About Desert Oasis Cat Club
Desert Oasis Cat Club is a chartered cat fancy of The International Cat Association (TICA), established in 2024. We are located in the Mid Pacific Region and based in the great State of Utah. Our club is non-profit organization that is dedicated to promoting the welfare, education, and understanding of all domestic felines. Our club provides a supportive community for cat enthusiasts, offering various events, educational programs, and resources. We aim to celebrate the unique bond between cats and their human companions, making a difference in the lives of cats and cat lovers alike.
Tabitha Gitthens
President
Tabitha has had a love for cats since childhood and developed a particular passion for Bengal cats in 2014. Drawn to their wild, exotic appearance, soft fur, and playful, affectionate personalities, she decided to start her own Bengal cattery. She is deeply committed to health testing, genetic diversity, and proper socialization.
She began showing her cats just before the pandemic hit, but as we all know, everything came to a halt. After COVID, she returned to the show scene with her cats, quickly growing to love the atmosphere, the new friendships, and the success her Bengals were achieving in the ring. With limited show opportunities within an 8-hour radius, she began to wonder what it would be like to start her own club. With the support of fellow Utah breeders and her Mid Pacific Regional Director, Susanna Shon, her dream soon became a reality.
Tabitha is deeply committed to HCM (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy) testing in breeds that may carry the gene for the condition. To support breeders in producing the healthiest cats, she organizes HCM Clinics in Utah, partnering with a Board-Certified Veterinary Cardiologist. She also serves as the President of the Desert Oasis Cat Club.
Kylee Waters
Vice President
Kylee is a Maine Coon breeder since 2023. Her focus is to produce lower Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI) and she has a love for polydactyls.
Kylee started showing in 2024 and has quickly fallen in love with it. She enjoys seeing the Maine Coons and all of the other breeds, while also befriending lots of other breeders.
She currently serves as the Vice President of Desert Oasis Cat Club.
Monique Peden
Secretary
Monique has been breeding Bengal cats since 2012. She strives for typey cats with friendly temperaments in silver and snow. She is a strong advocate in HCM screening, especially in breeder cats, and health testing every cat that comes in goes out of her cattery.
Monique has been competitively showing her cats since 2019 and enjoys networking and the friendships gained from competing in the show hall.
Monique currently serves as the TICA Mid Pacific Region Show Reporter, The International Bengal Cat Society (TIBCS) Reporting Treasurer, and the Desert Oasis Cat Club Secretary.
Melanie "Hazel" Pace
Treasurer
Hazel has always had a passion for biological science and animal husbandry. She has been dedicated to raising multiple species of exotic parrots, immersing herself in their care and behavior. In college, Hazel pursued a career as a trauma surgeon, gaining hands-on experience in the healthcare field. Over time, she realized that her true calling lay with animals. Hazel earned a dual bachelor’s degree in biology and microbiology, utilizing her education to refine her understanding of animal care. She is considering furthering her education in becoming a veterinarian, which will allow her to deepen her expertise and make an even greater impact in animal health.
Hazel and her fiancé, Dallas, discovered a mouse problem shortly after moving into their home. Given her lifelong love for animals, Hazel knew the solution had to involve the most captivating cat breed she could find to remedy the situation. Months of research led her to the Maine Coon, which led to the founding of her cattery in 2023. Her breeding program is built on a foundation of scientific research and ethical breeding practices, ensuring the health, preservation, and excellence of this extraordinary breed. Hazel started showing in 2024.
Hazel currently serves as the Treasurer for Desert Oasis Cat Club.
Michelle Anderson
Counselor
Michelle’s love for cats blossomed in childhood. Growing up on a farm, her family kept a few barn cats as mousers. When the female cats had kittens, Michelle would help vaccinate them and find them loving homes. If something happened to a mother cat, Michelle was quick to act, reaching out to neighbors to locate a nursing queen to care for the kittens. Little did she know that these early experiences would lay the foundation for her own cattery and journey as a breeder.
Since establishing her cattery in 2020, Michelle has specialized in the Sphynx breed, helping countless individuals find the perfect companion, often as emotional support animals. This work holds deep meaning for Michelle, especially after the loss of her middle son to suicide. Supporting others through emotional support pets has become her passion.
Although Michelle has not shown her cats before, she is excited to take this step by joining the Desert Oasis Cat Club and plans to make her show debut in 2025.