FEATURES: LONGHAIR – CH. FULMER ZAIDA SHORTHAIR – CH. OUIZERO TAITOU PURRSONALITY – RICHARD GEBHARDT THE FELINE ART OF HENRIETTE RONNER-KNIP THE NATIONAL CAT CLUB - AND MORE……
FEBRUARY 2021 Volume 1. No.8
INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE FOR CAT LOVERS - LINECHASERS - & FANCIERS OF FELINE HISTORY
“Today’s achievements are part of tomorrow’s history”
HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION © A-Cat-Emy Concepts
PUBLISHED BY A-CAT-EMY CONCEPTS for THE HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION
FEBRUARY 2021
EDITOR
John G. Smithson
VOLUME 1 NUMBER 8
EDITORIAL The Editor reviews topics covered in Issue 8 of Felis Historica!
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HISTORY PARTNERS The CFA Foundation
CONTRIBUTING TEAM MEMBERS Gallery of our Team of Columnists, Contributors & Correspondents
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COLUMNISTS & CONTRIBUTORS
CHAMPION OUIZERO TAITOU - by John G. Smithson The story of an early Silver Abyssinian Best SH Cat in Show winner!
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ICONS OF THE CAT FANCY FEATURE – by Karen Lawrence The Inimitable Mr. Richard Gebhardt!
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editor@felishistorica.com
Karen Lawrence (St. Catharines, Canada)
Lorraine Shelton (California, USA)
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Dr. Leslie Lyons (Missouri, USA)
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Chloe Chung (Hong Kong)
Laura Vocelle (Muscat, Oman)
Dr. Keith Hammett (QSM) (Auckland, NZ)
Valerie Sheldrake Feline Historian (Suffolk, UK)
Jamie Christian (Ohio, USA)
PHOTOGRAPHY & GRAPHICS
Helmi & Ken Flick (Florida, USA)
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Jack Terry (Florida, USA)
CONTENT All Rights Reserved © A-Cat-Emy Concepts SUBSCRIPTIONS Published Monthly Single Issue $4.00 USD ANNUAL $48.00 USD
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENETICS YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT! PART 8 - by Dr. Leslie Lyons Pigment Inhibitors!
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NOTICEBOARD
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HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!
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THE FELINE ART OF HENRIETTE RONNER-KNIP - by John Smithson The Phenomenal craftsmanship of an Honorary Vice President of the National Cat Club…
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BEHIND EVERY FAMOUS PERSON IS A CAT - Cartoon by Graham Harrop 60 THE MELBOURNE CENTENARY ROYAL CAT SHOW - 1934 The Harrison Weir Collection’s latest history acquisition…
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CHAMPION FULMER ZAIDA (Chinchilla) – by John Smithson The story of the most famous winning Chinchilla of her era.
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CELEBRATING MODERN CATS IN OUR FEATURED HISTORICAL BREEDS Shorthair Breed Type – Ruddy Abyssinian TICA IW, RW KELELA ALOHA HUA OF TAJHARA Longhair Breed Type – Shaded Silver Persian CFA GC, BWR, NW CASTLEGATE’S TOY SOLDIER OF AOL
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THE NATIONAL CAT CLUB – Part One - by John Smithson Birth and teething problems of the world’s first National Registry
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Editorial ’FELIS HISTORICA’ JOHN G. SMITHSON EDITOR
OUR COVER featuring the late Mr. Richard Gebhardt, former President, of the Cat Fanciers’ Association, holding one of our featured cats GC, BWR, NW Castlegate’s Toy Soldier of AOL
COPYRIGHT ISSN: 2744-4430 National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa © A-CAT-EMY CONCEPTS / FELIS HISTORICA THE HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written consent. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of advertisements or information. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED www.felis-historica.com www.harrisonweir.com
It is already the second month of the New Year, and six months since our Second edition, in which we reviewed the dramatic effects of Covid-19 on the Cat Fancy around the world, with reports from our team world-wide team of correspondents. Tragically, the effects on mankind, especially in the United States and in Europe, has been and continues to be, nothing short of devastating. With the arrival and recognition of new variants of Covid-19 from numerous locations around the world, the scale and reach of that devastation is clearly yet to peak and to be truly known. Even though we are all cat lovers and cat fanciers, our first priority other than for the maintenance of the animals under our direct control, is to protect loved ones, and show practical compassion for those in need and especially for those workers on the front line of the battle – the first responders and the overstretched medical staff worldwide, that are the true heroes in what is now clearly a war – a war in which the medics, nurses, hospitals, and all related and attached services are the REAL troops in this battle. PLEASE, please sit back and think about what YOU can do to offer relief to any of them, no matter how insignificant you may think that help might be, to the person on the receiving end, already physically, mentally and emotionally stretched beyond belief; ANY small token of help, that can ease their personal burden in any way, should be our collective goal. Offer to prepare them a meal, to do chores for them, a helping hand at home, to do their grocery shopping, their laundry, to collect children from school or to child or petsit…. but most importantly, ASK them what help they need, make offers and do nothing to impose any further burden upon them. Be there when the need is greatest.
February 2021 Our issue this month is packed with a celebration of life. We delve into the winning way of Silvers from well over a century ago, with ‘Ch. Ouizero Taitou’ a Silver Abyssinian Best in Show winner, and ‘Ch. Fulmer Zaida’, a celebrated Chinchilla of her era, and Supreme exhibit at the National Cat Club’s Crystal Palace show, not once, but twice! Karen Lawrence provides a fascinating insight into the life of iconic cat fancier and judge Richard (Dick) Gebhardt; who is featured on our cover holding a superb modernday Shaded Silver Persian, a cat which is also featured in this issue. We also celebrate the success of a ruddy Abyssinian male who was declared the highest scoring Championship cat from the CFA 2020 Top Cat Challenge, Virtual Cat Competition. Continuing with the Silver theme, Dr Lyons provides readers with an article on the influence of the ‘Inhibitor’ gene, regarding colour and pattern in the Silver Divisions, with excellent graphics of the effect in the hair shafts. Lastly, we offer a new perspective on the founding of the National Cat Club in 1887 and during a period when the world’s first Registry for cats was being established. We also look at the unique cat art of Honorary National Cat Club Vice-President, Madam Henriette Ronner. So, we humbly entreat you to enjoy our latest offerings!
John EDITOR
CONGRATULATES
GC.BWR.NW PINUPCATS SUPA DUPA FLY OF KUORII DM BEST OF THE BEST KITTEN Highest Scoring Kitten -Photo Event CFA TOP CAT CHALLENGE 2020 Bred and Owned by: Cyndee Hill Photo: Tetsu
OUR TEAM OF COLUMNISTS & CONTRIBUTORS
KAREN LAWRENCE
LORRAINE SHELTON
LESLIE A. LYONS Ph. D
ADVERTISING MANAGER advertising@felis-historica.com Director: CFA Foundation, Inc Manager: Feline Historical Museum Co-Editor: The History Project
AUTHOR/LECTURER ‘Robinson’s Genetics for Cat Breeders & Veterinarians’ Director: CFA Foundation, Inc www.wegies.net www.featherland.net
RESEARCHER/COLUMNIST FELINE GENETICS SPECIALIST Prof. of Comparative Medicine Dept. of Vet. Medicine & Surgery University of Missouri
JAMIE CHRISTIAN
CHLOE CHUNG
LAURA A. VOCELLE
WRITER/COLUMNIST TICA INTERNATIONAL JUDGE OF THE YEAR 2016
COLUMNIST/PRESENTER CAT BEHAVIOURALIST/LECTURER CFA ALL BREED JUDGE Based in China & Hong Kong
COLUMNIST/AUTHOR FELINE HISTORY & ART HISTORIAN Creator and Founder The Great Cat www.thegreatcat.org
DR. KEITH HAMMETT
HELMI & KEN FLICK
JACK TERRY
PLANT BREEDER President of the Royal NZ Institute of Horticulture
HELMI FLICK CAT PHOTOGRAPHY www.helmiflick.com
‘THE RESTORIAN’ Photo & Graphics Specialist Photo Humourist
OUR TEAM OF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENTS
DARRELL NEWKIRK
PAM DELABAR
GAVIN CAO
(CFA, USA)
(CFA, EUROPE)
(CFA, CHINA)
NEVADA, UNITED STATES PRESIDENT CFA
TAMPERE, FINLAND
CFA DIRECTOR, REGION 9
CHENGDU, CHINA CFA CHINA BUSINESS ADVISOR
JOHN HANSSON
CHERYLE U’REN
ANNELIESE HACKMANN
(GCCF, UK)
(CCC of A, AUSTRALIA)
(WCF, EUROPE)
LONDON, ENGLAND CHAIRMAN GCCF
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA PRESIDENT CCC of A VICE-PRESIDENT WCC
ESSEN, GERMANY PRESIDENT WCF
JOHAN LAMPRECHT
BOB GLEASON
JANE WEBSTER
(SOUTH AFRICA)
(CCA, CANADA)
(NZCF, NEW ZEALAND)
DURBANVILLE, SOUTH AFRICA PRESIDENT, C.A.S.A. (WCF)
LONDON, CANADA CHAIR - CANADIAN CAT ASSOC. LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
PALMERSTON NORTH, NZ NZCF HISTORIAN
OUR TEAM OF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENTS
JUN KOHNO
RUSSELL LAW
CHATE RUENGRUGLIKIT
(CFA, JAPAN)
(CFA, HONG KONG)
(CFA, THAILAND)
TOKYO, JAPAN SEC: MICINA CAT FANCIERS
HONG KONG SEC: UNITED FELINE ODYSSEY
CHAYAPON PUCHAROENYOS
ROBBIE WALKER
BANGKOK, THAILAND SEC: SIAM BLE-EYED CAT FANCIERS
SANDRA ALSUMAIT
(WCF, ASIA)
(ACF, AUSTRALIA)
(CFA, KUWAIT)
BANGKOK, THAILAND CHAIR: WCF DISCIPLINARY COMMISSION
GOLD COAST, QLD, AUSTRALIA PRESIDENT, FCCQ. QLD
KUWAIT CITY, KUWAIT PRESIDENT, K-CATS CLUB
IZADDIN SYAH YUSOF
FARAH DIANA
BAMBI J. EDWARDS (ANCATS, AUSTRALIA)
(CFA, MALAYSIA)
(CFA, INDONESIA)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA NAT.SEC: ANCATS AUSTRALIA
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA CFA INT.DIV. CLERK OF THE YEAR 2016
JAKARTA, INDONESIA RICIMACKA CATTERY
OUR TEAM OF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENTS
ELLEN CROCKETT
STEVEN MESERVE
LUIZ PAULO FACCIOLI
(TICA, UNITED STATES)
(TICA, EUROPE SOUTH)
(TICA, SOUTH AMERICA)
PORT TOWNSEND, WA, USA TICA DISTINGUISED JUDGE
VILA DE CUCUJAES, PORTUGAL TICA REGIONAL DIRECTOR
PORT ALEGRE, SOUTH BRAZIL TICA REGIONAL DIRECTOR
LIESBETH VAN MULLEM
EVA PORAT
DONATELLA MASTRANGELO
(TICA, EUROPE NORTH)
(FIFe, SWEDEN)
(FIFe, BELGIUM)
UTRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS TICA REGIONAL DIRECTOR
OREBRO, SWEDEN PRESIDENT SVERAK, (FIFe)
ROME, ITALY CHAIR: JUDGES & STANDARDS COMM.
STEVEN JONES
JINSON CHOI
LISBETH FALLING
(FIFe, NORWAY)
(CFA, SOUTH KOREA)
(NRR, NORWAY)
STAVANGER, NORWAY SEC: JUDGES & STANDARDS COMM
PAJU-SI, SOUTH KOREA PRES. CAT FANCIERS OF KOREA
OSLO, NORWAY PHOTOGRAPHER/EDITOR - ARISTOKATT
Article page graphics © www.gograph.com
MRS. CONSTANCE CAREW COX WITH ‘CHAMPION OUIZERO TAITOU’ (Silver Abyssinian) on the day he won a First Prize and Championship at the National Cat Club Show, in 1913. Photo: ‘The Illustrated London News,’ Dec 26th, 1913. Image: The Harrison Weir Collection.
