Uhmmm…from what I have read about the Honeybear cat I feel pretty free to be less than scientific in this short article on this rare breed. In fact a lot of it is pure opinion. There is no mention of the breed in the best books, unsurprisingly. Being reliant solely on the internet is not good.
This is because there is very little sound information about this breed.
Update: I have a picture of a real Honeybear cat and he is beautiful. This cat should be better known.
This gorgeous cat lives with Caren Di Lauro who says this about her cat:
“I got him 7 years ago from a breeder in Oregon, one of the very few breeders at the time, called Honeybear Starz Cattery. They were a certified breeder and had the most beautiful honeybears of all. However it does not look like they are selling anymore, hopefully still breeding and will sell again one day. I would never get another cat after having a honeybear, I am so in love with him. We have a 6 year old and she asked me if I could get her a honeybear when she grows up, so I looked on the internet just out of curiosity and it looks like no one is breeding or selling 😉 I send you another photo….he is just absolutely beautiful <3....FYI: They DO shed (I vacuum every damn day, lol), BUT they do not matte so that part is correct."
Here is another picture:
His name is Pacha (the big lovable peasant from the Disney move Emperor’s New Grove). He is 8 years of age at March 2013.
On some sites they even say, in all seriousness, that it was in part created by artificially inseminating a cat with the genes from a skunk. This comes from the preferred coat type for this cat, which is a white spotted stripe on the tail resembling the skunk’s coat.
This wild story exists because the creation of this breed is embroiled in the myths and mysticism of the founder of the Ragdoll cat breed, Ann Baker. Anne Baker probably liked to create a bit of mystery to heighten interest in a new breed. Many breeders do this but in more subtle ways.
It is said that Anne Baker created the Honeybear breed. I have no idea if that is true. Perhaps one of her colleagues did it. It appears, however, that it is related to the organisation that she founded, the IRCA (International Ragdoll Cat Association). It was founded, I believe, in 1971.
As there was a good bit of argument in the Ragdoll cat breeders camp due to Anne Baker’s unreasonable demands (it is alleged), it may be true that Anne Baker decided to create another sweet cat along the lines of her now famous Ragdoll cat breed.
The Honeybear cat is claimed to be extremely sweet natured, the most sweet natured of purebred cats. Like Ragdolls they are large and cobby (the opposite to slender), similar to Persians.
The head is said to be “flattish” and the ears small and set on the sides of the head.
They have a ruff and a thick and silky coat that is claimed to be non-matting – sounds too good to be true! Another site says that they don’t shed and so the coat needs grooming to avoid matting. This is obviously incorrect information.
I have not seen a photograph of this cat. Sorry. There are no current breeders (Feb 2011) as far as I am aware and they are not accepted or registered by the mainstream cat associations, it appears.
Please correct me if I am incorrect, by leaving a comment.
The actual bear called the Honey bear can be either the Sun Bear or Sloth bear. The Sloth Bear is a slow moving animal that climbs extremely well so my guess is the name was created from that or I am barking up the wrong tree!
I lost my cat Heavy last year we got him at a shelter they dint know what breed he was so we just assumed it was some sort of pursion or a mix we only found out after he died of kidney failure 🙁 he was gray & white and loved being picked up though he was fat and very heavy hence the name Heavy.
Heavy was probably a random bred cat meaning not a purebred member of a cat breed but that is good. Random bred cats are wonderful and generally considered to be more healthy than pedigree cats. Thanks for sharing.
Why doesn’t someone drive to the starz cattery LOLabd ask them! I know there is a phone number not sure it works.. Do you want to try to call it? Is strange they don’t even give info like we will never sell again or we are working on the breed..
Thanks
Why don’t the breeders say they are no longer selling and why? Those cats are beautiful even if they can’t be accepted as a breed!! When you email precious breeders the emails cannot be delivered either!!
I agree that these cats are beautiful and the breed could well be more successful.
New breeds have come to a standstill. I think the cat breed market is saturated.
Thanks for commenting.
