Baby Pirate

We were actually searching for a black and white female, but it was love at first sight from the moment we saw him, as Susan Hall, his breeder, lifted him from his carrier. He looked like a proud little lion with his profuse ruff and flowing coat. Just eight weeks old, he purred as soon as I held him. His classic pattern clearly showed a bull’s eye on each flank and he carried his tail high in the air. We were asked to enter him in two kitten shows and readily agreed. We knew we had found in Pirate the legacy of love from our Kashi who had recently crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

We brought Pirate home at twelve weeks and he immediately bonded with our other wegie, Princess (CH Boardwalker’s Princess of Kashi Saga), who had arrived three weeks before. Even though she was generally indifferent to his adoration, he followed her throughout the day and snuggled with her whenever possible. One day they emptied a laundry basket together and claimed it as their own for naps. Before long, they had grown so large that we gave each of them their own basket.

Princess and Pirate

Pirate's Favorite Show Post

We took Pirate’s basket along to his first show so that he could comfortably nap; he had never been in a cage. We propped the basket on top of the decorated show cage and it was obvious that he enjoyed seeing the spectators from his vantage point. They enjoyed it too, so all had a good time. From that day, his yellow basket was part of the show set-up.  Linda Krall of Naturskat cattery writes, “In 1990 Bob and I showed at our first InCats TICA Show at Madison Square Garden. We had never seen somany spectators or exhibitors and were impressed by a couple Barbara and George Chronakis and their beloved cat Pirate. Amidst all the activities and noise, there, sound asleep atop the benching cage, in a plain plastic laundry basket, was a beautifully marked cat with a gorgeous coat, Pirate. That is the image of Pirate that I will remember”.  Pirate had a unique style of showmanship in the judging ring that magnetized his audience. 

Although Pirate won top ribbons in each ring from his very first show, we rarely exhibited him for two days in a row. We preferred to pack up after day one of the show and spend Sundays, playing with our wegies at home. Nonetheless, with just a handful of shows, he won TICA’s 15^th Best Allbreed in Championship in the North Atlantic Region and 10^th Best Longhair in Championship. His Supreme Grand Champion title came from the Westchester Feline Club, where he took two Allbreed Best Championships in Show. He also won Second Best of the Best, coming after TICA’s Best International Allbreed Champion of the Year, a black Persian. At the NFCFA Tenth Anniversary Show, young Pirate was Fourth Best Champion in the Congress, surrounded by esteemed ancestors.

RW SGC Norskau Pirate

of Kashi Saga

Princess and Pirate

Around home, he was mischievous, lovable, and spirited. One night, he suddenly leapt to the kitchen table and grabbed a fried chicken breast, almost half his size and bounded away with it, looking over his shoulder, outrunning us. He’d drop the breast, take a nibble, pick it up, and continue the race. We could never be angry at his audacious antics. He was too cute. He washed the face of our high-strung Princess to calm her during her single show. Not long thereafter, he repeated the gesture as his daughter, RW CH/GP Kashi Saga Pirate Star, sat for CFA yearbook photos.

Pirate Smooching his Daughter, Star

Pirate’s favorite trick was his somersault, which invariably made us laugh. Whenever he wanted attention, he’d somersault head over heels, even at 18 pounds of love and muscle. Some of his favorite things were being hand-fed, napping on our chests, racing us across the floor to be first onto the bed, or listening to the Norwegian tunes of Grieg’s “Peer Gynt Suite”, which invariably prompted him to wash his face with those beautiful mittens and proceed to a leisurely bath. He enjoyed watching birds from the window, TV animal shows and squirrels on videotape.

Pirate, Age 10

The Science Diet Cat

Pirate was a natural showman. When we made the trip to New York for his Science Diet photo shoot, he did not hesitate to come and meet the Science Diet team and photography staff. He was perfectly at ease, natural, and confident throughout several hours of picture taking and the gala luncheon that followed, where he was seated at the table among us, partaking of the gourmet selections. People were amazed by his participation as one of the gang. We never trained him; he was a natural extrovert.  At a time when most people in the U.S. had never heard of Norwegian Forest Cats, Pirate brought international focus to wegies when he became The Science Diet Cat.  His picture was published in magazines worldwide and in all of Science Diet’s veterinary literature.

His domain at home was a large master suite, which we shared with him. We were blessed with almost fourteen years of the dearest furry companion in the world. Perpetuating Pirate’s line was the sole reason we established Kashi Saga Cattery. We take comfort in having some of his offspring and sharing in the experiences that come back to us from others who own his descendants.  

RW SGC Norskau Pirate of Kashi Saga

NW, CH, GP Kashi Saga Pirate Winter

CFA National Best in Breed in Premiership,

Pirate’s great grandson

The majority of Pirate’s breeding program was through Kashi Saga with descendants from his daughters, CH Kashi Saga Pirate Magic and CH Kashi Saga Pirate Paris. Another line of his descendants continued in the Midwest through another daughter, CH Tundrakatt Portia of Scandikats. Pirate’s son, CH/GP Kashi Saga Pirate Viking and grandsons, CH/GP Kashi Saga Loki Corsair and CH/GP Kashi Saga Maximillian Pirate were recently shown in CFA’s North Atlantic Region. His great-grandson, NW, CH/GP Kashi Saga Pirate Winter,  became CFA's National Best of Breed in Premiership and National 17th Best Allbreed in Premiership. Pirate and his exemplary descendants have had a presence in the show halls since 1988 and are still going strong!

