Hi!  Welcome to Lyonwood.  My name is Shirley Hess.  Located in the foothills of the Sierras, in Northern California, my husband David and I raise Abyssinians and Oriental Shorthairs in one of the most beautiful places in the world.  Of course we're biased!

We keep our kitty clan small, so we can raise  them underfoot with constant love and attention.  They like the underfoot part!  Also the in your lap, on your shoulder, and under the covers parts.  They are a constant source of amusement and amazement, and as the breeder who sold me my first aby said, "You'll turn off the TV and watch the cats for hours!"

Our goal is happy, and especially healthy cats and kittens, with delightful personalities.  The occasional knock-em-dead show cat is a plus too!  As hard as it is to let each kitten go, we do love to "spread the joy"  and have made many friends through our kittens.  David says we're foster parents, nurturing our kittens until the right home comes along.

We have four or five abyssinian litters a year, all four colors:  ruddy, red, blue and fawn.  Our Oriental girl, Sweet-P, just had her first litter.  Our cats are CFA registered, vaccinated, and Feline Leukemia negative.  Please visit our other pages, and see our family!  Thanks for dropping in!