Testimonials | Heavnzsent Siberians

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Heavnzsent Testimonials

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We received two kittens, Murphy and Emmy, from Shelly at Heavenzsent Siberians in the Fall of 2012. From the beginning, with our sign-up phone screening, it was obvious that Heavenzsent was special. Shelly took the time to talk with us to make sure a Siberian was right for our family - she has so much knowledge about the breed. But the most amazing thing is how much she truly cares about her cats/kittens. She only raises one litter at a time, which is essential in producing well-socialized kittens. As a result of each litter being raised with so much love and attention she has the most amazing cats.

Our two kittens are the most friendly, gentle cats I have ever met. We have two younger children so, ever since the day the kittens came home, they have received a ton of love and attention. Never once has either one of them scratched or bit us, in fact people often ask us if they are declawed because they never use their claws on humans, even when playing! Their personalities are to-die-for, so gentle and sweet. Murphy especially is the most outgoing, friendly cat I have ever had. He will walk over to strangers, rub up against them and be perfectly happy to be picked up and loved, and will fall asleep in anyone's arms. Emmy is our lap cat- she wants nothing more than to settle into our laps at the end of the day and soak up some love. Everyone who comes to our house remarks on how special they are and even our non-cat-loving family members have said that our two make them want to get a Siberian from Heavenzsent! Shelly gave us so much information when we brought them home and she has been available at all times to answer questions and provide support. We were so fortunate to have found her and become a part of her extended Siberian family! I cannot say enough about Shelly or her Siberian babies!!!

Jessica R.

Our Lily has truly become part of our family. Unlike cats we have had in the past, Lily is very dog-like and never hides. She follows us from room to room and is always with us despite my rowdy 2 and 6 year old daughters. At bath time, she perches on the side of the bath tub, and watches the girls take their bath. She doesn't cower when we have company over either. She often greets them and attempts to play with them or sit and cuddle on their lap. At night we always find her sleeping with one of the girls. She is so sweet, gentle and cuddly. I have never once heard her growl or hiss. It's obvious how passionate Shelly is when it comes to caring for these cats. I have stayed in contact with her and she has been extremely helpful answering questions about the type of food to buy, grooming, vaccines, vet care-anything. She is always available -- a testament to how much she cares for her cats.

Christina

My husband and I were blessed to find such a wonderful person who breeds Siberians in a controlled and loving environment. We can attest to the fact that she truly loves each of her kittens and because she limits the number of litters in her cattery, she and her family are able to take the time to love and socialize each and every kitten. Because we live in the same small community as the Finleys we've had the opportunity to visit her cattery on numerous occasions. It is always clean and the queen and her kittens are pampered with their very own living room with french doors on the main floor of their home. My husband and I have shown cats over the years and have been exposed to numerous breeds. We decided that the Siberian breed was the best fit for us personally.

We have two Heavzsent Siberians and honestly folks we have never enjoyed such loving and affectionate personalities in a feline! The Siberian truly is hypo-allergenic, they have massive coats that are gorgeous but with very little shedding and matting. Our Simba and Delilah reciprocate love in a way that is difficult to explain. The Siberians are companions and they want to be with you at all times.

Peggy

Hi Shelly!

Just want to drop a quick note to tell you how much we are in love with our little kitty! She couldn't be more of a joy and a love than she is! She has adapted very well to the other cats and to our household. She is eating great and had a great vet visit. Everyone in the whole office came in to see her. Thank you so much for bringing her into our lives!

Suzan Sherman

Hi Shelly, I saw on Facebook that today is your birthday, but I felt you deserved a personal email instead of a Facebook message......

Happy birthday to YOU! A beautiful person, and an amazing cat breeder whom I truly believe cares more about finding proper homes for one of God's special animals, than you do about the money.

You put your heart and soul into every one of your babies, and your dedication and commitment shines through in each of your babies. You have completed many empty spaces in families by breeding, ours being one of them. THANK YOU for your greatness. We love Miracle!

Happy birthday, and God bless you and your precious family (the furry ones too).

Love,
Adrienne

When I was searching for another Siberian Cat, I came across Heavensent. I carefully read through the information about this cattery and felt confident that the owner, Shelly, was a conscientious breeder who had a big heart for the cats she was raising. But it wasn't until I talked with her on the phone and then went to her home to meet her, the cats and kittens, that I realized how true this was.

