Panei Persians & Exotics is owned by the mother-daughter, Patricia Stewart and Michelle Smith.  Both of us reside in Springfield, Oregon, at the southern tip of the Willamette Valley.

We are surrounded by the beauty of the Willamette and McKenzie Rivers.

 

  Patricia's journey began in1974 with the purchase of her very first Red Persian male "Edjo's Erich of Pa-Nei". Quickly followed by two Tortoiseshell Persian females, Edjo's Indigo Rainbow and Edjo's Oriental Splendor. To this day, we maintain lines that trace back to our original girl, Indigo Rainbow, known for producing sweet and-going dispositions.

 

  Our breeding program has expanded to include Solids, Bi-colors and Parti-colors Persians and Exotics (shorthair Persians). 

 

 Patricia takes pride in researching cats' ancestry to ensure our bloodlines remain pure and healthy, with roots reaching back to the origins of the cat fancy in the late 1800s.

 

"Pa" in Panei represents "Patricia Stewart", while "Nei" honors my husband, "Neil". Together, we have three grown children and nine grandchildren. Beyond our love for cats, I also enjoy sewing, reading, camping, gardening, and researching our family history, and I am proud to be a third-generation Oregonian.

 

Michelle, daughter of Patricia is the co-owner of Panei cattery. Michelle literally grew up surrounded by cats. Accompanying me to cat shows, she began by stewarding judging rings and later progressed to clerking and hospitality. In 1999, she received a Red Tabby Exotic female, "Ch.Grandaries Glitter & Be Gay" (Gigi), from our friend Pete Romich of Grandaries. This is the begining to our Exotic journey. We are proud of our achievements, bred numerous Grand Champions, Distinguished Merit (DM) award winners, and Regional/National winners.

 

Michelle is a busy mother of five, and two step-daughters. Other than my amazing children and my four-legged babies, I  love baking, cake decorating, and attending cat shows. Growing up with Persians made me realize that not everyone has cats, but I believe everyone should! I cherish sharing this passion with my mom, traveling to cat shows and working together as a team. My mother has dedicated herself to our beautiful cats, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have inherited her knowledge and passion. She is not just my mom; she is my teacher, best friend, and mentor. Thank you to, my Mother!