TESTIMONIALS
"Hi Ria,
Little Bear is settling in really well. I’ve got to say he is an absolutely beautiful blue.
All the credit goes to you with how he is. Totally trained with the litter tray with no accidents which is such an amazing thing being so young. When he got home the first thing he did was use it. We were a little tentative letting him on our sofa at first which is quite expensive but he’s so relaxed with no scratching or biting. He even slept on it all last night. However, show him the scratching post and he goes crazy Steph bought him a bigger one today with a couple of levels and a tunnel!!!
He’s got such a kind nature about him and everyday he’s coming out of his shell that little bit more. We’re gutted we didn’t get two so maybe if one of the others don’t work out we’d defiantly take one!!!
We feel so attached to him already.
The reason we went with you is because of Luna, Bear and yourself. Having come from a family who used to breed British blues I was dazzled by Luna's eyes. Like our female who had deep orange eyes too she produced lovely kittens and it was meant to be. Then......I saw Bear, what an absolute beut. Those big paws, full face and stocky legs, everything you want to see in a stud. No surprise they’ve produced our amazing Bear Jr.
But to top it off was the talk we had on the phone. It’s obvious you don’t want just anyone to have your kittens and that’s great to see.
Thanks again Ria for our amazing little Bear we’ll keep sending you pictures. He’s a credit to you and your family.
All the best
James and Steph
Great website too!"
James C, Cheshire. May 2018
(Returned for a second kitten)
"A VERY HAPPY OUTCOME!
Last July, we lost out beautiful grey, twenty year old cat, Tinky. Our home was not the same anymore. After months of pondering and looking at Blue British Shorthair kittens on the Internet, we finally contacted various breeders for details on availability, etc., only to discover that it was not going to be that simple! Most kittens were either already spoken for or didn’t meet our expectations! One breeder, from a town not too far away, advertised a beautiful litter of kittens in a wicker basket but when we emailed her, she replied that she wanted payment up front and that the kittens would be delivered by courier! Horrendous!
However, we were drawn back every time to RIAHILFI website although the breeder was some four hours away from where we live in North West Wales! The kittens were due round about the end of February, and bang on time, they arrived on the 1st March, St David’s day! (Yes! One of us is Welsh!) Two boys and two girls! We wanted one of each! Great excitement! Mrs Ria Hilfi very kindly invited us to go and choose our kittens when they were a few weeks old and advised us on their progress with photos and texts all the way through to collecting them on May 26th.
The day that we collected them, Ria had prepared a folder each for Blue & Izzy, containing all the paperwork that we would need –
Breeder Registration Card
Insurance cover
Vaccination Record
Kitten Guide
Pedigree history
Kitten diet sheet
Contract of Sale
Together with a presentation box each containing a blanket, toys and kitten food. The blanket was scented for their journey home in the car! She had thought of everything to keep her babies happy! There were a few tears as she waved them Goodbye! There was not a murmur all the way home!
THANKS TO YOU, RIA, THEY ARE HAPPY, SOCIABLE AND LOVING KITTENS. THERE’S NEVER A DULL MOMENT!"
Keith & Gwyneth B, Wales. June 2018
"I want to say a massive Thank you to Ria for our wonderful bundle of joy Oscar who joined my family this week.
Contact from Ria right from the start has been fantastic even before the litter was born. Once the little ones had arrived I got a photo of them and arranged a suitable time when I could come and see them, and make the difficult choice of which one to bring home (they are all so beautiful with gentle personalities).
The reason I chose one of Ria's litter is that all of her cats are part of her family and very well looked after.
When I picked Oscar up to come home, a little pack was prepared for us to make sure he was as settled as possible.
It has now been 5 days since he came home and he is full of energy, follows me everywhere and certainly has a good appetite on him!
Thank you again! I will be sure to keep you posted of pictures of Oscar growing up!"
Sue W, Rotherham. November 2018
(Returned for a second kitten)
"Thank you so much Ria for making our little family complete.
We brought Daisy to our home and she has been a joy to have as part of our family.
Daisy has been such a good little girl that we decided to go ahead with a second addition from Ria.
Our fluffy boy Duke came home with us this weekend and is a credit to the work Ria puts into all her litters.
Duke is a BLH BLUE from the same parents as Daisy and has a fantastic coat and personality.
We look forward to our fur babies growing up and becoming firm friends."
Emma W, Hull. November 2018
"Picked up my beautiful British Longhair from Ria on Saturday. She came with a folder of information and all the necessary paperwork, as well as 4 weeks free insurance and a hamper of toys, food and a blanket with mums scent on.
Angel has settled in really well and has already made herself at home.
She is a purr machine! She is very sociable and affectionate and follows me everywhere.
Well done Ria for all your hard work and getting the right temperament in your kittens. I highly recommend Ria to anyone thinking about buying a British Long/Shorthair."
Carole M, Etton. November 2018
"I have been following Ria Hilfi's page for a long time, based on past history it was very important for us that our kitten had the best start to life as that sets them up for their future and we can tell that Bluebell has certainly had that.
