Kittycat online magazine
Breed Profile
Sphynx
New Breed
The Lykoi Feline Heart
Disease
Cat Show
Therapy
Stories
Cats
May|June 2014
www.kittycat.co.za
Contents Message from the Editor 1 Contributors 2 Breed Profile The Sphynx 3 Living with Sphynx Cats 17 Articles Heart Disease in the Cat 15 HCM and Testing 17 Advice for Breeders 19 When our Hearts Break 23 Cat CPR 29 Therapy Cats 30
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News Meet the Lykoi 36 You’ve Got Talent Brittney Gobble 41 Cynthia Poel-Barker 43 Jenny Ras 46 Reynel Kruger 47
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Special Needs Cats 49 Book Review 50 How I met my Cat 51 how Biz S Show Calendar 53 Cat Show Stories 55 Cat Show Results 63 Kittycat of the Month 65 Happy Endings 66 Rescue and Shelters 71 Breeder and Pet Services Directory 72
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Message from
Message from The Editor
Pic of Jenni Ferreira
Welcome to the third issue of Kittycat Magazine. Issue 3 features the Sphynx, the gorgeous naked cats with the smooth peach-like skin. Our medical features this month are on Feline Heart Disease and HCM. Sphynx cats are known to have a couple of heart conditions that very likely have a hereditary or genetic basis. The most common heart disease in all cats, including Sphynx is called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy or HCM.
HCM is diagnosed using echocardiography(ultra sound of the heart). There are a number of vets/practices that can perform an echocardiogram. Owners should speak to their vets about it and ask for a referral if need be. We introduce you to the Lykoi, a new breed of cat. There are only 8 Lykoi in the world. The first Lykoi arrived in South Africa in March and kittens should be available in 2 to 3 years time. We feature four very talented artists, some stories about showing cats and once again share some happy ending rescue stories and tributes from proud owners about their special cats. Don’t forget to enter your cat in our Kittycat of the Month competition. Please send through your comments and suggestions. Enjoy this issue and I look forward to seeing you all again in July.
Jenni
www.facebook.com/Kittycatmagazine
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Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
BBM 7C74BBF3 LAYOUT AND DESIGN Jenni Ferreira WEBSITE Jenni Ferreira Retha Scholtz CONTRIBUTORS Dr Remo Lobetti Dr Johnny Gobble Brittney Gobble Carlee Marrer-Tising Suzette van den Berg Patsy Smyth Patti Thomas PHOTOGRAPHY Brittney Gobble Jenni Ferreira Theresa Fouche ADVERTISING kittycat.advertising@gmail.com kittycat.classifieds@gmail.com
P O Box 1220 Randburg 2125 South Africa Email: kittycatsa@gmail.com Fax: 086 428 5044 www.kittycat.co.za Balinese Lilac Tortie Point Photo by Jenni Ferreira
The Cover Cat
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Jenni Ferreira kittycat.editor@gmail.com
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Meet
Our cover cat this month is Disal Luke Skywalker, a Harlequin Sphynx kitten owned by Jeanette Breedt.
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
The Publisher assumes no responsibility for accuracy, safety or performance of the info or products presented. The opinions expressed in the Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Editor / Publisher or Advertisers. The Editor reserves the right to edit material submitted. All material published in Kittycat is copyrighted by Kittycat. All rights reserved. Reproduction of material is prohibited without written permission.
Message from
Contributors Dr Remo Lobetti B.V.Sc M.Med Vet (Med) Dipl ECVIM (Int Med) Specialist Physician Graduated in 1987 with a BVSc degree. He spent the next 2 years in the Veterinary section of the South African Defence Force. Then in private practice for 2 years at Orange Grove Veterinary Hospital in JHB. He joined the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of PTA, as a senior lecturer in 1992 and was promoted to associate professor in 1997. From 1997 -2000 he was Section Head of Small Animal Medicine at the Faculty. In 2001, he moved to Bryanston Veterinary Hospital as a specialist physician but is still appointed as a Professor in the Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Pretoria. Dr Lobetti owns four dogs: GSD (Yoda), Beagle (Tessa), Maltese (Tommy), cross breed (Snoopy) and 2 cats (Baloo and Sherkan).
Dr. Johnny Gobble D.V.M. Has been breeding different species of plants and animals since he was fifteen. He graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in 1996. He is a practicing veterinarian in Vonore, TN where he enjoys seeing his cat, dog and exotic clients. He lives in Sweetwater Tennessee with his wife, three kids, chickens, ducks, pheasants, snakes, his Sphynx and Lykoi cats, and one spoiled Bombay kitty.
International Cat Care (Formerly the Feline Advisory Bureau) A charity with the vision of a world where all cats, owned and unowned, are treated with care, compassion, and understanding. They work closely with the veterinary profession through their veterinary division, the International Society of Feline Medicine. All their work is reliant on donations and legacies.
Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
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Chindy’s My Heart’s Whisper | www.chindys.co.za Photo by Jenni Ferreira | www.jenniferreira.com
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Kittycat Issue 2 March/April 2014
Photo by Jenni Ferreira | www.jenniferreira.com
Chindy’s McDuffFouche Photo by Earl Theresa
Breed Profile
Sphynx
By Suzette van den Berg
Photo by Theresa Fouche
Photo by Theresa Fouche
Photo by Theresa Fouche
The Sphynx
resistance may be felt when strok-
breeds, giving the cat the appear-
ing the skin of some cats. The lack
ance of walking on “air cushions”.
In 1966 a domestic cat gave birth
of a coat makes the Sphynx quite
to a hairless kitten in Toronto,
warm to the touch. The texture of
One of the questions most asked
Canada. It was discovered to
the Sphynx skin has been likened to
is: “Don’t they get cold”. Well, of
be a natural mutation and the
a suede hot water bottle, a horse’s
course, if it is too cold for you it
Sphynx cat, came into existence.
warm muzzle or a heated chamois.
will be too cold for a hairless cat
This cat and a few other naturally
The skin is very wrinkled in kit-
to. However, these cats are smart
hairless cats have been found
tens. Adults should retain as many
enough to find a warm human,
world wide. These have magi-
wrinkles as possible, especially
dog or cat to curl up with or they
cally been produced by Mother
on the head, but should not be so
will get under your bed covers. A
Nature and are the foundation
pronounced that it affects the cat’s
house kept at a normal tempera-
for this unusual breed. Cat
normal functions.
ture is fine for a Sphynx.
breeders in Europe and North
not hypoallergenic, but most people
They can wear sweaters and can be
America have bred the Sphynx
with allergies can tolerate living
wrapped in a blanket when taken
to normal coated cats and then
with them. However, depending on
out in the winter. Even although
back to hairless for more than
the type and severity of the indi-
they are nearly hairless, the Sphynx
thirty years. The purpose of
vidual’s allergic reactions, there are
is not a low – maintenance breed.
these selective breeding was and
still people who can not live with
Because there is no hair to absorb
still are, to create a genetically
this breed. The Sphynx came in all
the natural oils in their skin, they
sound cat with a large gene pool
colours of all divisions.
require frequent bathing. This is
The Sphynx is
not a difficult task with a cat that
and hybrid vigour. This is a very This cat is of medium size and body
has been accustomed to a bath
genetic problems, with a normal
conformation with surprising weight
from kitten hood and it takes no
life-span.
for its size. The male may be up to
time at all to dry a Sphynx.
25% larger than the female. It has
Their nails and ears also get dirty
The most distinctive feature of
a well-rounded abdomen, having
very easily and has to be cleaned
the Sphynx is its appearance of
the appearance of having eaten a
at bath times.
baldness, although it is not truly
large meal, but not fat. The ears
hairless. It may be covered with
are large to very large, full at the
Sphynx cats love to be looked at.
very fine down which is almost
base tapering to a rounded tip – set
They perform silly antics for your
imperceptible to both the eye and
upright, neither low set nor on top
entertainment and are sometimes
the touch. On the ears, muzzle,
of the head. The Sphynx has oval
downright clumsy….on purpose it
tail, feet and scrotum, short, soft,
feet with long, slender toes. The
seems.
fine hair is allowed. A feeling of
paw pads are thicker than in other
Photo by Dr Mirjam Kessler
robust breed with few health or
Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
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Photo by Brittney Gobble | www.brittneygobble.com Feetje van Patser, Chocolate Point Female Balinese https://www.facebook.com/BrittneyGobblePhotography Photographer/Breeder: Swanneke Landkroon www.cattery-patses.nl www.foto-z.nl
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Photo Gobble | www.brittneygobble.com Aagje by vanBrittney Patser, Chocolate Point Female Balinese https://www.facebook.com/BrittneyGobblePhotography Photographer/Breeder: Swanneke Landkroon www.cattery-patses.nl www.foto-z.nl
Chindy’s My Heart’s Whisper Photo by Jenni Ferreira | www.jenniferreira.com
Kittycat Issue 1 January/February 2014
Photo by Brittney Gobble | www.brittneygobble.com Chindy’s My Heart’s Whisper https://www.facebook.com/BrittneyGobblePhotography Photo by Jenni Ferreira | www.jenniferreira.com Helmi Flick Cat Photography, www.helmiflick.com SGC and NW Avalon Pendragon of Noah’s Ark, Balinese b21
because of this ”look at me“ attitude and they are normally easy for judges to handle. They prefer human attention , but enjoy the company of dogs and other cats. This people-oriented breed, have a abundance of energy and mischief and are always with you, on you , over you, or showing off for you. They are also very intelligent and loyal. They enjoy riding in the car, visiting friends and hanging out with their owners. “Love Mooch” is the perfect term for these amazing cats. They are definitely not the kind of cat that you just see when it is feeding time. The Sphynx personality The Sphynx exhibit all the characteris-
bed and gives you endless kisses and
When they compete for your
hugs, they remind me of a cute, cud-
attention, peek in the pots
dly baby.
while you are cooking, open and scratch in your cupboards,
When they are first to the door to
stay under the covers till late in
greet arriving visitors and then take
the morning during the winter
over the conversation by showing off,
months, they remind me of your
playing with their toys and jumping on
typical teenager – in your face, in
the visitors’ lap and shoulders, they
your way and in bed!
remind me of two year old toddlers and their attention seeking antics.
companions, as they are exWhen they play hide and seek with
tremely intelligent, incredibly
you, give you a play-play paw-smack
lovable, inquisitive, social and
when they sprint past you down the
tolerant with children, dogs and
passage, mock ambush the dog and
other animals, playful and “hey
hop, skip and jump on the bed when
come back with my biltong!”
you are trying to make it, they remind me of a 5 year old mischievous, hyperactive child. When they are first to see what you have brought from the shops, inspect-
tics of human kids.
ing every bag by literally climbing
When the sphynx cuddles in your
- totally inquisitive (maybe there are
arms or under your jacket to sleep or
Chindy’s Nuk Nuks Photo by Jenni Ferreira | www.jenniferreira.com
demands the space next to you in your
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The Sphynx make wonderful
into it, they remind me of pre-teens munchies inside!)
www.chindys.co.za
Photo by Brittney Gobble | www.brittneygobble.com https://www.facebook.com/BrittneyGobblePhotography
They usually make great show cats
Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
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Quirks of the Sphynx
• Why won’t they leave me alone for
I love the energy they have leap-
a minute so that I can have some
ing onto a refrigerator in a single
Over the last 10 years since I started
“me” time? ....It is normal for them
bound is nothing for the Sphynx.
breeding with the Sphynx I have
to be glued to your side and follow
They play hide and seek with you,
remained in contact with many of the
you where ever you go and want
give you a play-play paw-smack
people who have purchased a kitten
to be on and all over you. What
when they sprint past you down the
from me.
more could one want in a friend and
passage, mock ambush the dog and
companion.
hop, skip and jump on the bed when you are trying to make it.
From time to time out of the blue I will get a phone call or email giving
Why I love the Sphynx They are very apt at taking over the
me an update on the hairless family member.
I just love this funny little alien cat
conversation when visitors arrive, by
with huge ears, no hair, wrinkles,
showing off and jumping on the visi-
Here are some of the FAQ’s I get
a pear-shaped body and a rat tail,
tors’ lap and shoulders.
from the owners regarding the quirky
called the Sphynx. Inside this
the inquisitiveness they show when
behaviour of this alien nation!
somewhat odd look and strange
they are first to see what you have
physical attributes, they are very
brought from the shops, inspecting
much a cat.
every bag by literally climbing into
• Is it normal for the Sphynx to eat
I just love
it.
so much!? ....Yes it is – almost double the amount of their hairy cousins
The lovely colours of the Sphynx!
I love the Sphynx, because bath
– due to heat loss that a hairy does
You literally get pink, blue and white
time does not entail a hairdryer, but
not have to deal with.
ones. The tabby markings let me
only a towel
think of the markings one sees on a • Is it normal for them to get under
dinosaur.
your attention. They will perform
your clothes the minute you undress? ....Certainly, the heat from
They have one of the best personali-
silly antics for your entertainment.
your clothes instantly generates a
ties of any of the cat breeds, in that
This ”look at me“ attitude makes
“contented” bout of purring.
they are child like, loving, patient,
them good show cats. They are also
intelligent, tolerant and social. They
very intelligent and loyal. They en-
• Is it normal for them to be un-
cuddle in your arms or under your
joy riding in the car, visiting friends
afraid of dogs? It is very common
jacket to sleep or demands the
and hanging out with their owners.
behaviour, mine walk right up to our
space next to you in your bed and
“Love Mooch” is the perfect term for
Boer bull and gives it head butts and
the way they can give you endless
these amazing cats.
kisses.
kisses and hugs. They love to be around their human friends and the
I find it an experience and a plea-
• Is normal for them to open cup-
way they are glued to your side and
sure to share my home with my
boards to inspect what is in it? ....
follow you where ever you go and
Sphynx.
Yes, mine drive me crazy sometimes
are on top of you or all over you.
as they seem to hate any closed
They get along very well with other
doors and will not rest until they
cats, dogs and even children. What
have one opened– especially cup-
more could one want in a friend and
board doors!
companion.
• My Sphynx never climbs trees or
I love the warm suede feeling of
walks on grass - is it normal? .....
the Sphynx. It is the most wonder-
Yes for sure. I believe that because
ful feeling to pet a Sphynx or to
they have no fur they are conscious
have one sleep under the covers,
of avoiding any surfaces which will
against your body on a chilly night.
scratch or itch.
It is like having your own live hotwater bottle. They love to sleep in
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I just love the way that they enjoy
• Is it normal for the Sphynx to sleep
with you on a cold winter’s morn-
under the covers cuddled in tight
ing. The warmth of their bodies is
with their human partners? .... Their
just one more mystery to add to
favourite place! A Sphynx has no re-
the other strange qualities of this
gard for its human partners comfort!
breed. Touching a Sphynx is truly an
Winter or summer.
experience.
Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
Photo by Jenni Ferreira | www.jenniferreira.com
Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
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Photo by Brittney Gobble | www.brittneygobble.com https://www.facebook.com/BrittneyGobblePhotography
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Chindy’s My Heart’s Whisper Photo by Jenni Ferreira | www.jenniferreira.com
Kittycat Issue 2 March/April 2014
Chindy’s Earl McDuff owned by Taryn Vlok Photo by Jenni Ferreira | www.jenniferreira.com
Photo by Brittney Gobble | www.brittneygobble.com https://www.facebook.com/BrittneyGobblePhotography
Kittycat Kittycat Issue 1 Issue January/February 2 March/April 2014
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Photo by Brittney Gobble | www.brittneygobble.com https://www.facebook.com/BrittneyGobblePhotography
Anjee, Balinese Seal Tortie Point Photo by Jenni Ferreira
Photo by Theresa Fouche
Photo by Jenni Ferreira | www.jenniferreira.com
What is it like to own Sphynx? Well, I saw these cats when I was very young. I have always loved animals, cats were on the top of my list, I wanted one of these bald kids for years but I could never afford one, and really did not know where to look for one, until the internet came into play. At that time I found them, my husband had passed away, and I could not get the cat of my dreams, so I looked for one close by where I lived. I found one, 2 hours from me. I went to get her and was not aware of HCM, or how it effected sphynx cats. I got her at 8 weeks, she was so tiny, and the love of our lives. She was good no problems, vet checked out ok, but at the age of 5 she had a seizure. She seemed to come out of it ok, we watched her, so she seemed fine. Things were fine until around a week later then she had another one. We rushed her to the vet this time, only to be told she was very sick. He told us to give her medication, and she would be ok. 10 mins later she could not move so we rushed her back to the vet, only to hear she was going to die. She was much worse, and I had to make a decision on what to do. I did not want her to suffer, so I had to have her put to sleep.
I found a little boy with big blue eyes, and we decided that he was the one, so we got him and brought him home. Even though he was supposed to be my daughter’s cat, I was falling in love with him. After a week I could not deny it, he had to be mine. My daughter said I could have him! Now we have this beautiful, healthy, little man, and also a sister like him, an elf. This is his picture and he is now 3 years old. I love how much they want to be around you, all the time, how very smart they are. I could never live without him now that i have had him. Prince Muffy Rodriguez ! Pamela Rodriguez
It was the worse day of my life. After that I did not want another cat like her again. I was heartbroken. Approximately a year and a half later my daughter decided she wanted a sphynx, so I looked for another one, this time alot more carefully!
Sphynxes are the clowns of the cat family and will always brighten your day and make you laugh with their funny antics. They are especially good at opening cupboard doors and like to climb onto shoulders or underneath your top if they are feeling cold. In some ways, they are a lot like dogs: they know their names and a few basic words, such as “fishpaste” and “walkies”, and will chew your spectacles if you leave them lying around.
Michelle Coates
13 Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
He has filled my life with joy, my bed with heat, and my heart with love. I have never ever been owned by a cat so wonderful before. He’s my special little man who I love too much!
It’s like having a tornado in the house on 4 legs. But
Patricia Mason
Susanne van Leeuwen (Ruthsatz)
I have 3 Sphynxies, they all have their different personalities. Frank is turning 6 this year, he loves to climb on your shoulders and walk around with you. He is a very loving boy. Norma Jean is a “fattie” she is my Nana, she waddles around the house claiming it as hers, she loves to have her neck scratched. Then there is my princess, Burlesque Isis. She has stolen my heart. This girl cannot do wrong EVER, my life would not be the same without her. Honestly I cannot imagine my life without my Sphynxies in it! Everyday is a new adventure with them. I love them with all my heart and soul.
Owning sphynx is like having a kinder garden with lots of 2 year olds. They also sulk when not getting what they want or throw a mean tantrum. It’s lots of fun and responsibility twisted together. Some are introverts and some extroverts so lots of phsycology goes goes into raising them from 4 months. They are about 4 animals in one body suit. Monkey around with every thing. Lots of following and petting like a dog. Alien in looks like a gremlin and hunters at night stalking pray like lions and tigers. Its a wonderful experience in life owning these little naked babies if you open enough to welcome one into your home.
