Chicagoland & Illinois Abyssinian Cat Breeders?

[anamnesis]

While I suppose this might also be relevant to the Chicago section of the board, I think it falls more in the realm of GQ topics. I'm going a bit out on a limb with this request for info because it is a rather targeted inquiry, but I know the board is home to a wealth of cat lovers and I thought I might tap into the breadth of knowledge here. I am looking for breeders and/or adoption centers specializing in the Abyssinian breed. I live in Chicago and have been doing some research on where to find breeders or other reputable sources to adopt kittens of this breed from. Several sources have pointed me to a source local to the greater Chicago area called El Qahira, a breeder who has been in the business for 40 years. My attempts to contact her, however, have not yielded a response, and I have had a hard time finding any solid leads on places to get an Aby in or around Chicago. Anywhere else in Illinois, for that matter.

Anyone knowledgeable with this sort of thing? Any tips on places I could inquire at to get some references or referrals? Maybe even some kind of intermediary agency or headhunter type that actively seeks out breeders to match them up with customers?