June 2012, CFA lost one of its most successful and accomplished Persian breeders with the passing of Donna Cook, Jadon Persians. Along with her daughter, Susan Cook-Henry, Donna developed and exhibited Persians for 40 years, beginning in 1964 when she combined the first few letters of her husband’s first name with her own to create her cattery name, Jadon (“Ja”ck and “Don”na).
June 2012, CFA lost one of its most successful and accomplished Persian breeders with the passing of Donna Cook, Jadon Persians. Along with her daughter, Susan Cook-Henry, Donna developed and exhibited Persians for 40 years, beginning in 1964 when she combined the first few letters of her husband’s first name with her own to create her cattery name, Jadon (“Ja”ck and “Don”na).Donna Cook studied pedigrees intently, admired winning cats and their qualities, and read volumes on feline husbandry – all true marks of a breeder. Her passion was dilute Persians — blues, creams, blue-creams…
Jadon’s First Homebred Grand
Donna loved dilutes. In 1970, GC Jadon Sunup became Donna’s first home-bred CFA Grand Champion. It was the beginning of the “cream dream”.
Jadon’s First National Winner
In 1974, Sunup’s daughter, GC, NW Jadon Karmel Sundae, became Donna’s first National Winner when she was awarded 16th Best Cat in Championship. Karmel Sundae’s son, Jadon Sundae Kid, was CFA’s 4th Best Cat in 1975-76.
GC, BW, NW Jadon Karmel Kid
CFA’s 4h Best Cat in Championship 1975-76
Cat Of The Year 1992
Mary Kate Carroll had told Donna that “No self-respecting cream breeder would ever be without a tortie.” And so it was that Donna acquired the tortie girl, Bajonga’s Striped Tease, from Mark Hannon. Her first breeding to GC Jadon Baskin-Robbins produced a black Persian. The stunning kitten was the first black for Jadon, yet would prove to be significant in the Jadon bloodline. In 1992, he became CFA Cat Of The Year, GC, BW, NW Jadon Geoffrey Beene, DM.
GC, BW, NW Jadon Geoffrey Beene, DM
CFA’s Cat of the Year 1992
Photo by Larry Johnson
Best Cat In Premiership 1995
In 1995, Geoffrey Beene’s father, GC, GP, NW Jadon Baskin-Robbins, became CFA’s Best Cat in Premiership.
GC, GP, NW Jadon Baskin-Robbins
CFA’s Best Cat in Premiership 1995
Photo by Mark McCullough
Completing The Triple: Kitten Of The Year 1998
Donna acquired a cream male, GC Quin-Jo Just Cause of Jadon, DM, from Becky Jones. “Dabby” proved to be not only an outstanding show cat but also a prolific sire, producing more than 30 grands over time. In 1998, his blue son GC, NW Jadon Potomac of Kenkat, DM, became CFA’s Kitten of the Year.
GC, NW Jadon Potomac of Kenkat, DM
CFA Kitten Of The Year 1998
Photo by Carl Widmer
Jadon had now produced the top cat in each of CFA’s competitive categories; Kittens, Championship and Premiership — a hat-trick!
Jadon’s Back To Back Best Kittens 2001, 2002
Donna was a close friend with Leah Fowler of Kenkat. Together they produced a number of outstanding cats including GC, NW Kenkat First Class Upgrade of Jadon, DM who was CFA Kitten Of The Year in 2001. The following year, her daughter GC, GP, NW Jadon ComeFly With Me was also Kitten Of The Year. That meant that along with Grand-Dad GC, NW Jadon Potomac of Kenkat, the cats represented three consecutive generations of Kitten Of The Year winners! Quite an accomplishment.
GC, NW Kenkat First Class Upgrade of Jadon, DM
CFA Kitten Of The Year 2001
Photo by Larry Johnson
GC, GP, NW Jadon ComeFly With Me
CFA Kitten Of The Year 2002
Photo by J. Child
Donna bred yet another National Winning Kitten the following season with GC, NW Jadon Flyin High of Goliada co-owned with her close friend of many years, Nancy Petersen of Goliada Persians.
GC, NW Jadon Flyin High of Goliada
CFA 8th Best Kitten 2003
Photo by Larry Johnson
2002 also saw a blue-cream daughter of Dabby and Kenkat Splash awarded 4th Best Cat in Championship. Her name was GC, NW, BW Jadon Faviara.
GC, BW, NW Jadon Faviara
CFA’s Fourth Best Cat and Best Particolor Persian 2002
Photo by Larry Johnson
By 2003, deteriorating health began to limit Donna’s abilities to breed and show.
Despite all her accomplishments as a breeder and exhibitor, perhaps the most enduring memories of Donna Cook will be of her character and demeanor within the cat fancy. She had style and a grace and a generosity that is seldom seen. She had that indefinable something that is simply called “class”.