Charnay Haarhof
no matter what kind of trouble they make ... you will always forgive them
Jeanette Breedt
Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
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I have owned “regular” cats for years. I have been subjected to their special kind of stand-offish, almost autistic love and affection that they provide, then I met the sphynx. My love of the Sphynx started with Englebert Batfink Wrinklevag III. I had heard about the puppy-like nature of Sphynxes and had done plenty of research, but nothing prepared me for just how much he would change my life. The first night Engie slept with his little chin inside my shoulder, I was smitten. I now have 7 sphynx, most of which are re-homes, and I love each of them individually. Engie will always be my baby though. He comes for Mommy kisses in the morning, Lillian, my fluffy sphynx spends her entire life on some family members shoulders, D2 is the big daddy of the bunch, Cleo is the timid rescue, and Myrtle and Mabel are showing her the ropes, and Louie is the weird cousin of the group. They WANT to be with us, they run to the door to greet us when we come home. They show us how much they have missed us. They love our dogs, and face bump them too!! I think I love their simple affection the most. You cannot avoid a sphynx cuddle or face bump. You are never in doubt of their love. When I come back, I’m coming back as a sphynx.
Gayle Reid
A Sphynx is not for the faint hearted, not for those who dream of a docile day long sleeper. A sphynx needs to know what you are doing, what you intend on doing and what you haven’t decided on yet. Imagine the uniqueness of the combination of a cat, a monkey and Yoda being mystically united into one body...well you don’t have to, just spend time with a sphynx. A more loyal, playful and love able animal would be impossible to find. I love my midnight nose kisses, you see when you don’t have whiskers you have to kiss your pet (the human feeder) with your wet nose and rub yourself against their face. Anyone who judges their appearance falls in love with them after spending time with these amazing creatures. To have a sphynx is to have love! Lindsay Luppnow Cape Town, South Africa
15 Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
I am the proud owner of 3 sphynx cats and am happy to say that I love them with all my heart. How best to describe them – if one thinks of a toddler they would understand. Curious, inquisitive, friendly, intelligent, naughty, adorable and loving – all rolled into one. They keep me on my toes, follow me around like my shadow and cry for my attention. I spoil them rotten and they wouldn’t have it any other way! They’ve burrowed their way deep into my heart – their little faces is the first thing I see when I wake up in the morning and the last I see before I go to sleep at night. Attached is a recent photo of my two little girls, Jasmine and Hera, who are now 5 ½ months old.
Maria Holmes
Well before I got my very first sphynx I did a lot of research and homework on the breed. I knew I was going to be owned by a very different cat, and different they are. This breed is like no other. They have a personality and character that can only be compared to having a dog in a cat skin or you can go as far as saying it is like having a toddler in the house. They are very loving, curious, intelligent, mischievious and want to be with you all the time - if they are not around go and look for them because they are probably up to no good. They want to be curled up on your lap if you are sitting or they want to be part of everything you do, whether it is putting on makeup, getting dressed, working on a PC, cooking, eating, reading, socialising or gardening....emphasis is on EVERYTHING YOU DO. In fact I was quite nervous when I was getting my first sphynx as the research on the breed taught me that they were not as low maintenance as many people think they are. In fact they are a high maintenance cat and this doesn’t suit a lot of people. They need bathing at least once or twice a week which not all of them are keen on ... it is still a cat at the end of the day. They are strictly an indoor cat. They have a body oil that is not colourless and will mark clothing, bed linen and furniture etc if not kept clean. If you want them to enjoy some garden time with you a sun-
screen must be used on their skin and their garden time must be supervised. Your life definitely does change once you have a sphynx in it. But it is worth every minute of every day and I now have 4 of them.
I have always be a cat person,
Sue Eddey
tion which I never felt with my
but my life changed when I got my Sphynx. His registered name is Kenako Posseidon but he only listens to “Pienky”. We have such a deep connecother cats, who I love dearly. But Pienky is my soul mate. He is 3 years and still suckle on my neck when I go to bed and when I wake up. He has taught me a deeper sense of love. Pienky is my child, I understand him and he me. When I cry he comforts me, and we have the most exciting play time together. A sphynx will change your life for the better in ways you cannot fathom. My advice: get a Sphynx and experience a love of a lifetime. Christine Duvenage
Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
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Living with Sphynx Cats
17 Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
Photo by Jenni Ferreira | www.jenniferreira.com
By Carlee Marrer-Tising
*For the purpose of this article and for simplicity’s sake, I will refer to the Sphynx as “she” and “her.” The Sphynx is a very special breed of cat, not only because she* has the so-called “hairless gene” that gives her the nakedness typical of the breed, but also because she has an extremely friendly and affectionate nature and a very winning personality. The Sphynx is also very intelligent and playful, and is one of the clowns of the cat world. It is this charm that ultimately made the Sphynx one of my favorite breeds, not necessarily the nakedness. I like many of the typical characteristics of the breed. She walks on soft, thick pads that are reminiscent of platform shoes, she has large, lemon-shaped eyes, many wrinkles on her face, body, and legs, and she has (or should have) a full, round belly. The most characteristic feature of the breed is, obviously, her hairless skin. The skin isn’t always completely hairless, however, but has very fine downlike hair, and there is a little more hair on the ears, above the nose, on the paws, and, sometimes, on the tail. Ideally it should be soft and pleasant to the touch. It has been described as having the feel of a warm peach, a piece of suede, or a chamois. Most people, upon touching a Sphynx for the very first time, are amazed at how very warm her skin is. This is because the Sphynx has a different metabolism from that of other cats, explaining why they need to eat more food (and use the litter box more often). Although so warm to the touch, the Sphynx has the same body temperature as other breeds. Our veterinarian was curious about this and took my cats’ temperatures several times to determine whether this was the case, and it was. Since ca 2001, we—my husband and I, with our other cats and two dogs— have been sharing our lives with Sphynx cats, and I have also been getting a lot of enjoyment out of exhibiting them. I had seen photos of Sphynx many years ago and thought they were the most fascinating-looking cats I’d ever seen, but I feared that my husband would never want to actually have one (because a cat has to have fur!)
I also thought they would be way beyond our budget anyway, so it was a great surprise and stroke of luck when I actually got my first “real” Sphynx! A breeder (and proprietor of a boutique) who lived fairly close to us had bought this beautiful little cat and wanted to breed Sphynx and make a lot of money (a very questionable main reason to breed animals), but instead, she made a lot of mistakes and ran into some big financial difficulties and had to give up not only her boutique, but also a lot of her cats. She asked us to help her, so we did what we could, and since she could no longer keep the little Sphynx, I told her I would love to have her, so I was able to acquire one of these lovely creatures after all. After being spayed, Princess Leia came to live with us. When we brought her into the house she selfconfidently strolled out of her cage and without any hesitation jumped up onto the cat tree, so I threw all caution to the winds and didn’t even attempt to separate her from my other cats for a brief quarantine. It amazed me that she had no fear of any of the cats or our dogs, and not one of them was upset by having her here so suddenly. Within a few minutes she was part of our family. She was absolutely precious in every way and was my constant companion as long as she lived. A friend of mine who bred Sphynx as a hobby found out about Leia’s death and called to tell me she had some kittens. I was so thankful to be able to call another Sphynx my own, and although one cat can never replace another, the new kitten, Merry Moon, definitely helped to ease the pain of losing Leia. To my great sorrow, Merry Moon did not live to be an old cat. We had her for only eight years, but they were wonderful years, and Merry Moon was a great little cat that I will never forget. People often ask me about the life span of the breed, so I tell them about the Sphynx, Grandpa Rexs Allen, who lived 34 years. Since the Sphynx is a spontaneous mutation of the domestic shorthair, and since the record-holders for longevity are both members of this breed, a male that lived 36 years and a female 35 years,
I would guess that the Sphynx would have a similar average life span, 15 to 18 years. I am also asked about conditions and diseases typical for the breed. My experience has been that the Sphynx is a much hardier breed than one might think, given their hairlessness, but one disease in particular that can plague the breed, as well as other breeds, is the dreaded heart disease, HCM. For this reason Sphynx owners and breeders worldwide have donated a great deal of money to HCM research, hoping that a DNA test will be developed to determine whether a cat has any of the genes that can cause this disease. Many of us submit photos of our pets, hoping that one will be chosen to be in the Sphynx calendar that is made and sold every year, proceeds going toward this research. We later added more Sphynx to our family, and they, too, joined the other cats immediately, just like Leia did, with no difficulties at all in getting acquainted with each other. In time, two of my females presented us with some beautiful kittens. Having raised Burmese, Devon Rex, and Sphynx kittens, I have found the Sphynx to be the most demanding. This breed, although a spontaneous mutation of the domestic shorthair, a natural breed, seems to me to be less independent than other breeds I have lived with. They are extremely attached to their humans and want to be a part of our lives, joining in on everything we do, and in the same vein they also want us to be a part of their lives, as well, and they want as much of our involvement in their kitten raising as possible. This, of course, means a lot of work for us—but what rewarding work! The way these cats are so willing to let us participate in so many facets of their lives and the way they insinuate themselves into everything we do makes me wonder if along with the hairlessness—there are, after all, naked members within the great apes species!—they haven’t made an evolutionary leap in other ways, too! I would not say that Sphynx are exactly “clingy” cats, but they certainly do want to be where their humans are as much as possible. They love to sit on shoulders and laps, and of course they love to sleep in our beds Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
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with us, cuddling through the night and making warm bed covers quite unnecessary. They are also very friendly with people they don’t know. When I exhibit them, there are always exhibitors and visitors to the shows who have never petted a Sphynx, so after asking them to disinfect their hands, unnecessary most of the time, but still a prudent measure, I let them pet a Sphynx. After getting over the initial surprise that they are so nice to touch—many people have told me they thought a naked cat would be disgusting to touch—they are amazed at how friendly the cats are and how accepting of complete strangers. This is one of the many things that makes having Sphynx so rewarding.
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Heart Disease in the cat Article courtesy of Jackson Galaxy www.icatcare.orgDr Remo Lobetti BVSc (Hons) MMedVet (Med) PhD Dipl. ECVIM (Internal Medicine) Veterinary Specialist Physician
Introduction Heart disease and heart failure involves a decrease in the pumping ability of the heart, which results in fluid accumulation and congestion in the chest and/or in the abdomen. In cats, heart muscle problems (cardiomyopathies) are the most common types of heart disease and cats of any age can be affected. One form of this disease is due to feeding a taurine deficient diet. Other forms of the disease include an excess of thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism), and those from unknown causes or genetic causes. Heart disease due to an underlying problem, such as hyperthyroidism may be corrected once the under lying problem has been addressed. With proper management, cats with heart disease can lead a relatively normal life.
This leads to an accumulation of blood in the heart, and an enlargement of the atrium.
The following cardiovascular diseases can occur in cats:
Genetic defects can range from incidental problems to life-threatening conditions. Common defects are abnormal openings between the chambers and abnormal heart valves.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (the most common feline heart problem) is a condition where areas of the heart muscle (most often the left ventricle) enlarge and thicken resulting in less blood been able to fill the heart chamber. Dilated cardiomyopathy is a weakening of the heart muscle and enlarged heart chambers that results in the heart been unable to pump sufficient blood out. In the past this was a relatively common problem, however, it is rarely seen nowadays because of the adequate addition of taurine (an essential amino acid) in most brands of cat food. Restrictive cardiomyopathy is similar to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and is often seen in older cats. It manifests itself in progressively poorer heart function with reduced ability to pump.
Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump blood efficiently enough for the body to function, which is the end result of heart failure. Cardiac arrhythmias or abnormal timing of the heart’s beating occurs when the heart’s electrical activity is affected, resulting in missing, absent, or fast heart beats Thrombo-embolic disease occurs when a thrombus (blood clot) becomes dislodged and travels through the bloodstream and lodges in a blood vessel.
Heart disease usually takes several weeks to months to progress to a serious stage. For the first few weeks the cat will show no obvious clinical signs, in fact appetite behaviour, and activity will all be normal. However, as the disease progresses the cat may become lethargic, show a reduced appetite, and have difficulty in breathing. Unfortunately none of these signs are indicative of heart disease, as other diseases can have very similar signs. A devastating complication of heart disease is that blood clots that can lodge in blood vessels throughout the body, but usually where the aorta splits before going to the back legs. If this occurs the cat will show sudden paralysis and pain on the back legs, as if a leg has been broken leg, but
the reality is that there is no blood or oxygen going to the leg.
Normal Heart and Circulation The heart is a very important organ as it pumps blood containing nutrients and oxygen through the blood vessels to the cells of the body. A basic outline of the heart and circulation is: • Air is inhaled into the lungs where oxygen is picked up by tiny blood vessels. The oxygen-rich blood is then carried to the left side of the heart by the pulmonary vein. • The left heart then pumps the oxygen-rich blood through the aorta and arteries to the body’s tissues. • The cells of the body remove the oxygen and nutrients from the blood. • The de-oxygenated blood then returns to the right side of the heart from the body through the veins. • The right side of the heart pumps the de-oxygenated blood back to the lungs, where the carbon dioxide is removed, and more oxygen is picked up.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy This condition results in an abnormal or pathological enlargement of the heart muscle. The enlargement of the heart muscle leads to a reduced ability of the ventricle to fill with blood, which in turn, leads to an accumulation of blood in the left atrium, and to an insufficient quantity of blood being pumped around the body. The atrium expands and the blood accumulation at length becomes so Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
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large that the lungs are affected and start to fill with fluid (pulmonary oedema). Heart failure occurs when the situation has progressed to the point where the heart can no longer compensate for the disorder. Due to the reduced circulation and the accumulation of blood in the atrium there is a danger that the blood may congeal and a blood clot that may then lodge at the branch of the aorta that supplies blood to the rear limbs, resulting in partial or full paralysis (saddle thrombus). Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy occurs most frequently in young and middleaged male cats, usually before the age of 5-6, but has been recorded in cats as young as 8 months and as old as 16 years. The condition has a genetic predisposition especially in the Maine Coon breed, where hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is inherited as the dominant gene. Although the Maine coon and several other breeds are more susceptible to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, it must be stressed that any cat of any age is at risk.
Clinical signs The clinical signs of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy vary greatly, from cats that are seemingly unaffected, to cats that die suddenly. Since cats are reclusive by nature, often the clinical signs of cardiovascular disease are vague. In those cases where the cat exhibits no visible or obvious signs of the disease, it may well be able to lead a normal life and the disease only becomes apparent and clinical signs suddenly appear when the cat experiences stress. Stress leads to a faster heart rate, which means the heart has less time to expand and fill. As with all cardiac disorder, early detection and diagnosis is the key to the most successful clinical treatment. Clinical signs associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy include one or several of the following: • • • • • • •
Lack of appetite Increased weariness / lethargy Less activity Difficulty in breathing Gagging Weight loss Coughing
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A suspicion of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and an enlarged heart in your cat may arise before any clinical signs become visible. Early indicators of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are an irregularity of the heartbeat, or a heart murmur, which may be evident during a routine clinical examination by a veterinarian.
Further evaluation Further investigation is by means of radiographs, echocardiography (an ultrasound scan of the heart), ECG, and blood tests. An echocardiogram will determine how enlarged the heart is, as well as its function; whereas radiographs are used to assess complications such as an enlarged heart and fluid in the chest cavity. An ECG will determine the electrical and conduction of the heart. Blood tests are used rule out other causes for heart disease such as kidney disease, hyperthyroidism or liver disease.
Prognosis The earlier the disease is diagnosed the better the prognosis. Most cats showing no clinical signs at the time the disease is diagnosed may live more than five years after the diagnosis. However, cats with clinical signs of heart failure will survive for a much shorter period, on average about 3 months, although approximately 20% can survive more than 3 years. Cats that have thrown blood clots generally have a poor prognosis and will not live, on average, for more than six months.
Congestive Heart Failure With heart failure and fluid in the lungs, the clinical signs might be fast and shallow breathing - often through open mouth, nasal mucous, severe lethargy, a weak and fast pulse and pale mucus membranes. The cat might become very weak, collapse, and in some cases, die. Paralysis of the lower back and rear limbs, or rear limb dysfunction occurs when there is a blood clot lodged in the lower part of the back. Paralysis could be a sign of a clinical emergency and is usually extremely painful. When it has got to the point where the cat is showing obvious clinical signs,
the disease is usually well advanced. Remember also, that clinical signs vary from case to case and if there is the slightest doubt about your cat’s health, you should get in touch with a veterinarian. It is always better to err on the side of caution.
General Treatment of Heart Disease Many of the forms of heart disease in cats are progressive; however, with proper management and diet, your cat may be able to have a better quality of life. Heart disease is a chronic disorder and thus if you catch it early and treat it early your pet can live a long and happy life. Although treatments vary widely based on the individual cat’s clinical signs, one or more of the following treatments may be used: • Medication to improve the performance of the heart, such as betablockers or calcium channel blockers. • Diuretics for cats to increase fluid excretion, and help to disperse the retention of fluid associated with heart failure. • Blood clot reducing medications. • Cardiac glycosides, which act on the heart muscle directly and slow the heart, improve the strength of its contractions, and overall improve the efficiency of its pumping action. • Vasodilators which by opening up the circulation in the “periphery” of the body takes strain off the heart, and in so doing, allows it to pump more effectively. These drugs are often used in combination and your veterinarian will guide you as to the needs of your pet. It is also important that the instructions are carefully followed.
Precautionary Measures Make sure that the cat is fed a fully balanced food and that a normal body weight is maintained as a cat in good shape is less likely to develop heart problems, or exhibit heart failure even if they have a weak heart to begin with.
Dilated cardiomyopathy used to be fairly common in cats due to a taurine deficiency. Most cat foods these days are taurine enriched; however, if you make your own cat food or purchase a lower quality food make sure you check for this element. Reducing the cat’s intake of sodium is of primary importance, since salt causes water retention. Water retention puts a heavier load on the kidneys, already overworked and under-fuelled because of impaired cardiac function, and can result in heart failure. In cats with heart disease it is important not to feed any snacks, treats or titbits unless advised by your veterinarian, as these may contain a higher level of sodium than your pet requires. Cats with heart disease may have a decreased appetite from feeling unwell and as a side effect of heart drugs that are necessary for them.
Many of the forms of heart disease in cats are progressive; however, with proper management and diet, your cat may be able to have a better quality of life. Heart disease is a chronic disorder and thus if you catch it early and treat it early your pet can live a long and happy life.