AN HISTORICAL PORTRAIT OF
SILVER ABYSSINIAN MALE
BY
JOHN G. SMITHSON
Adapted from the author’s text for ‘Ouizero Taitou’ @ The History Project
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND It is fair to say, that from the beginning, the Abyssinian Cat, although unique in its foreign beauty and in its ticked coat, had a very rough time of it, getting established at all. Their numbers were very few, although a fine example, in a female named ‘Zula’, was exhibited at the Second Crystal Palace Cat Show in December of 1871, where she took a third prize. She had been taken as a captive in the late Abyssinian War, at the conclusion of which she was brought back to England, where she was owned by Mrs Captain Barrett Lennard. ³ The first Abyssinians to appear in the National Cat Club Stud-book and Register were ‘Queen Jumbo’, (NCC: 1561) ‘Sedgemere Bottle’, (NCC: 2314) and ‘Sedgemere Peaty’, (NCC: 2315). No date of birth is given for ‘Queen Jumbo’ but her death is recorded as 1893.⁴ She too, was a Silver Abyssinian, owned by Mrs Herring, (wife of a cousin to the wife of Harrison Weir). ‘Sedgemere Bottle’, a male, whose colour is not given, was born in 1892. He was originally owned
by Mr Swinyard, but by the time of his registration, was in the ownership of Mr Sam Woodiwiss. ‘Sedgemere Peaty’, a female, whose colour is also not recorded, was born in October 1894 (a year after the death of ‘Queen Jumbo’) and her ownership followed that of ‘Sedgemere Bottle’. ‘Peaty’ was later owned by Mr H.C. Brooke, and from a black and white photo taken of her while under his stewardship, it is difficult to ascertain her colour. The colour appears paler than her Manx counterparts in the same image, but we are fortunate to have this record of her colour by Mr Brooke: “Probably the best Abyssinians ever seen in this country were Sedgemere Bottle and Sedgemere Peaty, the property of Mr. Sam Woodiwiss. They were, as far as I know, not related, and if this be the case it is really remarkable how two such specimens were obtained. They were very much the colour of a hare. Peaty ended her days in my possession, and I have always regretted not having preserved her skin, to at least retain her
glorious colour, though her beautiful sinuous form and delicate limbs can hardly be imagined by those who had not seen her.” ⁵ In fact, much conjecture exists as to the colours of many of the early Abyssinians, and it seems probable that a good many of them were in fact silver, as was ‘Ouizero Taitou’. Names suggestive of the colour abound among the earliest cats, such as ‘Aluminium’, ‘Platinum’, ‘Quicksilver’, ‘Silver Menelik’, ‘Silver Fairy’, and ‘Silver Ideal’ to name just a few. ⁶ We are certainly extraordinarily fortunate to have available to us for reference the wonderful photo on the leading page of this article of Mrs. Constance Carew Cox seated with her Silver male Abyssinian ‘Ch. Ouizero Taitou,’ taken from the ‘Illustrated London News’ in December 1913; especially as it is one of the clearest images we have of an early silver Abyssinian, and of a silver son of ‘Aluminium’; who must be regarded as one of the key forebears of all the surviving Abyssinians that have come down to us to this day. It is also relevant, to understand, that both in yesteryear as in today, the attitudes of specific breeders have influenced the development of both breeds and colour varieties – and in this regard Mr. Brooke was no exception, as will become abundantly apparent. In ‘The Book of The Cat’, Mr Brooke, who was a strong supporter of ‘foreign varieties’ gives a description of the expected colour: “The colour of the Abyssinian should be a sort of reddish-fawn, each individual hair being ‘ticked’ like that of a wild rabbit – hence the popular name of ‘bunny cat’. The great difficulty in breeding these cats is their tendency to come
Mrs. Constance Carew Cox judging Shorthairs at the Newbury Cat Show, in 1912. Photo: ‘Fur and Feather’ February 16, 1912. Image: The Harrison Weir Collection.
too dark and too heavily striped on the limbs; the face should be rather long, the tail short and thick, and the ears large. “The Abyssinian should not be a large coarse cat. A small cat of delicate colouring and the above-mentioned body properties is by far to be preferred to the large, coarse, dark specimens one sees winning under all-round judges, merely because of their size.” ⁷
A STUD ADVERTISEMENT FOR MRS. CAREW COX’S FAMOUS RUSSIAN & ABYSSINIAN CATTERY Image: from ‘Cats: Show and Pet’ (1912 edition), courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection.
It was Mr Brooke’s view, very probably justified, that the foreign varieties needed to be judged by Specialist Judges with a specific knowledge of the breed variety: “At the best, knowledge of the different varieties of foreign cats is absolutely in its infancy. It should be the aim of large shows to provide, whenever possible, judges for these interesting strangers who do really take some interest in them. I am bound to say that of late years the National Cat Club has done its best to meet the wishes of owners in this respect, and with gratifying results, as witness the good classes at the Crystal Palace show, where there were no fewer than eleven Abyssinians penned – a record number!* ⁷ (Author’s note: *Crystal Palace Show of 1902!) PARENTAGE & OWNERSHIP th
‘Ouizero Taitou’ was born September 13 , 1909. He was sired by ‘Aluminium’ (NCC: 4463) (born in 1905) and out of ‘Abeba’.
We have no confirmation of the colour of ‘Aluminium’ although his name is certainly suggestive of being a Silver, but we do have his parentage, his sire being ‘Ras Kasar’ and his dam ‘Rocksham’. For ‘Abeba,’ we have no other information. The breeder of ‘Ouizero Taitou’ was Mrs. Constance Carew Cox, who is also the breeder of record, for his sire ‘Aluminium’. Although Mr Brooke personally regarded the Silver variety an alien colour in the Abyssinian breed, preferring instead the warmth of the ruddy undercoat, he never-the-less has nothing but praise for the work done by Mrs Carew Cox, whom he almost single-handedly credits for the survival of the Abyssinian breed, through its many and various trials and tribulations: “About thirty years ago, some very good Abyssinians were shown by the late Mr. Heslop, of Darlington; Mrs. Alice Pitkin also exhibited some fair specimens, many of hers, however, being
being too dark and "British Ticks" in type. Later Mrs. Clark, of Bath, possessed many excellent specimens.
Winscombe, Somerset, where they were said to have been left by one who had been a traveller in "furrin parts".
“I bred quite a number at that period, perhaps the best being ‘Chelsworth Peaty’, who greatly interested Queen Alexandra, then Princess of Wales, when I exhibited her, suckling a ferret, at a Botanic Gardens Show. I sent quite a number to Continental menageries and fanciers; early in the century, however, I gave up all dog and cat breeding, and left London for the West Country to devote myself entirely to hunting.
“Incidentally, I may mention that a good many years back Mrs. Carew-Cox published a couple of letters from a gentleman who had been shooting in Abyssinia, and who stated that he had there shot a pair of wild cats, whose skins he brought to England, and which seemed from the description to correspond in every way with our present-day exhibition specimens.”
“Had not Mrs. Carew-Cox about this time devoted herself to the breed I very much fear it would, ere now, have become extinct. Neglected - Heaven knows why - by the Fancy at large in an inconceivable manner, this beautiful and interesting breed certainly owes its existence to-day mainly to the devoted care and affection bestowed upon it by Mrs. CarewCox, who for a quarter-of-a-century has fostered it in the face of discouragements which I verily believe would have "choked off" any other person in the Fancy. “Not for her the "big business" in stud fees, the "queued-up" queens, the cups and specials galore, which fall to the lot of many Long-hair breeders; no, in the face of rotten judging, lack of recognition, poor prizes, lack of market, and a heart-breaking mortality in kittens, this plucky lady has carried the Abyssinian flag triumphantly through. “She cannot (or modestly will not?) tell me how many champions she has bred since some thirty odd years ago she fell in love with the first specimen she saw at an hotel at Winscombe, .
What an amazing tribute to Constance Carew Cox from a man who was himself, so highly respected in the world of cats! However, it should be said that in part at least, it was his own attitude towards the ‘silvers’ that lead to their eventual decline and disappearance from the show bench, as they represented in his opinion, a colour that was ‘foreign’ to the breed. This does lead one to wonder whether Constance Carew Cox would have shared that view, or indeed, breeders like Miss Jane Cathcart in the United States, who happily imported silvers from Mrs. Carew Cox. SIBLINGS & SHOWS There are two full older siblings of singular note for ‘Ouizero Taitou’. These are ‘Pepper’ (a male), and ‘Salt’ (a female), born October 25th, 1907. They also, were bred by Mrs Constance Carew Cox, and ‘Salt’ was duly exported along with her half-brother ‘Aluminium II’ (by ‘Aluminium’ ex ‘Fancy Free’) to Miss Jane Cathcart, in the United States where they were resident at her famous ‘Black Short Haired’ cattery. ‘Fancy Free’ (NCC:4934), it should be noted, was a Silver, and in an issue of Our Cats, dated May 8,
‘CHAMPION SALT’ – born October 23, 1907 - A full older sibling to ‘CHAMPION OUIZERO TAITOU’ Silver Abyssinian bred by Mrs. Constance Carew Cox and exported to Miss Jane R. Cathcart, Oradell, N.J. Photo: ‘The Cat Review’, October 1911. Image courtesy of the CFA Foundation, Inc.
1909, she is listed as ‘imported’. She is the dam of a number of sire-siblings to ‘Ouizero Taitoo’, all sired by ‘Aluminium’, which included: ‘Aluminium II’ and ‘Quicksilver’ (born 3rd September 1907), and ‘Silver Fairy’ and ‘Platinum of Thorpe’ (born 2nd March, 1908). Another sire-sibling of note is ‘Ras Dashan’, (born 25th April, 1908), sired by ‘Aluminium’ and out of ‘L
‘Linga’. As far as can be ascertained, ‘Ras Dashan’ was a ‘Usual’ or ‘Ruddy’ Abyssinian like his dam. He was of course, bred by Mrs Carew Cox and firstly owned by Mrs. K. Palmer, later transferring to the ownership of Mrs. E. A. Clark. From the Supplement to the Register, we find that ‘Ras Dashan’ (while owned by Mrs. Clark), was exhibited several times against ‘Ouizero Taitou’.
BREEDING & PROGENY ‘Taitou’ appears to have been a reliable working stud male, but only a handful of his progeny can be found in official records. The following are those, listed in chronological order: ‘TESSAMA’ (Abyssinian Female born March 23, 1911). By ‘Ouizero Taitou’ ex ‘Alcara’. ‘CARACUL’ (Abyssinian Male, born April 7, 1912). By ‘Ouizero Taitou’ ex ‘Queen Baucis’ ‘PUMA’ (Abyssinian Female, born April 7, 1912). By ‘Ouizero Taitou’ ex ‘Queen Baucis’. ‘SPARKS’ (Abyssinian Male, born March 24, 1913). By ‘Ouizero Taitou’ ex ‘Malden Stranger’. Notice of Meeting for the establishment of an Abyssinian Cat Club, to be held in the Show Hall at Batley on January 17th, 1914. From ‘Fur and Feather’, January 16th, 1914 ¹ Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection
Although ‘Taitou’ defeated him often, there were times when ‘Ras Dashan’ came out on top, taking the Best of Breed win. Our records of ‘Taitou’s’shows wins are drawn from both the Stud Book and its Supplement as well as an article in Fur and Feather, and include: 2nd Richmond 1911; 1st Hounslow 1911; 1st NCC (National) 1911; 3rd Richmond 1912; 1st Hounslow 1912; 1st NCC (National) 1912; 1st Richmond 1913; 1st NCC (National) 1913; 2nd Richmond 1914. In addition, we are advised that he gained wins at Westminster, and at Cambridge in August 1913, he won the Cup for Best Cat in Show, very possibly the first verifiable ‘Best Cat in Show’ win by an Abyssinian! (and by a Silver!)