She was very much part of Ria's family and she is now a massive part of our family, the children adore her and vice versa. She is one very happy, playful and loving little kitten. We did worry about her coming into a house already with 2 cats, but I can say it’s clear that she has had enough confidence to help her settle in amazingly well.
Ria sent us weekly updates on Bluebell and as a family we couldn’t wait to receive these updates, the communication was fantastic. I cannot thank Ria enough and if I ever was to expand I would 100% go back to Ria.
Thank you so much for our much wanted kitten. Xx"
Katie S, Birstall. November 2018
"We have recently introduced beautiful Rocky into our family. It was really important to us to go to a top quality breeder and Ria is certainly that and went above and beyond throughout the whole process.
We love him to pieces and he is a real character.
Never a dull moment"
Holly C, Hertfordshire. December 2018
"
"Firstly I have to congratulate you on having the best looking cat I have ever seen in Bear!!
We have been in touch since Feb 2018 and I’ve been following everyone’s stories on the Facebook group since then and you’ve made so many people so happy. We are so pleased to be fortunate enough to have one of your beautiful kittens.
I’ve always wanted a British Blue Shorthair and having looked into all the local breeders, the first thing I noticed about Ria is how lovingly she talks about the cats and kittens. They truly are part of her family and she won’t let them go to just anyone!
It took one email only to convince me to wait till November for our fur baby. Ria told me everything we needed to know as first time kitten owners and kept in touch throughout the year!
It’s seemed like an eternity waiting but on the 28th August our little bundle of fur joy arrived and we decided to call him Loki.
We got regular updates and it was hardest decision to try and choose which to take. Now that he’s home, what can I say. Except he’s purrrfect! He’s a perfect mix of cheeky and adorable. He’s settled in so well, no accidents, no stress and is now king of the house! He’s been great with visitors and children. Total credit on you and your family on how well adjusted he is!
The support she’s shown throughout has been invaluable. It’s all been so easy and We are so in love that we are already have plans to get another next year... we even have a name!
I encourage anyone that is looking for a British Blue Shorthair to stop looking and contact Ria.
Love always
Ben, Laura, Lola & Loki ️️"
Laura E, Bradford. December 2018
"We were on the look out for a pair of healthy, happy British blues with an excellent pedigree and from a caring breeder who had given them the best start in life. After some considerable searching, we were delighted to find Ria and meet her beautiful cats and recent litter. Ria gives her kittens an exemplary upbringing in her own family home. As such our boy and girl British blues were very well socialised, used to household life, and were impeccably litter trained all before we even took them home at 13.5 weeks old. Five months on from birth they are now growing up fast into strong, confident, beautiful, and highly personable young cats! Thank you Ria for all your hard work raising them (and Bear and Luna too of course!)."
Anon., Southern England. January 2018
"After months of researching BSH's and wanting a reputable breeder, I found the website for Ria. I was so impressed by the detail, the recommendations and the gallery of gorgeous babies that I felt sure (if I was lucky enough to get one), then it would be one of Ria's babies I wanted.
I went to meet Betty-Blue and saw her in her lovely family environment - playing with a sibling, and with her mum and 2 other queens, and her dad present also (and Bear really is impressive!). I decided then that I really wanted this baby and seeing her environment made me feel sure she was from a loving family home.
Since getting Betty, she has bloomed into a gorgeous, talkative, intelligent, fun and loving little girl and I can't believe how much she has changed my world. Ria has given fantastic support when I've had any questions and kindly gives loads of information, and history and a gift pack with food and toys etc to get us started...
I am so pleased I chose one of Ria's babies, and would totally recommend her as her knowledge, professionalism and advice is second to none.
Look forward to following Ria's ladies in the months to come, and to see more gorgeous babies come along..."
Tracey D, Wakefield. February 2019
"I had always wanted a British Blue and after losing my BSH Jessy at the age of 17 I decided to do some research. I came across Ria’s website as she lived in my area and I wanted to use a registered breeder. After chatting online I was more than happy and asked to be added to the waiting list for one of her kittens. It was only a matter of weeks and I got the call to say I was lucky enough to get one of Renesmee and Bear’s babies. Ria updated me weekly with photos and videos and was always willing to answer any questions along the way. I was invited to visit when the kittens turned 6 weeks of age to make the difficult decision of which boy I wanted. I chose Teddy and he came home with me at 13 weeks old. He has since settled in with no problems and me and my family cannot imagine life without him. Although I chose Ria as she was a local breeder I would be happy to travel across the UK for one of her beautiful kittens and her first class service."
Kirsty H, Hull. August 2019
"Ria has given me my first kitten, Lulu, and I couldn't be happier. Lulu has been a big presence in the house since the first day she came home with me - she is playful, loves cuddles (on her terms!) and follows me everywhere. She has been brought up in a wonderful and loving environment from what I have seen when I went to visit her for the first time. I am grateful I found Ria and chose one of her kittens."
Emily G, Gateshead. August 2019
(Returned for a second kitten 2022)
"You don’t just ‘buy’ a kitten from Ria, it’s the complete experience, right from that very first communication tentatively enquiring to see if you can be included on her waiting list until that day when the kitten finally becomes yours.