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HCM and Testing Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) and Testing Article courtesy of International Cat Care www.manhattancats.com http://www.icatcare.org
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition characterised by thickening of the heart muscle (wall of the ventricles of the heart). This results in a reduced volume within the ventricles (major chambers of the heart), so reducing the volume of blood that the heart can pump with each contraction. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common form of heart disease in cats and can cause heart failure, thromboembolism, and occasionally sudden death in cats (see also Cardiomyopathy in cats).
Is HCM genetic? Hypertrophy (thickening) of the ventricles can occur secondary to certain other diseases in cats (such as hyperthyroidism and hypertension), but most cases are idiopathic (i.e., have no obvious underlying cause) and are considered primary diseases of the heart itself. The majority of cases of HCM in humans are recognised to have a genetic basis, with over 130 genetic mutations already identified that may cause or predispose to development of the disease. It is now believed that many cases of HCM in cats may also have a genetic basis. Specific genetic mutations have been identified in both the Maine Coon and Ragdoll breeds of cat. Mutations in the gene responsible for producing a particular protein in heart muscle cells - MYBPC3 (the cardiac myosin binding protein C gene) have been identified commonly in both Maine Coon and Ragdoll cats affected with HCM (a different mutation is present in the two breeds), and similar mutations may also be seen in some other breeds.
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It appears that the presence of the defective gene increases the risk of a cat developing HCM. Genes are inherited in pairs, and if a cat has two defective (mutated) genes (called a homozygous cat) this increases the risk of HCM further compared with a cat that has just one defective gene (and one normal gene, a heterozygous cat). These gene defects are common in Maine Coon and Ragdoll cats, with some studies showing up to 30-40% or more of cats carrying one or two defective genes. However, the relationship between the presence of the mutated gene and the development of HCM is not perfect. The gene defect appears to increase the risk of disease, but not all cats with the defect develop HCM and some cats in these breeds that develop HCM do not have these defects. It is likely that other (as yet unidentified) gene defects and other environmental and biological factors all influence the development of HCM. Ultrasound testing of the heart to measure the thickness of the heart wall and to determine the presence of HCM is used along with the gene tests (which are available from a number of laboratories) to characterise cats. A further problem can be that some affected cats may not develop changes detectable on ultrasound examination of the heart until later in life, and some changes may be mild and subtle. Using the gene test and ultrasound scanning in breeds such as the Maine Coon and Ragdoll where there is a high prevalence of HCM and an
important gene defect predisposing to HCM has been identified it is recommended that ideally cats should be screened by both ultrasound examination of the heart and also a blood sample or cheek swab should be collected and sent to a specialist veterinary laboratory to determine the genetic status of the cat. It is recommended that: Cats clinically affected with HCM on the basis of an ultrasound scan should not be bred from any cat with a positive gene test that is homozygous for the defect (has two abnormal genes) should not be bred from as they will always pass on the abnormality to their offspring. Careful consideration needs to be taken in breeding from cats that are heterozygous positive on the gene test (have one normal gene and one mutated gene). These cats will inevitably pass on the defect to a proportion of their kittens. In selecting cats for breeding there are many different considerations to take into account, but the high prevalence of both clinical disease and the gene defect in breeds such as the Maine Coon and Ragdoll means that great care is needed to try to reduce the frequency of the gene defect in these breeds and so reduce the risks of HCM developing. HCM can occur at any age and therefore a single normal echocardiogram (ultrasound examination of the heart) does not guarantee that the cat will remain free of the disease. Cardiologists recommend that breeding cats should have an annual echocardiogram during their breeding years. Examining retired cats periodically is also advantageous as this may allow the identification of affected
cats that have offspring in a breeding program. In some countries, registers of breeding cats have been established so that the genetic status of breeding stock is recorded along with results of ultrasound scanning by a veterinary cardiologist. This information then allows more careful selection of suitable breeding cats. One such scheme is operated by the Veterinary Cardiovascular Society in the UK, with support from International Cat Care (http://www. bsavaportal.com/vcs/Information/ HeartTesting.aspx), and cats registered under this scheme can be seen here: HCM Negative Register International Cat Care believe that wherever registers of gene tests in cats are kept, these should always be linked to a means of permanently and readily identifying the tested cat - i.e., an internationally recognised microchip identifying number. There is ongoing work looking for further mutations that may contribute to HCM in Maine Coon and Ragdoll cats, along with other breeds such as the Norwegian Forest Cat and the Sphynx where a higher prevalence of HCM has been reported or suggested.
A meow massages the heart. - Stuart McMillan
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Feline HCM, Advice for Breeders Article courtesy of Hairless Hearts, http://www.hairlesshearts.org Mark Kittleson,www.manhattancats.com DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Cardiology), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis Rebecca Gompf, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee Susan Little, DVM, DABVP (Feline), Vice-President, Winn Feline Foundation ,www.winnfelinehealth.org
What is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
How is HCM diagnosed?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most comcardiomyopathy? mon heart disease of cats, whether they are random bred or pedigreed. It cardiois a heart muscle disease in which Hypertrophic the papillary muscles (the muscles in the left ventricle myopathy (HCM) is that anchor the mitral valve) and the walls of the left ventricle become abnormally thickened. HCM is often a the most common progressive disease, and a proportion of affected cats heart disease of develop heart failure if the muscle hypertrophy and subsequent of thethey heart muscle significantly affects cats, scarring whether heart function.
HCM is diagnosed using ultrasound of the heart – an echocardiogram. Echocardiography is a good way to detect moderate to severely affected cats. However, it may not always detect the mildly affected cats where changes in the heart can be minimal. In addition to an echocardiogram, other tests may also be useful in assessing cats with HCM.
caused by other diseases, such as systemic hypertension (high blood pressure) and hyperthyroidism. HCM is a primary disease of the heart muscle. Hypertension and hyperthyroidism cause secondary thickening of the left ventricle and so are not causes of HCM (although it is possible that they may exacerbate the disease if they become present in a cat with mild to moderate HCM). HCM is diagnosed when these other causes are ruled out. Is HCM genetic?
Should my cats be tested for HCM and how often should they be tested?
What is hypertrophic
are random bred What causes HCM in It cats? or pedigreed. is a heart muscle disThis is currently unknown in most cats although familial (hereditary) has been ease in HCM which the observed in several breeds, such as the Maine Coon and American shorthair. Anecpapillary muscles dotal information suggests there is familial HCM in many other Heart muscle (thebreeds. muscles in thehypertrophy in cats can be
In Maine Coons and American Shorthairs, HCM has been confirmed as an autosomal dominant inherited trait, as it is in humans where over 130 gene mutations in 10 genes have been found to cause the disease. The disease has variable expression; meaning some cats are severely affected, others are only mildly to moderately affected, and some cats may not have evidence of the disease yet produce affected offspring. While a specific feline gene mutation has not yet been identified, research is underway in the Maine Coon cat. However, since few veterinary cardiologists and geneticists have the expertise to study genes, it is unlikely that the responsible gene or genes for each affected breed will be found at any time in the near future. If a gene is identified as a cause of HCM in Maine Coon cats, it may not be the same gene responsible for HCM in other breeds. HCM will require investigation in each breed individually. Can HCM have a nutritional cause? There is no evidence in cats, humans or other species of animals that HCM can have a nutritional cause.
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For example, a chest x-ray is necessary to detect heart failure in cats with severe HCM. An electrocardiogram is useful in cats that have an abnormal heart rhythm. Blood pressure measurement and blood testing for hyperthyroidism is indicated to rule out other diseases that mimic HCM, especially mild to moderate HCM. Ideally, an echocardiogram to test cats for HCM should be performed by a board-certified radiologist or cardiologist.
In clinical practice, the most common patients tested for HCM with echocardiography are cats with suggestive clinical signs of heart disease, such as a heart murmur. Testing cats used in a pedigreed breeding program is a more difficult endeavor. Echocardiography is not a perfect tool for diagnosis of HCM – some affected individuals will escape detection and access to good quality ultrasound services may be difficult and expensive for some breeders. At the very least, breeding cats should be ausculted (examined by a vet with a stethoscope) for heart murmurs or arrhythmias once yearly. Any cat with an abnormality should have an echocardiogram. A significant percentage of cats with HCM will not have a heart murmur, however. Since HCM can occur at any age, a single normal echocardiogram does not guarantee a cat is free of disease. Breeding cats should probably have an echocardiogram yearly during their breeding years. Examining retired cats periodically is also advantageous as this may allow the identification of affected cats that have offspring in a breeding program. At what age should a cat be tested for HCM? HCM can affect cats at any age. It has been seen in kittens only a few months of age and in cats over the age of 10.
In Maine Coons, most affected male cats have evidence of disease by 2 years of age, and most affected females have evidence of disease by 3 years of age although instances have been documented where the disease has not shown up until 7 years of age. Ragdolls with severe disease seem to develop it earlier in life, often at under 1 year of age. Guidelines for other breeds have not yet been developed. It is therefore hard to recommend a specific age to start testing. It may make sense to test most breeding cats for the first time by the age of 2 years. What do I do if my cat is diagnosed with HCM? The cat should be removed from the breeding program and all offspring should be watched closely for the development of HCM. Statistically, 50% of the cat’s offspring would be expected to have the gene that causes HCM if one parent was a heterozygote. However, the most prudent approach may be not to use any of the offspring in a breeding program. The parents of an affected cat should also be examined with ultrasound, as one of them likely carries the gene mutation for HCM. In some cases, identification of the affected parent may be difficult, especially if the disease is mild. In these cases, the most prudent approach may be to remove both parents from the breeding program. It is possible for a cat to develop a spontaneous mutation that causes HCM during embryonic development but this is an unlikely cause in a breed known to have the problem. All breeders that are using cats related to an affected cat should be notified that a cat has been diagnosed with HCM. Similarly, pet owners should be notified that a relative has been diagnosed with the disease. Echocardiographic examination of cats related to the affected cat should be performed. Will we ever eliminate HCM from my breed? The tools we currently have to diagnose HCM (i.e., echocardiography and necropsy) are not perfect and will not allow us to totally eliminate this disease. However, echocardiographic screening will be able to reduce the incidence of HCM within a breed if enough breeders are involved. Breeders should use all the information they can gather about HCM in family lines, including pedigree analysis based on accurate identification of affected cats. Any cat that dies suddenly or dies from HCM should have a necropsy (i.e., post mortem examination).
have a heart that weighs more than 30 grams. Myocardial fiber disarray, the hallmark microscopic heart muscle abnormality seen in humans with familial HCM is seen in all Maine Coon cats with HCM. Unfortunately, most veterinary pathologists are not trained to recognize this lesion. In the long term, we will need a genetic test for HCM in each breed. A genetic test would allow us to identify affected cats before they were bred and do so accurately. Since the disease is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, once a mutation is identified, if all breeders cooperated by testing their breeding cats for the mutation the disease could be eliminated from the breed within several generations. However, the money and resources necessary to identify the gene or genes and to develop a genetic test for each breed are scarce in veterinary medicine. Breeders and cat fanciers can help by supporting research through organizations such as the Ricky Fund established by the Winn Feline Foundation. Can two normal parents produce a kitten with HCM? Since HCM is known to be an autosomal dominant trait in the breeds where the inheritance is known, each affected cat must have one affected parent. However, there are possible situations in which an affected cat may come from two apparently normal parents. The first possibility is that one of the parents has been misdiagnosed. This can happen due to inexperience of the ultrasonographer or poor quality equipment. It can also happen if a cat’s status is decided on the basis of only one or two ultrasounds early in life. Since HCM can develop at any age, a cat that is normal on ultrasound one year could still have HCM and show signs later in life. Since the trait has variable expression, not every affected cat will have echocardiographic evidence of HCM. It is therefore possible for a cat to test negative for HCM on ultrasound, and yet still carry the defective gene and pass it to offspring. Finally, it is possible for spontaneous mutations to occur in cats from normal parents. These cats may then pass on their mutation to offspring. We do not know how often spontaneous mutations causing HCM occur in cats. Statistically, spontaneous mutations are more likely to occur in random bred cats than in pedigreed cats. What does “HCM free cattery” mean? There is no universally agreed upon definition of an HCM free cattery. The terminology is currently unclear, as different breeders mean different things when they use this term. Ideally, each breed should develop a specific definition and guidelines for use of this designation for catteries.
Most cats with HCM will have a heart that weighs more than 20 grams and most cats with severe HCM will Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
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When our Hearts Break Article courtesy of Jackson Galaxy www.icatcare.orgDr Johnny Gobble D.V.M.
Heart problems are a very big concern for all pet owners. In our Sphynx cats, we hear more about HCM, but there are many more heart conditions that can affect our babies. HCM is also a disease that is common in all cats and not just Sphynx. My last cat client diagnosed at three years old with HCM, was a Burmese. Domestic shorthair cats, from which the Sphynx originated, have a prevalence of HCM. Ragdolls and Maine Coon Cats have a higher incidence of HCM in their breed. We should not focus only on HCM as a Sphynx disease, and we should be concerned with the entire health of Sphynx cats instead of being concerned with only HCM. In most cases of acute HCM, the cats have passed away with no signs of any other problems. I have heard of a Sphynx that had a perfectly normal exam, and two months later passed away from HCM. If cats are diagnosed with HCM in the advance years, it could also be age related. HCM (thickening of the heart walls) may also be a result of high blood pressure or hyperthyroidism which is not directly related to primary HCM. Certain valve deformities can also lead to HCM that is not primary. Any HCM is a very sad diagnosis, but not all of them are inherited from their parents. What do we do? Many Sphynx owners want to scan their cats. That is a good idea, but keep in mind that cardiologists will tell you that a normal heart ultrasound scan today does not mean that your pet is free from HCM. There is no genetic testing for Sphynx cats at this time for HCM. My suggestion would be that if you breed, have regular heart ultrasound scans by a cardiologist to determine if breeders are affected. If your family pet develops a murmur, then having an ultrasound performed is very important. The last meeting I had on feline cardiology, the doctor teaching the class stated that he wished referring veterinarians would wait to hear a murmur in cats before sending them to him. If you are a pet owner, have your veterinarian listen to your pets heart in a quiet room with no purring (the smell of rubbing alcohol sometimes will stop a purring cat). If a murmur is heard that was never heard before, then ask for a cardiac scan with a cardiologist. In a breed with a higher prevalence of HCM, many cardiologists are now recommending yearly scans to monitor the heart.
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Another heart problem is heart valve deformities with the most common being a mitral valve leak. The deformities can cause heart disease, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM), or no disease at all. Many kittens are born with the deformity and murmurs can be heard in kittens with the problem. There have been some studies done that the mitral valve deformities are genetic and that a parent not having the problem could have kittens with the problem. Heart murmurs are usually the very first sign that a veterinarian will hear in most feline heart diseases (although not all cats with a heart problem have a murmur). Radiographs (x-rays) are commonly done to help with diagnosis, but many times an ultrasound is needed for diagnosis determination. I feel that the ultrasounds should be performed only by board certified cardiologists. The first reason is that the cardiologists have special training in the area of the heart and are better qualified for diagnosis. The second reason is that the equipment that cardiologists use is typically superior to equipment used by other veterinarians. This is your pet’s heart, so treat it as it was your own! The difference in the measurements between a normal heart and an HCM positive heart is quite small…so don’t you want the finest equipment and years of special training to diagnose your baby? Heart murmurs can also be innocent murmurs. Innocent murmurs are heart murmurs in young animals that are not tied with any disease. Sometimes, and more commonly, these murmurs disappear completely before the kittens are a year old. If a cardiologist determines that a murmur is tied to a disease, then treatment of the disease may or may not be warranted. The problem with murmurs is that some of them can cause blood clots to form in your pet. These clots can travel anywhere in the body. They can cause strokes, heart attacks, kidney failure, liver failure and paralysis of limbs (most commonly the hind limbs). Many veterinarians will use an anti-clotting drug in cats with murmurs to prevent clots. A murmur may or may not lead to disease, but when one is heard it should be monitored. When a cardiologist does an ultrasound (commonly called an echo or scan), they are looking for heart wall size, valve deformities, vessel problems, and blood flow within the heart. If no disease is determined, they will
do a baseline of the heart. The baseline guides veterinarians with heart disease. If the size of the heart wall increases significantly from one scan to another, the diagnosis could be early HCM. If the heart walls are very thick, HCM may be diagnosed immediately. If a pet dies, at necropsy, the most important determination of HCM is the weight of the heart. The wall thickness can increase as time increases after death (examing the heart wall under microscope can often show changes in the heart wall fibers consistent with HCM, if the cat had more advanced HCM). Weighing the heart will benefit the veterinarian more that measuring the heart. Heart worms, septum deformities, aortic structuring, and heart tumors can also cause heart disease in cats. They are not as common as HCM and mitral valve deformities, but they are still a concern. When concerned about heart health in our pets, we need to be concerned about many other issues. We also need to change our thinking that a heart problem is automatically a death sentence for our cats. Many cats can live normal healthy lives with a heart problem, with or without medication. We all love our babies, and we should all do whatever we can to prevent our heart breaking.
Cat Haven? No, Cat Heaven! The “lucky ones”, is how one can refer to the cats at Cat Village – a 2 hectare property on the East Rand that has been converted into a safe haven for abandoned, previously abused and feral cats. Here you will find no cages with cats awaiting their fate. All of them are cared for with passion and love. They live in a natural garden, fenced at the perimeters. They sleep in dry, warm wooden huts which are scattered throughout the property. All cats receive medical care when needed and they have clean water and food available 24 hours a day. Visit our website www.catvillage. org.za for more information on this amazing place or LIKE us on Facebook.
Cat Village S A E-mail: info@catvillage.org.za We are registered as a non-profit organization – NPO 033-895 http://www.catvillage.org.za/ Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
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Cat CPR - Step by Step Guide Cat World http://www.cat-world.com.au/cardiopulmonary-resuscitation-cpr-in-cats
Hopefully CPR is something that you will never have to use, but sometimes accidents happen and there isn’t enough time to get the cat to the vet for treatment, and it will fall on you, the cat’s carer to intervene with emergency first aid in order to keep your cat alive until you arrive at the veterinarian’s surgery and he/she can take over. What is CPR? CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR for short). It is a combination of mouth to mouth resuscitation and external heart compressions. The purpose of this is to restore oxygen rich circulation to the brain. Without oxygen, the cat will quickly die. The following emergencies may require CPR Shock, poisoning, prolonged seizure, coma, head injury, electric shock, obstructed airways. There are three basic parts to CPR. ABC which stands for airway, breathing and circulation. Before you begin CPR on your cat: There are many possible reasons your cat’s heart may have stopped, some of which may be the result of an accident such as being hit by a car or electrocution. If your cat has been electrocuted is the danger still there? Before you touch your cat, ensure the electrical source has been turned off or moved. If your cat has been hit by a car and is still in the road, ensure that it is safe before going to the cat. Once you are with your cat you will need to check if your cat’s heart has stopped. To check this use the following methods; Place your palm flat against his/her lower chest directly behind the left front elbow to feel for a heartbeat. Observe the rise and fall of the chest. Feel for a pulse. To do this, feel for the femoral artery which is located close to the surface on the inside of the thigh at the groin. I found it difficult to find the femoral artery to check the pulse, another method which I found much easier was to feel the heartbeat. To do this press against the rib cage over the heart. With the cat standing, feel the pulse just behind the elbow. See image below. Pinch your cat firmly between the toes to check for a response. Feel for breath on the palm of your hand or your cheek.