‘ADOWA’ (Abyssinian Female, no date of birth). By ‘Ouizero Taitou’ ex (no dam recorded). It was in fact, many years before an Abyssinian Cat Club was finally able to be established in 1929, founded by Major E.S. Woodiwiss. However, this was not the first attempt to establish a club, as can be verified by the notice given above, which was given by the well-known judge and author, Charles A. House in ‘Fur and Feather’ on January 16, 1914. No doubt its lack of success may have been contributed to by the advent of the Great War. IN SUMMARY The story of ‘Ouizero Taitou’ is an interesting one. It reminds us firstly of the sheer dedication of his amazing breeder, to the survival of her chosen breed (one of several breeds she was passionate about!). It also reminds us that in the early days of the breed, the Silver Abyssinian was almost as populous in numbers as the Ruddy. Mr. Brooke’s opinion on Silvers is dismissive of the opinion of Harrison Weir, who alludes to the Silver
‘Champion Ouizero Taitou’, Silver Male Abyssinian, bred and owned by Mrs Carew Cox. Winner of six Championships, and many first prizes, at Westminster, Hounslow, Richmond etc., First Prize, Crystal Palace, three years consecutively (1911, 1912, 1913) also Cup for Best Cat in Show at Cambridge, in August (1913). Photo: ‘Fur and Feather’, 16th January, 1914 ¹ Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection
Silver variety in his notes on Abyssinians, published in 1889. Both agree that the cats are similar to those ancient cats which originated in Egypt, but how quickly it is forgotten that Egypt had silver shorthaired cats too!
The story of the Abyssinian is one which epitomises the expression ‘through trials to triumph’; for 130 plus years later, the Abyssinian cat is no longer the second-class citizen of the feline world, struggling to hold its own.
Mrs Constance Carew Cox did not necessarily share Mr Brooke’s view of the Silvers. She kept, bred and exhibited silvers with success, and no doubt passed on some for breeding, which is hardly indicative of someone who would consider that they do not hold merit. Just as today we hold precious the boldly rufoused undercoat of the modern ruddy Abyssinian, we should equally celebrate the clear, bright silver undercoat of a Silver Abyssinian.
Abyssinians have taken ‘CAT of the YEAR’ in many Associations around the world and are now proudly shown on every continent! They are our link to the ancient cats of the past, have contributed their colour and pattern to breeds of the present, and are sure to be the forthright companions of mankind, well into the future. References available at: http://www.cat-o-pedia.org/ouizero-taitou.html
Article page graphicsŠwww.gograph.com
BY KAREN LAWRENCE
RICHARD GEBHARDT – A VISION BEYOND ALL ELSE When 14-year old Richard Gebhardt purchased his first black Persian for $10 in 1945, who knew that he would have such a great impact on the cat fancy and CFA in particular. Here’s his early history, covering his first 25 years in the cat fancy, in his own words: “Times were still bad. World War II was still going on. Living quarters were getting smaller and restrictions tighter. My love for all animals had not changed and I was in my early teens. Keeping pets presented a problem. Dogs were usually not allowed in most apartments. After living in a 14room home, my mother and twin brother faced some hard times. We then made the drastic change of moving to a three-room apartment. No dogs were permitted. I had $10 which seemed like $100 then. Without any advice or help from anyone, I purchased a black Persian kitten from a pet shop with my $10. She had no pedigree. I called her Smokie. It did not occur to me that she would eventually become shiny and black. “I was 14 years old and she really impressed me. Even then, I can recall that while I loved her and enjoyed her, I knew Smokie lacked certain qualities in her make-up. Never was I so blind as to believe Smokie to be worth more than was paid. My mother knew Mrs. Louise Del Marais was a member of Garden State Cat Club of New Jersey. I might add here that a Siamese was my first choice, but I would have needed $15.00 more, a large sum for me to raise. Mrs. Des Marais also helped me to register Smokie as “Smokie Girl” with particulars unknown. All I had to have in 1946 was an affidavit signed by a notary that to the best of my belief she was a purebred. “Then came the Garden State show on November 7-8, 1945. It was on a Thursday and Friday and my first show. This was a big event naturally, and soon to be the debut of events in my life that would exceed any of my wildest dreams. It was Garden State’s Fourth Annual Championship Show, managed by Elsie Hydon herself. Miss Maud Lantry of O’the Mist Silvers, and Anthony De Santis of Longhill were aisle stewards. The All-Breed judge was Miss Dorothy Hunt of Rosedere. Mrs. Julia Hunter was the solid color Specialty judge. There were 149 entries and 66 exhibitors. Eighteen of the entries were Siamese adults with Amdos and Newton the big names. Only Blues and Seals were recognized at that time. In the Persian Class it was blues leading the way with 25 adults.
Gebhardt was an experienced rider, and owning a horse was one of his wishes as a young man. Photo from Gebhardt Archive of The CFA Foundation, Inc.
“Best in Show went to the exquisite white Periwinkle White Christmas. His copper eyes were like orange peel and even I could see he was a stand-out. My little Smokie only took two red seconds, but it was as though I had Best Kitten. I was so sure I would get nothing. Needless to say I caught the fever. What I did then and ventured into was entirely on my own initiative. All assistance came from those within the Fancy as my need arose. My family enjoyed the cats, but beyond that it was my interest. When children have a sincere interest, a family should not stop or discourage them. Children with talent will almost be forced to put it to work. The buildup of the desire becomes so great it must be released. “My next step was to join the Garden State Cat Club. This was in May 1946 when I bred my little cat. What an exciting experience! I had great success with the five kittens resulting. The stud fee was $15.00; this was for a fine stud at that time. I sold those kittens, which I realized I had to do, to improve future breedings. With this money I purchased a Shaded Silver and a Blue eyed White. This led to the naming of my cattery --- Silva-Wyte.
Prior to moving to the apartment, the Gebhardt family had owned pedigree dogs – Airedales, German Shepherds, and Wirehaired Terriers, and they were his first love. He is shown here in 1957 with his imported Maltese. Photo from the Gebhardt Archive of The CFA Foundation, Inc.
“One joy I am grateful for today is that I found pleasure and interest in all breeds of cats. I was very close to many of the top Siamese breeders and through Imperial Siamese Cattery became acquainted with Fanciers in other countries beginning with Prestwick, Southwood and Oriental in England. Elsie Hydon’s guidance and friendship helped instill invaluable lessons about cats which I have profited by all of my life. “At my third Garden State show, Matil Rotter quickly caught my eye. She had a manner of judging that was truly inspiring. There was no feeling of uncertainty in the exhibitor’s mind when she handled a cat. By this time, Anthony De Santis was hitting the shows with as many as 21 entries in every color, and with quality that made you well aware of his presence. “I began to take on many of the club jobs, such as stewarding and publicity. I arranged for TV and radio programs – always to promote interest in cats and shows. I learned a great deal about cats and fanciers. There are some areas where there is no change, yet the Fancy itself has come a long way.
‘SILVA-WYTE’S AMBASSADOR’ – Blue-eyed White Persian male born March 30, 1953 Sire: DCH. Tally-Ho It Dam: Ch. Silva-Wyte’s Fleur-de-Lis. Bred by Richard Gebhardt. Photo: Gale of East Orange.
“I served in every capacity from the ground up. I wanted to have the experience of all the various tasks. I tried to create new interest in the club. I also learned that to accomplish anything worthwhile, it was best to confine one’s efforts to just a single club. “At 22, I was elected President of the Garden State Cat Club and served for 13 years in that office. During this time, I managed what was one of the largest shows in the county at Asbury Park Convention Hall for four years. This was the same year that I was accepted on the Judge’s List. At that time, there were fewer breeds and colors of cats. You were accepted on your breed knowledge especially if you knew best and were closely associated within your own home. Rarely were you accepted for all longhairs. For some, it might be only a solid color specialty or only Siamese. Often I was called upon to handle cats and condition them.
‘GC. WILA-BLITE POLA OF SILVA-WYTE’ – CEW Manx SH female born April 22, 1958 Breeder: Bettie R. Collins. Owner: Richard H. Gebhardt. Later owned by Muriel Slodden. Image from the Gebhardt Archive of The CFA Foundation, Inc.
“Frequently a fancier would call me to his home to select the best of a litter. This experience greatly helped when I started to judge. Usually my choices became top winners later. “As I started my judging career, a whole new concept of shows began. To glamorize the show became important. Exhibitors and Judges alike began to get away from white coats and work clothes. To be particular about one’s attire now became a thing. Good taste in dress became fashionable and other Judges began to follow. A new pace had been set. Fanciers began to enjoy social activities and more color and flair was added to the shows. Exhibitors themselves became better groomed. “I was a premature candidate for no less than CFA President in 1959. I never really thought I would win, but I surely worried about how it would be if I did. Mrs. Lillias Bloem was then President. Like many, I was easily convinced I should run for office, and my youth gave me the ego to believe I should. Time, work, experience and several defeats are of great value in growing up and I suffered lots of experiences through the years. One point I want to make, however, I never ran away from a problem or backed down. I stuck with anything I took on and never deserted the causes I felt were right because of pressure groups. I fought for my beliefs, but when they lost, that was it. I never carried a grudge. Yes, I was nominated for the Board a year later and was again defeated. From this, I learned the only votes you can count on are the votes you cast yourself.
RICHARD GEBHARDT WITH ‘GC. VEL-VENE VOO DOO OF SILVA-WYTE’ Black Persian male, born July 2 1956, bred and exhibited by Robert and Lois Green, owned Richard Gebhardt. CFA CAT OF THE YEAR 1959 Photo from the Gebhardt Archive of The CFA Foundation, Inc.
Richard Gebhardt’s now iconic drawing for the Persian breed standard, drafted in 1950, with copyright applied for in 1960. This set the benchmark for judge training and still holds true to this day. Now in the Collection of the CFA Foundation’s Feline Historical Museum, Alliance, Ohio.
“I never really felt defeated, however – always it seemed for the best. People knew what was best for CFA and things seemed to right themselves. Along with each defeat something much more desirable and good followed. It made me feel that the only shame in a defeat was not in losing but in the failure to learn something from it. “I wrote many articles about cats for magazines, both here and abroad. Perhaps many can recall those for All Pets Magazine. Then I was honored to be recognized as consultant to National Geographic magazine’s special edition on cats in April 1964, and also Woman’s Day, May 1965. The Fancy was hungry for truly authoritative publications on cats and some of the books I can honestly say have something of value to offer are those written by Soderberg, Wolfgang, Naples and Vera Nelson. “In 1962, I was elected as a Director-at-Large for the CFA Board. At that same annual, I was elected President of the CFA Judges’ Association. From there, I thought that the annual judges dinner detracted from the regular meeting because it got to be a big affair, yet it excluded delegates. So, I proposed a single annual awards banquet that would be attended by delegates and judges, and honor award winning cats. I also helped to create the International Division committee. We wanted to work with other countries because so many good quality cats were being imported. “In 1968, I ran unopposed for CFA President. I was not as eager as the first time around. My eyes had been opened; I knew what was involved and the thought of becoming commander-in-chief of a national organization of CFA’s size and complexity was a little bit intimidating.
Richard’s equally iconic drawing for the Siamese and related breeds standard. Developed from experience judging for many associations and in many countries. Another critical judges’ training tool. In the Collection of the CFA Foundation’s Feline Historical Museum, Alliance, Ohio.
“However, once elected I was determined to live up to my principles. One of my first appointments was of Robert Winn to be the parliamentarian of the annual meeting. Elsie Hydon and I had discussed the merits of registering litters, and this was one of the first programs that I initiated. The proposal passed, although with much opposition, and it turned out not to be foolproof. I very quickly learned how brilliant fanciers could be at manipulating registrations. “I continued to breed Persians, but had also developed an interest in Manx. I didn’t know much about them, so I got two little sisters, Pola and Boette, from a cattery in Ohio. Of the two, the white Pola had all the qualities I liked to see in a show Manx -- tremendous coat, conformation, and style, and these set her apart from other cats. She had a great show career. “Of all the cats that I have known and loved over the years, the 1959 Cat of the Year, the one and only Grand Champion Vel-Vene Voo Doo of Silva-Wyte, a black Persian male, was the best. I believe him to be the greatest sire of all times. Voo Doo, sired by the 1950 Cat of the Year, Grand Champion Lavender’s Liberty Beau, produced for me the lovely black female, Grand Champion Silva-Wyte Trafari of J.B. She was also a CFA Cat of the Year. “Now, after 25 years with cats, it is hard to think what my life would be without them. The travel, the honors, the many friends, the rivals and all the depressions, heartaches and fears, are all necessary to round out one’s life. “I feel I have lived and loved every minute of it. I can now look at it all, from the widest viewpoint. It is a great feeling to know you have something to offer and give to others. It is an honor to be given the opportunity to do so. I am dedicated to a single cat society – a great society that will serve the Fancy well and protect our efforts.
