GREYHEART TRANSYLVANIAN CATTERY
GREYHEART TRANSYLVANIAN CATTERY
WCF Show in Budapest
The last weekend of November 2025 drew the attention of the cat world to Budapest: the jubilee WCF cat show was organized by the PMCE, reflecting the vibrant cultural and pet-loving life of the capital. An international panel of judges and exhibitors from numerous countries made these two days a true celebration, in which we at GreyHeart Cattery also had a special role to play.
Budapest – the city of stories
Hungary’s capital once again impressed international visitors: the panorama along the Danube, the historic Buda Castle, the charming Andrássy Avenue, and the World Heritage Heroes’ Square all contributed to the prestige of the event. Budapest simultaneously preserves its past and pulsates with modern life — making it a perfect location for an international-level exhibition.
The city always provides a special setting for any international event, and the WCF show was no exception. Its history spans more than a thousand years: the ruins of Roman Aquincum, the medieval Buda Castle, the Turkish baths, and the elegant avenues of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy all contribute to making Budapest one of Europe’s most fascinating capitals.
Divided by yet connected across Europe’s second-longest river, the Danube, the city offers a living and scenic centerpiece. The riverside panorama — including the Parliament, Buda Castle, Gellért Hill, and the bridges — is part of the World Heritage site and is often cited as one of Europe’s most beautiful cityscapes. The Danube not only bisects the city but also sets the rhythm of life in Budapest: slowly flowing by day, illuminated and dancing by night, showing a different face each season.
With over 1.7 million inhabitants, Budapest is Hungary’s largest city and a metropolitan hub of regional significance. Its size, urban structure, and cultural diversity make it a city where historical monuments and modern lifestyle seamlessly merge. First-time visitors are often surprised by the wide boulevards, expansive green spaces, and ease of moving between attractions.
The cobbled streets of the historic Buda Castle District, the fairytale towers of Fisherman’s Bastion, and the iconic Parliament dominating the Danube impress every visitor. The Liberty Bridge, Andrássy Avenue, and Heroes’ Square reveal different facets of Budapest — simultaneously elegant, historical, and vibrant.
For culture enthusiasts, the city is virtually inexhaustible: the Hungarian National Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, the National Gallery, the Ludwig Museum, as well as the Opera House and leading theaters (such as the Vígszínház and the National Theater) all offer world-class experiences. Budapest’s theatrical scene is especially rich and layered — from classical opera to modern dance theater.
At the same time, modern Budapest is a youthful, lively hub. The downtown ruin pubs, cozy cafés, rooftop bars, and the evening life along the Danube enchant many visitors. For relaxation, one can visit a famous Budapest bath — such as Széchenyi, Gellért, or Rudas — where historical architecture and wellness merge perfectly.
Budapest’s gastronomy is now one of its strongest attractions: alongside traditional Hungarian cuisine, many modern bistros and Michelin-starred restaurants await visitors. The Great Market Hall, local artisan markets, patisseries, and contemporary restaurants together showcase the city’s diverse culinary scene.
Budapest is at once romantic, historical, exciting, and modern — a city where every visitor can find their own pace. The WCF show could not have found a better venue, as the city is as diverse and lively as the international cat show community itself.
These seven young cats — representing three different litters — arrived from various regions:
From the Carpathian Mountains: Mrs. Ernyei Boróka GreyHeart, Mr. Ernyei Bércz GreyHeart
From Déva: Mr. Dévai Farkas GreyHeart, Mr. Dévai Corvin GreyHeart
From Hungary, Csepel: Mrs. Csepeli Csillag GreyHeart, Mrs. Csepeli Fény GreyHeart, Mr. Csepeli Alkony GreyHeart
We welcomed the siblings together so they could become part of the GreyHeart breeding program and, over time, carry forward the most beautiful elements of natural Transylvanian traits. They came to us at 2–3 months of age, and since then have received all necessary vaccinations, microchips, passports, and their genetic test results. Based on these, each kitten can safely be integrated into our breeding program — only the judges’ evaluation remained.