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Airway: Open the cat’s mouth and clear secretions or possible foreign body with your finger. If found, remove. If you cannot reach it with your finger or tongs, you will have to use the Heimlich manoeuvre. Breathing (artificial respiration): If your cat isn’t breathing but has a heartbeat then you will need to do artificial respiration on him/her. This must begin within minutes, so start artificial respiration immediately. Lay the cat on a flat surface with it’s right side down. Tilt the head so the neck offers a straight passage into the lungs. Pull the tongue forward. Place one hand around the muzzle to keep the mouth closed. Put your mouth completely over your cat’s nose and mouth and blow gently into the cat’s nostrils. Watch to see if the lungs expand. Release to let the air come back out. Give 20 breaths per minute until the cat breathes on it’s own or you reach a veterinarian. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): This combines both artificial respiration with heart compressions. If the cat isn’t breathing and it’s heart has also stopped you will need to begin CPR. It is best if there are two people to perform this, one for the breathing and one for the chest compressions. Place your cat on it’s right side, on a flat, firm surface Continue artificial respiration Place the fingers and thumb on either side of the sternum, behind the elbows. Squeeze firmly, pressing in about 1 inch. Massage rate is 80 to 120 compressions per minute. Perform 5 compressions for each breath. Pause every 2 minutes to check for a pulse and spontaneous breathing. Continue until the heart beats and the cat breathes on it’s own, or until you reach the veterinarian. If your cat hasn’t been revived within 20 minutes there is little chance that it will be saved.
Therapy Cats By Jaetta Ferguson Flash came into my world as a rescued barn cat from Ohio. He is a brown spotted tabby male that loves people. Flash is no lap cat but she can charm you with his adorable head butts. I got him to be a show cat 6 yeas ago. He has done cat shows to 4-H with the kids. He let me know a few years back that he wanted to something more than that. I prayed for God to find a place that I could volunteer with him. I was able to find “Love On A Leash” and it has been the best choice I could make for us. We have worked very hard that cats can make great therapy cats. It all depends on how you train your cat to be a therapy animal. Some are lap cats and some others like Flash love there stroller they ride around in. I have learned a lot on what you should do when you go on visits and all this has been a learning curve for me. Flash has done many pet events to show people how calm cats can be. Flash now has his sister Venti joining him on his journey with therapy work. She is a solid black female, she has done cat shows and 4-H also. Venti is my back up therapy cat if Flash isn’t able to go. Since he has two other handlers to handle him I’m now able to take two cats on a visit but it is mainly Flash. You are only allowed one pet for each handler. They both visit mainly at nursing homes and now do library visits with kids. They bring comfort and joy whenever we go. So go check out his Facebook page at: https://m.facebook.com/FlashTheTherapyCat Flash also has a fan mail address where if fans want to write to him at: Flash The Therapy Cat P.O. Box 6594 Kokomo, IN 46904
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Therapy Cats
My Vinny is a registered Therapy Cat with Love on a Leash (LOAL). We live in WI. Vinny completed his training and became registered as a Therapy Cat in Dec. 2012. Vinny is almost 3 years old. He is a purebred European Burmese, and a “retired” show cat. Vinny moved in with me Sept. 2011. He has a very calm, laid back personality and I soon started thinking he’d make a good Therapy Cat. I decided to pursue getting him trained and registered as a Therapy Cat through LOAL. Therapy pets and their owners visit nursing homes, hospitals, hospices, and schools to provide emotional support, brighten someone’s day, and put a smile on people’s faces. Most therapy pets are dogs, but cats and rabbits may also become therapy pets. There are only a few cats in LOAL’s Therapy Pet program at any time. Purebred, mixed breed, neutered and intact cats are all welcome – if they meet the criteria. Therapy cats must have calm, laid back and steady personalities. They must be able to tolerate unusual sights, sounds, smells, and petting that may be awkward or hard. They must be able to travel in a car calmly, and without getting car sick. They must accept wearing a harness and leash. They must be at least one year of age and up to date on vaccinations. Most importantly, they must love people and enjoy being petted by people other than the owner. Reactive pets (who react before thinking) will not be good therapy pets. Before a cat can be registered as a Therapy Cat with LOAL, there is a form your vet must fill out verifying the cat is healthy, up to date on vaccines, and in agreement the cat probably has the right personality for Pet Therapy work. LOAL then requires 10 hours of supervised visits, and you need to log your hours. Pets that pass the evaluations for membership and registration by Love on a Leash are awarded the degree “Therapy Pet (ThD)” and also receive a certificate, a vest or bandanna, and an ID card. Ad-
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vanced degrees are available depending on individual interests and specialty. Since Vinny was not eligible to begin a therapy cat career until he was a year old, I took him to as many places as I could to socialize him and get him used to going places. We went to the vet a few times just to visit, PetCo and PetSmart, and some strolls in the park with his pet stroller. I also took him to some cat shows. Vinny is a CFA Premier and an ACFA Quadruple Grand Champion Alter and Regional Winner. He handled traveling and going to different places very well. I decided to take Vinny to a local nursing home for our first pet therapy visits. I have no children, and Vinny has had very little exposure to children, so I felt he’d probably prefer working with adults. He was a little unsure when I took him to our first pet therapy visit at the nursing home, but handled it well. Vinny was not used to walkers, wheelchairs, oxygen running, and cleaning carts going by in the hall and wasn’t quite sure what was expected of him. He quickly figured out he would be okay and let residents pet him and sat with them. Vinny has developed a fan club at the nursing home. Initially the activities staff had Vinny visiting only the long term care wing, and didn’t put him on the activities calendar. The residents started talking about him, and his “fame” spread. Then we had to visit the rehab wing too! Vinny is now on the activities calendar, and the residents look forward to “Vinny visits” days. One woman had a lot of pain issues, and was very limited in activities she could participate in. She loved seeing Vinny though, and would light up when she saw him and he sat on her lap. She has since passed away, but Vinny
Photo by Alpine Ranch Photography
By Leanne Frobel
Therapy TherapyCats Cats Cats Therapy brought some joy to her before she died. Another lady has poor vision and hearing, so she does not usually participate in activities. She loves seeing Vinny though. Another woman was very excited to see Vinny. She said she loves cats, and had to surrender her cat to the shelter when she had to move into the nursing home.
By Terri Jennings My three registered therapy cats are Dog (black), Eddie (grey), and Baxter (brown tabby), aren’t they handsome? I’m obnoxiously proud of them!
Vinny has a pet stroller I push him around in for our visits (much easier on the back). I also bring a jar of turkey baby food (make sure no onions poisonous). I let the residents feed him a spoon of turkey baby food during our visits. They get such a kick that he rides in a stroller, eats baby food, and “retired” at 2 (from cat shows)! Vinny does not mind wearing clothing, so he often wears outfits for our Pet Therapy visits. The residents look forward to seeing what Vinny is wearing. Vinny also wears Soft Paws nail caps. He is very careful about his nails, but the elderly often have thin, fragile skin, and Vinny wears them as a precaution. The residents love his “designer nails”.
http://www.loveonaleash.org/ Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
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Therapy Cats By Debbie Polelli Piglet is a 14-year-old Sphynx cat who was rescued from a shelter in Colorado. Piglet has always had an unusually outgoing and friendly personality for a cat, so I thought she’d be perfect as a therapy animal. After some training through the American Humane Association, Piglet soon became a registered therapy cat who has been working as the feline part of an animal-assisted therapy team with me for the past 5 years. Piglet has done a variety of different AAT jobs since we first started with our volunteer work in 2009. We regularly visit Evans Hospital at Fort Carson, CO through the American Red Cross, as well as the seniors at the Brookdale Village at Skyline, which is an assisted living center in Colorado Springs. Piglet also volunteers for the “Paws to Read”program at the Pikes Peak Library District. in Colorado Springs. Piglet has also worked with disabled children at the Fletcher Miller School and the NightOwls Program in Denver, as well as mentally-challenged adults at the MorningStar Adult Daycare Center in Aurora. She’s provided comfort and companionship to grieving military families through the Fallen Heroes Families Program at Ft. Carson, CO and has participated in the families’ group therapy sessions. She’s also did some work with wounded Ft. Carson soldiers who were in the process of being medically discharged from the Army. Piglet has been an ambassador for many American Humane Association events in Denver and Colorado Springs, most notably at Ft. Carson Army Base and Peterson AFB. The event that we participated in that I am most proud of, however, is the work we did (through the American Red Cross) with the evacuees of the Waldo Canyon wildfires in Colorado Springs in the summer of 2012. Piglet spent over four hours in the hot sun and 100 degree F heat providing love, purrs, and good cheer to distressed and displaced children and adults at a local Red Cross shelter. While we were there, Piglet caught the attention of the Channel 13 news team and she and I were both interviewed on the spot on live TV for the work we were doing at the shelter. Piglet has made a positive difference in the lives of hundreds of people we’ve visited during the past few years. Cats, too, can make excellent therapy animals if they have the personality and temperament for it. If people are interested in becoming an animal-assisted therapy team with their own furry (or in my case, furless) feline friend, they should contact either the Pet Partners or Love on a Leash programs.
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Therapy TherapyCats Cats By Jessica Hagan Draven was born on May 10, 2012. We adopted him as a kitten from an animal rescue called Rainbow Animal Refuge (Butler/Lyndora, PA). As soon as my husband picked him up, he began to purr and we noticed his little pink tongue was hanging out! We knew this was a sign he was a special kitty and filled out the paperwork to take him home that day. We had just bought a home that summer and decided we had enough room now to add to our family. Draven came home to 2 sisters, Bunny (a chocolate point Siamese) and Betina (a white cat with 2 different colored eyes). After the initial “quarantine” period (to make sure he was free of disease and parasites), we began the introduction process. Draven was very eager to meet and play with his new sisters even though they only wanted to hiss and swat at him for the first few days. This did not deter his enthusiasm, however, and eventually, they all began to get along. In many ways, Draven was very much like any other kitten. He enjoyed playing with toys, he liked cat treats, and he would climb just about anything to explore his new home. But we began to notice he had a quality our other 2 cats did not; he enjoyed the company and attention of humans – any humans – a lot! He wasn’t afraid or leery of strangers in our home, he tolerated car rides, and he even purred while at the vet’s office! He was just a very calm, laidback cat. That spring, I decided to enter Draven in a CFA cat show in the Household Pet division. I thought if he enjoyed the attention of friends visiting him in our home, he’d really like to meet new people at the cat show. As expected, whenever someone would walk by his cage and talk to him, he’d paw at them or roll onto his back or mew as if calling them over to rub his belly. I eventually started opening his kennel to allow people to pet him and he loved it! He won several ribbons that day, but the true prize was the idea we walked away with from the show.
After the CFA cat show, I contacted our local branch of the Humane Society (Lawrence County) to see if they’d like to host an all Household Pet cat show as a fundraiser. I’d worked with them a few times in the past on fundraising events they’d participated in where I work, and they thought this idea was unique, so the planning began! This was the first of many fundraising events Draven inspired. While working on ideas for the show, I visited the LCHS’s website. On their homepage they have a video about Therapy Pets. I watched the video (http://www.lawrencecountyhumane.com/pettherapyvideo.html) and thought, “if dogs can perform Pet Therapy, why not cats?” As I began to further research therapy animals, I found my way to the Foundation for Pet-Provided Therapy’s website (http://www.loveonaleash. org) and discovered that cats could also be registered as Therapy Pets. Draven already had many of the desirable qualities for a Therapy Cat (the most important of which was his natural demeanor), so I downloaded the application and list of requirements to start working with him. Since LOAL requires cats to be at least one-year-old to start the application process, I had a couple months before Draven’s first birthday to practice and see if he’d enjoy being a Therapy Cat. I started by making sure he was up-to-date on his vaccinations/immunizations. I had our vet print me a certificate stating he was current on all shots, parasite-free, and neutered. Those documents along with the info from the LOAL website allowed us into a few places for practice (for example, there is an Assisted Living Facility near our home that allowed Draven to visit before he was certified since we could prove he was healthy and neutered). We’d also take him to visit friends and relatives as well as other places animals were allowed such as pet stores and parks to get him used to traveling in the car, wearing a harness, and being in strange places around new
people. None of these experiences seemed to faze him, so I bought a sling bag to carry him and when he turned a year old, we began the official application process. We went to the Assisted Living facility every week and visited residents individually in their rooms. We also went to the local library a couple times to visit the pre-schoolers during Story Time. After all his paperwork was done and his practice hours were logged, we submitted everything to LOAL and he received his certification on October 18, 2013. As a certified Therapy Cat, he now visits the Assisted Living Center and a hospital every week, has been back to Story Time at the library, was invited to 2 different Girl Scout Troops’ meetings, and has participated in several Fundraising Events: • He loves seeing the same people every week at the Assisted Living Center. He gets to roam free in their rooms and spend time with them one-on-one. • When he visits patients at the hospital, he rides in a pet stroller so he’s at a good level for bedridden folks to see and pet him. He even hops out of the stroller sometimes to lie in bed with people he particularly likes! • The last Story Time he went to, he took the kids little black “Scaredy Cats” to help them celebrate Halloween. He also dressed up as a hotdog. Er, hotcat-dog? • He went to the Junior Girl Scouts of Reynolds School District to teach them about what a Therapy Animal is and does. • He also visited the Daisy Scouts of Grove City to teach them about Animal Shelters and how kids can help shelter animals. Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
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• He participated in a NO H8 photo shoot to show his support of Marriage Equality in Mercer County. • He helped with my holiday fundraising for the LCHS by making Christmas ornaments with his photo in them as well as “helping” wrap gifts at our wrapping station for donations. • He hosted a booth at the Chewton VFD’s Pet Together where attendees could buy his paintings (yes, he paints!) and have their pictures taken with Hello Kitty! • He’s gone to Slippery Rock University’s Stress Less day where students could take a break from studying for finals by spending time with him and other pets. • He’s “adopted” a little brother; Sugarpuss was added to our family last year from the LCHS. Sugie looks up to Draven and they spend lots of time together. He’s even gone on a few Therapy Visits with Draven to see if he’d also like to be a Therapy Cat. Only time will tell if Sugarpuss will follow in Draven’s footsteps! Er, pawprints. • The most recent fundraiser he attended was a Valentine Party at the Bottlebrush Art Gallery in Harmony, PA to raise funds for the Butler County Humane Society by selling his art and other Valentine goodies. • His next event will be running a Cat Therapy Awareness table at a CFA cat show in Erie, PA. He wants to make sure all the cat show attendees know about Therapy Cats and that many retired show cats would make excellent Therapy Cats since they are already used to traveling and being handled by strangers. You can check out all of Draven’s activities mentioned above on his Face Book page:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/ draventhetherapycat. He has pictures of most of his adventures and you can keep up with his fundraising events as well as send him messages. I’m sure he’d love to hear from you!
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News The Lykoi
Photo by Brittney Gobble | www.brittneygobble.com https://www.facebook.com/BrittneyGobblePhotography
Article courtesy of Patti Thomas, Co-founder and Breeder, Photography by Patti Thomas and Brittney Gobble
In mid August of 2010, on and ordinary day, I entered my veterinarians office to retrieve one of my Sphynx kittens from his neuter surgery. As fate would have it, as I entered through the doors there stood a lady with pictures in her hands. She was speaking to the office staff and as soon as the staff noticed me walk through the doors, they said to the lady “you need to talk to her, she is a Sphynx breeder and she can maybe help you.” The lady turned to me and handed the pictures to me. “Do you have any idea what kind of cat this is?” she asked. I took one look at the pictures and for a moment I was without words. I searched my mind trying to think if I had ever seen in my nearly 10 years of breeding and studying Sphynx, such an unusual site. I had not. I looked at her and said. “I don’t think this is a Sphynx,
but to be honest I don’t know what it is. I really have not seen anything quite like it before.”
neticist so I was hopeful she could help. I submitted pictures of my new discovery and she was immediately fascinated.
This was the beginning of the journey of the LYKOI.
She found the new discovery especially interesting as she happened to be doing classroom studies on the hairless gene at that time. She asked me to send DNA saliva samples of the kittens and their mother to determine if they were related to the Sphynx or Devon Rex.