‘GC. SILVA-WYTE TRAFARI OF J.B.’ – Black Persian female, born November 9 1964, Bred by Richard Gebhardt. Owned and exhibited by John Bannon. CFA CAT OF THE YEAR 1964 Photo from the Gebhardt Archive of The CFA Foundation, Inc.
“I have little respect for large and poorly run catteries, and for those who conduct catteries in an unfit environment. Choose wisely your cats for breeding and insist on neutering and spaying of those that are best suited as a loved and cherished pet. Think of the future of the cat and what is to become of the life for which you are responsible. Do not lose sight of the kindness and protection you owe those kittens you raise.” Richard H. Gebhardt
RICHARD GEBHARDT JUDGING ‘SHAWNEE ANTISEPTIC’ IN 1965 Photo from the Gebhardt Archive of The CFA Foundation, Inc.
If Gebhardt’s first 25 years in the cat fancy were remarkable, his work as President of CFA was outstanding. His greatest contribution was through his vision of what CFA “could be” and, as President of CFA for 12 years (1968-1980), he quietly guided CFA through an era of its largest growth. He initiated the litter registration, eliminated registration by affidavit, and introduced a policy that prevented owners from putting their cattery name as a prefix on cats they had not bred. Under his guidance, the scoring system that we know today was introduced, as were the National Winner awards that replaced the Hydon-Goodwin All-Star Awards. Gebhardt can also be credited with putting an end to veterinary inspection lines at shows. He said: “All the cats crossed the same table, and germs were so easily spread while everyone stood in line", so they served no purpose. In place of veterinary inspections, a show rule was added that allowed judges to disqualify an entry if a health problem was discovered, and show management was granted authority to have entries removed from the showhall. One of his most insightful moves was to establish a committee to focus on heading off proposed restrictive legislation in the United States.
RICHARDT GENHARDT PRESENTING THE PRESIDENT’S AWARD TO A CLEARLY JUBILANT WINNER! Photo: Creszentia. Courtesy of The CFA Foundation, Inc.
While there are any number of excellent judges in CFA, there may never be another judge of Gebhardt’s caliber. When he became a CFA judge in 1953, it is agreed that he forever changed the atmosphere in a judging ring! He firmly believed that it was important to make the cat show glamorous, so immediately he broke the trend of judges in white lab coats and wore a vibrant sports jacket for his first judging assignment in Boston.
Left: Richard Gebhardt with Blanche Wolfman Smith and ‘SHAN-AN-SHAH-BEL AKHANEH’ OEW Persian born in 1962. Right: Richard with Willa Hawke and the winning Siamese at the Denver Show, 1971. Photos from the Gebhardt Archive of The CFA Foundation, Inc.
Left: ‘SILVA-WYTE NIGHTLINE’ (1985) Silver Tabby American Shorthair. Right: Richard Gebhardt presenting his Best Cat at the Santa Monica Show Photos:‘Nightline’ by Richard Raska. Both from the Gebhardt Archive of The CFA Foundation, Inc.
‘CH. SILVA-WYTE LINDE STAR OF CHAR-FAE’ – OEW Persian female, born June 14 1970. Bred by Richard Gebhardt and owned by Charles-Fae Afflerbach. Photo from the Gebhardt Archive of The CFA Foundation, Inc.
From this small step, his judging ring grew to be a place of interest, fashion and showmanship. And, oh, how he could handle a cat with flair and finesse! His friend, CFA Executive Director Jean Rose, wrote him after seeing him judge for the first time. “I had my first chance to see you at work on a championship show, and it was a joy to see first-hand that my feelings about your abilities as a judge are not misplaced. There are judges and there are judges, but only a few of them have the inborn touch. You're one of them." Gebhardt’s handling and judging skills resulted in invitations to judge, and represent CFA, throughout the world. He was the first American to guest judge at a show in Europe, at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen followed by a show in Paris. Phil Magitti wrote about Gebhardt’s judging skills for the 1995 Madison Square Garden show catalogue: “He does not merely evaluate a cat. He presents it with the elegance and flair of a figure skater... lifts the cat high above his head in one hand and studies it momentarily before whisking it back to its cage. So skillfully does Gebhardt manoeuver a cat when he judges it, you are convinced he could make it disappear, if he wanted to, without ever putting a wrinkle in his gloriously pressed jacket or disturbing the dazzling shine on his shoes.” Helena Thom, in a 1995 article, caught Gebhardt reflecting on his many years as a judge, wherein he concluded that "it's much more difficult now. The quality is so high. Many breeds seem to be as good as they could possibly be. Then too, there are so many colors -where does one begin, another let off?"
RICHARD GEBHARDT JUDGING AND SPORTING ONE OF HIS COLORFUL JACKETS for which he had become justly famous. Photo from the Gebhardt Archive of The CFA Foundation, Inc.
Above all, Gebhardt believed in sharing. He once said “I have the willingness to give freely and share the things I have worked for, whether they be bloodlines or the wisdom of experience. The person who selfishly keeps to himself his knowledge and shares nothing will never enjoy the respect of others, for if one gives nothing, one is quickly forgotten. No greater honor could come to me than to know that I have given something which has benefited others.�
Official photos of Richard Gebhardt as CFA President. Photos from the Gebhardt Archive of The CFA Foundation, Inc.
DOING WHAT HE DID BEST Richard Gebhardt engages and captivates his audience, at Madison Square Garden Show, New York, in 1986. Photo from the Gebhardt Archive of The CFA Foundation, Inc.
Left: Don Williams and Richard Gebhardt with Garden State Cat Club’s Gebhardt Memorial Trophy. Right: Richard Gebhardt at the launch of his book, ‘The Complete Cat Book’. Trophy and photos from the Gebhardt Archive of The CFA Foundation
For years, he shared through meetings, presentations, interviews and judging, but mostly through writing as a well-known writer and author, with his most noteworthy book being The Complete Cat Book, published in 1992. Most importantly, Mr. Gebhardt shared his knowledge of breeds and their standards through The Standard Guide to Cat Breeds by Grace Pond, The Complete Cat Encyclopedia, Champion Cats of the World, and Cat Catalog. He and his partner, John Bannon, published The Allure of Cats. The Complete Cat Book was selected for the Book of the Month Club even before its publication, the book featured many cats owned by members of the Garden State Cat Club. His writing was sometime controversial as in his 1985 article for Cat Fancy titled “Why Himalayans are Persians” which began “Regardless of the color of a building, its architecture never changes” and continued on to make an excellent argument to prove the point. To this date, Mr. Gebhardt’s vision of the ideal Persian stands. His original drawing of both the body and head structure of the Persian (and the Siamese) is on display in the CFA’s Foundation’s Feline Historical Museum in Alliance, OH. Born on April 7, 1931, Gebhardt passed away on September 7, 2018 and he was mourned and eulogized worldwide. In 2008, CFA had awarded Gebhardt the CFA Medal of Honor for his service to CFA, the cat fancy, and the lives of cats, over the years. His death was truly the end of an era. References: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
“Twenty-Five years in the Cat Fancy”, the personal notes of Richard Gebhardt “Gebhardt Director-At-Large Candidate for CFA Unity”, by ‘Friends of Richard H. Gebhardt’ ‘Richard Gebhardt: Memories of Fifty Years in CFA”, by Helena Thom, CFA Yearbook, 1996 “Richard H. Gebhardt: Best-in-Show”, by Phil Maggitti for Madison Square Garden show catalog, 1995 “Why Himalayans are Persians”, by Richard H. Gebhardt, Cat Fancy, April “Richard Gebhardt – A True Visionary”, by Karen Lawrence, Cat Tracks
IN MEMORIAM
RICHARD H. GEBHARDT (1931 – 2018) ‘The Greatest Showman’ - CFA Judge (1953-2005) President - The Cat Fanciers’ Association (1968- 1980) from the painting by Roy Andersen. Image courtesy of The CFA Foundation, Inc.
Everything you need to know about Genetics… You can learn from your Cat! BY
DR. LESLIE LYONS
College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri
PART EIGHT – PIGMENT INHIBITORS What we know… and don’t know! Yet! Silver and golden are two colorations in domestic cats in which the genetics have not yet been deciphered. Silver is a coloration resulting from the absence of the yellow pigment, pheomelanin, in the individual hairs of the fur coat.1 The locus is known as Inhibitor (I), the allele causing silver is dominant and silver cats can have one of two genotypes, (II or Ii+). Thus, the normal, wildtype allele causing the presence of yellow pigment is recessive and cats have the genotype i+i+. The Inhibitor gene interacts with other genes controlling pigment,2 such as the Agouti locus, which is the location for the gene agoutisignaling protein (ASIP) and the Extension locus, which is the location for the gene melanocortin receptor 1 (MCR1). The Inhibitor locus that produces the silver phenotype is known to be on cat chromosome D2 and will be a novel gene for coloration as no other species, not even a mouse, has a known color gene in this chromosomal region.3
EDITOR: This is the Eighth in a series of articles based on feline genetics by Dr Leslie Lyons being published in FELIS HISTORICA during the 2020/2021 period Article Graphics ©www.gograph.com
No known mutations altering the coding portion of a gene have been found, thus, like the White and Spotting mutations,4,5 silver may be controlled by mutations that regulate a gene and does not alter the gene’s protein. As recently discovered for the Ticked gene, more than one DNA variant could be present for silver.6,7 And, as found for Selkirk rex, which is a dominant allele, Sphynx hairless, which is a dominant allele, and Devon rex, which is a recessive allele, different mutations can be dominant or recessive within the same gene, in this case, KRT71.8,9 Plus, maybe there is more than one gene causing silver-like colorations. Over six different genes in mice cause blue-type dilution for example.10
‘Smaragdtempl Champagne’ – Shaded Silver Persian female, bred and owned by Rosario Nancy Marraro S
A third, even more poorly describe gene, known as Wide-band,11,12 is postulated to affect the width of the pigment bands in the hair, thus, besides Inhibitor, this gene likely interacts with Agouti and Extension, as well.13-16 Although the mode of inheritance for wide-banding of coloration in the fur is speculated to be recessive, the length of the banding is variable, and the inheritance pattern is still somewhat elusive. The length of the banding leads to the colorations of chinchilla and shaded, and for non-agouti cats – smoke (Figures 1 – 3).
College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri
Given a solid-colored cat, which has the 2 DNA base deletion mutation in Agouti and the genotype, aa, if the same cat has at least one silver allele (I-), this cat will be smoke (aa, I-).13 The hair will be white at the base, which can be seen when you rub the cat’s fur the wrong way! Smoke is particularly noticeable in long haired cats and the type of smoke will depend upon and is independent of the base color, such as blue, and brown. For red (Orange) cats, smoke cats are uncommon because the tabby patterns have ghost markings in the coat and genetically solid Orange cats still appear to be tabbies.17,18 The variations and phenotypes of silver are more exciting and complicated when the cat is not solid, i.e., agouti (AA or Aa). These cats will have banding of black and yellow pigment in the hairs. If the cat also has at least one silver allele (I-), the yellow pigment will be absent and the hair has bandings of black and white. The white is actually an area with no pigment deposits. For a cat with tabby patterns, the “brown” fur between the tabby stripes, swirls or spots is now black and white, which makes the tabby markings appear very prominent. The production of black or yellow pigment is a feedback mechanism controlled by Agouti and Extension, creating a type of pigment switch, creating the bands.2 The switching mechanism still seems to work in silver cats, however, yellow pigment is not produced. Thus, this complex interaction between the three genes, is perplexing. In addition, now consider Wide-band gene.11,12 This gene seems to control the rate of the switching between Agouti and Extension, making the bands of black or yellow pigment short or long. Most cats have three, about even, bands of pigment, black at the tip, yellow in the middle and black at the base (Figure 1a, b). Abyssinians are agouti but also have very short bands of pigment, commonly up to 4 – 5 bands per hair. Black pigment seems to always be produced during the earliest hair development, thus, the tips of cat hairs tend to be black (or whatever the base color).