Shelly is a very kind, loving, gentle and patient person, both with her cats and their new owners. She patiently answered my hundreds of questions, honestly and completely. She didn't try to "sell" me her cats. Instead, she worked with me to find out if there would be a good match between my family and her kitten.

Once a kitten was reserved for me, Shelly continued to work with me, teaching me and offering tips on how to raise a happy and healthy cat.

When it was time for the baby to come home, we went to her house and was greeted by happy, healthy cats and playful, loving kittens. Her home is filled with a family that loves her animals and peace was felt from the moment we walked in.

When we got home with our new kitten, Alena, we realized how blessed we were. She is the most loving, calm, well behaved cat one could ask for. She has already brought much joy to our lives.

Shelly supports me as a cat owner and continues to be a resource but now is also a dear and special life long friend.

We are blessed that Shelly, and her cats, have come into our lives. I can't recommend her enough. To anyone who wants to bring a cat into their lives, I have complete trust and belief that you will find a loving kitten through this special cattery.

Sheri, Cedarburg WI

Ollie is HUGE! No one believes he's not even a year old yet. He's bigger than most of the full grown cats I've seen. He's also one of the sweetest critters I've ever known and is so much a part of our family he's like one of our kids. Extremely non-catlike behaviors to add to your list if anyone asks:

1) He comes when he's called.
2) He plays fetch.
3) He follows me around the house even when he's been fed & his litter box is newly cleaned (okay, perhaps he wants to know why I keep taking his buried treasures away in Sendiks bags, but I think it's more than that!).
4) He 'talks' & calls for us to come (we do, especially the kids).
5) He snuggles with my daughter's nightgown or favorite stuffed animal while she's at school.
6) He likes to have his belly rubbed.
7) If a child is crying, he sits beside them until they stop. He does not, however, want to be held by a crying child. Everyone has boundaries, after all.
8) A weird one which I learned was okay from the vet tech at the surgery center: He likes to 'suckle' fleece blankets & clothing. He just curls up, latches on & falls asleep! Woke up at 4am one morning to find him curled up next to me, sucking on my sleeve. The vet tech said it was a sign that he was comfortable with us... I think he's just looney, but it's a sweet kind of looney. As a vet once told me as a clinical explanation for something a cat was doing, "Don't ask me to explain cats. Cats are weird. They're just weird. All of 'em."

I entirely trust what you've told me about pet food companies, vets and the industry. Further, everything you've said is validated by how different Ollie is from other cats, from his pretty round eyes to the feet of his oversized hind legs (looks like a fluffy meerkat when he gets curious and wants to look over the couch). It's clear this cat doesn't follow the physiology model they learned in school.

We had such a positive experience in getting to know you and seeing how you operate, I want to stand on a street corner and shout it. You obviously care so much not only about the cats and what you're doing, but especially about doing things right and in the best interest of everyone involved. If you have a feedback form, I'd gladly fill it up with glowing comments.

Thanks so much again for bringing this little guy into our lives.
Sue from Pewaukee

We love our Nikita! He is a Big Boy, weighing in at 19 lbs. He is a cuddler and you will find hiim on someone's lap several times a day. He is quite mellow and doesn't seem to be bothered by dogs or kids. His favorite toy is string and sometimes, the laser light. Even though his fur does seem to mat and shed, we wouldn't trade him for the world.

Debbie M., Grayslake, IL

I have always been a cat lover and have had at least one cat since I was about six years old. We purchased our Siberian (Mack) from Shelly in May of 2010. As you can see, he is a handsome boy, but what you can't tell from a picture is how sweet and loving he is. He walked into our house and charmed our three other cats into loving him within a very short time and most of the credit goes to Shelly and how she nurtures all of “her babies”. She starts socializing them right away and she and her family are holding and loving these precious babies right from the beginning. Shelly knows more about cats than anyone I know and whenever I have had any questions, she is right on top of all the newest information. You would be very lucky to get a kitten/cat from her cattery and I know that I will definitely be getting another kitten from her when the time is right.