A few weeks later when the kittens, a male and a female, were about 8 weeks old, I took them and their mother in to my home. It was September 3, 2010. I immediately fell in love with them. They were about the most magical creatures I had ever seen. Their energy was captivating. I had no idea what they were, but I knew I as in love with them. They had stolen my heart. I gave them the names Hope and Silver. One of the first things I did after taking them in, was contact Leslie Lyons of UC Davis in California. I knew Dr. Lyons was a world famous cat ge-
Results finally concluded they were not. Whatever they were, they were not related to the Sphynx or Devon Rex. They did not carry the same gene. Whatever they were, they were indeed a nature mutation all of their own. There were then other tests done including testing for skin disease and other feline related diseases. All tests were negative and it was concluded they were of good health. Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
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At that point I was left to decide the fate of these most unusual creatures. Do I end it all at this point and keep these little blessings for myself, or do I share them with the rest of the world? If I decide to share them, how would I best do this? I wanted only the best for the cats. I wanted them to thrive and express themselves in this world they had chosen to enter, appearing as they had chosen to appear, in their natural state. About 6 months later, I finally decided to contact another fellow Sphynx breeder, Johnny Gobble DVM, for help. Dr Gobble had extensive study in genetics. I asked him to come on board with me and offered to gift the kittens and co-own them and their mother as an attempt to possibly develop them as a breed. We had no idea where it was headed. We only knew we were smitten with the kittens and wanted to share them. The first thing we did was to decide on a name for them. We thought they looked like little werewolf’s so I searched for an appropriate name. That is when I found the name Lykoi, or Lykos, which actually means “wolf” in Greek. It was agreed that is what these little mysterious creatures would be named. LYKOI. Another twist of fate happened about 3 months later. Another pair of male and female similar looking kittens were found in an area many miles from where the first pair was found. Johnny Gobble and his wife Brittney Gobble took them in. It was the perfect answer. They were tested and found not to be related to the first pair. It was indeed a moment of happiness as we now had another pair who could offer what was needed to avoid excessive inbreeding to establish the breed. Johnny Gobble began the task of test matings to better understand the genetics behind this natural mutation. He conducted further testing including deeper research in to the dynamics behind the partial hair loss. It was discovered there was actually an incomplete hair follicle formation that did not allow for hair growth in particular areas. Test matings also revealed the Lykoi mutation is a recessive gene. Tests were performed for heart disease and other feline diseases and disorders and after all tests were completed, it was determined the breed was of sound nature and health. Further test mating and outcrossing using only the domestic shorthair black
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cats, would reveal a sturdy breed. By the second generation of outcrossing, a new, healthy breed had finally begun to take shape. The Lykoi had proven itself worthy, and the first bred baby Lykoi, Daciana, was born in September of 2011. Over that past 10 -15 years there have been other previously reported citings of the same unique cat. Four different litters of cats have been reported over the years, but none were used for breeding as no testing was done and it was thought to be some genetic disorder or disease that caused the hair loss. Testing has since confirmed otherwise. The Lykoi has since gained overwhelming popularity among the general public. They are not everyone’s cup of tea, but they are indeed quite an attraction. Those who have had the privilege of meeting one and holding them have only one thing to say .... “They are magical”. Their personality is enticing, active, curious, extremely intelligent, and affectionate. They require little maintenance. They are not considered hypoallegenic. They do require human interaction and companionship and once owned, they come to worship their humans and keep them fully entertained with their never ending antics and unexpected kitty pranks. It is hoped if all goes well, the Lykoi will be available to pet homes by early 2016. There is still work to be done to completely establish the breed to its fullest potential but we hope to present a healthy, happy, incredibly unique breed. We are also working to gain acceptance in the show hall and cat fancy. We have reached our goals so far and are now ready to advance to Preliminary New Breed with TICA.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lykoiwolfcats-Co-Founder-andBreeder/675005875878535 http://www.aquariusphynx.com
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First Lykoi arrives in South Africa
Photo by Theresa Fouche
Photography by Theresa Fouche
Susi, the Lykoi, arrived in South Africa on 28 March 2014. She is extremely playful and full of energy just like the “energiser bunny”! She just never stops!!!
Photo by Theresa Fouche
Susi is the most lovable kitten that I’ve had in a long time.
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She asks to be picked up, by jumping around my legs and loves to sit on my lap. She also loves to lie in my arm on her back and me rubbing her tummy. Suzette van den Berg Vande Bald American Shorthair & Lykoi
Kittycat Issue 2 March/April 2014
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What is it like to own a Lykoi? Photography by Brittney Gobble
I have adored cats all my life, but I have to say the Lykoi breed has such an intriguing personality! They are very scent and prey driven, so they love “stalking” around the house. The first time one of the Lykoi was professional photographed, she didn’t care about any of the typical cat toys....but when the photographer brought out a stick that had been sprayed with “deer scent” the Lykoi girl went nearly on point for the stick!
Photo by Brittney Gobble | www.brittneygobble.com https://www.facebook.com/BrittneyGobblePhotography
The breed is very loyal and loves snuggling, but whereas some of the “Velcro” cat breeds will refuse to leave you alone, the Lykoi will take “no” for an answer if you are too busy and will go amuse themselves...as long as their owner is still in their view! They are also very aware of their surroundings. We have found that when having vercourse when you look like a werewolf it isn’t hard to become the center of attention!
Photo by Brittney Gobble | www.brittneygobble.com https://www.facebook.com/BrittneyGobblePhotography
Photo by Brittney Gobble | www.brittneygobble.com https://www.facebook.com/BrittneyGobblePhotography
Brittney Gobble
Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
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You’ve got talent! International Artist
Brittney Gobble I have been an animal lover from the day I was able to crawl after a cute puppy or kitten. When I was about 6 years old, I told my mom I was going to be “rich” one day. When she asked what “rich” meant, I quickly responded “It means I can have lots of pets!” I suppose I have achieved that dream...I married my veterinarian (Johnny Gobble, the love of my life) in 2006 and now breed and show Sphynx cats and Lykoi Cats. A few years ago I picked up a camera to begin trying to take better photographs of my kittens, and from there my love of photography has grown. There is nothing that I love more the capturing the “look” in an animal’s eye that truly shows their personality.
Photo by Brittney Gobble
As I started studying the work of human photographers that I admire, I became jealous of all their beautiful props and scenes (especially the newborn photographers). So I started acquiring miniature props and accessories to use in my studio. I have so much fun finding or buying the pieces and being able to create the scenes in that I have put together in my head (my ideas often come in the middle of the night!). As my camera and lighting technique improved, so has my skills in Photoshop and while I definitely enjoy keeping things as “true to life” as possible, it has been fun to start experimenting by adding little faeries and other “magical” elements to my photos. I still love photographing my own kittens and pleasing their new families, I also have enjoyed working with clients and also doing photo sessions at our local shelter.
Photo by Brittney Gobble
Whether it is a pedigreed pet, or a beautiful little mixed breed at the shelter, I positively love picking up my camera and looking at them through the lens...there is nothing else quite like it! Photo by Brittney Gobble
Photo by Brittney Gobble
Photo by Brittney Gobble
www.brittneygobble.com https://www.facebook.com/BrittneyGobblePhotography
41 Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
Photo by Brittney Gobble | www.brittneygobble.com https://www.facebook.com/BrittneyGobblePhotography
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Photo by Brittney Gobble | www.brittneygobble.com https://www.facebook.com/BrittneyGobblePhotography
Photo by Brittney Gobble | www.brittneygobble.com https://www.facebook.com/BrittneyGobblePhotography
Regular Feature
You’ve got talent! Photographer
Cynthia Poel Barker as compared to dogs, and to start to accept that perhaps my cat was not going to turn into a lap cat! As I continued to photograph at the shelter, I learned a bit about how to capture a cat’s personality and to make it comfortable so that the photos reflected a calm and loving animal. During a photo session I especially like to have my volunteer pet the cat or kitten, hold it, play with a feather toy with it, and show the cat interacting with a human as I believe that is what appeals to potential adopters.
I grew up with dogs, then when I married and my last name became “Barker”, my husband and I spent 35 years being owned by a number of canines. In 2009 I found out about the dismal state of our city’s animal control facility and being a new photography-enthusiast, I offered to take photos of the adoptable animals to post on social media and to use for networking. The facility also took in cats, and I was amazed and thrilled with how beautiful they were and how much I enjoyed photographing them. I had been around my parents and two sisters’ cats for years, but somehow through photographing the homeless cats I really connected for the first time with felines. The facility only had 9 cages to hold cats so it wasn’t long before I started fostering cats to give them more time to get adopted and thus save their lives. I only fostered 4 or 5 cats before I failed at fostering and adopted an older kitten. I have slowly educated myself about felines, their unique approach to life
43 Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
Every week I look forward to meeting the new cats and kittens at the shelter. My rescue friends and I are always saying that somehow our city gets the most adorable and beautiful cats, it is true. One year ago the shelter was full again and this time I chose to take home a nursing mama and her 6 kittens plus one orphaned kitten that was added to her litter that she accepted. I knew nothing about newborn kittens, nothing about nursing mamas. But we all survived and now one year later I still have 3 of her kittens and the mama cat as they have not been adopted, as well as my first cat and two large dogs. My husband and I are always commenting about how different each cat is, and how gorgeous ours are. I thought about trying to earn money as a pet photographer, but found that I do not enjoy the business side of photography and that really all I want to do is photograph homeless animals so they can be adopted. I photograph for my city’s animal control facility every week, for my vet who rescues animals, and oc-
casionally for other rescues that need photos to network an animal. Back in 2009 when I first started shooting at animal control, I also helped found a rescue group that exists solely to help the animals that come into the city’s facility, the Friendswood Animal Advocates. We campaigned before our city council and were able to have the city build a brand new animal control facility. Then we were able to get them to fund a new position of Shelter Manager to work with the adoptable animals. We are a 501c3, and we hold fundraisers (where I sometimes hold mini photo sessions of pets to raise money). Most of our money goes to medical care for the impounded animals as the city does not pay for any vet care. We network animals in our community that need to be rehomed to try to keep them out of the facility, we post lost animals on our Facebook page, we take animals to adoption events, we also pay for a SpayNeuter Assistance Program (SNAP) mobile unit to come in to targeted communities to spay and neuter the animals in areas where a lot of the homeless animals are found. We have plans to go before our city officials to promote a Trap-NeuterReturn program for the feral cats. I have lived in this city for 35 years and had no idea about the homeless animal crisis. Of course, it did not really exist when we first moved here, the town was very small. I also think that animals have become disposable in our society. My rescue group would like to spend more time in schools so we can educate the children about how to be proper animal guardians. There is a never-ending list of issues that we need to address.
Early on when I started photographing at the shelter I took an online Photography class where I was told about Hearts Speak http://www. heartsspeak.org. They are a group of artists from around the world who use their talent to help shelter and rescued animals get adopted. Lots of the members are photographers that go into the shelters and foster homes, but some work in other mediums. The founders recognized that blurry cell phone images of animals cowering in cages does not help them get adopted like beautiful, happy, relaxed, well-lit and sharply focused photographs do. They have begun receiving grants that allow them to travel to high-kill, high-volume shelters and teach the staff how to take great photos. They are also helping to buy cameras for the staff to use. I am very proud to be a member of such a passionate group of animal advocates.
Animal Rescue is not for people who want to sleep well at night. But for me, once I found out what a horrible situation we have in my city (and especially in the Southern United States where I live), I could not sleep if I did not do everything I can to help the animals that cannot help themselves. Humans have caused the plight of those animals. There is a quote that resonates with me: “Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight” by Albert Schweitzer. It is definitely heartwrenching to see the state of some of the animals that get impounded, and I get angry that humans do such horrendous things to them, or allow them to happen. I absolutely hate it when I learn that an animal I have met and photographed has been euthanized for whatever reason they give --- no space, too aggressive, ill with untreatable medical issues. We cry, we rant,
we don’t sleep well some nights, but then I try to remember all the awesome animals that have found new homes and I am glad to be a part of that. Another great quote by Albert Schweitzer: “There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.” And now I have a houseful of rescued cats (and dogs) to help me find that refuge.
My links: http://cjbarker.smugmug.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ FriendswoodAnimalAdvocates https://www.facebook.com/ cynthia.p.barker
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45 Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
Regular Feature
You’ve got talent! Painter
Jenny Ras I was born and raised on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. My mother was an artist, so I grew up in a house where art materials were always on hand. As a child, I loved to draw, and filled many many drawing books, and every bit of butchers paper I could get my hands on. I dabbled in a bit of art at school, but didn’t really dedicate myself to it. Then, as an adult, life got busy with raising children, I have four, three of whom have disabilities, so there really wasn’t time for much else. My daughters are all wonderful artists, and I seeing their talent and skill develop, I started to feel the desire to create once again. I had dabbled in watercolour in the past, but it wasn’t for me. I didn’t have the time, room or inclination to mess about with oils or acrylics, I needed something I could just pick up and do when I had the time. In March of last year (2013), I saw some artwork online done in coloured pencil. Something just clicked, and I just knew I could do it. So, I bought some Prismacolors, and I haven’t looked back. I naturally gravitated to my favourite subjects...animals, especially cats. I find myself doing a lot of dog portrait commissions, but I think I enjoy the cat portraits the most. Cat’s fur can be very labour intensive, with each portrait taking anywhere between 20 and 30 hours, but it’s worth the effort when a client receives and is happy with their commission. So, with each artwork, I’m still learning, and I hope to continue to grow as an artist and continue to challenge myself, and of course, share my art with people all around the world. https://www.facebook.com/jennydrawsallthethings
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Regular Feature
You’ve got talent! Painter
Reynel Kruger Reynel Kruger is a local artist based in Doringbaai who paints pets and colourful fruit and flowers with oil and watercolours. Besides drawing and painting, she also enjoys travelling, baking, reading and taking her granddaughter for camping trips. Reynel can be commissioned to do paintings for you of your cats and/or other pets.
much as the owners as possible I had to paint a little more photo realistic then before. I also find that my work is becoming more colourful.
When did you start painting?
Well, there is line and shape and form and space and texture and value and colour and all combinations thereof which together with imagination can have a very profound impact on the viewer, but all of that would mean very little to me if I do not have fun while creating the painting.
31 years ago at the age of 19, I started experimenting with clay, bought a wheel and kiln and later on taught the art of pottery. My first paintings were designed to go on stoneware and porcelain mugs, plates and teapots. I always loved sketching with graphite and maintained the practise ever since. I took up watercolours in the year 2000 and fell in love with it. I started painting with oil paints in 2010 because it is not necessary for my collectors to frame oil paintings immediately or at all as framing can be very expensive. Did you attend Art school? No. In the past I always painted for my own enjoyment but what started as a hobby grew into a business. Having said that, I love to learn and took classes at every opportunity I came across and will continue to do so. How do you choose the subjects you paint? The subject isn’t always decided on beforehand. Colour as well as light and shadow on subjects quite often attracts me. I may see something and have a burning desire to paint it. I also get commissioned to paint cat and dog portraits very often and of then I work from photos. How long does it normally take you to complete a painting? That is very difficult to tell but it takes anything from 2 x 8 hour shifts to 5 x 8 hour shifts. The more detailed the longer it takes. I do not like to paint in artificial light and when it gets dark I stop painting. What is your favourite subject to paint? Will it be predictable if I say cats? My aim is to portray a little of each cat’s personality in every painting I make. How has your style changed over the years? I started out painting very tight and then loosened up somewhat but after painting 30 cats in 30 days my style became more tight again. To make the kitties look as
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What do you believe is the key element in creating art?
Tell us about 30 cats in 30 days? I have two cats named Ava and Finn. Ava is a strongwilled, very independent lady of the house and Finn cannot love you enough. He demands attention, hugs and kisses and will drape himself around my neck like a scarf. I started a group on Facebook with the name of Katte en hul dinge so I and other lovers of cats can brag about our beloved kitties. On this group I saw so many gorgeous cats and one evening just took up my brush and left over watercolour paints and painted one of the cats from the group. I posted the photo of the painting on the group. People loved the paintings so much and that gave me the idea to paint 30 cats in 30 days. That idea snowballed and ever since I am painting cats galore! What has been your greatest artistic success? I would say that it is the complete ‘sold-out’ of my 30 cats in 30 days project as well as the very many kitties I was commissioned to paint thereafter. What are your plans for 2014? My word for 2014 is focus. That means three lines of paintings which I want to pursue this year, marine paintings, pet portraits and very colourful still life’s in pinks, lavender and orange. During May this year I plan to attend a workshop on portraiture. A total revamp of my website and blog will happen during the second half of the year.
www.reynelkruger.com reynel@doringbaai.co.za
Photo by Reynel Kruger | www.reynelkruger.com
Do you know of any talented artists that we can feature in Kittycat Magazine? Please email:
kittycatsa@gmail.com
Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
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Special Needs Cats Braille When I saw Braille the first time on a animal rescue group in Dubai, I fell in love with this special boy. This is the photo that I saw the first time, it was before the big eye operation to clean out the infected eye sockets. He had a difficult life, he was thrown out on the streets when he was only 6 weeks, and someone took him but kept him in a cage. Later the lady did not want to take care of him anymore and she dumped him at an animal shelter. From there his wonderful foster mom took him in, paid for a very expensive eye surgery. Had him fixed, gave all the injections and searched for a forever home. Some people said put him down, how can he ever live a normal life. I told my 3 amazing friends in Dubai, I wish I could take him, but it will be too expensive to bring him to S.A. These wonderful ladies said they will arrange and pay for everything. I fetched him at the airport on 22 October 2012. He was so happy to be out of the cage and loved me all the way to Pretoria. Got home and he immediately started to smell the house, like scanning it, and within 30 minutes he started to eat and run around, without any problems. But my boy had a bad habit, he bites he used to attack me if he did not get his way, or if you walk in front of him where he wants to go. This happened daily and my arms looks like a war zone. With lots of love and patience I got him to where he is today. Hardly ever bite, still takes a chance once in a while. It took me 2 weeks to teach him throw and fetch, the ball must have a bell so he can hear it, and when he brings it back to me he will place it inside my hand. I also made a video of that and it is on YouTube. Braille is super intelligent, he never runs into furniture, unless he is frighten by a loud noise outside. He loves my other cat Kedi, and even sleeps on top of me sometimes, this took a year to get him to do that. He is curious and follows me like a shadow. Braille can catch a fly without any problems, he will chase that fly until he killed it oh and he talks non stop today he wants to 'see' everything I do and is so relaxed. Thea Temelevren
Lucky Luciano I have a boy who is blind, his name is Lucky Luciano. When I lived in Israel, I rescued him from the bushes in front of a house in the complex we were staying in. He has been blind since birth, but you wouldn’t say this cat is blind as he manages to get around fine and is the naughtiest kitty of the lot. He plays really well with a ball and loves to chase after my other cats. I am so very glad that I rescued him because otherwise he would be dead today as he wouldn’t have survived on the streets of Israel. Francine Kruger
49 Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
Book Reviews No More Scaredy Cat By Sara Goldenthal Reviewed by Patsy Smyth
By Anyone who knows cats knows that our feline families are just as prone to negative emotions and stress like us. It’s an interesting read for everyone, especially those who are involved in the rescue and shelter of abandoned or otherwise homeless cats. This is a book that details how to deal with the emotional aspects of animals which can sometimes be the most important side of animal rescue. It is based on the author’s own experience of ten years in this field and deals with alternative medicines, in particular the Bach Flower Remedies. She details her use of these in a practical and effective manner. Even if you are not interested in alternative medicines there is also very practical advice for the handling of cats that are emotionally volatile for whatever reason they became that way. If you are thinking of venturing into the world of animal rescue or fostering, this is a very good place to start gaining some knowledge in dealing with our terrified and stressed fur friends. I have been a fan of alternative medications for a long time having used them on my cats for more than 20 years with great success. I attribute saved lives to alternative medicines including my current 2 boys, who, by all vet accounts,
should not have lived beyond 10 days. They are now 10 years old. This book appealed to me from that point of view and also in providing advice on what remedies can be used. I have known of the Bach Flower Remedies for many years but never thought of using it on my cats. I’m thrilled with my new found insight and will definitely be giving them a try in the future, starting with making trips to the vet less traumatic!! This is not a full book as such, but more of a booklet judging by what I was given to review, but that does not detract from its usefulness in many circumstances, for many types of animals in most emotional circumstances. Perhaps you can try it on yourself when you’ve had to deal with something really traumatic ;) It’s hard to rate this book. I found it easy to read and informative. I will definitely recommend it. The only thing I’d like to see, maybe in future, is a deeper breakdown of what remedies can be used for specific situations of feline trauma. For example, specific remedies for exhaustion or severe abuse or abandonment etc. I give it 9 purrs.
