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DesignerStripes is a small, home based cattery located in North Aurora, IL, 40 miles
west of beautiful downtown Chicago. Our Toygers make for wonderful companions,
they are known for their sweet loving and energetic disposition. Our Toygers are
raised with constant care and attention from our family, our children, grandchildren and
Phoenix, our mischievous Doberman! The attention and love they receive in their very
important formative first months assures they are very well socialized before they leave
us for their forever homes. Every single kitten born at DesignerStripes is important to
us; we treat our kittens like little members of the family. We absolutely love to get
updates and hear stories about our babies from their new owners.
A bit about myself, my name is Helen Baloun; I am the cattery owner, TICA, Toyger
Cat Society member and a licensed breeder here in Illinois. My husband Joe and I
came to the United States from Europe about 30 years ago with our two sons, Dan and
Mark.
Back in Europe there was always a cat or dog in the house and we continued that
tradition here in the States. First, we had a couple of cats that we adopted from local
shelters, and eventually we bought our favorite breed of dog, the Doberman pinscher,
we typically had two Dobermans and at least one cat at all times. Of course with young
boys we always had an assortment of reptiles, turtles, snakes, iguanas and even a bird.
To say the least we have always been animal lovers and our house was always shared
with animals! About three years ago we lost our cat due to kidney failure. After
deciding to purchase a new cat I did some research and came across a few pictures of
Togers on the Internet and fell in love with this wonderful and unique breed. I talked to
and met a few Toyger breeders at a local cat show and I was hooked! I decided to
breed Toygers on my own and purchased my first two females very shortly thereafter
and my adventure with breeding Toygers began! My goal from the beginning is to work
hand in hand with other Toyger breeders along with guidance from Toyger founder,
Judy Sugden, to help bring the Toyger breed to its final destination according to the
Toyger breed standard.
I will NEVER breed Toyger kittens for quantity, but with quality, health and
personality in mind, that is my promise!
