About Us and Our Cattery

Thank you for exploring our website! We would love to help you find your next family member!    

Evans Ranch Pride Cattery is an in-home cattery owned by Christine Evans (Kris), and is located in on the Western Slope of Colorado just outside of the beautiful community of Montrose. 

We purchased our new home of amazing views and enough space for everyone (cats included!) in May of 2020.  We made the move from Western Nebraska, Kris' husband's home, the first of July, 2020. Nebraska is where Laura's and Kris' vision of our cattery began.  We left a multi-generational farm/ranch for Ted's health. It was Ted's dream to restore the newly purchased Horse property into a balanced ecosystem that would thrive.

In addition to the farm vision, Ted was very excited about the cattery vision. He had just given his blessing on purchasing more cats to establish our Bengal Sliver and Charcoal lines when he died in May of 2021. He never got to meet the cats he had help to choose.  

Kris, who grew up in the Los Angeles area, was not the the one raised to be a farmer/rancher. She is attempting to fulfill Ted's dream and is currently taking a holistic farming course. While following our cattery, you might want to watch us grow our ecosystem as well.  Everyone living here has a role to play. We haven't started a link to follow the farm yet, but we will soon.

Our cattery is a family adventure, and our family and we ensure each cat/kitten receives all the love and attention it needs, because in our home, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CATS!

Kris' daughter, Laura (This will be totally her business one day!), and her adult and nearly adult children help tremendously in this wonderful adventure we are on together. There are cats and kittens literally in every part of our home. 

• Kris has the boys and the "ladies in waiting" downstairs. She maintains the Website, and takes care of the business side of the cattery, including most of the phone and email communication. 
• Laura cares for the mamas and babies upstairs. Her most important job is to snuggle the mamas and babies while being alert to their health. She maintains the cattery Facebook and Instagram pages. She is the one most involved in the different breeder groups. She is the one who vets the prospective buyers and thier adoption applications. Laura also does most of the shopping. 
• Both Laura and Kris research - genetics, nutrition, feline health, best toys, cat furniture, effective non-toxic cleaning products, and anything cat related.
• Nevaeh helps Laura upstairs with the little tykes and cleaning. 
• Nevaeh and Angelina create the videos for TikTok and  Instagram while Nevaeh maintains TikTok. 
• Angelina helps on the "big days" with cleaning.
• Jonathan comes over each day just to cuddle cats.  
• Jonathan and Angelina handle the quarantine space for new arrivals in their little home across the driveway. 

The biggest part of our day is cleaning. Our floors and countertops are sanitized and letterboxes are scooped or changed every day. Laura, Nevaeh or I make 62 quarts of balanced meals for the cats every day. 

That's our team, what we do, and why we arrived in Colorado. To do it right, it takes all our hands. We love it! We're never short on snuggles around here!   

We selected our breeding Bengal and Ragdoll cats from within the United States and around the world for their genetics, diversity, beauty, and temperament to help ensure their offspring are just as, if not more than, what their parents are-- perfectly wonderful! We recently stared to hold some of the offspring for future breeders. That's exciting!

We don't skimp on our cats.  Our cats and kittens are tended by licensed veterinarians that specialize in reproductive health. With having 3 dogs between the 5 of us, plus all the kitties, our kittens and cats are well socialized to people and other pets. The critical period of socialization occurs between 2 to 8 weeks of age. Our babies are handled from the moment they are born. All the cats/kittens are a part of our family and are not caged. They are free to be an active part of our home. Because our boys are full males, our kings need to be separated by rooms and doors.  Most of the doors are full glass, allowing the cats to see out, and we in. We do make sure they get the attention they crave. We also make sure their rooms are special to them with toys and equipment for exercise, learning, and enjoyment.  

We've recently been asked if we don't want just one room dedicated to ourselves without any cats. How could we do that? It's all about the cats!

A snip-it from our research:

A recent study done by European Veterinarians shows that kittens should be held to 16 weeks before placement. Where a kitten may be fully weaned at 12 weeks, there are still things the mama needs to teach her babies, which helps to avoid behavioral issues in older cats. We have adopted that practice. Kittens go to their new homes at 16 weeks.

Studies also show the effects of early weaning (less than 12 weeks) increases the risk for aggression, but not fearful behavior, shyness, and adverse mental health. Cats weaned after 14 weeks of age have a lower probability for aggression towards strangers than early weaned cats and a lower probability for stereotypic behavior (excessive grooming) than cats weaned under 12 weeks. The studies further show that the kittens that are naturally weaned are healthier overall.

By keeping the kittens with their mamas just that little bit longer, it allows us to start their immunizations when they are a little older. We want them to be at least 3# and weaned before we begin immunizations. Prior to weaning, they have their mother's antibodies. They just do better by waiting! 

We discovered early spay/neuter, along with other possible side effects, can cause long bone growth which can have a detrimental affect the joints. We do not support early spay/neuter. The closer to six months the better. However, when siblings are growing up together, they sexually mature more quickly. Due to holding kittens until 16 weeks, we do neuter males before they go home. No early pregnancies allowed! 

Another part of researching has led us to making our own cat food. Almost every cat food out there, including the expensive holistic foods, have pea protein. Concentrated pea proteins, when fed on a daily basis, has the potential to "tear up the digestive tract" leading to a decreased ability to absorb nutrients and creating inflammatory disease. The inflammatory process can lead to a multitude of inflammatory diseases including  thyroid, diabetes, arthritis, and cardiovascular disease. Pea protein also contains cellulose, which is sawdust! FYI- Wheat, legumes, soy and corn can cause the same issues! Pea protein also blocks the Terrine, vital to cat health, from being absorbed into their system.

There is much controversy over cat food, especially when it comes to feeding raw. Our studies show that while cats in the wild do eat raw, they do not live as long as a domesticated cat being fed a wholesome diet. We don't feed raw due to the bacteria and parasites that can be in the raw foods-- both for the cats' safety and for those of us who are handling the food.  We cook just long enough to kill the unwanted organisms. We do feed top quality organic meats (game hens, turkey, some chicken, elk liver, ground bone-in rabbit), and fatty fish (mackerel, tuna, smelt, salmon, sardines).  In addition to the meat they are getting the appropriate balance of the right grains (oats seem the easiest to digest and are high in protein and other nutrients), the right kinds of vegetables and fruits (spinach, broccoli, carrots, pumpkin, sugar free applesauce, banana, blueberries, cranberries), bone broth, olive oil, and organic Kiefer or goat's milk for probiotics. They eat well!

We are human. For the days we run short on time and the cats seem to think they are "starving," we do have a supply of holistic foods that best represent what we are trying to feed on hand.  Our cats’ fur is more silky, sleeker, and brighter; their eyes are brighter, and their poops are perfect! They "snarf" up the homemade food. We can make both wet and the dry kibble. No, we don't expect you to do the same once your little feline goes home, but this gives a tremendous good start in life. We will share our recipe with you when you take your baby home. We will also be sending samples of other nutritious, holistic foods.   

It is important you have a good relationship with your breeder- that you can trust your breeder. Below this section are some assurances for you that apply to us.  Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have further question, or would like more information. There is much information at your fingertips within this site. Plus, we have beautiful pictures of beautiful cats that will soothe you, and fill your heart with joy.

A TICA required disclaimer:

 "This cattery has NOT been inspected by and is not endorsed by The International Cat Association, Inc."