Today, we have 8 distinct, valuable Transylvanian bloodlines, allowing us to completely exclude inbreeding and plan breeding carefully across generations.
In the WCF system, cats without pedigree records that have reached 6 months of age may enter the novice category. Two WCF judges assess whether the individual meets the breed standard and is suitable for breeding — whether it can represent the breed.
For us, a particular challenge was that some judges were meeting Transylvanian cats for the first time. Foundation kittens carry natural, not yet IV-generation “refined” traits; they are not born fully standardized, as standardization always results from multi-generational selective breeding. Within the WCF framework, there are relatively few opportunities to showcase breeding processes and generational development.
The three litters from different origins all preserve the typical external and internal traits of the Transylvanian Cat:
Roaning harsh coat
Lighter, dense undercoat
Distinct transitions at the “cold points” of the body
Amber-colored eyes conveying emotion
Human-centered, intelligent temperament
Although some external points slightly differ from the IV-generation standard in form, in color, coat quality, undercoat, and character, they consistently reflect what the breed originally represents: naturalness and the genetic foundation found at the foot of the Carpathians8
After leaving their familiar environment for the first time, the kittens behaved extremely well and confidently. They tolerated the judges’ examinations and the curious eyes throughout the day. Their calm, balanced behavior not only demonstrated the breed’s characteristic human-centeredness but also showed how promising they are as a foundation for future work.
After long discussions and evaluations, the judges gave their verdict: all seven kittens received an “EXCELLENT” rating. This is a major milestone in our breeding program, as they are now officially recommended for breeding, opening the way for conscious multi-generational development.
As one experienced judge once said:
“There is no 100% perfect cat. The standard is a goal, not a final state — there will always be an individual closer to it.”
However, the Transylvanian Cat possesses so many natural and special traits that extreme modifications (droopy ears, extra toes, extremely short nose, etc.) are unnecessary. The breed is naturally exceptional and lovable — our task is to preserve and carry forward this natural beauty through generations.
This show was not just a list of results, but a milestone demonstrating the immense potential of natural Transylvanian bloodlines.
The selected future — the path of the 7 EX1 Novice kittens
After the show and the “EXCELLENT” ratings, we have finalized which kittens will participate in the GreyHeart breeding program. Each was evaluated individually for origin, genetic background, temperament, and external traits — and we are happy to say that all are perfect in their natural way. Some kittens form stronger emotional bonds during daily interactions, making it difficult to decide objectively which fits best into the program; sometimes we must part with a “favorite.”
According to our breeding principles, over the past months we have already identified the most suitable mates for each kitten. These combinations will strengthen the long-term genetic foundation of the Transylvanian breed while preserving their natural traits, temperament, and original beauty. Upon reaching 12 months, they will actively participate in the breeding program, contributing to the development toward the IV generation.
For kittens not retained in the program, we also seek a special future: a loving, responsible family or experienced breeder where they can continue the Transylvanian Cat legacy and where the natural bloodlines from the Carpathian Mountains can thrive and enrich other Transylvanian breeding programs.
Conclusion — a key milestone for GreyHeart Cattery
The excellent results of our seven kittens confirmed that our selection principles and breeding strategy are on the right track: we are building a stable genetic foundation while preserving the unique appearance and temperament characteristic of the Transylvanian Cat. In the coming year, we will pair these bloodlines to further strengthen the breed’s genetic base.
This marks an important milestone in the life of GreyHeart Cattery: we have completed the foundation of our breeding program. With the search and careful selection of the foundation cats, we now have a sufficient number of individuals and complementary bloodlines to safely realize our long-term breeding plans.
These seven cats are particularly valuable to us, as they represent bloodlines through which we aim to reach the IV generation, alongside our other lines. We remain committed to ensuring that the natural Transylvanian Cat remains what it originally was: a unique breed combining the wild beauty of the Carpathians with a close bond to humans. While we currently do not plan any further acquisitions, this part of our program is complete.
However, we are certain that one day a pair of eyes, a special harsh coat, will again cross our path — and once more, we will be captivated…
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