KITTYCAT OF THE MONTH COMPETITION Email your photos and a sentence about your cat to: kittycatsa@gmail.com www.facebook.com/KittycatSA
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How I met my cat? Garfield I have wanted a cat for a long time and when I moved into my new place in 2006 the first thing I noticed (actually when I went to view) was that the previous tenants had a cat and that was enough to convince me to get one. My employer’s wife promised me that she would get me one from the SPCA but it just did not happen! On the 23rd December 2006 I phoned her and she was on her way to the office but said she did not fetch one for me as it was way too hot that day. Imagine my disappointment – I had already chosen a name for my kitty – Garfield. When Lynne arrived at the office she had some people helping her to carry wine boxes in as our clients and our management team each got a nice bottle of wine. All the boxes were put in my office so that distribution could happen from there. At the time I was busy on the phone with the boss-man. As I turned around I saw this little ginger head pop up out of one of the boxes and on the phone or not I just shouted “My Garfield is here!” Maybe that is why the boss is still a bit deaf? Garfield was so tiny but made himself heard by all. He is now almost a grumpy old man but love him to bits and can not imagine going home and not having him waiting for me at the door. Madre Horne Mom to Garfield
How did you meet your cat? Send us your story and photograph and be featured in our next magazine. Email: kittycatsa@gmail.com
51 Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
How I met my cat? Romeo How Romeo came into my life.. Cupcake my previous kitty was a loafer.. 1 night he came home with 3 black stray kittys followin him.. They use to eat cupcakes food and play with him, even though cupcake was much older he never hurt the kittens.. He was very attached to the smallest black n white one.. Everytime that kitten tried to leave cupcake grabbed him around the neck and brought him back in.. Few weeks later I found out Cupcake had Leukemia.. I had to put him down as he was very close to death.. Since cupcake was gone.. This lil black n white kitty just moved into my house.. I couldn’t touch or carry him.. After much effort, now few months later... He sleeps with me n I can hold him.. Its clear to see this little kitty (Romeo) was gods gift as it was impossible for me to live without Cupcake, but Romeo kept me going.. He saved my life... This is the story of my lil stray kitty... Mandy
Brooklyn A high school girl rescued my little ginger moggy boy in the veld and was nursing him as a baby. She was buying something for him at the pharmacy, and he was wrapped in a blanket. I went to look at what she had, and these two little green eyes looked back at me and Brooklyn meowed at me. It was love at first sight. She said she was looking for a home for him. I had never had a cat before, so I gave her my number and told her to give me the weekend to think about it. A week passed by with no word and I had resigned myself to not getting a cat, when I got an SMS asking if I was still interested in taking him. I picked him up the next day and I’m so glad I decided to take him. He has brought me nothing but joy, a calming presence in my life. And he is the king of his castle... Completely spoilt rotten. I love my cat! Wouldn’t have things any other way. Here Brooklyn is in his cat tree and his bed in the lounge .... Laura-Lee Sharp
Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
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2014 CAT SHOW
Calendar
DATE
SHOW
SHOW MANAGER
CONTACT
03.05.2014
PCS (KZN)
JANE GOBLE
082 784 3126
10.05.2014
CdCi and AICA (Wellington)
JOHAN LAMPRECHT
lampr@mweb.co.za
10.05.2014
SACC Kitten Show (Gauteng)
INGRID DE WET
011 849 4870 PM
10.05.2014
KZNCC (Durban, Double show)
TBA
dandipets@telkomsa.net
24.05.2014
ECCC (PE)
JOHAN GROENEWALD
041 368 2948
24.05.2014
TCS (Johannesburg)
ATHYLLE CAW
011 234 0126 PM
31.05.2014
WPCC (Cape Town)
IAN MOORE
021 7122001 PM
31.05.2014
FFC (Gauteng, Double show)
ETRECIA BESTER
083 442 1512
31.05.2014
AICA/OSRBG (Pet Expo Cape)
JOHAN LAMPRECHT
lampr@mweb.co.za
01.06.2014
AICA/OSRBG (Pet Expo Cape)
JOHAN LAMPRECHT
lampr@mweb.co.za
07.06.2014
PCS (KZN)
JANE GOBLE
082 784 3126
21.06.2014
SACATS (Pretoria)
JOHAN LAMPRECHT
lampr@mweb.co.za
21.06.2014
TBCC (Cape Town)
KIM CUTTER
021 461 9505 PM
21.06.2014
CCC (Pretoria, Single)
DANIEL GERMISHUYS
016 987 1170
28.06.2014 - 29.06.2014
AICA/OSRGB (Kirkwood)
JOHAN LAMPRECHT
lampr@mweb.co.za
28.06.2014 - 29.06.2014
ECCC (Kirkwood)
JOHAN GROENEWALD
041 368 2948
05.07.2013
ABCC (Cape Town)
LIANNE MULLER
082 490 7567
12.07.2014
SACC COTY (RCC, Gauteng)
JAN VAN ROOYEN
011 616 4687 PM
18.07.2014
WODAC (SACC, Gauteng, Gallagher)
JAN VAN ROOYEN
011 616 4687 PM
19.07.2014 - 20.07.2014
WODAC (SACC Gauteng, Gallagher)
JAN VAN ROOYEN
011 616 4687 PM
26.07.2014
FFC (Gauteng, Single show)
ETRECIA BESTER
083 442 1512
MAY
JUNE
JULY
LEGEND ABCC (All Breeds Cat Club), AICA (African Independent Cat Association), CASA (Cats Association of South Africa), CCC (Cleopatra Cat Club), CdCI (Chats du Cap Cat Club), CFC (Cat Fancier’s Club), ECCC (Eastern Cape Cat Club), FFC (Feline Cat Club), NC/FS CC (Northern Cape/Free State Cat Club), NCS (National Cat Society), OSRBG (The Oriental, Siamese & Related Breeds Group), PCS (Provincial Cat Society), RCC (Rand Cat Club), SACC (South African Cat Club), TBCC (The Big Cat Club), TCS (Transvaal Cat Society, WPCC (Western Province Cat Club)
53 Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
2014 CAT SHOW
Calendar
DATE
SHOW
SHOW MANAGER
CONTACT
02.08.2014
KZNCC (Durban, Double show)
TBA
dandipets@telkomsa.net
09 08.2013
ABCC (Cape Town)
LIANNE MULLER
082 490 7567
09.08.2014
CFC (Johannesburg)
INGRID DE WET
011 849 4870 PM
10.08.2014
AICA (Durbanville)
JOHAN LAMPRECHT
lampr@mweb.co.za
10.08.2014
CASA
JOHAN LAMPRECHT
lampr@mweb.co.za
16.08.2014
KZN TOP CAT (PCS)
JANE GOBLE
082 784 3126
16.08.2014
NCS (Boksburg, Single Show)
AUDREY KENNEY
mwpaws@mweb.co.za
23.08.2014
WPCC (Cape Town)
IAN MOORE
021 712 2001 PM
30.08.2014
RCC (Johannesburg)
JAN VAN ROOYEN
011 616 4687 PM
06. 09.2014
NC/FS CC (Bloemfontein)
WENDY WALHAM
083 633 3344
13.09.2014
ECCC (Port Elizabeth)
JOHAN GROENEWALD
041 368 2948
13.09.2014
CAPE TOP CAT
IAN MOORE
021 712 2001 PM
20.09.2014
CFSA COTY/GARS (Gauteng)
ETRECIA BESTER
083 442 1512
27.09.2014
GAUTENG TOP CAT (RCC)
JAN VAN ROOYEN
011 616 4687 PM
11.10.2014
CdCi/OSRGB/SACATS (Robertson)
JOHAN LAMPRECHT
lampr@mweb.co.za
25.10.2014
CCC
JOHAN LAMPRECHT
lampr@mweb.co.za
25.10.2014
SACATS (Gauteng)
JOHAN LAMPRECHT
loampr@mweb.co.za
CASA / AICA (Durbanville)
JOHAN LAMPRECHT
lampr@mweb.co.za
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER 29.11.2014
PLEASE NOTE Dates are subject to change. Please check the relevant websites (SACC, CFSA, CASA/AICA etc) and also contact the show manager of the shows you would like to attend to confirm date, place & time.
Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
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Show Biz
Cat Show in St. Gallen By Carlee Marrer-Tising, Switzerland
For several years I have been showing my cats in the Swiss national sub-federation of the Fifé (Fédération International Féline). We usually attend shows in Switzerland, but we have also been to shows in Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Germany. After each show I write a brief summary of what happened during the respective day. The following is the report of a Swiss show held in St. Gall, in 2012. It was one of the most amusing shows I have attended. I had three cats with me, each in a different class, but all competing for a certificate toward the title she was currently working on and a chance at a nomination for Best in Show. All three of my cats, Sophie, my red Burmese, and Tamina and Joy, my blue tortie and white Sphynx (mother and daughter), got their certificates. I sometimes have to remind myself that it isn’t a “given” that they get them. I talk to so many other exhibitors who tell me about times when they have been refused a certificate and why. It happened to my Sphynx, Merry Moon, once when a judge, as the 19th
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judge who saw her and the first one to disqualify her, told me she had a tail defect. No certificate! But Merry Moon went on to become a Supreme Champion! In any case, since most of my cats get considered for a nomination for BiS (Best in Show), they, of course, get their certificate, as well. Since little Joy was at her first show where she could be awarded a certificate (she was ten months old to the day yesterday!!), I wasn’t sure how she would be evaluated. The judge asked me which one I preferred, Tamina or Joy. That is a hard question to answer. But I think Tamina has the better type, and I also think she is a very beautiful little cat with her beautiful face and markings, while Joy looks a bit like the type that was popular in the early days of the breed, when the ears weren’t quite so large. Joy is also extremely cute. “Cute,” however, isn’t mentioned in the breed standard! We got to St. Gall quite early in the morning hoping we would be able to get a decent parking place, but it wasn’t meant to be. Unfortunately they waved us on, past the cat-show
parking area to the dog-show area, much, much farther away. This has happened to us every year. (Only last year was an exception, and that’s because we had a TV team with us, filming everything we did because my Burmese, Simeona, was Show St.adult Gall, May Best Swiss Cat in in the female category for the year 2011.) So 18, 2012 we had a long walk to the show hall with all our stuff and the three cats! Fortunately I had just Sophie For several yearsinIher red carrier on wheels and my new haveback been showlittle tapestry pack, also on wheels, so I could pull both things ing my cats in the and didn’t have anything heavy to national subcarry. Swiss My husband, Pius, had the heavier load. We finally got to the federation of the Fifé show hall and the vet check, and there stood the same vet we had last year when they were filming us! When I told him, “Hey, I remember you!” he realized right away who I was, so that was kind of funny. It was also a surprise when the lady responsible for giving us the info. for the show, the catalog, the envelope with info telling us which sector our cage was in, and so forth, said to me, “Aha, you’re here without a TV team this year!” It seems we’ve become celebrities thanks to Simeona! Then we went to work setting up the cage. I wasn’t very impressed with the “cleanliness” of the cage (litter on the bottom!), but at least the cages were in excellent condition otherwise with doors that worked easily so that it was not an ordeal to get the cats in and out like it sometimes is. Then came the wait for my cats to be judged. There was a brief break at 11:00 when we were invited to an “apéro” to celebrate the hosting club’s 35th anniversary. This was very nice with a lovely spread and it was also a welcome break from the waiting. Then after still more waiting, it was Tamina’s turn to be judged. She had the same judge as at the last show when she was nominated for BiS, but the judge nominated a British Shorthair this time. Since she preferred Tamina to Joy, they both went back to their cage with a good evaluation but no nomination. A
Show Biz
few minutes later it was Sophie’s turn. Her judge was Gina Grob, and Gina nominated her for BiS! Yippee!
Nobody came to give me Sophie, Ali was asking, “Where is she?” I said,” I’m right here, behind you.” And he said, “Not you, the little kid!” So it turns out that everybody on stage but me is looking for that little girl, everybody going a different direction. I have no idea when or where they found her, but all of a sudden Ali was talking into the mike again and saying that Grand International Champion Elfin Delight’s Sophie had won unanimously! I had no idea what that change in the voting was all about, but later somebody told me that the judge who had originally nominated the Chartreuse, had written the wrong number down, and that he meant for his vote to go to Sophie rather than to his own nomination. WOW!!
Cat Shows
After that we went to lunch. This wasn’t one of the better meals I’ve had at a cat show! I ordered a chicken drumstick that was so dry and tough, I cut it into pieces and fed it to the cats, who, having better teeth for such meat, were thrilled with it! They really lucked out! The Best in Show ceremony started very early for a change. In fact, I was just darned lucky that I had gone right back to the show hall after lunch and after having bought the cat food we needed. In any case, the category 4 cats were already in their cages and some of them were already on the stage! Then I heard them say that category 3 would be next, so I raced to get Sophie and took her to her cage. Whew! She was safely in her cage by the time the kittens were being judged—hers was the next class to be judged! Just to be on the safe side, I asked where I would have to go up to the stage in the event that she won. The stairs on both sides had no railings at all, but the one side at least had cages, so I figured I could use the cages as a support when I went down the stairs. I simply won’t carry a cat down stairs with no railing because I am just too unsure of my footing (equilibrium issues). When the female neuters were called up on stage I went around to the front to take some pictures. And then the moderator, Ali Wittich, announced the results of the judging. One vote for the Chartreuse, two votes for Sophie. (Nobody held Sophie up as they always do with the winner, so I stopped taking photos and went around to the stairs anyway, not completely sure of what was going on.) And up I went to get my little winner. There was a little girl standing right where I had to walk up, so I asked her if I could please get past her, and a steward asked her what she was doing there in the first place. And then for the next couple of minutes I didn’t have a clue was going on.
Since Sophie would have won anyway, it must have really been important for him to give her his vote! Another unanimous win for her, which really delighted me! So finally the steward handed Sophie to me, somebody else gave me her prize (a hand-painted plate), and somebody else told me there was a large bag of litter for her, too. So suddenly I was on the other side of the stage, where there were no cages next to the stairs. “Bag of litter?!” somebody else suddenly exclaimed. “It’s not LITTER! It’s a bag of FOOD!” She won a huge bag of Hill’s food!! And I thought, “Uh-oh. Pius isn’t going to be a happy camper, having to carry that all the way to the car!” I asked if I could come back for the food, because there was no way I was going to be able to carry Sophie, her prize, and that 12-kilo bag of food all the way back to her cage! And anyway I wanted to go down the other stairs.
with one hand, my arm with the other, started down the stairs, actually pulling me with her, leaned into the curtain to her left (wrongly assuming that there was a wall behind it), and down she went, with me hanging on to her for dear life so she wouldn’t crash to the floor!! Thank goodness I managed to stay upright instead of going right down with her!! After what seemed like way too long, I asked if someone could please help us. (I was beginning to get the giggles.) There we were, frozen in time, Gina halfway lying on her back next to the stairs, with me balancing Sophie in one arm and hanging on to Gina with the other! Somebody helped Gina get up as I went the rest of the way down the stairs without mishap, and some woman I know by sight only told me she’d go with me and take the food to Sophie’s cage! Pius wasn’t there to help as he usually does because he had no idea the BiS had already started. That was quite an adventure to say the least! When I later saw Gina at the Champagne bar, I asked her if she was as glad as I was that we were both still whole! We certainly got a lot of laughs out of our misadventure, the kind of laughing that, once you start, you can’t stop! And so that is the story of this year’s cat show in St. Gall! a
Whenever one of my cats wins and I go on stage to get her or him, I suddenly become oblivious to everything around me, but I did notice that all the judges were smiling at me, holding up their thumbs, and a couple even clapped and congratulated me! Then Gina Grob jumped up and came over to me (that never happened before!) and for asked me why I didn’t want to go down the stairs where I was, and I said because I want to be able to hold on to the cages over there for support. She said, well, here, let ME help you. With that she grabbed the prize plate Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
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The ramblings of a crazy cat lady By Rita Smith, South AfIt was love at first sight when I first saw her. I wanted her. We had a special connection but sadly she was not for sale. A couple of days later, at around 17h00, the call came through. ”If you still want this cat you must come get her tonight.” Driving 2 hours to collect her in my candy pink mini, I was overjoyed!! I named her Zaza, a Havana girl, feisty, a Diva, I paid R250 for her and she came with a condition … I had to show her and so my love affair with Orientals and cat shows started. Our first show was in Durban, we l ived in Melmoth, a long way when you drive a little Mini. We arrived at the Moth Hall in Old Fort road at 06h00 that morning. Those days we had to be there early as the Vet had to check your cat, then you had some time for grooming and then, once benched, you, the owner / exhibitor had to leave the hall till 13h00, while judging took place. The public was welcome from a certain time but I was not allowed in the Hall. It was nerve racking. Peeping into the hall you saw 2 ladies dressed in white coats, with a trolley going from cage to cage, taking a cat out, looking it over and returning it to its cage. It was very quiet in the Hall, people spoke in hushed tones. All I could do was to sit in the Mini and wait! I think I read more than one Mills and Boons during those waiting periods. Luckily my late husband was allowed in the Hall as a member of the public and he came back with reports of “She is a natural!” “ She sits up straight with her front paws together as she knows she is being watched” and so the little bits of news came in drips and drabs, as my husband came in and out of the Hall.
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When, eventually, I was allowed back in, the ribbons were on the cages. My heart was pounding as I approached her cage. Oh my! How can one be so proud of one’s pet? I then realised that she was no pet but my baby, my Princess. She came first in her category and, if I remember correctly, there were 13 cats in the same category. It was an awesome, awesome feeling to receive that first ribbon. Today I laugh at those times as she was in kitten class and it was a small little black and white ribbon, but that first ribbon was extra special. As far as I was concerned it was HUGE! That was MY BABY and she did well. I was so proud and could not wait for the next show. 25 years on and I now show an Oriental black smoke boy that is doing exceptionally well and I am still the proudest, most protective show mama there is. It is a fantastic hobby, where you meet animal lovers who all feel their cat is the best. It’s all about fun and love for ones furry babies. Not to mention the friends one makes. Just remember: you don’t have to have a pedigree to show nor be a breeder, there are some moggies with the most wonderful purrsonalities and some that could kick some pedigree ass’s had they conformed to standard. Looking forward to seeing you at the next show!
