The heart of the programme

Ask us what matters most in a stud, and the answer is not his colour or his rosettes — it is his temperament. A father passes on his nature as surely as his coat, and in a litter it counts for even more than the mother’s. You can breed from the most beautiful boy in the country, but if he is nervous or short-tempered, it shows in his kittens: shy, unsettled, sometimes unsuitable for family life, however lovely they look.

That is why Aris was chosen for his nature first. He is a genuinely friendly, affectionate and unflappable cat who adores company and takes everything in his stride — and it is the very first thing you see in his kittens. A calm, confident father is the quiet reason a Muggles Mittens kitten settles so easily into a new home.