Deb Glowacki

We picked Heavnzsent Siberians because we wanted a cat that was sure to have a sweet and loving temperament. We knew this would be the case, because every kitten at Heavnzsent gets lots of love and attention. Shelly is very knowledgeable, she has high standards for what she does, and she's very conscientious in raising her cats. We are extremely happy with our cat!

Cathy

We are thrilled with the cat we obtained from Heavnzsent Siberians. Our cat Annie is truly a special cat. She has a very sweet personality but can be very playful at times. She loves to be held and is very comfortable just hanging out with us on the couch. One of her favorite games is hide and seek, though she does most of the seeking. She will come when called and will introduce herself to visitors. She gets lots of attention and may be a little spoiled. She still loves to cuddle in our arms and has the sweetest disposition. Gets so excited when a bug is flying around the house to chase, but disappointed when she accidentally kills it. Favorite toys are still her dragonfly (she is on her 3rd one) and little balls of fur. Having wooden floors is so much fun for her to chase after her toys. Beyond all that she is very cute and has the look of an ideal Siberian. Thanks so much for bringing her into our life.

Doris - Traverse City, MI

Hi Shelly,
Just a quick note to tell you that Tsuki (Blessing) is truly the most unusual cat I have ever met! She is beyond affectionate, waiting for ANYONE, even a stranger, to sit in one place so she can be petted for hours or until the person is exhausted! She leaps onto my lap like a dog, lays on top of my daughter when she is sleeping, and is always there to greet us hello or goodbye. She has given our family much joy and laughter. We often talk about how different she is than any other cat we have known. Shelly, she is one in a million!

Thank you,
Noelle, Dan & Natalie

When looking for a breeder from whom to purchase a new kitten, it was truly our lucky day to have happened upon Shelly. It was apparent upon first meeting that she loved each and every one of her kittens as much as we knew we would. Our beautiful, healthy kittens from Shelly each had an affectionate, confident personality that is a witness to the loving attention and socialization that Shelly and her family give to every individual kitten they raise. Thanks to the Finleys, our boys are truly amazing companions and very valued family members that continue to fill our lives with humor and joy on a daily basis.

Cyndy B.

I met Shelly in 2004 under the worst of circumstances. I had just put down one of my two beloved cats and I was grieving his loss. The timing was awful, but the annual local cat show was the next day, so off I went. I thought I could keep my composure, but as I started talking about why I was looking for a kitten, I lost control. And that's how I met Shelly. She was kind, gentle, and supportive. She encouraged me to do whatever felt right. She had a litter of kittens. She invited me to come to her house and meet the kittens. She told me that some of the kittens were already spoken for, but there might be one available for me. And, if not, there was another litter due soon. I was at her house the next weekend and as soon as I held one of the baby kitties, I started the healing process. Shelly knew I was still very fragile. She told me if I wanted the baby kitty, as soon as he was old enough to leave his mom, he was mine; but that if I changed my mind, that was OK too. This was an example of the worst of times and the best of times. Soon, much sooner than I ever would have planned, I was on my way home with a very active kitten. He was great medicine. Shelly followed up with me to make sure that both of us, and my other cat, were doing well.

My kitten has now grown into a furry, friendly buddy. I'd like to take all of the credit for his great purrsonality, but I know genetics and early kittenhood play a role. Shelly started him off in a wonderful environment. He was raised in a household setting surrounded by Shelly and her husband, other cats, dogs, son, and daughter. It is an active house so my kitten was accustomed to household sounds. Shelly feeds her kittens a varied diet so that when you bring a kitten home, you have several food choices that will be familiar to the kitten. Shelly's house is spotless and animal-safe. All of the environmental factors are important, but by far the most important factor is the commitment Shelly makes to her kittens. She treats all of them with the same loving care each of us would give to our kittens. She usually has only one litter of kittens at a time. With the help of all of her family members, each kitten gets lots and lots of love and playtime. Shelly's daughter had slept with my kitten for weeks. So, he was pre-spoiled for me.

I have enjoyed staying in touch with Shelly and would refer anyone looking for a kitten or a retired breeding cat to Shelly.

Toni K.

