Jovan is a name that immediately brings to mind a string of incredible National Winning Exotics, spanning the years from the mid-80’s through the early 90’s, and including the first Exotic to be awarded Cat of the Year in CFA.
Jovan originally started as a Persian cattery in 1979 by Cheryl Golowski (later joined by her husband, Bob Lorditch). Combining cats from some of the top catteries of the day such as Mystichill, Bar-B, Prim-Pet, Currle Cats, and Ziegfeld, Cheryl set about creating the Jovan look.
Her very first show cat was a red female purchased in 1979 named GC Mystichill Monique of Jovan, DM. The following year (1980-81 show season), Cheryl campaigned her first cat to a National Win – a black male named GC, NW Mystichill Houdini of Jovan, DM.
That same year, Jovan produced its first kittens. Monique was bred to GC Bar-B The Wiz of Mystichill, DM, and produced a lovely tortie. In fact, that tortie went on to become CFA’s 20th Best Cat for the 1981-82 show season – GC, NW Jovan Natasha of Justemere – a wonderful start for a beginning cattery!
Monique’s second litter, bred to GC, NW Prim-Pet Yankee Doodle Dandy, DM, produced a lovely red female. This girl was GC, GP, NW Jovan Cherry Pop of Mystichill, and she was CFA’s 3rd Best Alter in 1985-86, and CFA’s 2nd Best Alter in 1986-87. Jovan’s Persian breeding program was off and running.
With her continued success in Persians, Cheryl was tempted into a new challenge – that of the Exotic Shorthair. In 1985, Jovan acquired a red tabby Exotic to begin their program named CH, RW Evereve’s All-Star of Jovan. In Nov of 1985, Jovan’s first litter of Exotics was born. In that litter was a top show blue male who granded easily before being exported to Italy – GC Jovan Garbage Pail Kid.
Jovan’s second Exotic litter, sired by Houdini, produced her first National Winning Exotic. GC, NW Jovan Chocolate Chip. Chip was CFA’s 4th Best Kitten in 1987-88. As a 3 month old kitten, she was playing with a teaser, jumped, landed oddly, and broke her rear leg! Luckily, a wonderful vet was able to put a pin in her leg, and it healed up perfectly – the pin was removed only 2 weeks before her first show.
In 1988-89, Jovan had their first adult Exotic National Win with GC, NW Jovan Buster Brown. Never shown as a kitten because he just wasn’t ready, he came out at 10 months old and astounded the judges. Shown in only 12 shows including his Open and Champion show, he went on to be 20th Best Cat that year.
The same year that Buster was being shown as an adult, they also campaigned a red tabby female Exotic, who was CFA’s 12th Best Kitten that year GC, NW Jovan Yipes Stripes. After having a litter of kittens, Stripes was brought out as an adult the next year, starting in January. In only 15 shows, she became CFA’s 14th Best Cat in 1989-90.
In September of 1989, a very exciting kitten was born at Jovan. Nicknamed “Gene”, he was shown only once as a kitten at 6 months of age — and he was highest scoring kitten at the show. Gene came out as an open the first weekend of May of the 1990-91 show season, and received 5 Best Cats and 1 2nd Best to be highest scoring cat in show. He went on the next weekend to be a 1-show grand. When the season finally ended, Gene had competed in 21 shows, receiving 91 Best Cat awards… and was the first Exotic to be named Cat of the Year. He was GC, NW Jovan The Legend.
At the same time they were campaigning “Gene” for Cat of the Year, the Lordich’s were also showing a kitten.
A repeat breeding of Gene had produced a gorgeous brown tabby female named GC, NW Jovan Miss America. She became CFA’s 10th Best Kitten for 199. What a year for Jovan! What a year for Exotics!
As if that wasn’t enough, the next show season also produced a double-header of Jovan National Winning Exotics, both kittens.
Kitten of the Year for 1991-92 was a brown tabby and white girl, GC, NW Jovan Cheers. 5th Best Kitten was a brown Mctabby girl, GC, NW Jovan Miss USA of Bryn Mawr, DM.
The Lordich’s retired from the cat fancy for a time in the mid 90’s, returning ten years later. The impact of the original Jovan bloodlines, both Persians and Exotics, can still be seem in many of the top winning pedigrees of today’s cats. In all, the Jovan National Winning cats included:
