Stella performs the downward-facing cat pose

 

followed by the upward-facing cat pose.

Constellation, always and affectionately known as "Stella," has an unusual pedigree. Her mother, our own Countess (Consuelo Night's Consort), has two smoke parents, and Stella herself is the daughter of two smoke parents. Stella was a wish-come-true cat from early on. A lovely kitten, she continued to improve as she matured with her green eyes, sturdy, muscular body, rich, dense coat, and vivid, high contrast smoke coloring that provides complete visibility of her pattern. Beauty aside, though, Stella's true charm lies in her sparkling personality and easy-going temperament. Nothing bothers this girl. She loves people and other cats and greets both with head butts, trills, and purrs. Rarely grumpy and never fearful, she travels and shows with the greatest of ease. It was a thrill to see judges become more confident and relaxed with her the more they got to know her during the show season.

Stella has a signature stretch that she loved to do before getting down to the business of being judged. Many judges learned that they could release her on the table and let her stretch first before bringing out the toys and getting serious about their evaluations. Stella always began with the downward-facing cat pose, followed by a shift of weight forward to the upward-facing cat pose. If interrupted before she could finish her routine, Stella would resign herself, but would then try to sneak her stretches in while being judged.

This little cat soared beyond our wildest expectations and gave us a show-season joy ride like we've never experienced before. Stella finished the '08-'09 show season Third Best Egyptian Mau in CFA and Seventh Best Cat in the Gulf Shore Region.