We have raised and shown top winning, Best in Show dogs for 30 years and have dealt with many breeders. We purchased a Birman kitty from Shelly 1-1/2 years ago. We were astounded at the "goody bag" she sent home with us....pedigree and health record, which one expects, but also toys, individual photo album, picture frames, treats etc. Her house where the kitties played in was clean and had no odor whatsoever. I am very sensitive to that, having had puppies in my house frequently. She has kept in touch regularly to see how KC was doing, and we have visited her at cat shows. Even though we only bought a pet quality kitty, she treats us as if we bought a Best in Show cat. I would recommend her without reservations.

Joyce Fahlsing, J-Len's Alaskan Malamutes & KC (Birman), Squeaky (ASH), and Dickens (BSH)

I met Shelly at a cat show in Neenah, WI. I was missing having a cat as several years earlier I was involved in a major car accident and had to find a new home for the two cats I had. Giving them up was devastating for me. Shelly was very understanding and kind and I was impressed with her knowledge and love for her cats. She stayed in touch with me and when she had a litter of kittens available she called me and thought I should come down and see them for myself. After seeing Shelly's beautiful kittens, I knew one wouldn't be enough. We now have two gorgeous Birman boys in our home and I couldn't be happier.

Thank you, Shelly!

Mary Ellen B.

Shelly Finley is unique amongst cat breeders in her commitment and dedication to her cattery. Her passionate approach provides the finest and most authentic examples of the breed possible. Her strong belief in socialization results in well-adjusted, delightful companions. Shelly's personal integrity, exceptionally high standards, and careful placement practices lead to successful relationships with her clients.

Steven L.

Thank you so much for our new addition. He's brought a lot of joy to our house. He's happy and healthy and gorgeous! I get so many compliments on how beautiful he is. You can tell you spent a lot of time with him unlike a lot of kittens I have met. He is very well socialized with kids, dogs, and other cats. He fit in almost immediately! I appreciate the follow up calls and time you spent making sure he was right for us. It let me know you really care about these cats and not just run a business. This is definitely a passion for you and I wish you well as you begin a Siberian cattery. I just know everyone will fall in love with your cats just like we did! I will definitely recommend you to everyone I know!

Thank you from the Otis family, and of course Ba Kittah,

Lindsy O.

I bought my kitten from Shelly and I could not be happier with him. From the start, I knew I had a very special kitty. When I took him home, I was all set to wait several days for him to be hiding under the bed and avoiding everyone, but this did not happen! From the start, he sought out the company of people. He doesn't want to be alone. Also, when I have company, he runs right up to them in greeting and allows them to pick him up and cuddle. I've never had a cat who wanted to be with strangers. He is also not shy around my German shepherd- he plays with and teases him. I don't know what Shelly does to make her kittens so sociable, but whatever it is, it works. I whole-heartedly recommend her cattery to anyone who wants a cat with a great personality. Shelly herself was also absolutely wonderful throughout the entire adoption process. I am so glad that I got my kitten from her!

Michele R.

I had dreamed for a number of years of getting a Birman kitten & the time was finally right. I went to a cat show in Stoughton, WI and walked up to Shelly & said "convince me that I want a Birman kitten". She could not have been more enthusiastic about the breed and how much she enjoyed breeding and meeting all the new people that came into her life - her goal is to provide wonderful kittens to loving families & to enrich the families lives by having such a wonderful pet. Shelly invited us to her home to visit with the cats and kittens - after a couple visits we were sold. Shelly's cattery is spotless - the entire family is involved in raising and socializing the babies - it's a busy fun place filled with lots of love. We now have two wonderful Birman cats and I would highly recommend Shelly to anyone wanting to get a purebred kitten - Shelly will always be there for you to answer any questions and help with any issues that come up while raising your pets. Shelly is truly a wonderful breeder and wants nothing but the best for her kittens and the families that get them. I'm sure you will be as pleased as we are with our cats!!

Linda I.

I can't imagine a better breeder than Shelly Finley. She is truly the best. She is so knowledgeable, reliable, responsive, and caring. Shelly was 100% dedicated to keeping us up to date after our baby was born and has been a part of our lives ever since we took him home. Shelly knows everything there is to know about Siberians and loves to share her knowledge. She is extremely caring and thorough when it comes to raising the babies before they leave her home. Shelly and her family are so loving and nurturing to each and every kitten. We love our boy so much, and we strongly believe that his amazing personality is due to the way he was cared for and played with when he was first born. We strongly recommend working with Shelly and her exquisitely beautiful kittens! We can't wait to get our second Siberian from Shelly soon!