My Oriental black smoke boy, Othello
Cat Shows By Leanne Frobel, USA My first cat show was a Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) show April 2008 in Green Bay, WI. I entered my cream European Burmese, Linus. It was Linus’ first show too, and he was 18 months old at the time. Linus was my first purebred, pedigreed cat. I got him as a “pet,” but he did mature nicely, and his breeders suggested I could try showing him and see how he’d do. His breeders helped me enter him, gave me grooming advise, and explained how shows and judging worked. Linus was somewhat scared and nervous at his first show, but that is not unusual. It often takes a couple shows for a cat realize they will be okay.
After a couple shows, Linus relaxed more, and enjoyed going to shows. He eventually earned enough points in CFA for his Grand Premier title. Grand Premier is equal to Grand Champion, but for spays and neuters. Later, I also took him to American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) shows, and he became a Quadruple Grand Champion Alter in ACFA.
- Championship (intact/breeder cats 8 months and older) - Premiership/Alters (spayed/neutered cats 8 months and older)
Linus’ show accomplishments include:
- Household Pets (4 months to adult mixed breed or purebreds with disqualifying faults).
* CFA Grand Premier
- Kittens (4-8 months old)
I showed Linus in Premiership. Cats shows fall on weekends, and usually have 6-8 rings with a different judge in each ring. Judges are not allowed to confer, so your cat has a chance to win awards in each ring. After the judge finishes judging all the cats in a class, they will post their final - their top 10 cats in the class. Purebreds are judged to the written breed standard for their breed. The breed standard describes how a “perfect” cat of the breed should look. Breed standards describe things such as head, ears, muzzle, profile, eye shape and eye color, body, legs, feet, tail, coat and coat color. The cats the judge feels meet their breed standard the closest get picked for the judge’s final. In the Household Pet (HHP) class, there is no breed standard, so they are judged on personality, health, and grooming/presentation.
Linus’ breeders and I are very proud of him!
Linus and I had fun traveling to shows in WI, IL, and MN. I met a lot of friends and good people along the way. It is a fun hobby, and it’s fun to see all the different breeds at a cat show. I have since got another European Burmese from Linus’ breeders, and showed him too. I also got a Tonkinese, and had fun showing and learning about a different breed. Linus has recently “retired” from the shows at 7 years old.
Most cat shows have four classes:
* ACFA Inter-American 2nd Best European Burmese Alter 2012-2013
* CFA’s 9th Best European Burmese in Premiership Nationally 20082009 * CFA’s 6th Best European Burmese in Premiership Nationally 20112012 * ACFA Quadruple Grand Champion Alter * ACFA North Central Region’s 16th Best Alter 2011-2012 * ACFA Inter-American 29th Best Alter 2011-2012 * ACFA Inter-American Best European Burmese Alter 2011-2012 * First European Burmese to Grand in ACFA * First European Burmese to Grand in two different associations (CFA & ACFA) Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
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Diesel’s First Cat Show Photo by Theresa Fouche
By Karen de Justa, South Africa
Rachel and I fell in love with the Maine Coon breed when we met my uncles Maine Coon in 2011. He was big and beautiful and a personality to boot. So we decided when it was time to get another baby that would be the breed for us. In 2013 we decided it was time to get another family member and started looking around at the different Breeders. We were lucky to get onto the waiting list at the Shangri-La Cattery with one of the litters that were due in the 2nd half of 2013. This meant that we would get a very special, early Christmas present. My sweet little boy was born on our 6th Anniversary. So from day one this made him very special in our eyes and we had not even met him yet. When we saw the first photos of him and his litter, we liked him from the start, when we saw the beautiful markings on his back. Vivian Wright, owner of the Shangri-La Cattery, had named him Garratt.
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Our other cat’s names are Buddie and Squeak and Rachel and I are both of the mind that our children’s names should reflect their personalities. So we had to wait for Garratt’s homecoming to decide to either keep his given name or rename him. On the 29th November 2013 I went to collect our little one. He was so sweet and soft and all I wanted to do was hold him. I eventually got us home and took him straight up to his bedroom, where everything was ready and waiting for him. While I was sorting out supper, Rachel was in his room with him. When I popped in to see how they were doing, Rachel very excitedly told me about the way Garratt was purring and how loud he was. So after some discussion Garratt become Diesel, as he purred like a little diesel engine. Usually with a new kitten, it is a process to introduce them to the
other cats in the house. After a few days, Diesel had settled down and wanted to start exploring his new home. He was a very confident and strong willed baby and soon overcame all the barriers and goals that we had set for him, faster than we expected. Diesel has a way of keeping us on our toes and entertaining us. In his first 6 weeks he fell in the bath, broke a glass kettle and slid down the bannister. The Maine Coon breed are considered to be the clowns of the cat world and Diesel has proved this correct. Diesel’s first show was at the Cleopatra Cat Club on the 15 March 2014. Diesel was not very impressed with me at being woken up early and taken on a trip to Pretoria, so I think I was the only nervous one.
Diesel was very sulky all morning and not impressed about be taken out his cage and walked around the room to the judges. I was nervous at how he would react to being held by the judges but he surprised me and was very docile. It also helped that the Judges were very gentle with all the babies. The Judges explained the process to me about how they evaluate the kittens. They are judged on the width of their ears, the length of their tails, the muscles in their backs and so much more. Diesel was nominated by both Judges to proceed to the next round. As I had not known what expect of the day, I was very excited that Diesel got nominated for the next round. If that
was all he was going to achieve that day, I was happy with that. However my son had other ideas. In the next round, Diesel was presented with “Best Medium Hair Kitten” and again put through to the next round. Well this blew my socks off as I was not expecting him to get any titles, after all there were so many beautiful kittens. Diesel then proceeded to get “Best Medium Hair” and “Cat of the Day”. When the final announcement came,
beautiful cats in attendance and a few breeds that I had not seen before. Diesel was not in the best mood and ignored me, but he still did well, coming 1st and 2nd in the first round. He was nominated to be 1 of the 6 finalists in ‘Best medium Hair Kitten’, however he was knocked out of the competition at this stage. We are meeting and getting to know lots of new people and cat breeds, so keep an eye out for us on the show circuit.
I was in shock and it took a few seconds for me to realise that they were talking about my son being ‘Cat of the Day’. I was very overwhelmed and shocked and swamped with all the well-wishers that I barely remember what came next. Saturday the 5th April was our second show, held by Breeders of Rex and Sphynx. There were over 200
Photo by Theresa Fouche
During the wait for the Kitten category, I walked around to the various exhibitors and looked to see what everyone else was doing. There were so many beautiful cats and kittens at the show, I had no idea how the Judges were going to be able to choose the best out of each category.
We would LOVE to hear YOUR cat show stories.
Please email your story and photos to :
kittycatsa@gmail.com
Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
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A real life fairy tale ... the Rags to Riches story of Pippin By Jen Rogers, Australia Pippy was never going to stay, I was going to find him a home, we had too many cats as it was. Yeah right said all my friends, he’ll stay! No way says I! When my partner even said he didn’t know why I was pretending to find him a home, I realised that Pippy had already found his new home. Pippin integrated with our furry crew really well, his main partner is crime is Miss Marie, our Foreign White. I call them the “Supermodel” and the “Rugby Player” as they are so different in looks but so wild together! I show my Balinese, and usually with a lot of success, so I decided to take Pippin along to our first show, a Pet Expo, and see if he liked it. It was a massive, 2 day, 8 ring show, with lots of public. I was a bit concerned BUT he just loved it. One of my show cats, SmudgeWillow Honky Tonk Man, is a super show cat, and it was like he gave Pippin secret tutorials on how to behave. In his first show out of the 8 rings, he won 7 of them! He then went on to win Best Companion Exhibit in 4 and shared the other 3. A new little show star was born! Once upon a time there was a very cute tabby and white kitten who left his mother and brothers and sisters to live with a new family. One night he went to sleep as usual and the next day he woke up in a strange place. It was dirty, smelly and he was very hungry and thirsty and very, very scared!! He cried out “Help me, help me” and much to his relief he heard a kind voice asking him if he was OK. He ran towards the voice calling out and tried to get through the fence to his saviour but he couldn’t, it was too high. And then she turned and walked away. He cried because he was so sad. But then she came back with a box, picked him up and he purred and purred and the she popped him in the box and brought him home and that was how the Rags to Riches story of Pippin the kitten begins. Hi, my name is Jen and I have 14 cats. Balinese, Oriental Longhairs, a Foreign White, a Munchkin, a Burmese and now a very gorgeous domestic shorthair named Pippin. I was visiting my old office for just half an hour and as I was leaving I could hear a kitten crying out in distress. What could I do? Of course I had to go and find him, of course I then had to take him with me. This was obviously a dumped kitten and I couldn’t call myself a cat lover if I had left him behind.
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We continued showing and he continued winning. We laughed and said Pippy was feeding the family! The time came to enter one of the most prestigious shows in the Sydney Show calendar, the Sydney Royal Easter Show. His brother and sister, Honky Tonk Man and Alice were going, should I enter him too? Why not I said. So Pippin had his first bath and was all prepared to go. We arrived and I benched him. There was a beautiful line up of Companions, both adults and another stunning little kitten. Pippy won 2 out of the 3 Kittens rings. Fantastic I say!! But then, the ultimate, he wins Supreme Companion Exhibit in Show in those 2 rings! The Rags to Riches story is complete! I guess it truly was fate I was there for that short period of time. People say how lucky he is to have found me but honestly I think I’m pretty lucky to have found him. In the short time he has been with us he has brought us all (the other cats included) so much laughter and fun. We just love him to bits!
Why sleep in the bed when I can sleep in the litter ?
Pippy with Steward at Royal
I love my new life!
I’m a Star!
This Show Business is fun!
Exhausted after my first show
I love my new slinky friends! Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
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Cat Show Results Transvaal Cat Society Show , 1 March 2014 Photography by Hanneke Bestbier Best Foreign Kitten Sanuk FF Jord Owner: P Steyn Breeder: D Freitas
Best Foreign Neuter Sherada K’s Phillida Owner: H Brophy Breeder: G Burman
Best Foreign Adult Bondi’s Don Perignon (imp) Owner: P Steyn Breeder: W Trevathan
Best Persian/Exotic Kitten Purrbridge Marcello Owner: C Langner Breeder: C & R Fourie
Best Neuter Cracker Razzle Dazzle Owner: R van Wyk Breeder: A Visser & P Williams
Best Mediumhair Kitten GeeDee’s Queen Lucia Owner: A Caw Breeder: A Caw
Best Siamese/Oriental Adult Dililla Alegra Owner: K Labuschagne Breeder: K Labuschagne
Best Pet Adult Pula Owner: L Cronje
Best Siamese/Oriental Neuter Westwood’s Apollo of Surrey Owner: H Griffiths Breeder: G Nel
Best Adult Bondi’s Don Perignon (imp) Owner: P Steyn Breeder: W Trevathan
Best Pet Kitten Miss Sophie Ter’Blanche Owner: K Peplar
Best Kitten GeeDee’s Queen Lucia Owner: A Caw Breeder: A Caw
Cat Show Results
All Breeds Cat Club, 96th Championship Show, 5 April 2014 Photography by Krystle Callaghan
Best Kitten Classicats Master Co-Co Birman Seal Point Owner: P A Blom Breeder: JJ Le Roux
Best Neuter TR SP PR Cracker Blue of Boyo Exotic Blue Owner: J Banham Breeder: A Visser & P Williams
Best Entire SP CH Abyzona’s Crack of Dawn of Sherada (Imp) Abyssinian Ruddy Owner: G Birman Breeder: A Watanabe Cat of the Day Classicats Master Co-Co Birman Seal Point Owner: P A Blom Breeder: JJ Le Roux
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Kittycat of the Month March 2014 Winner : Madison
April 2014 Winner : Othello
To enter the Kittycat of the Month competition, please send a photo of your cat with his/her name and short sentence about him/her to: kittycatsa@gmail.com
Kittycat of the Month Sponsor
Rescue Stories
Happy Endings Maggie, Buster and Monty My neighbours Joanne and Iltid adopted these 3 lovely cats from Cataholics around two+ years ago. Their names, - in the order of the photos included, are:Maggie the black cat, Buster the dark ginger and Monty the paler ginger. All three are real little characters and the most amazing thing about them, is that when Joanne and Iltid come over the road to my house for a visit, the cats come too. They make themselves completely at home and wander around talking to all the other visitors. They also climb the trees and demand to be fed and sometimes even decide to spend a night with us. Joanne is so busy running a business from home, that I thought I’d surprise her by sending in the photos of her cats. She has also adopted two black LabradorX dogs, Angie and Bella, who have grown up into lovely friendly dogs. So all together they make up one big happy family, that is totally spoilt and much loved. I’m Rosie’s mother by the way, one of the cats featured on your current Happy Endings pages Best regards, Joy Kruger
Please send your Happy Ending stories and photos to: kittycatsa@gmail.com
Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
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Rescue Rescue Stories Stories
Happy Endings Indie & Kio We found Indie at 5 weeks old in a veld, he was screeching and crying for help as birds were trying to lift him off the ground. My fiancé had heard the commotion and saw that it was a kitten, I immediately ran over and he ran straight towards me and into my arms. We have been inseparable since. He comes on holiday with us and has even been in the snow in the Eastern Cape (we live in JHB). He loves the car and every opportunity he gets he will go for a drive with me J He is such a funny character, he is always up to mischief and so so loving. We have taught him to give us kisses, whenever we kneel down and out our nose next to his, he always gives little kisses. He has one or two shirts he enjoys wearing and a jacket for the colder months. He is always so wonderful with children who visit us, he doesn’t leave their side at all and is tolerant with them He enjoys getting a bath and is always right next me when im in the tub. Since we found him he has a habit of suckling onto anything fluffy which includes dragging our socks around the house haha Indie is now three years old and has a rescue brother who is one years old now – Kio. We got Kio so Indie could have a partner in “crime”. Kio was also abandoned at only a few weeks old and is a terror just like his brother Indie. They spend all day chasing each other and “play-wresling” and always get up to mischief together. Kio has learnt to play fetch and you will always see him dragging his squeaky mouse around. He enjoys walking on a leash and purrs the moment you walk in the door, you can hear him purring from a mile away. He is quite a wild cat in nature and often bite before he scratches and tends to chew everything he can find. He growls when he sleeps and snarls at the dogs when they bark – he is full of attitude and reminds me of a dog at the best of times. He has a stunning little brown nose and white tear marks and black pads – his patterns are amazing. My two boys are like my children and very spoilt with our love. Jamie Petersen
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Rescue Stories
Happy Endings Touching Welfare Story from the East Rand On the 14th Feb 2014, a friendly feline was brought into our clinic run over in a car accident.
We could not understand why the cat was behaving this way.
A caring member of the public was kind enough to bring this cat in, as there was no owner at the scene of the accident and the driver just drove off.
Minutes later, the reception calls the back hospital to inform us that a lady has been looking for her cat for weeks and suspects Hope might be her cat. She brought the “Lost poster” to the back hospital and she immediately recognized the cries from her pet.
The cat was not in good shape and after vets at Terrace Road Vet Hospital examined this welfare case, we established most of the trauma was localized to the head where a jaw fracture was found. Fortunately, no neurological damage was noted so that gave this cat a more favorable prognosis.
Hope was identified as Abbath and was discharged the next day with full discharge instructions on how to care for the cat with a wire in its jaw after being in hospital for a month.
When any animal/stray gets brought into our clinic or any welfare organization for that matter, the pet is scanned for a microchip in order to hopefully identify the patient’s family.
This welfare case has an amazing outcome and the owner was so happy to be re-united with her much loved pet. The moral of this touching story is to always update your details with the microchip company you use if your details change.
Microchipping your pet is the best way to ensure your pet can easily be identified as collars with tags can fall off or are easily removed.
Microchipping is the best way of identification of pets and I advocate all pets should be microchipped.
This cat DID fortunately have a microchip BUT it was not from a company registered in South Africa. The details were not obtainable as the owner did not update these details when bringing the pet to South Africa. Clearly this cat came from a home where it was much loved as it was brought from a foreign country.
Dr. L. J. Behrens Terrace Road Veterinary Hospital.
The partners of the practice (Terrace Road Vet Hospital) decided to treat the cat and we named the cat Hope. Hope got the surgery that was needed to fix the jaw. A wire was placed to stabilize this fracture by Dr. Alae Nortier, who has had extensive work in the welfare field and correcting various fractures. For 3 weeks after the operation, Hope was fed a soft watery recovery food to ensure Hope got the calories and sustenance required while the fracture heals. This is also a clearly painful condition and Hopes pain control was maintained for these three weeks. At this point we started looking for a good home for this friendly cat and we, at the practice had became very attached to Hope. One morning, 4 weeks after the accident, Hope started Meowing a lot and became very unsettled in the hospital. Hope had never shown this reaction before.
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The Lucky Cat CareLucy PortFoundation Elizabeth NPO Number: 091-636 PBO Number: 930-036-404 All our cats are tested & vaccinated with the required vaccines which include the 1st FeLV vaccine. An adoption fee of R450 is applicable which includes sterilsation and microchipping.
Roxy (Cape Town) Roxy has learned through her 10 year reign that all good things will come to those who wait. She is getting a little anxious as to when her furever family is going to come for her. She is an affectionate old lady of approximately 10 years whose owners surrendered her to LLF when they could no longer keep her. She has asked as to please advertise her so that she can find herself a nice retirement home where she can live on cuddles and love furever. This old lady has experience in dealing with difficult family members and promises she knows exactly how to get along with the entire family. Roxy will make the
Brooke (Cape Town) Brooke is the sweetest most unassuming girl in the LLF Cattery. She is so unassuming she constantly gets overlooked. She absolutely thrives on affection and cuddles and her love for you will have no boundaries. She definitely is the diamond your family have always been looking for. This lady will get along with your entire family and is not easily side tracked by distractions. She will make the purrfect addition to your home and heart. For an adoption enquiry to meet Brooke please email cattery@luckylucy.org.
Gambit (Cape Town) Gambit is about 2 years of age and is the ultimate gentleman in the cattery. He is quite reserved and treats everyone with respect. He is definitely not one of those complicated cats. He is looking for a life where he can spend his days lying in the sun and having some fun. Don’t be fooled, he is definitely not a lazy cat he just likes to conserve his energy. If you need attention he will most likely sit on your lap and snuggle. He will value your independence and give you space if you need it. If you are up to the challenge and you think you can handle this energy saving boy then please consider adopting him and giving him his furever island in the sun. For an adoption enquiry to meet Gambit please email cattery@luckylucy.