Ria is clearly a professional in everything she does and this shows in the care and dedication that she lavishes on her fur babies, in her home it’s obvious that the cats come first and this gives new owners the confidence that they are in great hands.
Buying a kitten is a two-way process and it was clear that Ria was as keen to understand our background as potential new owners as much as we were wanting to ask questions, it’s great to see this approach and shows just how much she cares that her kittens are going into the right forever homes.
Our kitten was in a litter of 5, so viewing was a busy time with three mothers, a newborn plus the ‘big daddy’, Bear, but despite this, Ria was happy to spend the time to answer our questions and to ensure that we were happy.
Our kitten, Gabriel, is now over 4 months old and has a lovely personality, I’m sure this is down to the great start in life with his extended family and Ria’s dedication. We are really looking forward to seeing our baby develop further and to the fun times ahead."
Steve & June T, South Tyneside. September 2019
"Ria, thank you so much for allowing Pickle to join our family. We shared with you some special needs we wanted Pickle to fulfill, we were looking for a very special companion for our autistic son who needed some support and friendship and Pickle has definitely been a great addition to all our lives. Thank you for your support with introducing them together, they are a perfect fit together. Your cats are wonderfully bred and make beautiful pets to fit in with the family. We are already planning when we can get away with having another addition to our family from your wonderful litters."
Becky P, Buckingham. December 2019
(Returned for a second kitten 2021)
"Finding Ria’s website and getting in contact with her at the beginning of our search for 2 kittens was the best thing we could have done. We’re definitely not the first to say Ria is an extremely helpful, generous, knowledgeable and professional breeder but it’s the obvious love and pleasure she imparts which makes the process special and memorable. Our family now have 2 gorgeous growing kittens who give us endless delight as well as a great excuse to avoid chores and homework. They are calm, friendly, playful and loving as well as everyone’s favourite companion. We are reaping the rewards of Ria giving them a great start in life and cannot recommend her more highly. In fact adding a further 2 kittens to our family in the not too distant future is starting to make a lot of sense so we may well be putting ourselves on Ria’s waitlist once more. So if you’re looking for a well reared, gorgeous kitten who will add joy and sunshine to your life you are already on the right website. It’s certainly one of the best decisions we ever made!"
The Cross Family, London. April 2020
(Returned for 2 more kittens 2022)
"We collected our British Longhair kitten Brian, from Ria two days ago and couldn't be happier with him.
Having never had a pedigree cat before, we knew that it was important to find a breeder that we could trust. After contacting a shortlist of what we believed to be reputable breeders, it didn't take long for us to decide that we wanted a kitten from Ria Hilfi.
We understood how important it is for a kitten to have the best start in life if it is to have a well rounded personality. We were offered kittens from another breeder straight away but it didn't feel right. Although we had to wait our turn on Ria's waiting list we just knew that it would be worth it in the end and we were confident that we would not only be getting a good example of the breed but just as importantly for us, we would be getting a kitten with a calm easy going temperament. We were not disappointed.
Brian is already one of the family and has astounded us with how easily he is settling in. He is confident, calm and affectionate and is perfectly litter trained. When we get a second kitten we will not consider looking anywhere else.
Thanks again for everything Ria."
The McDowell's, Brighouse. June 2020.
"It has been 6 weeks since we took Milky Way home with us and there has not been a dull moment with him around! He is an inquisitive and affectionate little bundle of energy who loves playing fetch as much as he does curling up on our laps for cuddles. He has bonded really well with us and our other kitten Andromeda, and they are now the cutest partners in crime.
We would highly recommend Ria as a breeder. We were part of the journey from the day he was born with regular updates, and she continues to be a valuable support as we raise our kitten. We cannot commend her enough for her helpfulness and professionalism, which goes far beyond this excellent website. She takes immaculate care to ensure that the new member of your family is in excellent physical health and well socialised, and she made sure that we had everything we needed to welcome him home.
As we live in London we were a little hesitant about choosing a breeder so far away, but after getting to know Ria, there was no doubt that we had made the right decision. Ria clearly loves all her kittens as though she will keep them forever, and we will definitely stay in touch as Milky Way grows!"
Jacob and Faye, London. August 2020
"From our very initial contact, Ria has been amazing. We were looking for another Lilac boy (after losing ours 6 months earlier). Ria put us on her waiting list but we weren’t expecting to hear back from her because she predominantly bred blues.
Harold was born on 1st April 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. It was not possible to visit him but we received weekly updates, photos and little clips of him and his siblings (all part of Ria’s normal service and not just because of the pandemic). It’s absolutely wonderful that we were able to watch him grow and now cherish the photos from when he was two days old through to the day he came home.
Harold is now 19 weeks old and is a loving, confident and playful little boy. He is absolutely stunning and a perfect companion for our blue BSH who is 4 years old. Every morning we awake to him coming in for his early morning cuddle with loud purring – every new day is so exciting for him.
