10/08/2026
It’s with great sadness that I post this:
Linda Joyce Ahrens
August 14, 1951 – October 2, 2026
Linda Joyce Ahrens, 75, of Turlock, California, passed away on October 2, 2026, during surgery. She leaves behind her family and a lasting legacy in the cat fancy, where she devoted more than three decades to breeding, showing, and promoting Siamese and Oriental Shorthairs.
Linda’s love of cats began at a young age and grew into a lifelong passion. In 1992, she entered the world of cat breeding and showing, beginning with Siamese and later focusing on Oriental Shorthairs. She held a special affection for ebony and white Orientals, admiring their beauty, intelligence, and distinctive personalities.
Through her cattery, Kat Attack, Linda was committed to producing healthy, affectionate, well-socialized cats. She intentionally maintained a small breeding program so that her cats could live in her home and receive the individual attention and care she believed they deserved. To Linda, the companionship her cats provided and the joy they brought to their families were every bit as important as their accomplishments in the show ring.
Linda shared the Kat Attack cattery name and breeding program with her longtime friend, Heather Copple. Together, they went on to produce several Cat Fanciers’ Association National Winners, creating a lasting legacy in the world of pedigreed cats. Among their most celebrated cats was Cookie Cutter, a white Oriental Shorthair who was named CFA’s 2024–2025 COTY (Cat of the Year), in addition to earning five other national wins and countless regional wins.
Although Linda once considered becoming a cat show judge, she ultimately realized that her heart was in breeding. She chose instead to focus her energy on producing quality cats and supporting the cat fancy in other ways. She also contributed to local shows as an entry clerk. After retiring from accounting and logistics, Linda continued to make her cats an important part of her life.
Linda is survived by her son, Shane Ballard; her two grandchildren; her sisters, Joy O’Neil, Geraldine Ahrens, and Laura Carpenter; and her brother, Dale Wester. She was preceded in death by her son, Shawn Ballard.
Linda’s legacy lives on through the cats she bred, the Kat Attack program she helped build, and the many people whose lives were enriched by her cats. What began as a young girl’s love of cats grew into a lifetime of dedication, friendship, and devotion to the animals she cherished. Through the cats she bred and the people she touched, Linda’s passion and memory will continue to live on.
The family will honor Linda with a private celebration of life.