EDITOR: This is the Eighth in a series of articles based on feline genetics by Dr Leslie Lyons being published in FELIS HISTORICA during the 2020/2021 period
If the Wide-band gene is acting to produce a very long band of yellow pigment, the cat may only have a hair tip with minimal black and the rest of the hair as white or yellow. If the cat is silver and the longer band is white, these cats are considered chinchillas (Figure 1c, d). If the cat is not silver, the longer band will be yellow, producing the golden coloration (Figure 2). Since, the Wide-band gene seems to have variation in the length of the bands produced, cats can have a slightly longer black tip and slightly shorter yellow band, producing shaded colorations (Figure 3).
a.
b.
c.
d.
Figure 1. Typical pigment banding in non-silver and silver cats. a. Brown tabby cat b. Wild type cat hair. The brown fur of a brown tabby cat has alternating eumelanin and pheomelanin bands. c. A silver cat. d. Silver cat hair has alternating eumelanin and non-pigmented bands.
a.
b.
c.
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Figure 2. a. A golden Persian cat (Chinchilla). b. Golden cats have very extended bands of pheomelanin with a very short tip of eumelanin at the hair tip. c. Silver chinchilla Persian. d. Similar to a chinchilla golden, the silver chinchilla has the extended band but the pheomelanin is absent.
a.
b.
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Figure 3. Theoretical variation of the Wide-band gene in cats. a. The degree of the extension of the pheomelanin band is variable. The most extended pheomelanin bands (left) are chinchillas, while the shorter pheomelanin bands (right) are represented in more shaded cats. b. Shaded silver or c. Shaded golden Persian.
College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri
The golden coloration should not be confused with cats that have been previously known as “Sunshine” or “bi-metallics”, which is common in some lines of Siberians but has been noticed in many other cats.19 These cats seem to have areas where Orange and Inhibitor are both expressing, but independently in isolated patterns or areas of the cat’s coat. More information on bi-metallics has been presented elsewhere. In addition, DNA variants in Extension (MCR1) are known to change the tone of the yellow coloration, to a more reddish huge, such as amber in the Norwegian Forest cats, russet in the Burmese, and a newer coloration, copal.14-16 Layering these variants on top of the Inhibitor and Wide-band gene could produce some very novel and interesting colorations. Also, the Ticked gene influences patterning and the two newly discovered variants may also influence some of the banding widths and coloration interplay.6,7 More and more, to decipher new colorations, genetic testing will be key to help rule out or explain the novel coat colors seen in our domestic cat breeds. References: (short) 1: Turner P, Robinson R. J Hered. 1980 Nov-Dec;71(6):427-8. 2: Kaelin CB, Barsh GS. Annu Rev Anim Biosci. 2013 Jan;1:125-56. 3: Menotti-Raymond M, et al., J Hered. 2009 Jul-Aug;100 Suppl 1(Suppl1):S8-13. 4: Cooper MP, et al., Anim Genet. 2006 Apr;37(2):163-5. 5: David VA, et al., G3 (Bethesda). 2014 Aug 1;4(10):1881-91. 6: Lyons LA, Buckley RM, Harvey RJ. Mining the 99 Lives Cat Genome Sequencing Consortium database implicates genes and variants for the Ticked locus in domestic cats (Felis catus). (submitted). 7: Kaelin CB, McGowan KA, Barsh GS. Developmental genetics of color pattern establishment in cats. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.11.16.385609v1 8: Gandolfi B, et al., Mamm Genome. 2010 Oct;21(9-10):509-15. 9: Gandolfi B, et al., Sci Rep. 2013;3:2000. 10: http://www.informatics.jax.org/
EDITOR: This is the Eighth in a series of articles based on feline genetics by Dr Leslie Lyons being published in FELIS HISTORICA during the 2020/2021 period
11: Robinson R. Genetics for Cat Breeders 3rd Ed. 1991, Pergamon Press, UK. 12: Vella CM, Shelton LM, McGonagle JJ, Stanglein TW. Robinson's Genetics for Cat Breeders & Veterinarians 4th Ed. 1999, Butterworth-Heinemann, UK 13: Eizirik E, et al., Curr Biol. 2003 Mar 4;13(5):448-53. 14: Peterschmitt M, et al., Anim Genet. 2009 Aug;40(4):547-52. 15: Gustafson NA, Gandolfi B, Lyons LA. Anim Genet. 2017 Feb;48(1):116-120. 16: Abitbol M, Gache V. Anim Genet. 2019 Oct;50(5):553-554. 17: Grahn RA, et al., Anim Genet. 2005 Feb;36(1):67-70. 18: Schmidt-Küntzel A, et al., 2009 Apr;181(4):1415-25 19: http://messybeast.com/bimetallic.htm
EXAMPLES OF COLOUR AND PATTERN EXPRESSION IN (INHIBITOR SERIES) CATS
Left: Chinchilla (Silver) ‘SGC, Missionhill Timeless Enchantment’ with CFA Judge Vicki Nye. Right: Chinchilla Golden kitten, ‘Smaragdtempl Golden Vision’ Photos: Munira Murrey & Rosario Nancy Marraro
Left: Shaded Silver female, ‘Db. GC Ashdene Simply A Lovesong’ Right: Shaded Silver male, ‘Sup. Db. GC. Ashdene Eternal Vision’ Photos: Dianne Hayes
Left: Shaded Golden male, ‘Smaragdtempl Utopia of Missionhill’ Right: Shaded Golden male, ‘Missionhill Treasure Trove’ Photos: Munira Murrey
Noticeboard **Karen Lawrence, CFA All-Breed Judge since 1995 has tendered her retirement notice to the CFA Judging Program effective 12.31.2020. British born, and now a citizen of Canada, Karen Lawrence was introduced to the Cat Fancy in 1971 when she acquired her first cat, a blue point Himalayan. After her first cat show, and a few rosettes, she was hooked. Additional breeds followed over the years – American Shorthair, Oriental, Ocicat, Persian, Maine Coon, Singapura and American Curls – but her life changed significantly when she acquired her first Abyssinian in 1979. Since that first Aby arrived, the breed has had a strong clutch on her heart. Numerous Grand Champions and Grand Premiers have been bred/shown under the Tailsend cattery name. After years of club participation and show management, Karen joined the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) judging program and began her judging career in 1995. Twenty-five years later, she has judged at cat shows around the world, in nineteen countries, and retired in 2020. In 1994, Karen began working with a group dedicated to giving CFA a social presence online through development of the first edition of the CFA web site. Once the site was launched, in the fall of 1995, she became the webmaster and was responsible for content, growth and maintenance of the site over the next 15 years. Early in the 1990s, Karen discovered the joy of locating historical cat fancy artifacts, and through that she discovered the CFA Foundation which preserves the history of the Cat Fancy. A strong supporter of the CFA Foundation, Karen was appointed to their Board of Directors in 2006 and assisted in the setup and design of the Feline Historical Museum in Alliance, Ohio. In 2012, she took over management of the museum. Through the CFA Foundation’s work, she and John Smithson developed the highly popular web site, The History Project, at www.cat-opedia.org. She contributes to and maintains that site to this day. A prolific writer, she has had over 75 articles published in various magazines and the CFA Yearbook. She is currently going back to her cat fancy roots and writing an in-depth, historical book about the first century of the Abyssinian breed. Karen also wrote the training manual that guided trainees through the judging program along with Rachel Anger. Also, under the JPC Chair Jo Ann Cummings, put the breed presentations into cohesive and presentable Powerpoints, and later on put together the Exotic and Persian head type/structure Powerpoint presentation. **It gives us great pleasure to announce that at the January 5, 2021 Board Meeting, the CFA Board of Directors has granted Karen the title of Judge Emeritus. Congratulations Karen!!! Karen continues to be extremely involved in CFA - and is a key contributor in ensuring that FELIS HISTORICA magazine reaches you - each and every month! Page graphics©www.gograph.com
FEBRUARY 14, 2021
A HEARTY WELCOME TO OUR LATEST NEW CONTRIBUTOR Born in Beijing, China, Chloe moved to Hong Kong when she was just 10 months old. While growing up in Hong Kong, she raised and exhibited several different breeds of dogs, obtaining her first Best of Breed win with a Welsh Corgi in 1993.
CHLOE CHUNG CFA AB JUDGE, HONG KONG Page graphicsŠwww.gograph.com
She entered her first cat show in 2002, began breeding British Shorthairs, and in 2007 had her first home-bred National Winner of her own breeding. As a ring clerk she became interested in many other breeds and exhibited American Curls, American Shorthairs, Colorpoint Shorthairs, Exotics, Maine Coons, Persians, Russian Blues and Sphynx to various wins. In 2010 Chloe applied to the CFA Judging Program, and since then has travelled throughout Europe, Asia, Malaysia and the United States as a CFA judge. Her Chloeadores cattery continues to produce top-quality British Shorthairs. Chloe graduated from the China Agriculture University, and she now lectures on cat behaviour, nutrition, medical care and breed standards, splitting her time between Hong Kong and Liaoning, in mainland China.
‘COVETOUSNESS’ This wonderful oil-painting by Henriette Ronner is among one of her best known and was widely reproduced in black and white in various periodicals after its creation. It is also featured in the second edition (1892) of M.H. Spielman’s book ‘Henriette Ronner – The Painter of Cat Life and Cat Character’ published by Kirberger & Kesper, Amsterdam Image: From a copy of the above book, held in The Harrison Weir Collection. Article page graphics©www.gograph.com
THE REMARKABLE FELINE ART OF
MADAME
HENRIETTE RONNER BY
JOHN G. SMITHSON
Adapted from the author’s manuscript for ‘The Alchemy of Cat Breeds’ INTRODUCTION
Henriette Ronner’s body of work is recognised throughout the world to this day, it being highly collectable and sought after – desirous for both the serious and/or passionate art collector, and as items which are considered realistically to be good medium to long term art investments. A large proportion of her work is based on scenes from rural life, many of them including dogs, and/or poultry, and other farmyard animals, but in her later years, she developed a strong affinity for cats and became a well-respected and recognised specialist for paintings cats and kittens. This article, although it touches upon her early history and work, takes a much closer look at her feline repertoire, the people she painted cats for and her relationship to the National Cat Club, for whom she was invited to be an Honorary Vice-President.