All the credit goes to Ria, her kittens are clearly lovingly raised in the family home and are very familiar with the normal household sights and sounds. We really cannot recommend Ria enough to anyone looking for a kitten and promise you will not be disappointed.”
Will and Sharron, Tring. August 2020
"Taco settled in almost immediately and we cannot thank Ria enough for allowing her to join us she is such a little character and a proper princess who is the perfect little addition to our family.
A close friend has a BSH and we fell in love with the breed immediately so finding a professional and reputable breeder was of the upmost importance to us and it didn’t take long for us to decide that we wanted a kitten from Ria.
Once we had contacted Ria to be placed on a waiting list for a BSH Blue girl we eagerly awaiting any litter updates on Instagram or just admiring photos of her cats and their kittens, then we received a very exciting phone call that we were able to take one of her kittens.
We were instantly in love with Taco and we cannot speak highly enough of not only the care and effort that is clearly put into her kittens but also the care and attention that was afforded to us to be a part of Tacos first few weeks with the constant updates and videos of her progress. Thanks again for such a beautiful loving addition to our family."
James & Nicola, Northumberland. August 2020
(Returned for a second kitten 2022)
"We are incredibly fortunate to own not one but two adorable kittens - one girl and one boy- from Ria. We were first drawn to Ria by her fantastic website full of gorgeous looking cats and containing all the information you could ever want to know about BSH kittens and optimum recommendations!
After establishing contact with Ria we were swiftly convinced that the quality of the website was no accident and that she was unequivocally the breeder for us. Ria patiently answered all the questions we had and gave us lots of tips and guidance.
She kept us updated with news of pregnancies and when Misty Avalon was born she provided us with photos and videos on a weekly basis so that we could see her develop. She is a beautiful and charming kitten, thoroughly socialised, and amazingly well trained. We haven’t had a single ‘incident’ since she joined us, which is simply remarkable and a huge testament to Ria and her wonderful cats. Avalon used her litter tray from the word go. She has a special personality and hearing her purr when she is playing really is a magical experience.
Our little boy Arthur Pendragon joined us several weeks later and he too is an absolute delight in every respect, and so affectionate. We are thrilled with both of them. Ria’s after care has been exceptional as well as she has answered all the questions we have had about introducing the kittens to our puppy, spaying, feeding... We feel so fortunate to have met Ria and can also rest assured that she is there as a willing font of knowledge if we need to tap it. We would unreservedly recommend her to anyone considering bringing a BSH into their lives."
Maryam Moshiri (BBC News Presenter), London. December 2020
"We would like to thank Ria for making our first kitten experience a wonderful one. We loved the kitten updates in the run up to collection (highlight of the week in lockdown!) and little Ember has been an absolute pleasure. She was so well trained she never made any mess, and despite our expectations of the slightly reserved BSH breed, she is actually a big softie and a lap cat, which is testament to Ria's expertise. We would highly recommend contacting Ria for beautiful kittens with wonderful personalities."
Keri & Matt, Manchester. December 2020
"We have had our beautiful Tri - colour kitten Gigi for 3 weeks now. Gigi settled into our family home straight away, she used her litter tray, loves her food, she’s so loving and affectionate, playful and funny and she sleeps all night! Gigi loves our kids and plays for hours with her toys and loves to sleep on top of anyone that sits down!!!
Ria has done such a fantastic job with all her litters, from the very first contact with Ria she has been so professional, we had regular updates and Ria makes sure her kittens go to the best, loving, secure forever homes! We had videos and pictures of Gigi and beautiful mummy Aphrodite and her brothers and sisters, great advice on what we needed to prepare for Gigi’s arrival and on the day we collected her, a lovely personalised bag, with a beautiful blanket from Gigi’s mum and folder with all her vaccination and health information as well as feeding advice and her breeding history. We also received a fantastic complimentary welcome box from royal canine , containing Gigi’s food, and a blanket and discount voucher!!
Ria is first and foremost a cat lover and breeds the most beautiful, healthy, social kittens, she really does do all her research to make sure her kittens go to only the best loving homes.
We are so grateful that we were chosen for Gigi, she’s loved and adored by all our family and is truly the queen of our home!!!
Our only regret is that we didn’t take two kittens, but we are now hoping to be privileged enough to bring home another of Ria’s kittens later in the year!!!
Thanks so much to Ria again !!!"
Natalie M, Aberdeen. March 2021
"George has been with me for 3 weeks now and he is an absolute joy. From day one he has used his litter tray and he settled in so well and so quickly. All credit to Ria for raising her kittens in such a happy,
home environment, which shines through in their loving personalities. The weekly updates Ria sends are brilliant and she captured the characters of the kittens in the videos and her messages which confirmed that George was a confident kitten and the leader of the gang - and he certainly is!
George is a typical energetic, playful kitten, exploring all the time, but also so loving. Whilst I read that BSH cats might not be lapcats, George loves nothing more than lying across me, cuddling and purring. He follows me round everywhere and even happily sleeps on my laptop when I’m working.
Thank you so much Ria"
Ben D, Liverpool. March 2021
"The whole process has been a pleasure.
I initially found ria through the Facebook group and the well maintained page.
