Time really does fly. Before we knew it, another six months had passed.
Looking back, the proudest moment during this time was undoubtedly seeing Phantom win Best Maine Coon Kitten at the National Cat Show. It was such a rewarding milestone and a wonderful reminder that all the time and effort we've put into raising him has been worthwhile.
What's even harder to believe is how much both Phantom and Lilith have grown. They're now two to three times the size they were just a few months ago, and looking back at old photos almost doesn't feel real.
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Phantom
Phantom has grown into a handsome young teenager.
His face still carries a little of that kitten sweetness, but at 6.4 kg, with his neck ruff beginning to silver and those enormous paws that look more like a wild animal's than a house cat's, it's becoming easier and easier to imagine the magnificent adult he'll one day become.
He's still incredibly athletic.
His agility and jumping ability continue to amaze us. There really isn't anywhere he can't get to—only places he chooses not to go. Every high shelf, every impossible perch... somehow he always finds a way.
As he's matured, he's also developed a little attitude.
His biggest challenge is still the show ring. For some reason, he absolutely hates being picked up by strangers during judging. Ironically, outside of cat shows he's perfectly happy to let unfamiliar people pet him, and he's even comfortable being held in public. I'm still trying to figure out how to improve that part of his socialisation.
The funniest part is how completely relaxed he is inside his show cage.
He happily sleeps on his back with his belly exposed. One judge actually stood there staring at him for quite a while, probably wondering how a show cat could possibly be so relaxed.
But the moment he's taken out of the cage... the attitude appears immediately.
Hopefully, by the August show, he'll decide to cooperate a little more with the judges.
Lilith
Unlike Phantom, Lilith has never been shown before.
This August will be her very first cat show, and we're all excited to see how she does.
Thankfully, she's finally growing out of that awkward "scruffy kitten" stage.
Her coat is slowly filling in, and her bright silver undercoat almost glows in the light.
The tabby pattern across her body has become even more beautifully blended. Shades of grey, black, orange and white melt into one another as though someone spilled an artist's palette while creating her. Every day she looks a little more unique.
And then there's her tail.
Even when the rest of her coat was still catching up, her tail seemed determined to grow first. It's now thick, fluffy and incredibly full—part feather duster, part squirrel tail—and has become one of her signature features.
As for her personality...
She's still every bit the little princess.
She'll happily come to you when she wants attention—but don't you dare disturb her when she's not in the mood.
Trimming her nails or shaving the fur between her paw pads turns into a full-scale battle every single time. By the end, everyone's exhausted.
Despite that, she's unbelievably adorable.
She's become much more coordinated with her oversized paws, but whenever she suddenly stops while chasing a toy, she always ends up standing with her front paws slightly pigeon-toed. Other cats stop dramatically; Lilith somehow makes it look impossibly cute.
She's also the most curious cat imaginable.
Birds outside the window, cats walking past the house, fireworks on the television, or even whatever food you're holding—everything deserves a thorough investigation, and preferably a taste.
We know many people are looking forward to seeing kittens from Phantom and Lilith one day.
For now, though, Lilith still hasn't shown any obvious signs of coming into season, and we'd much rather let her mature a little more before beginning our breeding plans.
Good things are worth waiting for.
Hopefully we'll have more exciting news to share next year.
Thank you to everyone who's been following Phantom and Lilith's journey with us.
See you next year—or better yet, follow along on our Facebook and Instagram to watch them continue to grow.