THE ARTISTIC CHALLENGES OF REPRESENTING CATS Artistic ability, no matter how great, does not automatically or necessarily equate to an ability to draw or paint cats with genuine acuity. They are notoriously difficult to capture with realism. Many greatly talented artists have attempted so to do, only to find themselves seriously lacking. M.H. Spielmann, in an essay on Ronner, quotes the words of Mery, (anatomist and surgeon to Louis XIV) who had remarked: ‘God created the cat that man might caress a tiger’. Although many artists have tried, the majority have failed, even with technical skill and natural ability, to capture those innate qualities of the cat, representative of their traits, habits and the myriad of individual feline characteristics, expressions and movements. Again, I quote from M.H. Spielmann, who in 1892, when considering attempts made by prominent artists in bygone years observes: ‘a handful of artists have arisen to eminence and secured for themselves a niche in the Temple of Diana. But whole-hearted devotion to the subject such as Henriette Ronner’s is invariably the price that has been paid for the distinction.’ One amongst this number, would most certainly the Swiss savant, Gottfried Mind, who drew and painted cats in the late 18th and early 19th century, whose brilliant work respectfully earned him a sturdy
A YOUNG CAT NAPPING – an undated Oil Painting by Madame Henriette Ronner Image: Henriette Ronner-Knip, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
sturdy reputation as ‘the Raphael of Cats’. As a watercolourist, his keen powers of observation coupled with exceptional technical ability and attention to detail, were without parallel. But as M.H. Spielman also recognised, he was able to capture more about the character and essence of his feline subjects: “…the facility with which character, humour, and expression have alike been seized, and the correctness of the drawing, are far beyond anything produced in this direction…”
THE EARLY LIFE OF HENRIETTE RONNER Returning to our subject, Henriette Ronner was born in Amsterdam in May 1821; the daughter of the painter Joseph Knip who was himself an artist of respectable ability. Having at a very young age already demonstrated more than a passing aptitude for art and being descended from a family of artists which included her father, her grandfather, her uncle and her aunt, it is therefore not at all surprising that her father took it upon himself to lovingly superintend her artistic education, while also doggedly enforcing both his work ethic and artistic principles. However, in 1832, fate and misfortune would deal her father a severe blow. He had already suffered the loss of his sight in one eye five years before, and now, he was soon to lose the sight in the other. Henriette’s early childhood drawings were mostly drawn when the family lived in France, but the family had returned to the Netherlands and now, at the age of ten, turning eleven, her father began to seriously concentrate on her artistic education. He was only too aware that due to his worsening afflication, it would soon fall to his daughter to provide for the family income. Spielman provides for us a clearer insight into the rigours of this period of artistic instruction: -
‘A SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND ART’ - book plate image of a painting by Henriette Ronner Image: ‘Henriette Ronner- The Painter of Cat Life and Cat Character’ (1892) M.H. Spielmann
“She was then but ten years of age, and proud indeed of being sent to buy her own materials and at being installed in her blind father’s studio. The system of her training was severe in the extreme – which, indeed, none of less robust constitution could have withstood, and to which none but a child of spirit and gentle devotion would have submitted. From sunrise to sunset little Henriette was kept to her easel, save for a brief respite for meals and for a two hours’ siesta at midday passed in complete darkness – lest she, too, he thought, might be overtaken with the affliction which had overwhelmed himself. But the day’s work was cheerfully borne by the child; and her reward is known to the world.” Spielmann then comments on Herr Knip’s possible motives or methodology behind the formatting of her instruction: “The father’s ‘system’ was disciplinarian rather than artistic. He declined on principle to allow his daughter the benefit of any artistic instruction, ever impressing upon her the advantage of independent work and direct study from nature, which, he rightly preached, constituted the only royal road to success. Whether this removal of all means of art education by teaching and demonstration in the usual sense, was owing, as has been suggested, to a sort of nervous jealousy on the part of the afflicted father or whether it was carefully predetermined from him for prudential reasons, it is impossible to say. The fact remains that he allowed his little daughter no guide but himself. No eyes saw her canvas but her own.” “His counsel was unquestionably good so far as it went, and his long daily talks – his sole enjoyment in the weary night of his later life – were based on sound common sense, likely to strike root in the child’s mind and in due course to bear good fruit.”
‘BANJO’ – a cropped book plate image of a painting by Henriette Ronner Image: ‘Henriette Ronner- The Painter of Cat Life and Cat Character’ (1892) M.H. Spielmann
“His constant exhortations that she should study nature, and nature alone, were varied by his warnings against seeing with eyes other than her own. He told her what to look for and how to look for it; how the artist must be ready to sacrifice everything for his art; what was, and what might be, the position of the artist in the world and in society, how that position was to be secured, and how maintained; and lastly, he tried to explain the inexpressible joy and constant delight of the artist as he sees his conception grow and take form under his hand, while how he forgets his sacrifices and sufferings in placing, perchance, the divine touch upon the canvas that may immortalise him who put it there.”
A KITTEN DRAWING from the Sketchbook of Henriette Ronner Image: ‘Kittens and Cats of Henriette Ronner’ – Atalanta Magazine (1892)
It is difficult, when reading of Herr Knip’s exhortations to study from ‘nature, and nature alone’, not to draw comparisons to the experiences of an English contemporary of Henriette Ronner-Knip, (18211909) in the form of the animal illustrator Harrison William Weir (1824-1906), whose father, although not a professional artist, had similarly impressed upon both his sons to observe and draw from nature. The young Weir, is known to have begun drawing as early as the age of five, attempting to follow his father’s example by sketching from life, starting with farmyard animals, and especially poultry. From his own biographical sketch, he relates: “When but mere children, my late brother, John Jenner Weir, F.L.S., F.Z.S., etc and myself, were taught by our father to love animals, birds and flowers. He would often draw dogs, cats, pigs, ducks, cocks and hens before us for our amusement, and so lead us to observe and become familiar with such surroundings.” And from an article in the third person, written by a journalist for the Sevenoaks Chronicle in 1899: “When he and his brother, the late John Jenner Weir, were quite ‘little things’ their father, who was an artist of no small ability, was wont to sketch birds and dogs before his sons, giving each a pencil and paper, telling them to make a copy of his drawings. Thus, it was that before Mr. Weir was five years old he could scribble a little.” There can of course, be no other comparison drawn between Harrison Weir’s somewhat relaxed private early encouragement to draw and Henriette Ronner’s intensely personal and strict regime, but what both instances underscore, is the exhortation to observe and learn from nature, and NOT be influenced by the work of others, which Herr Knip clearly meant by his warning not to see through eyes ‘other than her own’. Harrison Weir may have indeed been a greatly talented artist in drawing animals, and indeed in drawing birds and poultry he was second to none, but even the ‘Father of the Cat Fancy’ could not capture cats as intrinsically or as full of character as Henriette Ronner!
KITTEN DRAWINGS from the Sketchbook of Henriette Ronner Image: ‘Kittens and Cats of Henriette Ronner’ – Atalanta Magazine (1892)
Spielmann tells us that ‘the severity of her training now began to bear fruit’ and that her subsequent advance was ‘rapid’. At the age of sixteen, she first exhibited in public in an exhibition at Dusseldorf and from that time forward, the young Fraulein Knip became a regular exhibitor in the exhibitions of Germany and Holland. In what appears to have been a happy historical accident, her first exhibition picture was of a cat at a window, gazing at a drone. It was an accomplishment of itself that the work of such a young artist had even passed the rigid examination of the jury of the exhibition, but this success was only amplified by the fact that the picture was promptly sold! There can be little doubt that such a momentous achievement by one so young would have only served to fix in her, a resolve to be a painter of animals. This first success did wonders for her reputation, and Spielmann confirms that by the age of eighteen she had developed into a ‘facile and rapid producer,’ and that she had succeeded by the sale of her paintings, to earn a living for her father and for herself. The subject matter of those paintings included topics which invariably matched the tastes of the day, ‘rustic market scenes, interiors with figures and animals, as well as cows, sheep, goats, dogs, cats, fowls and the usual population of the farm-yard.’ Ever faithful and devoted to her father, she lived with him in various locations in Holland and elsewhere during the remaining years of his life. They were living in southern Brabant in the village of Berlicum when her father died in 1847. Even then says Spielmann: ‘Thrown upon her own resources, she acted henceforth on her own unaided judgment, and cultivated her art more assiduously than ever. Her father’s precepts were not forgotten; so true did she remain to them that not even the tender passion by which she was sooner after assailed could wean her from her easel. She had adopted a profession like a man, and like a man, perhaps, she came to regard matrimony essentially as ‘an incident’. It was also in the village of Berlicum that Fraulein Henriette Knip found herself a husband. Feico Ronner
KITTENS AT PLAY from the Sketchbook of Henriette Ronner Image: ‘Kittens and Cats of Henriette Ronner’ – Atalanta Magazine (1892)
was, like herself, a native of Holland; and their marriage was duly celebrated in Amsterdam in 1850. Henriette, we are informed, had always had a horror of business of any commercial kind, persistently declining to trouble herself with any considerations beyond those of her household and her art. So, although her marriage did have its ups and downs, she and Feico nevertheless enjoyed 33 years together before his passing. But the stresses and pressures upon her leading up to their marriage took a toll, and she became ill enough to be summarily ordered by her physician to seek rest and health in Switzerland. As fate would have it, the first stage of that journey would land her in Brussels, and there she remained for the rest of her life. Spielmann conveys that the first years of her marriage were a struggle. She rose faithfully at 5am painting diligently to provide for the necessities of life; but within months came the first recognition of her toil, election as a member of the Society ‘Natura Artis Magistra’ of Amsterdam. For the fifteen years that followed, ‘she made a specialty of painting the draught-dogs of the little carts of vegetables, milk, sand, and so forth…’ Her masterpiece in this line was exhibited in Brussels in 1860. “This canvas, measuring eight feet by six, represented an old sandseller weeping over the death of one of his dogs still harnessed to the cart; and, creating a strong impression upon both public and critic, it at once placed the fame of the painter far higher than it had been before.” “As a result of so striking an achievement…. commissions poured in upon her – perhaps more numerously as she then refused, as she has done since, to sell the original work which had brought her such wide favour. Fortunately her would-be patrons were content to receive portraits of their dogs in place of the eternal draught-dog subjects, and in the result as will later on be seen, the actions of kings and princes, writers and poets, collectors and ‘juries,’ combined to raise the artist to a height of fame for which but a few months previously she scarcely dared to hope.”
Madame Henriette Ronner’s Brussels studio as it appeared in 1898. Image: Bookplate from ‘Dutch Painting of the 19th Century’ in The Harrison Weir Collection
It was not long after painting the supremely popular ‘Death of a friend’ (1860) that Madam Henriette Ronner’s attention, and keen artist’s eye was turned upon a young cat which had found its way into her house. It had awakened a new curiosity in her. Perhaps he had observed over a long period just how poorly cats had been represented in paintings to date, that their sinuous tension and lithe movements, their quixotic natures, had seldom been adequately portrayed. Madame Ronner’s curiosity was aroused. Spielmann observed: “Curiosity became observation, and observation, study. From that moment, her affections – so far as her models were concerned – underwent a radical, if gradual change; her liking for the painting of dogs decreased, while that for cats, the new models of her choice, became a passion. Her vigorous execution, the bravura quality of her brush-work – that proof of the practised hand – lent themselves with extraordinary fitness to the new class of subjects she was about to undertake. And, above all, the painter was fascinated by the grace of her new models; a quality in which Belgian dogs, it must be admitted (I speak from observation) are woefully deficient.” By 1870, her attention had moved totally from dogs to cats, at a time which closely coincided with Harrison Weir’s serious attempts in England to raise the profile of the cat, both through his art and in formulating a plan upon which ‘cat shows’ could be established. It was in 1870 that his famous anthropomorphic illustrations of ‘The Dogs Dinner Party,’ closely followed by ‘The Cats Tea Party’. were
MADAME RONNER AT WORK IN HER BRUSSELS STUDIO This image of Madame Ronner was popularised in Cassell’s ‘The Book of The Cat’ (1903) by Frances Simpson Photo: Alexandre, Brussels.
Cats were increasingly being kept as house-pets, and as the movement towards ‘cat’ shows gained momentum, Madame Ronner’s newly chosen subjects were becoming increasingly popular amongst the art-buying urban middle-class. As she increased her production, she also began to prepare sketches, in pen, watercolour and sometimes in oil, for each planned painting – both to avoid unnecessary repetition and for the detection of any possible forgeries of her work. By the 1880’s and 1890’s her reputation as the premier specialist painter of cats had been firmly established. By this time also, some members of the aristocratic classes were actively participating in the new hobby of cat
A painting of ‘Goblin’ a beloved Siamese cat owned by the Duchess of Bedford, painted by Madame Ronner, in a superb gilted frame – still in the Duchess’ private Collection at Woburn Abbey to this day. Image: ‘Our Cats’ Magazine, 1901. Courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection.
The ‘Cat Fancy’. By 1887, the ‘National Cat Club had been formed in England, headed initially by Madame Ronner’s contemporary, Harrison Weir. By 1893, it had published its first ‘Stud-book’. The Club’s initial Presidents (who were also ‘Chairmen’ of the Committee’), had been subsequently replaced by members of the aristocratic class; as Patron, President, and a veritable ‘whose who’ of socially distinctive Vice-Presidents. The Chairman of the Committee by this time was the popular cat caricaturist, Mr. Louis Wain. Telling, in the preface to fifth Volume of the National Cat Club’s Stud Book we find that HRH Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein (the grand-daughter of Queen Victoria, and a recognised breeder of cats) is listed as Patron; that the President of the National Cat Club is Her Grace the Duchess of Bedford (Mary Russell), and that Madame Ronner is also among the listed thirteen Vice-Presidents. It is highly likely that the Duchess of Bedford as the legitimate President of the National Cat Club at the time, would have proffered the invitation to Madame Ronner to be an Honorary Vice-President of the Club in deference to her contribution to the rising status of the cat. The Duchess had in fact, commissioned Madame Ronner to paint her beloved Siamese cat, Goblin, in 1899, and in order to make that possible, she had taken him across the channel to Brussels, so that he could be a live model for this memorable portrait. The painting is still in this frame at Woburn Abbey to this day.