Ria has been fantastic from the onset, easy of communication and supporting to get the cats ready and to my new home.
The cats are clearly from a loving home, as this has show with the confidence of the cats and temperament in their new surroundings.
I took both a boy and girl from the litter, which was a wise choice as they can't be separate s for more than one minute being best friends...
They have fully settled in now and have become a proud part of my house. I can't thank ria enough for everything."
Jon P, Stockport. April 2021
"Our beautiful new addition to the family, Billy.. he is everyone’s favourite!
So, so glad we went with Ria. He is an absolute credit to the breeding and raising. From the minute we were lucky to be selected we have had updates and on hand advice. He came from pure love -it shows. A huge thank you to Ria and the family.
Our first ever pet and he is just amazing."
Iram S, Birmingham. April 2021
"We were fortunate to find Ria through her excellent and informative website, which was only enhanced by the high regard she is held in by previous customers.
We could not believe our luck when we were chosen to receive one of her kittens, Teddy–Campbell.
Ria’s regular videos and pictures reassured us that we had done the right thing. We looked forward to her weekly updates and were able to watch Teddy flourish and grow.
Ria’s confidence and knowledge really does make the process owning one of her kittens simple and straight forward, which for us, only heightened the eagerness and excitement when it came to collect Teddy.
During the many conversations we had with Ria, we expressed an interest in having a ‘buddy’ for Teddy, and were delighted to be offered the opportunity of owning a British Long-haired girl Freddie-Campbell!
Teddy and Freddie are now inseparable.
Ria, your cats are a massive credit to you, and like everyone else on this page, thank you for breeding and rearing such wonderful cats."
Craig & Eileen W, Essex. May 2021
"It’s hard to find the right words to express my gratitude to Ria, Bear and his gorgeous harem! You only have to view the photos on their website to appreciate that they breed the most gorgeous looking kittens… it’s their nature though that makes them really special. Full credit to the Hilfi family for welcoming the kittens into a perfect world of love, family and socialization. My handsome Neko is more than I could have dreamed of… litter trained, a fabulous eater, gentle, fun, cheeky, curious, such a good boy, generous with cuddles and very much my little shadow. He spends nights on my bed, days in my office and loves to play! He’s only been with me for two weeks and he’s in his element, clearly the king of his new domain. Every single kitten born into the Hilfi family is one of Ria’s babies for life. She puts so much energy into making sure they go to great homes and that their human’s are well prepared. She’s always available for questions and her babies come with a welcome pack to set them up for a comfortable transition, including a rug scented with their mum! In Neko’s case, she went above and beyond in terms of recommending a fabulous pet courier to deliver Neko to his new home on the other side of the UK. Ria matches her babies with the right humans. She’s nailed it with Neko and I… we look forward to a lifetime of fun together!!! THANK YOU Ria… what an amazing individual you are! xxx Sarah"
Sarah T, Devon. Sept 2021
"We spent a lot of time researching BSH breeders and came across Ria on the GCCF website. Having looked at her professional website and gorgeous cats (with lovely chonky round faces and plush coats) we knew that Ria was the breeder for us!
Taco was born on 1st April 2021. In keeping with April Fool’s day, he was the only kitten of the lovely Luna! Ria provided weekly updates, photos and videos of Taco until he was ready to collect. Ria’s website proved invaluable in terms of information and product recommendations for our new arrival - the days until collection couldn’t countdown quick enough!
Taco was very independent from day one. Within hours of being home he’d eaten, done a lot of playing and explored every corner of his new home. His mischievous and curious character won us over from the moment we met him along with his love of tummy tickles and cuddles in bed. He is very confident and quickly goes to investigate/sniff any new person who comes to visit his home - his temperament is second to none."
Lydia and Andrew, London. Sept 2021
(Returned for a second kitten 2022)
"We just need to express how much we appreciate all the hard work you have put into breeding the most wonderful kittens. We collected our little Tilly from you earlier in September and every moment has been a pleasure, she is lively, loving and so entertaining and in all honesty quite vocal at feed times. She is everything and more of what we could have expected we are so happy, Tilly joined us and our 10 year old Norwegian Forest Timmy, feeling somewhat anxious but in all honesty because your kittens are so well cared for they seem to even be able to settle in socially with much older cats.
Thank you so very much we love Tilly as we do Timmy, you have made it so easy the transfer from her first and very important family home to our home which is very much Tilly’s now.
Your hard work and dedication really shows in the precious bundle of happiness we call Tilly.
Sending you and all your kitties hugs!"
Andrea H, September 2021
"I had some reservations of getting a new cat during COVID, I had worries of not meeting my kitten coupled with the uncertainty of having the extra care of a long haired girl (previously having mainly short haired male cats). However all my reservations were completely unfounded, I am unable to express the joy of Pepper my new long hair blue, she is the most gorgeous and affectionate little creature I’ve ever met. Definitely proves that perfection in breeding is definitely on point with Ria Hilfi.
Ria, I promise I will never doubt you again. Thank you once again for my new fur baby, she has been a light in my life, she is adorable."
