Come on In
Every handmade toy, every sparkling collar, and every parcel that leaves Pritti Kitti Boutique has first been approved by the most important members of our household... the cats.
Each has their own wonderfully unique personality. Some are outgoing, some are thoughtful, some are always looking for a cuddle, while others believe supervising from a comfortable distance is the proper way to manage the workshop.
They are more than product testers. They are my daily companions, my inspiration, and the reason Pritti Kitti Boutique exists.
So before you explore the collections, I'd love to introduce you to the little family behind them.
Welcome... come and meet everyone.
Sweetie - The Gentle Soul
At fourteen years young, Sweetie has earned the title of matriarch of the household.
She isn't interested in noisy toys or frantic games. In fact, bells receive a very definite look of disapproval! Sweetie prefers a slower approach. A gentle feather drifting past, a quiet rustle, or a soft rabbit fur toy is far more likely to capture her attention.
When the right toy comes along, though, something magical happens.
For a few precious minutes, my dignified matriarch forgets she's fourteen and becomes a kitten all over again.
Sweetie is much the same with people. She doesn't rush over to greet every visitor, nor does she hide away. Instead, she quietly watches from a comfortable distance, deciding whether you're worthy of her trust. Once you've passed her careful inspection, you'll be rewarded with the sweetest cuddles imaginable.
I have long believed that cats are wonderful judges of character... and Sweetie has rarely proved me wrong.
Dobbie
Every household has someone quietly keeping order, and in ours, that's Dobbie.
He's the gentle leader of the cats. He rarely needs to make a fuss, but if one of the others steps out of line, particularly if Rosie is pestering poor Sweetie, Dobbie is quick to remind everyone who's in charge. Once peace has been restored, he returns to supervising from a respectful distance.
Like many cats, Dobbie isn't the sort to march up and demand pats from visitors. He'll usually retreat just far enough away to keep a careful eye on everything that's happening.
But bring out a toy...
Suddenly you've made a lifelong friend.
Dobbie adores playtime and takes his toy testing duties very seriously. If he approves of a new design, I know I'm onto a winner.
He also has another important role at Pritti Kitti Boutique...
He's my chief collar model.
Whenever he receives a new collar, he proudly trots straight over to Iain, patiently waiting for his opinion before beginning his modelling duties. It's become one of our favourite little traditions.
The only slight problem?
Dobbie absolutely loves having his photograph taken...
...but he has an extraordinary talent for pulling the most wonderfully dorky expressions at exactly the wrong moment.
Fortunately, that's part of his charm.
Social Butterfly
Although Rosie is the newest member of the Pritti Kitti family, she's been keeping us entertained for over eight years.
If you're looking for Rosie, there's a good chance you'll find her asleep amongst a pile of colourful feathers in my studio. It happened quite by accident one day while I was tidying up. I placed a heap of feathers on her favourite spot and, before I knew it, she'd climbed aboard and drifted off to sleep. Since then, feathers have become part of Rosie's bed... and she seems perfectly happy with the arrangement.
Rosie adores people. If you've come to visit, she'll almost certainly be the first to greet you, happily accepting pats and making sure you feel welcome.
But visitors aren't her only responsibility...
Rosie is my official toy tester.
She watches every new creation come together in the studio, patiently waiting for the moment I finally put my tools down and declare it ready for inspection. She knows that sooner or later she'll be the first cat to give it a proper workout.
If a toy can survive Rosie's enthusiasm, it's ready to meet the rest of the world.