An exceptional photograph of Madame Ronner in her Brussel’s studio in 1894, observing a cat she is painting which is comfortably housed in an ornate cabinet specifically designed for this purpose. Note that the cabinet has been glazed both above, and on all sides, to allow for as much natural light to reach the subject as is possible. Photo: Alexandre, Brussels. Image: ‘The Sketch, October 24, 1894.
BLACK PERSIAN – Painted by Madame Henriette Ronner in 1902. Frontispiece, commissioned by Cassell’s, for ‘The Book of The Cat’ (1903)
In ‘The Book of the Cat’ (1903), well-known feline authority Miss Frances Simpson says of Ronner: “Coming down to the cat artists of the present day, we would mention Madame Henriette Ronner who has justly deserved the great reputation earned in her own country as well as ours. It is in depicting kittens in their ever-varying moods that Madame Ronner most excels. Whether playing havoc with antique lace, as in ‘Un Bout de Toilette,’ scattering an artist’s materials as in ‘Mischief,’ or dragging jewels from a casket, her kittens are instinct with vitality, and are portrayed in a manner implying knowledge of their anatomical structure, as well as in a most appreciative perception of their youth and beauty.” During her lifetime, Madame Ronner was the recipient of numerous prestigious medals and awards, including the Cross of the Order of Leopold II, King of Belgium (Chevalier d’Lordre de Léopold), a rare honor for a woman to receive, and in 1909 she became Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau, Netherlands. But the last word on our subject, should probably come from an unknown author of an article about Madame Ronners work, dating from 1893 which states: “Gottfried Mind was styled the Cat Raphael; and, with submission, I hold that Madame Ronner with equal justice may be styled the Cat Velasquez – so broad and bold is her method, so lifelike are her pictures and so strong.” “After all, what the genuine cat lover wants is not the cat-farce or cat tragedy, but simply the blessed cat itself – with all its lithe beauty of body and strangely appealing earnestness of soul. That is what Madame Ronner gives us. Her best pictures are those which frankly rest their claims to admiration on the fact that they bring to the personality of the individual lovable cats directly home to our hearts.
MADAME HENRIETTE RONNER-KNIP (1821 – 1909)
‘The Painter of Cat Life and Cat Character.’
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Melbourne Centenary Royal Show – Victoria 1934 The accumulation of historical artifacts requires a rigorous six-step routine and a lot of patience, so it is always rewarding when it pays off in the form of another rare artifact being found and ultimately preserved. Those steps are - 1) Searching; (akin to a combination exploration and detective work). 2) Researching; (doing due diligence on the provenance of the artifact and its recorded history - 3) Securing; (involving negotiation and practical tactical steps) - 4) Financing; (ensuring that there are adequate resources available to secure and ship the item - 5) Shipment and Receipt; (insuring and taking adequate precautions against loss and recording safe arrival - 6) Preserving; (keeping the artifact securely and recording all the relevant historical information about it. Some could say that a seventh step is then necessary, to share the information on the artifact, so that others may also benefit from the knowledge that it provides. On this occasion, the artifact is a splendid bronze medallion (55mm), mounted at an oblique angle on a wooden block. The medallion was specifically designed for the Melbourne Centenary Royal Show – Victoria, Australia, celebrated in 1934.
Medallion Photos: Peter J. Heather (Numismatist) Article graphics © www.gograph.com
It was minted by Stoke & Sons, in 1934, and features on the obverse side, the Melbourne Centenary symbol of a man holding a torch, while mounted on horseback. On the reverse side, is featured a pastoral scene with space for engraving the name of the recipient, in the winning show category. As these were awarded only to the BEST in each show category, their number is small, and they are consequently, very rare. One medal was presented to the Governor of Victoria, Lord Huntington
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Huntingfield (KCMG), in appreciation of his support for the centenary celebration. This specific medal was awarded to the BEST CAT, and won by Mrs. T. Darcy Moore, with her exhibit ‘ROYAL RED OF RANIFLET’ and is duly engraved as such. Further research uncovered a copy of the show catalogue, revealing that the winning cat was in fact a Red Tabby Persian male, exhibit number 8428, who won his Open Colour Class against three other Red Tabby males and two females before going on to win BEST CAT. From the data extracted from the catalogue the number of exhibits was 103 in total. ‘ROYAL RED OF RANIFLET’ was born on August 1st, 1931; bred by Mrs. F.E. George. His sire is recorded as ‘Reddy of Meldawn’ and his dam as ‘Wee Rock of Meldawn’. There is a statement in the Show Catalogue which reads: The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, will present to the exhibitor of the Best Cat in the Show, a suitably inscribed Medal to commemorate the 1934 Centenary Exhibition.
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MISS GERTRUDE WILLOUGHBY WITH ‘CHAMPION & PREMIER FULMER ZAIDA’ Cover Picture from ‘Our Cats’ Magazine, 1899. Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection. Article page graphics ©www.gograph.com
AN HISTORICAL PORTRAIT OF
BY
CHINCHILLA PERSIAN FEMALE
JOHN G. SMITHSON
Adapted from the author’s text for ‘Fulmer Zaida’ @ The History Project
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The fame of ZAIDA as she was originally known, for some time at least came close to eclipsing that of her older eminent and illustrious fellow Chinchilla, ‘Ch. Silver Lambkin’. But whilst his fame was associated with his huge ongoing contribution to the breed as a stud and the sire of studs and queens, her fame was associated specifically with her obvious beauty, more particularly for her unmarked clear silver coat and her amazing run at winning top honours at shows. In this respect, she continued to be a flagship for the breed, and the high bar for Chinchilla breeders everywhere to emulate. And what was equally astonishing, was that she was not from the ‘Lambkin’ strain herself, both her sire and dam being from unrelated lines. For some years in fact, she was the most wellknown of all Longhairs, collecting win after win, in much the same way as her shorthair contemporary, the sable classic tabby ‘Ch. Xenophon’, who became famous for amassing what would have been an insurmountable tally
of wins in the Shorthair Division. She likewise continued to collect a remarkable tally of her own. Her fame and beauty was international, and kept the focus of longhair breeding firmly centred on what was considered to be a truly English breed of longhaired cat, the “Chinchilla”. In fact, the two most popular longhair varieties were at this time, Blues and Silvers (Chinchillas), with both varieties being bred side by side by nearly every major breeder in the country. And for those that were specialising in colours other than Blue, the Chinchilla was nearly always their primary or secondary variety. PARENTAGE & OWNERSHIP ‘Zaida’ was born 15th February, 1895, bred by Mrs Bluhm, of Lyndhurst, Manchester; who over a number of years collected and bred from some of the most outstanding silver bloodlines available in Great Britain. In this case, she bred her modest chinchilla female, ‘Silvie of Lyndhurst’, to Mrs Balding’s recently acquired ‘Silver Laddie’, a formerly unknown male who had taken the silver world by storm with a dramatic win at the Crufts Show of 1894, when
- “NO RELATION TO SILVER LAMBKIN”. “This cat is of the cobby, round-headed type, so much admired in the present day. He was bought soon after he won first and Cup at Cruft’s , 1894, as an outcross for Mrs Balding’s Lambkin strain, for which purpose he has been a huge success.” ² Frances Simpson gives us a significantly more detailed insight into the contribution of ‘Silver Laddie’ to the Chinchilla variety: -
Miss Gertrude Willoughby Photo: W. Davey, Harrogate ‘The Cult of The Cat’ (1900) by W.M. Elkington ⁸ Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection
taking the coveted First and a Cup in the variety. On that occasion Mrs Balding wasted no time in obtaining him for her breeding program, for the specific purpose of an outcross. This farsighted move not only gave her the ability to move forward with her own program with confidence, but also the many breeders with whom she shared her lines. There are absolutely no records preserved of whatever lines constituted the background of ‘Silver Laddie’ and all we know about him, is that which was proffered in Mrs. Balding’s cattery advertisements which boldly claim that he was:
“As the sire of Lady Decies ‘Champion Fulmer Zaida’, the most lovely chinchilla female that has ever been seen, ‘Silver Laddie’, who is now unfortunately gone to his happy hunting grounds, can claim to have been one of the most noted of sires, more particularly as he was also the father of many others of great value, prominent amongst which were Miss Horman’s ‘Aramis’, Miss Snell’s ‘Starlight’, ‘Silver Cherub’, ‘Lady of Quality’ (one of the most perfect chinchillas ever bred), ‘Charterhouse Pixie’ (the dam of ‘Tod Sloan’), and numberless others.” ³ Zaida’s dam, ‘Silvie of Lyndhurst’ (NCC: 1884) ² was a modest chinchilla female, born in 1892, bred by a Mrs Hurst, from an obscure sire named ‘Punch’ and an equally obscure dam named ‘Tabby’. Despite the paucity of information about ‘Silvie’s’ heritage, something about her must have appealed to Mrs Bluhm, who had a good eye for a cat, and who already had a reputation as an astute breeder. So on the whole, from the combination of these two relative unknown bloodlines, was produced this amazingly beautiful, clear-coated female. The only other record of ‘Silvie of Lyndhurst’ is in the ‘re-entries’ in Volume V of the National cat Club, where the spelling of her name has altered
Stud Advert for ‘Silver Laddie’ the sire of ‘Champion Zaida’ From a full page advertisement for the Stud Cats of Mrs Balding, in the NCC Studbook, Vol V, 1896-1899 ²
to ‘Sylvie of Lyndhurst’, her ownership remains the same, and her win at The Crystal Palace, where she took a second in 1897, is duly added. Zaida first appears in Volume IV of the National Cat Club Stud Book and Register, which was compiled with all entries between March 1895 and March 1896. Upon her initial entry, the breeder and owner are both listed as Mrs Bluhm.
Miss Willoughby was already deeply involved with cats, and had established a significant cattery at Slough when she married Lord Decies in March 1901 (becoming the new Lady Decies). At that time, there was only naturally some curiosity amongst fanciers, as to whether her new husband would be amenable to her all-consuming hobby or even share any interest in it.
But by the time of the publication of Volume V, (covering the period 1896-1899), she appears a second time in the ‘Re-entries’ under the ownership of Miss Gertrude Willoughby, along with her major wins between 1896 and 1899.
But on this account, there was no reason for concern, which was made clear when the following excerpt from an article about the cats at Beresford Lodge was published in the December 19th issue of ‘Our Cats’ in 1903: -
So it is unclear as to exactly when she became the property of Miss Willoughby (later Lady Decies), but it is likely to have been while she was still quite young, possibly as early as when a kitten in 1895 or a young adult in 1896.
“When the Fulmer cattery removed from Slough to Birchington-on-Sea, on the occasion of the marriage of Miss Gertrude Willoughby with Lord Decies, there was just a question in the mind of those in the beautiful cats bearing this prefix, as
FULMER HALL, at Slough, the former home of Miss Willoughby and domicile of the original ‘Fulmer’ Cattery. Photo: ‘Our Cats’ Magazine,
to whether they would maintain their ascendency in the show world! But, fortunately, for all those concerned, Lord Decies takes quite as warm an interest in the cats as does his wife. He has been all his life as keen a fancier as he is a sportsman, and the fact of his being the master of the harriers, and greatly attached to his stables and kennels, does not make him look down upon the cat as an inferior animal. Lord Decies has bred cats himself for 15 years, and owns to an interest in even smaller animals of the furry type. “At the present moment at Birchington, there is a ‘bird room’ containing some very choice specimens. (One cockatoo has really the sense and affection of a child!). A tame mongoose, which will go through a series of tricks at the bidding of its mistress, and one or two valuable and rare Toy Bull-terriers, which have the run of the house.