Becky P, Buckingham. Sept 2021
"I am overwhelmed with love, joy and happiness to have Luna as part of my family and I cannot thank you enough for choosing me to be her new mummy. She is just gorgeous.
It has been three months since I brought her home to Scotland and she is the most loving, adorable girl with the most amazing temperament, which is all down to you and the care and dedication you have given her and all your precious babies.
From the moment I contacted you, after researching for a top quality breeder, I knew from your professionalism and consistent, warm communications that I was on to a winner. Your passion and dedication just shines through, a massive thank you for everything, right down to the little details such as her scented comfort blanket.
You have been so supportive and caring throughout the whole process of rehoming your special girl and I feel so privileged and grateful that you chose me to be her second mum.
Luna is such a beautiful and affectionate little girl with a fabulous personality and once again I cannot THANK YOU enough Ria xx"
Sharon C, Edinburgh. Sept 2021
"We spent a lot of time researching registered breeders after losing our very loved blue BSH boy and were immediately drawn to Ria with her very informative website which is beyond amazing!
From the moment we contacted Ria we knew instantly that we’d love to be lucky enough to bring home one of her loved kittens. We had a pre agreement call to ensure we were the right family to have one of Rias kittens, we had updates throughout and then finally collected our beautiful Pixie at the end of August. We received a full information pack, a scented blanket to ensure pixie was settled, a welcome box and much more! Rias website is fantastic and full of great information for making sure you have everything and know everything you need to know and Ria is always a message away!
Pixie, what can we say! From the minute she arrived home she has filled us with pure joy and our hearts are full! We certainly know she’s here! She’s curious, cheeky, playful and the most loving kitten ever gaining more and more confidence daily! A real credit to the fantastic start in life Ria gives her baby’s!
We can’t express enough our gratitude to you, thank you! Xxx"
Nikole H-P, Great Wyrley. Sept 2021
"We’ve had Misho for a week, and we are in heaven! Thank you so much Ria.
I’ve had my heart set on a British Blue for years, and, this being our first cat, finding the right breeder and bringing home a happy kitten that has been given the best start in life was crucial. After months of researching, I found Ria’s website, and her obvious professionalism, expert knowledge and dedication, the testimonials from many happy clients, aswell as the images of her stunning cats and kittens, especially Bear, marked her out from others. Then I spoke with her – and knew we’d found the right breeder. Even though she was several hours away from me in Edinburgh, and there was a bit of a wait (her kittens are understandably in high demand!) – it was well worth it! Misho is a little angel and we couldn’t be happier.
Contact with Ria was excellent from the start; she was very generous with her advice throughout the process and continues to be a support. It clearly matters to her that her kittens are continuing to be happy and doing well. When we went to meet and choose Misho, we could see how much the cats – all of them stunning and friendly - are part of the family and lavished with the highest level of care. We were struck at how even at a very young age, the kittens were very well socialised, and very comfortable with humans. Ria let us spend as much time as we needed with him and the other cats before deciding. After reserving him, Ria was amazing at sending photos and videos regularly, so we could see him grow. When we collected him at 13weeks, she had everything prepared, including all the paperwork, 4 weeks pet insurance, subscription for cat food, and a blanket scented for his long journey back home – and all her recommendations on her website have been invaluable. This has all made the process smooth and enjoyable.
We can’t believe how quickly Misho has settled, how well adjusted he already is and comfortable with his new home. He’s is amazingly well-behaved – perfect use of litter tray, no scratching of things he shouldn’t, excellent appetite. He has such a gentle, even and calm temperament, always purring, and very affectionate. He loves human presence, and trots after me from room to room, always stationing himself as close by as possible.
I’m so pleased we choose Ria, and the whole experience has been really special. If ever I decide on a second cat, she was definitely be my first choice. Her cats are as beautiful in temperament as they are in appearance. I unreservedly recommend her to anyone looking for a perfect British Blue!
Ria, I really can’t thank you enough! X"
Kamini V, Edinburgh. June 2022
"A New Page to Our Family after having a little British Longhair Home. This little kitten was so calm and bold, that she came to the top level of the cat tree to observe us through her big bright eyes when we came to Ria’s home to collect Bubblegum.
After traveling back home 200 miles down south, we accommodated her at the entrance hall between the glass doors so that she could be seen while at the same time not get overwhelmed after leaving her lovely siblings. She was the first pet in our home, as luck would have it, the kitten has settled in perfectly.
Of course without mentioning Ria’s expert advice, it would not be complete without much difficulties to prepare to receive Bubblegum home. Ria was so kind enough to provide us with all the details and valuable information for welcoming a new member of our family.
Bubblegum was very well trained in daily routine in her early days with Ria including toileting, eating, drinking water and self-discipline. To better help bubblegum get used to her new home, we had tried to prepare nearly the same setting, toys, food and facilities as Ria’s. Ria, thank you very much for that!
Bubblegum seemed to be adapting very well after the first day of arrival, when she hid herself in between a dresser and the wall. Which is completely understandable. After three days playing and enjoying her new life there in her little realm, she was introduced to the living areas of our home. The sofas, chairs and dining tables seemed to be the new playground for her. To this little kitten, it was a big new world waiting to be explored. She has never looked timid and shy ever since.
