course of chemotherapy. "I will be seeing the specialist next week and hopefully I will get the all-clear," she said. "
"I had good news two years ago but then something erupted again.
"Having the cats has definitely helped me through the cancer.
"You've got to have an incentive to get you through the bad times and the cats have done that.
"Whatever your hobby is, if you love it, it helps you through the bad times.
"My husband has been marvellous. I couldn't have done it without the support I have had from Peter and my family."
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