At the end of the 2025–2026 show season, CH, GP, RW EMGems Contessa made breed history when she became the first chocolate tortoiseshell Persian in CFA to earn a Regional Winner title. This is her story.
The Beginning
In 1979, Elizabeth Kennedy welcomed a sweet black Persian kitten named Shadow into her family. It marked the beginning of a lifelong love affair with Persian cats—and chocolate Persians in particular. Elizabeth began showing under the mentorship of Dorothy and Leroy Woofter of Kissncats Cattery, Barbara Redalia of Tuleburg, Julie Grundstrom of Brenneve Cattery, and Pat Marshall of PatsQuats.
In 2010, Elizabeth showed CH, GP Kissncats Touched By An Angel, making breed history when she became the first chocolate tortoiseshell Persian to grand in CFA.
EMGems Cattery
Following Angel’s historic achievement, Elizabeth began breeding chocolate Persians under the EMGems cattery name. The cattery name combines the initials of Elizabeth and her husband, Montee, with the word “Gems,” reflecting Elizabeth’s love of gemstones. In her eyes, her cats are the true gems in their lives.
Her first breeding queen, CH, GP PatsQuats Dreamers Chance of EMGems, was an experienced mother. She was bred to PatsQuats Top Gun of EMGems, a solid chocolate male.
CH, GP PatsQuats Dreamers Chance of EMGems
The Single Kitten
On June 11, 2014, Dreamer gave birth to a single kitten. Elizabeth was delighted when the little girl turned out to be a chocolate tortoiseshell. The markings on her head were almost identical to her mother’s, except for an additional cream-red chin. From the beginning, it was clear that she would be staying. They named her EMGems Contessa—”Tessa” for short.
Before Tessa was weaned, Dreamer developed an upper respiratory infection that reduced her milk supply, requiring Tessa to be bottle-fed for a few days. Fortunately, she never missed a meal. She was a hearty eater and happily returned to her mother once Dreamer recovered. After Tessa was weaned, Dreamer retired from breeding and was spayed.
Tessa
As an only kitten, Tessa was less rambunctious than the average Persian youngster. She enjoyed individual attention but rarely demanded it. She definitely believed she was royalty—and behaved accordingly.
Tessa
Tessa attended her first show in Eugene, Oregon, in March 2015, where she earned the points needed to become a Champion. She then took a break from showing to become a mother herself. Three months later, she delivered a litter of four kittens. Despite her generally reserved attitude toward the other cats in the household, she proved to be a devoted and attentive mother.
Tessa retired from motherhood when Elizabeth stopped breeding in 2016. For the next several years, she lived the quiet life of a beloved spay while other household cats took their turns in the show hall. One thing about Tessa was anything but quiet though. Each night, when the lights went out, she would grab a toy, parade down the hallway, and loudly announce her presence at the top of her lungs. Tessa was definitely a character.
A Second Chance
The years passed, but Tessa remained full of spirit and sass. In 2024, friends suggested that Elizabeth show Tessa again, this time in Premiership. Because Tessa had been somewhat aloof during her first show career, Elizabeth assumed she would not enjoy returning to the show hall.
She was wrong.
Tessa loved the attention. Her favorite place was the grooming area of her benching setup, where she could graciously accept compliments from admirers passing by.
Elizabeth with Tessa in her judging cage.
It took six shows for Tessa to grand. She achieved that milestone at the Superstition Cat Fanciers show in Phoenix, Arizona, on October 18, 2025, at the remarkable age of 11 years and 4 months.
CH, GP EMGems Contessa becomes a new Grand in CFA!
The Short Campaign
After granding, Tessa attended four additional shows. She continued making finals, and Tessa’s ‘people’ enjoyed showing off their beautiful girl. Eventually, Elizabeth decided it was time to retire her once again. Then someone pointed out that Tessa was ranked high enough in her region to earn a Regional Winner title. The only problem was that she was two points short of the minimum required to qualify for an RW.
Naturally, Tessa entered one more show.
CH, GP EMGems Contessa
A Regional Winner—and a History-Maker
At the conclusion of the 2025–2026 show season, Tessa earned the title of Regional Winner in CFA Region 2.
CH, GP, RW EMGems Contessa became the first chocolate tortoiseshell Persian ever to achieve a Regional Winner title in CFA. In doing so, she joined her great-great-grandmother, CH, GP Kissncats Touched By An Angel, who made history in 2010 as the first chocolate tortoiseshell Persian to grand in CFA. Two generations of history-making chocolates!
It’s All in the Family
In Elizabeth’s own words:
“We are so proud of our three chocolate tortoiseshell Persian grands and grateful to the judges who recognized their quality and attributes in a relatively rare Persian color. I have had the privilege of showing three chocolate tortoiseshell Persians to grand. I am grateful for the friends I have made and the wonderful cats I have seen over the years.”
The three chocolate tortoiseshell Persians shown and granded by EMGems Cattery are:
- CH, GP Kissncats Touched By An Angel — Granded December 2010. Angel is Tessa’s great-great-grandmother on her father’s side.
- CH, GP PatsQuats Dreamers Chance of EMGems — Granded March 2016. Dreamer is Tessa’s mother.
- CH, GP, RW EMGems Contessa — Granded October 2025 and earned Regional Winner status at the end of the 2025–2026 season.
CH, GP, RW EMGems Contessa
Chocolate Tortoiseshell Persian Spay
Birthdate: June 11, 2014
Sire: Patsquats Top Gun of EMGems
Dam: CH, GP Patsquats Dreamers Chance of EMGems
Breeder/Owner: Elizabeth Kennedy
Photo Credit: Professional photos by Chanan Photography & L. Johnson Photography
Related Articles:
- CH, GP Kissncats Touched By An Angel
- Chocolate Division Colors: A CFA Timeline
- Colors Of Persians & Exotics: The Particolors