Scott and Melissa L.

I can recommend buying a kitten from Shelly Finley without any reservations. Shelly loves her cats and handles the kittens from day one so they are all wonderfully socialized by the time they go to their new homes. In the 20 years I have owned cats, I have to say that my Heavnzsent Siberian, Gizmo, has the best personality I've ever encountered. I credit Shelly for this for two reasons: (1) he was so well-socialized as a kitten, (2) his parents have exceptional personalities with no history of health problems. You should also be aware that when you buy a kitten from Shelly, you can rest assured that she will remain available to you long after your kitten goes home in the event you have any questions or problems. There is no question in my mind that kittens from Heavnzsent Cattery are indeed heaven sent!

Vanessa E.

When our sweet red tabby Russell died in 2008 after 17 loving years, my husband John's allergies to cats had gotten bad enough that we were pretty sure we'd just said goodbye to our last cat. We thought we were facing the decision whether not to have a pet at all, or to get a dog. I love dogs and dogs seem to love John, but he is not as fond of them as they are of him. We are both still working full time and were not sure that was fair to a dog. Our cats over the years had been mostly in pairs and did fine on their own with a lot of love and attention from us when we were home.

I'd heard of hypoallergenic cats and once had mentioned them to John. He wasn't interested, then. But when Russell died, that changed things. John reviewed an article I'd saved about Siberian Cats and promptly went into internet high gear looking for breeders near us. After one or two false starts we found Shelly Finley and knew our search was over.

Responses from other breeders ranged from, "Oh yeah, I can ship you one today," to "I've got a few left if you want one come and get one." Shelly's response was a long informative email telling all about Siberians in general, her Raja in particular and everything about herself and her Heavnzsent Siberians cattery, including all about the "allergy test" which sounded amusing in its simplicity. That was all we needed to realize that whether or not we actually got a Siberian kitten, if we did it would only be from Shelly.

Since we live in Chicago, Shelly is very close to us which was also nice. We made our date early in September to visit and take the allergy test. We rang the door bell and Shelly ushered us out to the van. Then she brought Raja out and turned on the air conditioner. We'd seen his picture on the website but nothing prepared us for how gorgeous, laid back and friendly he was. He sniffed around us and around the van, graciously allowed us to stroke his silky fur and promptly flopped on his back for a belly rub and a nap. The fur flew in the breeze from the air conditioner. We took pictures, got better acquainted with Shelly, told her about us and our previous cats and showed pictures of them. At about the two hour mark Shelly looked at her watch and said, "My goodness!" We'd become good friends. And Raja? He had a nice nap.

It was then that John realized he'd not reacted even a little bit to Raja. Our hopes soared. Shelly invited us in to meet some of her mamma cats, look at pictures of previous and current kittens and meet her human family. The afternoon ended with us leaving a deposit for two, not one, kittens and hoping her girls had lots of babies so our numbers 12 and 13 on the wait list would come up soon.

We went home happily to wait. Early in January 2009, Trinity had six babies. Shelly called us to tell us our numbers were up for two from this litter. We were ecstatic. And just to put the icing on the cake, she indicated that our wish for a red boy just might be fulfilled.

Eight months from the day Russell, our red American Shorthair tabby, passed on, we brought home two of the most beautiful, fluffy, sweet, loving three month old Siberian kittens. One was the promised red boy whose litter name had been Ande but whom we renamed Robin Hood. The other was a gorgeous cream and white boy with a to die for coat and a personality to match. Snickers became Friar Tuck. And they promptly stole our hearts.

John and Sherry B.

Steve and Kristina have two Bergamasco (Sheepdogs) and have had their Siberian kitten, Dexter, for less than two weeks:

I think Dexter is integrating into the "pack" well. He's starting to eat and drink at the same time as the dogs from their bowls. He eats a few of their kibble and he's done though. He definitely prefers his own food. We've noticed he is a more social eater, in that he prefers to eat when we're there or the dogs are there. He doesn't like to do anything alone. He really does seem kind of like a dog.

