Where the Dreamwoods Began
Hi I’m AJ. Long before there were Oaks, Willows, and Saplings, there were trees. I was raised in the forests of Northern California, spending my childhood surrounded by the pines, wildlife, and the kind of quiet magic that only seems to exist deep in the woods. Years later, life brought me to the mountains of Southern California, where I once again found myself living among the trees.
In many ways, Dreamwoods was years in the making before I even knew it.
Like many people, I never planned on becoming a breeder. I brought home my first Maine Coon, Griffin in 2022. She was (and still is) beautiful, intelligent, larger than life, and completely unlike any cat I had ever met. She walked on a harness, followed me everywhere, and quickly convinced me that Maine Coons were special.
When Griffin was diagnosed with hip dysplasia, I learned firsthand that Maine Coons can be prone to serious health conditions, including heart disease and hip dysplasia. I dove headfirst into learning everything I could. As I imported cats from Europe, I repeatedly encountered preventable health issues, infections, and breeding practices that left me deeply concerned. The more I learned, the more I realized that loving a breed isn’t enough. If we truly love these cats, we have a responsibility to protect their future.
That’s when Dreamwoods began.
I knew building the kind of breeding program I envisioned would be expensive, time-consuming, and occasionally heartbreaking. There have been cats I adored but chose not to breed because they didn’t meet the standards I believe future generations deserve. But some things are worth doing the hard way.
Today, every Oak and Willow in the Dreamwoods undergoes comprehensive health screening, including hip x-rays, echocardiograms, DNA testing, FIV/FeLV screening, and respiratory and fecal PCR testing before entering this woodland sanctuary.
Can problems still happen? Of course. Breeding living creatures will always involve uncertainty. But I believe in doing everything possible to stack the odds in favor of healthy, happy cats and the families who love them. Dreamwoods was built on the belief that that woodland magic and responsible stewardship can exist side by side.
The cats may be the stars of the show, but behind every Oak, every Willow, and every Sapling is a promise to do right by this extraordinary breed. Thank you for being here and for taking the time to learn about our little corner of the forest.
I hope that one day a Dreamwoods Sapling brings as much joy, laughter, and companionship to your life as mine have brought to me.