Hi I have a pure breed honey bear and I adore him. He is about 7 now, I got him from one of the very few breeders in oregon…however now I don’t see any being bred, or at least not any being sol sold. I was curious because my 6 year old ask me if I would buy her one when she was grown up, lol I can send you a photo if you like as well his is one of the really beautiful ones. I can attest to the fact though that they sure as hell do shed, I vacuum everyday : / BUT he does not matte and I am lazy with brushing him so that is indeed true. Also he does not bother my allergies or other people who are normally allergic to cats, his fur is very fluffy and soft. He follows me around all day, does not like when I am away because he is very attached to me, he will practically trip me when I walk through the door, however they are VERY weary of strangers, not so much women, he will take to another woman right away, but a man that he is not WELL familiar with, he will run and hide and not come out until the person leaves. He also seems to be a big hypersensitive. I heard that along with the creator Ann, which I do believe created the breed, who died, this breed died out along with her. I do hope that someone is still breeding them but just not selling. Mine is fixed so there is nothing I can do about it. His official papers say he is a ragdolll, since there is no official honeybear breed, the closest thing is that. I don’t know if the skunk thing is true, although when he is scared he does scurry away like one it’s pretty funny to watch…he looks to me like a rogdoll maincoon bread with a white persian. The only issue is that they are prone to urine crystals which cause blockage, we had problems for years until I started feeding him ONLY grain free cat food and have had no problems since. : )
Randi has it exactly right. We just lost what we were told was a honeybear cat today. He was magnificently beautiful and so loving. There used to be a lady in Arizona that bred these cats – she is the one that told me our cat was likely one after I sent her a photo of him. They were very pricey to purchase – but ours was found, ironically as a stray. Neutered,declawed and beautifully groomed when he showed up on our doorstep. We posted signs and ads in the paper, but no came forward to claim him, so we happily kept him as part of our family for the past 15 years. His passing has left a huge whole in our hearts and I hit the internet tonight to see if we could possibly find another honeybear kitten. I am not having much luck locating the breeder I spoke with so many years ago. She told me the story of their beginning much like what Randi said that they were bred at a university in California and part of a government experiment. Whomever the creator they produced a most unique and beautiful cat.
Thanks for commenting and adding to the page. Interesting. If you have a picture please email it to me and I’ll post it under your comment. Click on the following link for my email address:
https://pictures-of-cats.org/Creator-of-Pictures-of-cats.html#contact_me
Darci
I had a honeybearcat male called Jasper in Bellevue ne. We were moving and he escaped in 1996. I looked all over and was just heartsick. He belonged to my daughter and she cried for days on end. We were leaving that night with the I haul and had told neighbors etc. I called the police and shelter. I called the shelter for many days. I would love to know if you found jasper in this area. Omaha Bellevue. Etc. we had prayed that he was in the couch etc when we opened the I haul but no such luck. We moved to South Dakota from Nebraska. He was large, chubby, male, neutered, declawed, and silver. His father, Igmo, (med hair tiger)was directly from Ann Baker and his mother Nicole (beautiful light silver) was from Jeannie Jones.
If you could let me know about where you found him I would so appreciate it. I had always hoped that he had been found somewhere where he was greatly loved if we could not find him. He would have been born March. 1995.
Sincerely,
Julie
Oh Julie, your comment is hard to read because of the heartache in it. A heartbreaking comment. Jasper escaped in 1996, born 1995. I admire you for writing the comment. I wish you all the luck in the world to find him. Tell me a bit more and I’ll do an article about Jasper, which will be seen by more people. I want you and your daughter to see him again.
Do you have a picture of him? If you do please use the button below this comment to upload it.
There really is a breed called the Honeybear Cat. They are a very beautiful cat. Persian face with light gray and white coats. I know this, because I used to own one. Their coats are smooth, soft and silky and non matting, although they do shed terribly. Their toiletry habbits are very smelly like that of a skunk. They are indeed a loyal, loving cat that is very plyful and curious. I hope this helps your question of existance. as far as Anne Baker, to my knowledge….No she did not creat this cat. I heard it was a government experiment.