Susan Hall of Norskau cattery shares that Pirate was one of five -- three boys and two girls -- out of Irlu's Zoe of Norskau and Norskau Sebastian, who was affectionately known as Sebbie. She writes, “Sebbie was one of the most gentle and beautiful animals, just an exquisitely stunning NFC”. Susan describes Zoe as “a feisty little black and white sprite”.  Susan named Pirate when he was still very young.  As the leader of the pack, it was easy to see him as a pirate with that dark patch over one eye. Susan remembers that Pirate inherited “his father's good looks and personality, and his mother's sense of adventure,” and she goes on to say

Norskau Sebastian, Pirate's Dad

Irlu’s Zoe of Norskau, Pirate's Mom

that Pirate “had more pluck than most of the kittens I bred”.  Like so many of us, Susan wanted to keep all her kittens.  But she writes fondly of Barbara and George, saying, “I knew that I had found the right home for Pirate. Barbara's eyes glistened when she saw Pirate and he was instantly at home. It was the best placement I ever made”.  No doubt Barbara would agree.

Gina Calogero of Tundrakatt cattery was thrilled to use Pirate in her breeding program.  In fact, Pirate’s first litter was born at Tundrakatt.  Gina writes that Pirate’s many outstanding breeding qualities, including “his incredible coat - great color, classic tabby and perfect texture - his mushy lovey disposition, and his pedigree” encouraged her to choose Pirate as Ursula’s (GC Torvmyra’s Ursula of Tundrakatt) boyfriend. “His grandsire was Wolfie (QGC Kela’s Wolfgang Amadeus of Norskau); Ursula and Wolfie had so much success with their babies that Pirate was a perfect match”. 

’Not Just Sex’:

Pirate and his first girlfriend, Ursula

Gina also writes that this was Ursula’s last litter, following a harrowing trip to the vet in the middle of the night via road construction and detours.  Gina remembers Ursula biting her hand with each contraction!  An induced labor resulted in four beautiful babies, three girls (Wicca, Tika, and Portia) and a boy (Buster).  Gina fondly remembers Buster: “He was a gigantic black and white male who was thoroughly engaging but the most mischievous little devil I ever bred. He could beat up his three sisters with a single swipe of the paw, [and] I would swear he moved furniture while I was at work."

Tundrakatt's Buster, Pirate's son

Young Pirate -- not a “dignified gentleman” just yet!

Diane Jones shares her home with Wicca and Tika, now 15 years old, and two other Pirate kids, Magic and Wizard.  She writes, “I have to say, in thinking back about Pirate, that he was the most dignified and gentlemanly cat I've ever met. We saw him for the first time when we picked up Wicca and Tika at a show in 1990 in Allentown, PA. He was probably not much more than a year old or so, but he was calmly surveying all the bustle of the show hall, sprawled across his cage -- the soul of patience. Even when he became ill in his later years, he never failed to come greet us and spend time with Barb and I while we talked. He himself was a very eloquent talker, and all of our guys have inherited that trait. Our house is filled with constant commentary! And he liked his treats delivered by hand, thank you -- he'd wait patiently while you retrieved them from his dish and offered them properly. I'm sure he had his ‘company manners’ on and could be quite the clown, but you'd be hard pressed to find a sweeter or more personable cat”.

Ann Marie Citro reminisces, “Pirate was an astoundingly beautiful Norwegian Forest Cat, and he certainly knew it! He walked with an air of pride and excellence.  He was extremely people oriented, and he charmed everyone with his playful, affectionate, sweet temperament.  Pirate was a true show cat who loved being the center of attention and admiration that he received during his show days.  Everyone in the show halls knew and adored him. Pirate had a distinct and individual "cattitude" that displayed confidence, self-assurance, and intelligence.  Truly, Pirate was a special, loving cat who was unique, outstanding, and filled with tremendous ‘purrsonality’”.  Ann Marie has the pleasure of sharing her life with Pirate’s grandson, CH/GP Kashi Saga Maximillian Pirate, his granddaughter, Freya, and his great granddaughter, Cassandra.  “Through them”, she says, “Pirate's spirit will live and be passed on to his future descendents”.

CH/GP Kashi Saga Maximillian Pirate, Pirate’s grandson

Kashi Saga Shana of Smaavenn

Ruth and Dick Yates share their home with two of Pirate’s children, Piratesen and Shana.  Ruth recalls falling in love with Norwegian Forest cats after seeing a centerfold in “Cat Fancy” magazine, “At one 1989 cat show, Dick and I saw Norskau Pirate of Kashi Saga, a stunning male Norwegian Forest cat with a sweet face, exquisite fur, a beautiful ruff, and a long, luxurious, bushy tail.  Seeing him in his basket on top of his cage simply took our breath away!  It was love at first sight!