We are very grateful to have this new life page with Bubblegum. We plan to have another blue shorthair to join our family in the near future. We are looking forward to paying another visit to Ria very soon."
Lorraine and Simon, the Chak family, Surrey, June 2022
"Since becoming a cat owner over 35 years ago, I have always dreamt of owning a British Shorthair. After sadly losing our cat Bugsy, the search began for a companion for our remaining cat Poppy. I did a lot of research on breeders throughout the UK and kept being drawn back to Ria. Her website is brilliant, I could see that she regularly posted on her social media pages with photos and videos of the litters and the testimonials were all very positive. I first submitted an enquiry on her website and Ria was quick to respond and was very keen to add me to her waiting list. She was very professional and welcoming in all of her messages. Sadly, I wasn't successful in getting a kitten on our first attempt, however, Tiana had a litter shortly after and we we lucky enough to get one of her little boys, Teddy Ray. After successfully reserving Teddy, Ria mentioned to us that Tiana was being retired and also looking for her forever home. How could we leave Mummy behind?! Ria kindly welcomed us into her home and we were very impressed with the whole set up. All of the cats are brought up in a loving family environment. Whilst waiting for them to join us, we sadly lost our cat Poppy, so after this, we knew we had made the right decision having them both. Teddy and Tiana have been home with us for a week now, they both have lovely temperaments and have settled in so well. We can't thank Ria enough for pairing us with our beautiful fur babies. Ria, you are doing an amazing job, keep it up and we have made a friend for life! Love
Jackie, Mick, Tiana and Teddy, Leicester. July 2022
"Sapphire is an absolute treasure, she is happy and healthy and very confident. All this has made it a seamless transition for her to be accepted by our other 2 cats; Phoebe a 13 year old girl and Sebastian a 7 month old boy.
Thank you Ria (and family) you have raised a very special little lady, who even recognised her own name when we brought her home xx"
Elaine W, Staffordshire. September 2022
"We’re so unbelievably lucky to have had Judith come into our lives. It’s only been a short time, but we can’t imagine our home without her. She’s so affectionate, gentle and playful, and of course beautiful. She loves company – following us around, joining work calls (!), sleeping quietly next to us as we watch telly, and jumping around with her toys. The perfect purry, furry companion.
Thanks to Ria, Judith is completely litter trained with a healthy appetite and a wonderful personality. We don’t know how you do it, Ria, but clearly the love and attention you give your fur babies makes all the difference.
We’re so grateful to Ria for making the whole process of adoption easy and comforting. When we spotted the website we knew this was a breeder above all the others we had come across in our research. This feeling was multiplied by the opportunities to talk on the phone and the numerous texts and updates she gave once Judith was confirmed to be ours. We’re first-time adopters, so had millions of questions, but Ria’s documentation, blogs and resources, along with her calm demeanour put us at ease.
Thank you Ria for helping turn our house into a home."
Andrew and Alexander, Hackney. September 2022
"We can't quite put into words how grateful we are to Ria and for making Keith the cat he is today! He fits right into our home and we couldn't imagine life without him.
Ria is constantly available for support, and as first time cat parents, this has been a true help. Whether it's a silly question or not, Ria is there for you.
Keith is so friendly and loves being around people. When friends and family have come to visit, he takes their presence in his stride and quickly becomes the centre of attention. His hobbies include eating, playing football with his favourite ping pong ball and pretending to be a monkey, swinging from his cat tree! His personality is just purrfect!"
Matthew and Sophie, Leeds. September 2022
"Having had Blue BSH’s for over 30 years, life without one was never an option when my beautiful boy, Alf, suddenly passed and so my search began.
From first contact with Ria everything felt right and I knew I was going to adopt one of her furbabies, no matter how long the wait. The Hilfi’s and their fur family live as one, so it’s no surprise Teddiee has settled almost immediately into his new home. He is an absolute joy, very curious, very cheeky and very very cute.
The whole experience with Ria was a total pleasure and the icing on the cake, apart from Teddiee who we absolutely adore, is Ria’s lifetime aftercare and support - having that commitment, wealth of knowledge and experience from your breeder is so reassuring and utterly priceless.
So it goes without saying, I HIGHLY recommend RiaHilfi….. look no further :-)
THANK YOU, Ria."
Jo R, Wiltshire. September 2022
"Thank you so much Ria for our beautiful boy Bowie!
When our two lovely moggies passed (at 18 and 20 yrs old) I knew that I wanted to pursue my lifelong dream of welcoming a blue BSH into our family.
It was really important to us that we found the right reputable breeder, where kittens are well socialised and raised as part of the family in a loving home environment. I spent months researching breeders up and down the country, and was always drawn back by the amazing level of professionalism and detail on the RiaHilfi website which instantly stood out from the others I’d looked at - such stunning BSH’s with excellent pedigrees, lots of impressive testimonials, a wealth of knowledge and helpful information and life time support - everything you could possibly need to know in preparation for your new arrival! Even though we live some 4.5 hours away we knew straight away that if we were lucky enough to adopt a kitten it had to be one of Ria’s and it would be worth the wait!