69 Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
The Lucky Cat CareLucy PortFoundation Elizabeth NPO Number: 091-636 PBO Number: 930-036-404
Skylar (Cape Town) Skylar is our biggest success story to date. She was a feral who ran away at the slightest movement or glance from anyone. She had to be trapped (yes trapped in the LLF cattery :)) to be sterilised and vaccinated. She spent one night in the trap and came back sterilised and a different girl. This special girl now greets everyone who enters the cattery and rubs against everyone whenever and wherever she can. She is not quite a lap cat yet but it’s a matter of time and she will be. We would be delighted if this success story could become a happily ever after. For an adoption enquiry to meet Skylar please email cattery@luckylucy.org.
Jerry (Cape Town) Jerry is about 3 years of age. He is the quiet and reserved one in the cattery and easily overlooked, however his fellow cattery mates will agree when we say that he is loved and adored by all. He loves being spoiled and cuddled and will make sure that you are rewarded with one of his priceless “Jerry” moments - those special moments when nothing matters except you! He is the type of kitty that will allow you some space but will not hesitate to remind you that he would love a little bit of attention. Special moments with him will remind you of the companion that you cannot be without. If you think you can handle this precious boy then please consider adopting him into your home and heart. For an adoption enquiry to meet Jerry please email cattery@ luckylucy.org.
Lucky Lucy Farm Uitsig Farm, Joostenberg, Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa P O Box 385, Sea Point, 8060 Email Address: Emergency Cell: Contact Person: Fax Number: Website: Facebook: Cattery Page Twitter:
contact@luckylucy.org 072 779 7424 Luken 086 560 6775 www.luckylucy.org https://www.facebook.com/LuckyLucyFoundation https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/llfcattery/ https://twitter.com/LuckyLucyFoundation
Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
70
Rescues and Shelters Angels Refuge SA
Kitten Corner
072 889 1960
074 215 1490
https://www.facebook.com/AngelsRefuge
www.kittencorner.co.za
Be Wise Sterilise
Kitty & Puppy Haven
081 018 4446
010 224 0763
www.sterilise.co.za
www.kittypuppyhaven.org.za
Cat-a-holics
Sandpaper Kisses Fundraising
011 447 5275
082 928 6663
www.kittyshelter.co.za
www.spkfundraising@gmail.com
Cat Care Port Elizabeth
Thabazimbi Animal Rescue
011 447 5275
084 855 6487
www.catcare.netfirms.com
082 375 4064
CatzRus
The Cat Samaritan
082 700 5839
083 634 0069
www.catzrussa.co.za
http://thecatsamaritan.yolasite.com
CatPals
The Lucky Lucy Foundation
083 327 0365
072 779 7424
www.catpals.co.za
www.luckylucy.org
CO-SANC
Wet Nose Animal Rescue Centre
084 958 8073
013 932 3941/2
www.catshelter.co.za
www.wetnose.org.za
To list your Rescue or Shelter in Kittycat Magazine, please email details to: Kittycatsa@gmail.com 71 Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
Breeders and Pet Services Directory
Online Cat Community
www.kittycat.co.za Email: Kittycat.advertising@gmail.com • Fax: 428 5044 Email: advertising@Kittycat.co.za • Tel: 011 ???? ??? 086 • Cell: 0?? ??????????
Advertiseyour your cattery Cattery or Services Advertise orPet pet services with Kittycat Kittycat Magazine with Magazine
Rate Card Sizes Sizes Full Page
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Materials required: Bleed:
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Material deadline:
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01 of every second month
Please supply all write-ups in Word Documents. All logos and photos to be supplied seperately (not in Word docs) as jpegs at 300 dpi. Magazine specifications: Full Page
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73 Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
ADVERTISE HERE Advertise your cattery or pet services with Kittycat Magazine
Email: Kittycat.advertising@gmail.com
Kittycat Magazine’s Advertising Policy Adverts are only accepted from Catteries that are registered with SACC, CFSA or CASA. Kittycat accepts advertisements for the sale of products, services and cats/kittens in good faith. Kittycat assumes all distributors provide high quality products and healthy animals. Kittycat cannot be responsible for advertiser’s claims, distributors’ actions, inferior merchandise or the animals health.
Dawn’s Cat Accessories
Buyers are advised to do any necessary research before making a purchase.
Kittycat Advertising Deadlines All ads are pre-paid Ads must be received on the 15th of the month prior to magazine being published i.e. 15 15 15 15 15
Feb for Mar/Apr issue Apr for May/Jun issue Jun for Jul/Aug issue Aug for Sep/Oct issue Sep for Nov/Dec issue
Kittycat reserves the right to refuse any advertising submitted, or to cancel any advertising accepted upon refund of payments made. The Editor reserves the right to make stylistic changes.
Dawn Pretorius 072 271 2637 nakedcat@oribi.co.za Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
74
American Curl
Kealee Cattery Siamese, Oriental and American Curl Registration Body: CASA Lianne Muller 0824907678 mullerle@eskom.co.za
American Shorthair Vande Bald’s American Shorthair Suzette van den Berg Kimberley + 27 53 833 7236 + 27 83 294 6433 suzette@vandebald.co.za www.vandebald.co.za
Balinese Kruin Cattery Angus Plumstead Pretoria +27 83 252 3766 LesBeauxChats Thea Lamprecht Cape Town +27 21 9769965 +27 82 393 0198 thealamprech@mweb.co.za www.lesbeauchats.com
Bengal
Soulmates Cattery Cheryl Moss and Marilyn Schramm Johannesburg +27 11 965 6101 malcher@iafrica.com http://ragdollcatsouthafrica.homestead.com
Birman
Turiska Birmans Mariska van Loggerenberg Ballito +27 83 651 5227 +27 83 651 5227 info@birmancats.co.za www.turkishvan.co.za
Burmese
Mapantsula Denis Jansen Cape Town + 27 82 3742 719 zanddam@gmail.com Soulmates Cattery Cheryl Moss and Marilyn Schramm Johannesburg +27 11 965 6101 malcher@iafrica.com http://ragdollcatsouthafrica.homestead.com
Supayas Cattery Denise Rhodes CFSA Registered 082 785 5816 / 011 310 2727
Burmilla
Cherie-Finesse Alida Delport Cape Town +27 21 919 9385 +27 83 628 2479 cheriefinesse@gmail.com www.cherie-finesse.co.za
Chinchillas
Cherie-Finesse Alida Delport Cape Town +27 21 919 9385 +27 83 628 2479 cheriefinesse@gmail.com www.cherie-finesse.co.za Chindy’s Cattery Cindi Edmunds +27 82 378 5893 cins4chins@yahoo.com www.chindys.co.za The Catwalk Silver & Golden Persians Stuart +27 82 775 0132 stuart@busbyhouse.com Charles + 27 72 528 0460 cap0604@gmail.com Zelda’s Cattery Zelda Jacobs +27 83 550 1656 + 27 11 814 6825 chinchillaszj@gmail.com
Cornish Rex
LesBeauxChats Thea Lamprecht Cape Town +27 21 9769965 +27 82 393 0198 thealamprech@mweb.co.za www.lesbeauchats.com
Devon Rex
Soulmates Cattery Cheryl Moss and Marilyn Schramm Johannesburg +27 11 965 6101 malcher@iafrica.com http://ragdollcatsouthafrica.homestead.com
Exotic
Carmandale Persians & Exotics Shaun Armand & Antoni Nortman Johannesburg +27 82 719 0110 (Shaun) or +27 82 742 9366 (Antoni) carmandale@gmail.com www.carmandalepersians.net
La Perm
LesBeauxChats Thea Lamprecht Cape Town +27 21 9769965 +27 82 393 0198 thealamprech@mweb.co.za www.lesbeauchats.com
Maine Coon
Emalini Cattery Vera Clarke Radiokop +27 11 475 5541 +27 82 650 2302 vnclarke@emalini.com www.emalini.com GeeDee Cattery Athylle Caw Sunninghill Athylle@mweb.co.za Shangri-la Maine Coons Vivian Wright Johannesburg shangrilacats@gmail.com www.shangrilacats.com
Manx
LesBeauxChats Thea Lamprecht Cape Town +27 21 9769965 +27 82 393 0198 thealamprech@mweb.co.za www.lesbeauchats.com
Munchkin
LesBeauxChats Thea Lamprecht Cape Town +27 21 9769965 +27 82 393 0198 thealamprech@mweb.co.za www.lesbeauchats.com
Norwegian Forest Cat Crescendo Cattery Beverly Smullen Johannesburg +27 82 881 2729 beverly@smullen.co.za
GeeDee Cattery Athylle Caw Sunninghill Athylle@mweb.co.za
Oriental
Copper Creek Cattery Registered with CFSA Lynette Grassman 082 329 3147 lgrassman@plastop.co.za Kealee Cattery Siamese, Oriental and American Curl Registration Body: CASA Lianne Muller 0824907678 mullerle@eskom.co.za Kruin Cattery Angus Plumstead Pretoria +27 83 252 3766 LesBeauxChats Thea Lamprecht Cape Town +27 21 9769965 +27 82 393 0198 thealamprech@mweb.co.za www.lesbeauchats.com
Persian
Carmandale Persians & Exotics Shaun Armand & Antoni Nortman Roodepoort 27 82 719 0110 (Shaun) or 27 82 742 9366 (Antoni) carmandale@gmail.com www.carmandalepersians.net Caziggi Persians Linet Coetzer +27 83 725 5347 27 57 352 5339 linet@polka.co.za www.caziggi.co.za Charis Christa van Rooyen Kwa Zulu Natal +27 73 191 2207 christa@colourpoints.co.za www.colourpoints.co.za Divine Flame Persian Cattery Johannesburg www.persiancatsdivineflame.co.za www.persiancatsdivineflame.webs.com divinepersians@ymail.com RoyalPaws Annatjie Middelburg +27 1324 53547 +27 82 299 4243 dhconsul@mweb.co.za www.royalpaws.co.za
Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 201460 76 Kittycat Issue 1 January/February 2014
Ryns Persians Maryna +27 83 307 9930 rynspersian@telkomsa.net www.persiancatparadise.co.za
Ragdoll
Soulmates Cattery Cheryl Moss and Marilyn Schramm Johannesburg +27 11 965 6101 malcher@iafrica.com http://ragdollcatsouthafrica.homestead.com
Scottish Fold
LesBeauxChats Thea Lamprecht Cape Town +27 21 9769965 +27 82 393 0198 thealamprech@mweb.co.za www.lesbeauchats.com
Siamese
Copper Creek Cattery Registered with CFSA Lynette Grassman 082 329 3147 lgrassman@plastop.co.za Kealee Cattery Siamese, Oriental and American Curl Registration Body: CASA Lianne Muller 0824907678 mullerle@eskom.co.za
Spandau Wilma Hyman Pretoria East Sphynx, Bambino Registered with SACC, CFSA, CASAWCF +27 83 649 6851 wilmahyman@telkomsa.net
Turkish Van Turiska Turkish Vans Mariska van Loggerenberg Ballito +27 83 651 5227 +27 83 651 5227 mariska@turkishvan.co.za www.turkishvan.co.za
Breed Groups Breeders of Rex and Sphynx Landie Copperthwaite (Secretary) 0826991077 landiecop@gmail.com
British Shorthair Group Julie Banham (021) 790 1525 bayfield@iafrica.com
Natal Siamese/Oriental Club Carol Wood (Secretary) 031-9031026 silversheen@mweb.co.za
Kruin Cattery Angus Plumstead Pretoria +27 83 252 3766
S.A. Abyssinian & Somali Association (SAASA)
Siberian
Maine Coon Interest Group (MCIG)
ArtĂŠKatz Siberians Cherylee Krantz Lonehill +27 11 465-3446 +27 11 467-7157 +27 82 569 5737 cherylee@artekatz.com www.artekatz.com
Sphynx
Blancanieves Sphynx Mrs N Lewis London UK +441293528520 nathalie@blancanieves-sphynx.co.uk www.blancanieves-sphynx.co.uk
Adrienne Swart (Secretary) 0824055437 aswart@acucap.co.za
Hanneke Bestbier (Sercretary) 0724557610 Hanneke.Bestbier@sasol.com
Siamese Breeders Group of S.A. (SBG) Charlotte van der Riet (Secretary) Cell: 0833840285 Email: charlottevdriet@gmail.com http://siamesebreedersgroup.weebly.com
Russian Cat Interest Group of South Africa (RCIG) Solveig Klahr (Secretary) 0832722443 Solveig.klahr@gmail.com
Sphynx Alliance (SA) Annemarie Redelinghuys (Secretary) 0837307666 Annemarie@cassell.co.za
77 Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
Cat Clubs
Cat Clubs
Affiliated to SACC
Affiliated to CFSA
All Breeds Cat Club (ABCC) Cape Town Colin Bubb 082 374 6827
National Cat Society (NCS)
Cat Fancier’s Club Gauteng Stephen White 071 352 4717
Feline Fan Club of SA (FFC)
Eastern Cape Cat Club (ECCC) Port Elizabeth Rita Wiseman 083 267 4827
Kwa Zulu Natal Cat Club (KZNCC)
Northern Cape/Free State (NCFS) Kimberley Carol Kotze 082 719 1465
Cleopatra Cat Club (CCC)
Persian Cat Society (PCS) KZN Jane Goble 082 784 3126 Rand Cat Club (RCC) Gauteng Karen Pepler 082 577 2097 The Big Cat Club (TBCC) Cape Town Kim Cutter 021 461 9505 Transvaal Cat Society (TCS) Gauteng Gail Nel 082 446 8189
Sandy Fitzpatrick (Secretary) mwpaws@mweb.co.za
June Stafford (Secretary) felinefanclub@gmail.com
TBA (Secretary) dandipets@telkomsa.net
Lynelle van Aarde (Secretary) cleopatracatclub@gmail.com
Independent Cat Clubs African Independent Cat Association (AICA) Cat Lovers Association of S.A. (CLASA) Chats du Cap Cat Club (CdC-I) The Nelson Mandela Bay Cat Club (NMBCC) The Oriental, Siamese & Related Breeds Group (OSRBG) The South African Cat Club (S.A.C.C.) SAC@TS Breeders Group
Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/Kittycatmagazine
Western Province Cat Club Cape Town Jane Slabbert
Please Note Kittycat has not inspected any cattery and does not guarantee the health or genetics or pedigree of any kitten purchased from any breeder who advertises in the magazine. We recommend that when you purchase a pedigreed cat you first check that the breeder is registered with SACC, CFSA or CASA and make full enquiries. Please email kittycatsa@gmail.com if you would like to have your cattery added to our Pink Pages.
Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
78
Shangri-la Maine Coons
Contact Vivian Wright shangrilacats@gmail.com www.shangrilacats.com
Breeding with honesty and integrity, with good temperaments, healthy, sound type and for the love of our cats. Kittens bred from Healthy Imported lines and personally raised with love; available to selected forever homes from time to time. Please contact: Shaun Armand 082 719 0110 or Antoni Nortman 082 742 9366 Email: carmandale@gmail.com | Website: www.carmandalepersians.net
EL’ Vee Persians and Exotics Lisa Venter 071 602 0515
www.el-vee.com lisa.venter@sasol.com
Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
80
Chindy’s Boarding and Breeding Cattery
Cindi Edmunds 082 378 5892 Email: cins4chins@yahoo.com SACC Registered Chinchilla kittens occasionally available to approved homes. Boarding facilities available (Benoni)
GeeDee Cattery
Kitty Can is a cute, cool
and completely unique cat litter box.
Introducing Kitty Can !
Pet Owners love the Kitty Can because it looks
amazing in their homes and kitties love it because it makes them feel adored and special. Come and visit us at: www.pannolinopets.com Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ pannolinopets
Kitty Can is available in 2 models - Kitty Can SUV and Kitty Can Sport. Some key features of Kitty Can include:
Bubbles the Ragdoll cat endorses Pannolino Pets
Kitty Can comes in various colours, is strong and sturdy, but extremely light-weight
products.
and built to last a lifetime. Kitty Can has a sleek and elegant design and is made from recyclable material. Kitty Can is also made with LOVE.
Follow him on: http://bubblesviewoftheworld.tumblr.com/
GeeDee Cattery Registered Breeder of Norwegian Forest Cats and Maine Coons
Kittens occasionally available to approved homes
Athylle Caw athylle@mweb.co.za
Kittycat Issue 1 January/February 2014
70
Vande Bald’s American Shorthair Lovable registered kittens sometimes available to selected homes
Suzette 0832946433 suzette@vandebald.co.za
www.vandebald.co.za
ADVERTISE YOUR PET PRODUCTS AND SERVICES WITH US Kittycat Online Cat Community
How did YOU meet YOUR cat? Email story and photos to: Lyndie Komossa www.kittycat.co.za 081 705 0544 83 Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
kittycatsa@gmail.com
lyndiekomossa@gmail.com
SOUTHERN AFRICA CAT COUNCIL P O Box 28732, Kensington, 2101, Tel: 011 616 7017 Fax: 086 616 8294, sacatreg@iafrica.com, www.isacc.org.za
Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
84
Eats, Treats, Wearing and Caring for your Pets. Free nationwide delivery to your door step.
The Valley Shopping Centre, 396 Jan Smuts Avenue, 2196 Craighall Park, Gauteng, South Africa 082 728 5794 / 011 447 0995 info@lepawtique.co.za www.lepawtique.co.za
We are focused on health and disease /parasite control. We promote sterilization. We offer 5 star boarding (all proceeds go to welfare animals) Tel: 011 447 5275 Banking details: FNB Melrose Arch (254405) • Account no: 62068805418 www.kittyshelter.co.za
85 Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
JENZ PET SITTING RELIABLE CARE FOR YOUR PETS IN THEIR OWN HOME
RANDPARKRIDGE, BOSKRUIN, BROMHOF Email: jenzpetsitting@gmail.com http://jenzpetsitting.wix.com/jenzpetsitting
ADVERTISE HERE Advertise your cattery or pet services with Kittycat Magazine Email: kittycat.advertising@gmail.com
BREEDERS, WOULD YOU LIKE KITTYCAT MAGAZINE TO FEATURE YOUR BREED OF CAT?
Please email: kittycatsa@gmail.com
Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
86
THE NEXT ISSUE ... Would you like YOUR cat featured in Kittycat magazine? Do you have a Happy Ending (Rescue) story to share? How did YOU meet YOUR cat? Do you have any Show news, show brags or cute stories? Would you like to list your Cattery or Pet Services in our Pink Pages? Please send us your LETTERS.
We would love to hear from you.
Come and chat with us in our Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1447932208770601/ Email: kittycatsa@gmail.com
Photo by Jenni Ferreira | www.jenniferreira.com
I can say with sincerity that I like cats, a cat is an animal which has more human feeling than almost any other. - Emily Bronte
87 Kittycat Issue 3 May/June 2014
Photo by Jenni Ferreira | www.jenniferreira.com
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