He's stopped hissing at them and actually they all try to play together now. The dogs, especially our girl, have modified their playing style doing a lot more swatting and light grabbing. We'll have one of those toys dangling from a stick and they all sit around in a circle swatting it around to each other. He still likes to bolt by them a lot so they chase to play with him but it doesn't really scare him anymore. He's even started sleeping on the floor by them instead of in bed with us at night sometimes.

Dexter has really been great. He is so sweet!!! Follows us and the dogs everywhere. They all follow us up and down the stairs. He loves to cuddle and be carried. The closer to your face the better. He looks like a scarf half the time around my wife's neck!

As for my allergies I've been able to keep them at bay pretty well. I switched back to my old antihistamine Zyrtec, from my current one. I also wash my hands and/or face after handling him. I got some homeopathic stuff for pet dander allergies too it seems to help (got great reviews online) and some stuff called Allerpet C that you put on them once a week to help keep dander down. Allerpet has some great reviews as well, I guess many vets will recommend it as well.

Each day it seems like he bothers me less and less. I don't know if I'm building up an immunity to him already or if it is all the other things I've mentioned. Nothing was ever severe with him but now it is almost unnoticeable. I know I should build up an immunity as allergy shots have worked for me in the past. I figured I'd share some of my findings in case anyone else could use these techniques as well.

We really couldn't be happier with him. He's been on my lap the whole time I am writing this purring away. I just remembered, as they just did it now, Bella likes to lick him like he is her puppy, he licks her back sometimes too. She cleans off his face and ears a lot. It's really quite cute.

Take care,

Steve and Kristina L.

Shelly doesn't just breed Siberians, although she's incredibly good at that. She carefully places each kitten with the best family, then acts as an ongoing guardian angel, advising new owners as needed on such matters as:

setting up a safe and fun environment
helping the kitten settle in its new home
good health care, including necessary and unnecessary vaccinations, finding a vet, neutering and spaying
dental hygiene and the best wet and dry foods
training the little critters
growth and development
grooming
nervous owners who aren't sure they know what they're doing
much more

Shelly quickly and cheerfully responds to numerous questions and provides detailed and incredibly helpful answers. I may be my kitten's new mother. Shelly is our godmother, supporting and watching over us both.

Thank you Shelly, for all your help and kindness.

Patty C.

We have been a cat family for several years. We lost our last cat Bandit after many enjoyable years and decided we were going to continue to have cats in our lives. A decision was made to purchase a pair of kittens that were a large breed and unique in their makeup. So the research began and after many conversations we decided that Siberians might fit our criteria.

When we searched for a breeder we were surprised to find one in our home town. Moving ahead we made contact and were invited to meet Shelly and see a Siberian for the first time. We met Shelly and her family and viewed her cattery Heavnzsent for the first time. It was immediately evident that the entire family is part of the cat breeding process as her house is full of all the essentials for bringing up cats. All essentials were there, abundant toys, places to roam and sheltered areas for sleeping. But after spending time with Shelly her true love for her kittens was what we experienced.

The interaction that we saw with the cats and the entire family sold us immediately and the decision was a simple one that this is where we wanted to adopt our new kittens. So where do we sign up? Shelly's process is thorough but simple as the intent is to make sure a good home will be provided to the kitten/kittens and the new parents will also be satisfied with their new babies. We proceeded to get on Shelly's waiting list and continued to communicate while our number came closer and closer. Finally the call came and we went over to see our new babies, 2 females which we named Sophie and Abby were going to be ours!

It has been 1 year and 2 months we have had our gorgeous girls home and without any reservations. It has been an enjoyable and complete adoption. Shelly's love and the environment that is provided by her family I feel imprints a fantastic well-rounded beginning to the young kittens. The description I have seen on Siberians is "dog-like" and this fits pretty well. While independent and curious as all cats are they are truly more loyal than other breeds. They meet you at the door while arriving and are truly excited to see you. Also they will never be far away as they want to be part of what you are doing or at least within sight of what you are doing. Shelly has our full endorsement and we would adopt again from her in a heartbeat.

Tom & Mary Oconomowoc, Wisconsin

Information

Note: I used to raise Birman kittens from 2003-2007 so you will see references to Birmans as well as Siberians below. I currently breed only Siberians.