Well it certainly was! After joining the waiting list and watching Ria’s litter updates over the months and seeing just how happy she had made so many other families; beautiful Tiana (one of my favs - such stunning eyes and super affectionate) had her litter and we fell in love with little Bowie from the start. When we later found out that he was under show/breeding observation we made the decision to hold off on the reservations and asked if we could possibly be considered for Bowie if he ever became available as we had totally fallen for him. You can imagine our excited and pure joy when Ria contacted us to say he was available several weeks later (I still pinch myself every day!).
He settled in with us so quickly, he’s such a little character with an amazing temperament - super affectionate to the point where he’s always by my side, litter trained from day 1, great appetite, and is amazing with our children (he even plays fetch - what a cool kitty!). He really is everything we wanted in a blue BSH and that’s all thanks to the love, care and total dedication Ria puts into raising her fur babies.
Ria we really can’t thank you enough! We adore him and would 100 percent come back to you for a little brother or sister for Bowie in the future. I will enjoy keeping you updated with more photos as he grows! Xx"
Cara D, Surrey. October 2022
"We have had our beautiful blue boy Murphy for just over a week now and he is everything we could have wished for. He is beautiful, with a lovely nature, used his litter tray and scratching post with no problems at all. He is very loving and laid back, such a great temperament and a pleasure to be around. He has really come out of his shell the past few days, showing his great character, I cannot believe he has settled in as quickly as he has, he is just so content, which amazed me with him being so young, all in all he is perfect (did I mention beautiful too).
The whole experience buying a kitten from Ria has been a great experience from start to finish, she really cares for all her cats and that's evident with everything she does, from any advice you need, to her sending photos and videos of your chosen kitten.
Thank you Ria x"
Brent & Kay D, Penrith. August 2023
"We have now had our new baby girl Bella for nearly two weeks & what an absolute joy she is. She is a very happy & healthy girl who has settled into our home so quickly that we cannot imagine life without her. She has obviously been given lots of time and attention before joining us, as she just loves a knee and a cuddle and all credit must go to Ria for this.
We were very impressed by Ria’s website. It is so professional and informative and hoped this would be a reflection of Ria and the care she gives to her mums, dads and babies. How right we were! The blogs and recommendations provide so many great tips and anything you still need to know, you only have to ask! A lovely touch with the information pack on collection was the scented blanket.
Thank you so much Ria for trusting us with one of your babies, I can’t recommend you highly enough!”
Liz & Stuart T, Grimsby. August 2023
"Winston has been with us for less than a week and has already settled in amazingly. He is eating, drinking, using his litter tray (not a single accident, *yet*) and is totally fine with the sounds of our home. I have absolutely no doubt that this is due to the fantastic start to life that Ria (and Aviva) gave him. I cannot recommend Ria as a breeder highly enough. From our first enquiry to the minute I’m writing this now, she has been absolutely fantastic. We were immediately struck by the professionalism of her website, which is far and away above that of any of the other breeders we looked at. She responded to our request to be added to the waiting list quickly and we were informed of all upcoming litters. Unfortunately we weren’t in a position to apply to take one of Bella’s litter, but Ria continued to answer any and all of our multiple questions about getting ready for the next opportunity. When we found out Aviva was pregnant, we knew we had to try for one of her kittens. Again, Ria was incredibly helpful in informing us of the process. When we received the call to say we were in the consideration for one of the litter, we could not have been more ecstatic. However, it was very clear that a kitten would not go to any old home, and only the best would do for Ria’s babies. This instilled even more confidence in us that she would be doing the best for our eventual new family member. We received regular updates on the litter and, when the time came, visited Ria’s home to pick out our boy. The environment the kittens are raised in was another reassurance. They are clearly loved like one of the family, provided with the best start for life and trained impeccably. Alongside her fantastic FAQs and recommendations pages, Ria continued to respond to queries about products to consider buying, considerations for vets, even helping to find a new supplier of food when the usual place ran out. The kitten packs provided in advance and on collection day were so unbelievably helpful and answered any remaining queries. By the time we were able to pick Winston up, we felt totally prepared to welcome him into our home. He is the most beautiful kitten, has an amazing temperament and is the perfect addition to our family. Thank you Ria (and Aviva and Caesar)"
Kieran L, Durham. October 2023
"After years of moving and shifting we finally found ourselves in a postion to get a kitten. It was something that we always wanted to do but the time was never right. So, when the circumstances finally aligned we were keen to run through someone with true passion and professionalism. Ria is passionate, professional and more. The care and love for the kittens was clear from the start and we were really impressed with the high bars set to ensure her furbabies were well taken care of. Captain Monroe has been an absolute joy - his loving nature and character since we brought him home has been incredible. Ria has been supportive throughout the whole cycle - from preparation, handover to post-handover, just fantastic. Thank you, Ria!”
Edward & Janine, T. Stevenage. October 2023