During the two-day show we cheered Pirate on as he won top points from judge after judge, finally receiving the best of show award.  It was obvious

After introducing ourselves to Barbara and George Chronakis, we asked for Pirate’s show itinerary.  We wanted to join his cheering section.  Thereafter, we became known as Pirate ‘groupies,’ those who followed him from one cat show to the next.

In 1990 I was fortunate to obtain a stunning brown mackerel tabby female, Norskau Brenna.  With Barbara’s agreement, I brought Brenna to her home to mate with Pirate.  During this and subsequent visits, I felt honored when Pirate appeared, greeted me as a friend, and allowed me to pet his magnificent, soft fur. What a personable cat!”  The result of Brenna and Pirate’s trust was a litter of three wonderful kittens, of which Ruth and Dick kept two. Ruth writes of her loving companions, “While Piratesen (which in Norwegian means ‘son of Pirate’) resembles his father, Shana is a brown mackerel tabby with Pirate’s ‘pirate’ band around her eyes.”

Kashi Saga Piratesen of Smaavenn

CH/GP Kashi Saga Pirate Ragnarr (behind)

and CH Kashi Saga Pirate Beowulf, Pirate’s great grandsons

Liz Dickinson, owner of four of Pirate’s great grandsons comments, “We first met Barbara in August of 2002.  We walked into her house, saw those sweet Wegie faces, lovely coats and sizeable bodies, and fell in love.  Unfortunately, the two male kittens from the litter she just had were not available.  But we felt it was worth waiting until the next breeding and decided to do so.  As luck and fate would have it, we ended up with not only two boys from the next litter, but also the two boys previously unavailable --Winter, the quiet leader; Baron, the gentle kitty everyone loves; Ragnarr, the fearless one with a mind of his own; and Beowulf, the rough and tumble boy with a sensitive side. They and our other two Wegies are a joy to us each and every day. We have kept Beowulr whole to continue Barbara's breeding program and to start one of our own. And we are looking forward to seeing Pirate's next generation!

Barbara & Pirate

CH Kashi Saga Pirate Magic, Pirate’s daughter

Kashi Saga Tristan Corsair, Pirate’s grandson

CH/GP Kashi Saga Loki Corsair, Pirate’s grandson

GC Tundrakatt's Portia, Pirate's daughter

from his first litter

CH Kashi Saga Pirate Prince,

Pirate’s son

(L to R) Tundrakatt’s Tika, Kara (rescue kitty), CH Kashi Saga Magic, Kashi Saga Wizard, and Tundrakatt’s Wicca, all Pirate’s children

Demonstrating their father’s infinite patience – Pirate’s kids wait for Diane Jones to dispense treats (what else are humans for?) Diane writes, “Everybody lines up and nobody butts in, and they'll sit like this while I carve up an entire chicken breast into bite-sized pieces."

CH Kashi Saga Pirate Baron, Pirate’s great grandson

CH Kashi Saga Pirate Paris, Pirate’s daughter

CH/GP Kashi Saga Pirate Viking, Pirate’s son

RW CH/GP Kashi Saga Pirate Star, Pirate’s daughter

CH/GP Kashi Saga Pirate Ragnarr, Pirate’s great grandson

CH Kashi Saga Pirate Magic & Kashi Saga Pirate Musetta, Pirate’s daughters

CH Kashi Saga Pirate Paris, Pirate’s daughter

Carol Brown, TICA Allbreed judge, Judging Administrator, Southwest Regional Director, and Judge of the Year 1992-03, autographed a copy of her book, The Pieces of a Cat, with the following inscription:

“Dear Wonderful, Beautiful, Famous Pirate, 

Please tell your mother to give you a big hug and kiss from me.  Also, tell her your great pictures are now being used when I train the new judges.  I use them as examples of what to look for when judging Wegies. 

All my love,

Auntie Carol"

RW SGC Norskau Pirate of Kashi Saga

Reverend Dick and Ruth Yates wrote upon hearing of Pirate’s death, “We particularly remember Pirate’s unique ability to accept the diversity of situations and personalities encountered when he was being shown and the tranquility which he maintained in those trying, but necessary experiences.  We continue in thanks for the trust which you placed in us by permitting us to be the safeguarders of Pirate, when both of you needed to be with your other cats when they were being shown.

In body and spirit Pirate was one of the truly Great Cats in the Norwegian Forest cat genealogy.  As for us, Pirate is and always will be the one and only Norwegian Forest Cat Supreme Grand Champion.  He will always have a special place in our hearts.  Dick and I consider ourselves blessed with two of his children as our companions.  Truly, Pirate was a unique and very special cat.  We shall never forget him.”

Barbara Chronakis comments, “You will not find multitudes of Pirate descendants …  what you will find is that those who have Pirate babies own more than one.  His kittens were as outgoing as he was and folks came back for more."

Pirate and his babies

RW CH/GP Kashi Saga Pirate Star, Pirate's daughter

CH/GP Kashi Saga Pirate Viking, Pirate's son