“But the cats are very prime favourites both with Lord and Lady Decies, and the pretty and tasteful rooms at Beresford Lodge are full of the signs of their presence and the trophies they have won. Several beautiful portraits by Luker stand about on easels, and in the middle of one long room is a gilded show pen on a polished table, for the convenience of showing off any cat which may be brought in for inspection. “No, since its removal to Birchington, the Fulmer cattery has most certainly added to its laurels, and at our shows we now welcome two enthusiastic and popular fanciers in the persons of both Lord and Lady Decies.” ⁴ THE CATTERIES Lady Decies managed two catteries, one at her usual residence at Beresford Lodge, and another, at her summer residence at Birchington-on-Sea. Frances Simpson, gives us by far the best account
Above: BERESFORD LODGE – the Summer residence of the new Lord and Lady Decies, at Birchington-on-Sea. Photo: Courtesy Birchington Parish, J. Burgess. Below: - Lady Decies, seated in her cattery at Beresford Lodge, Birchington-on-Sea in 1903. Photo: Cassells, ‘The Book of The Cat’ (1903) by Frances Simpson.
CHAMPION FULMER ZAIDA Winner of the Challenge Cup and many specials, - owned by Miss Gertrude Willoughby Photo by E. Landor. ‘Windsor’ Magazine, 1899
Above left: At the entrance to one of the long cattery exercise runs, Lady Decies visits her pets, while the cattery boy looks on. Above right: Inside the cattery, the cattery attendant stands besides one of the sleeping boxes. Photo: Cassell and Co.Ltd. ‘The Book of The Cat’ (1903) by Frances Simpson ³
of the arrangements at Birchington, as well as a little insight into the preferred place of ‘Zaida’ in Lady Decies heart. “Lady Decies’ catteries, at her pretty summer residence at Birchington-on-Sea, are indeed most perfect in their arrangements, and every detail for the comfort and well-being of the inmates is considered. The stud cats have separate single houses, with good-sized wiredin runs, and luxurious and cosy sleeping apartments in the rear. “The main cattery is in a sheltered portion of the grounds, and will accommodate a large number of cats. The runs are arranged with boxes, benches, chairs, and ladders, and the sleeping places, built of brick, are most comfortably set up. By a system of wooden blinds the strong sea breezes and the bright rays of the summer sun can be regulated. There are side blinds and top
blinds. The floors of the spacious catteries are wood, covered with cork carpet, and they are raised about a foot from the ground, so that there is a free current of air passing under the boards, thus securing absolute freedom from any damp. “In the house, there are three rooms set apart by Lady Decies for her pussies. In two of these the queen mothers have their families, and the other is used as the cats’ kitchen. “The beds for the cats are specially designed by Lady Decies. The walls of the cats’ rooms are adorned with pictures by Louis Wain, and there is a display of prize cards won by Lady Decies’ famous cats. ‘Zaida’, so well known as the winning silver female, is the privileged occupant of Lady Decies’ boudoir, and here the aristocratic little lady makes herself at home on the soft cushions and couches.” ³
Mrs Snell’s ‘Silver Starlight’, a sire sibling of ‘Ch. Fulmer Zaida’ and sire of HRH Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein’s ‘Puck III’ Photo: E. Landor, Ealing. Rotary Photographic Series Postcard ⁶ Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection
Lady Decies owned some of the most renowned cats ever to be exhibited. At the time that Frances Simpson wrote her epic work for Cassell’s, Lady Decies owned, ‘Zaida’, the world’s most famous Chinchilla female, ‘Lord Southampton’, arguably one of the most reputable and desired Chinchilla males and a son of ‘Ch. Silver Lambkin’, and the redoubtable ‘Ch. Xenophon’, the Brown Tabby Shorthair who represented one of the very few cats who could compete at a level equal to ‘Zaida’. SIBLINGS ‘Zaida’ has one full litter sibling of record, a silver tabby male, who was registered by Mrs Bluhm as
‘SILVER GIFT’. It is unclear as to whether he was sold as a breeder or as a pet, but the new owner of record was a Mr J. Hathoes Spurry. ⁵ Three years later, Mrs Bluhm appears to have repeated the breeding which produced ‘Zaida’ but on that occasion, the only result registered was a silver tabby female, born on 7th July, 1898 and duly registered as ‘Westholme Pearl’. ‘Pearl’ was owned by Miss F. Worthington. ⁵ Things get a little more interesting we when review her sire-siblings by ‘Silver Laddie’. Among the four most noteworthy are: ‘Charterhouse Pixie’ (born 1895), ‘Lavender’ (born c1896), ‘Silver Starlight’ (born 1898), and ‘Aramis’ (born 1898).
‘Stud advertisement’ for Miss Horman’s ‘Aramis’, a sire-sibling of ‘Ch. Fulmer Zaida’. ‘Aramis’ was at this time, under the supervision of Miss A. Finnie Young. ‘Cats: Show and Pet’ (1903) by C.A. House ⁷ Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection
‘CHARTERHOUSE PIXIE’ (Chinchilla Female born 29th March, 1895). Sired by ‘Silver Laddie’ and out of Miss Gresham’s exceptionally valuable ‘I, Beauty’s Daughter’, who was already the product of another famous outcross, her sire being Mrs McLaren Morrison’s ‘The Nizam’ and her dam being ‘Beauty of Bridgeyate’ the mother of ‘Ch.Silver Lambkin’!. Mrs Balding and her sister Miss Gresham were working together in trying to establish more than one outcross line to the sons and daughters of Mrs Balding’s ‘Ch. Silver Lambkin’. By breeding his dam to ‘The Nizam’ they succeeded in producing one. By acquiring ‘Silver Laddie’ Mrs Balding had cleverly claimed another. But by breeding ‘Pixie’, the sisters produced a female that contained both outcross bloodlines. ‘Pixie’
became the property of Miss Saunders of the Charterhouse cattery, the same Miss Saunders who was the owner of the first and famous clear coated silver, named ‘Sylvie’ (Born 1879),to whom Harrison Weir had awarded Best Longhair Cat at the Crystal Palace in 1886. ⁵ ‘LAVENDER’ (Silver Female, date of birth unknown, c.1896). Sired by ‘Silver Laddie’ and out of Miss Kirkpatrick’s ‘Peggoty’. Although we can find no individual registration for ‘Lavender’, she does appear in The Cat Club Register as the dam of ‘Silver Cupid’, a shaded silver male born 18th April 1899, bred by Mrs Rock, but owned by Miss Kirkpatrick. From this we must deduce that Miss Kirkpatrick bred her blue queen ‘Peggoty’ to Mrs Baldings ‘Silver Laddie’, selling their shaded silver
When this photo was published, ‘Zaida’ was one of the most debated of long-haired cats in feline history, representing the epitome of ‘chinchilla’ breeding up until that time. Photo: ‘Our Cats’ October, 1904. ⁹ Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection.
‘Ch. Fulmer Zaida’ An illustration by Rosa Bebb, from ‘Rabbits, Cats and Cavies’ (1903) by Charles H. Lane ¹⁰
daughter ‘Lavender’ to Mrs Rock. Mrs Rock then bred ‘Lavender’ to ‘Iver Surprise to produce the Chinchilla male ‘Silver Cupid’, who then became the property of Miss Kirkpatrick. ⁵ ‘SILVER STARLIGHT’ (Silver Male, born 23rd April, 1898). Sired by ‘Silver Laddie’ and out of ‘Minette’,a silver daughter of ‘Ch.Felix’. ‘Starlight’ was bred by Mrs Gosnall and owned by Mrs Snell. He proved to be a relatively popular stud, and was used by a number of prominent breeders over queens that were mostly descended down from ‘Ch. Silver Lambkin’, and some with links back to ‘Ch. Felix’. Among his better-known progeny are Mrs Nicholay’s ‘Iver Clara’, the chinchilla male; ‘Lord Clive’,(out of ‘The Seraph’); and HRH Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein’s ‘Puck III’, (out of Lady Marcus Beresford’s ‘Windsor Dimity’). ⁵ ‘ARAMIS’ (Chinchilla Male, born 16th July 1898). Sired by ‘Silver Laddie’ and out of Miss Horsman’s ‘Priscilla’ (by Lord Silverhair ,a son of Ch. Silver Lambkin). Like his sire sibling ‘Silver Starlight’, ‘Aramis’ became a popular stud cat, siring a good number of chinchilla offspring. Two of his better kittens were Miss White Atkins ‘Bitterne Silver Belle’, and HRH Princess Victoria of SchleswigHolstein’s ‘Ch. Chela’, the latter of which had been bred out of Miss Horsman’s own ‘Gertie’ (by ‘Bitterne Silver Chieftain’, out of ‘Lassie of The Limes’). ⁵ SHOW CAREER The show successes of ‘Zaida’ were without parallel in Britain for more than 60 years. She carried off over 150 prizes, including medals and specials; her crowning achievement being twice selected Best Cat in Show, at the Crystal Palace!
Champion Fulmer Zaida ‘Champion Cats at the Crystal Palace’ Photo: ‘The Illustrated London News’, Nov.4, 1905
Our first quotes come from Frances Simpson, who in ‘The Book of The Cat’ simply states: “Lady Decies is the proud possessor of the incomparable ‘Zaida’, whose record of wins is a marvellous one. As all the cat world knows, ‘Zaida’ is accounted the lightest and most unmarked specimen in the fancy.” ³ “Not only as a chinchilla, but when competing with all breeds of cats, both long-haired and short-haired, ‘Champion Fulmer Zaida’ has proved her excellence, and has on more than one occasion secured the cup at the Crystal Palace for the best cat in the whole show. She
‘Champion Fulmer Zaida’ surrounded by some of her Prizes, including the coveted National Cat Club Trophy, awarded to the Best Cat in show at the Crystal Palace. Featured at the top of the trophy is a likeness of the immortal ‘Ch. Silver Lambkin’. Photo: E. Landor, Ealing. ‘The Cult of The Cat’ (1900) by W.M. Elkington. ⁸ Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection.
was bred by Mrs Bluhm, one of the pioneers of chinchillas, and, it is stated, has now won, 136 first and special prizes, and that Lord Decies has refused £90 for her.” ³ In an article written in 1903 by Walter T. Roberts, entitled ‘Some Celebrated Cats and Their Owners’ published in ‘Cassell’s Magazine’, the following humorous account is given of one of ‘Zaida’s’ wins at a Regional Show: “A rather funny incident occurred some years ago at a show at Manchester, when ‘Zaida’ with two other notable pussies – ‘Lord Bobs’ (Mrs Collingwood’s ‘Royal Bobs’) and ‘Midshipmite’, a splendid cat owned by Miss Beal – were being
judged for first place. The visitors crowded round the three cats, the pussies looking very solemn. After conferring together for a little time, Mr Ward announced that the judges had given the pride of place to ‘Zaida’, whereupon ‘Lord Bobs’ muttered a loud and prolonged ‘Miaw’. The effect was indescribably comic, and those standing near broke into loud laughter, in which they were joined by the judges.” ¹⁶ Zaida’s successes were only naturally met with a combination of awe and admiration, but also a certain amount of angst. This was not because of her wins, but because, as a singularly clear-coated specimen, one or two adm
‘Ch. Fulmer Zaida, and some of her trophies’ Photo: courtesy of ‘The Ladies Field’, reproduced in ‘Our Cats’ Magazine, December, 1903 ⁴ Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection
admirers found it difficult to believe that anyone could breed anything as good, basically claiming that she was a ‘sport’ or in today’s vernacular, ‘a fluke’. As an example, the following is an excerpt from a letter to the editor of ‘Our Cats’ published on October 15, 1904: “Madam,- May I say a few and last words about Chinchillas? I have been much interested in the numerous letters in your paper taking up the cause of Zaida, but unfortunately no writer, I think, except Mrs Gregory, is a breeder of Chinchillas. They hold up Zaida as an objectlesson and an ideal have before breeders, but they do not say how a similar animal is to be
bred. How many owners of Chinchillas have been trying for years to produce cats as pale as Zaida, without result?” ⁹ The writer then also adds: “I am very glad to see that Mr Mason and Mr Louis Wain are taking up the cause of Shaded Silvers, a really beautiful variety and much healthier than Chinchillas. A shorthaired silver tabby is a very lovely creature, but a long-haired one, when not in coat, does not show its markings clearly, and its chief beauty is lost. I should like to know if anything resembling Zaida has been bred from her; if not, how are we to get more cats of her pale colour, unless from some chance mating.....” ⁹
Above: ‘Champion Fulmer Zaida’ photographed at The Crystal Palace 1903. Photo: Russell & Sons, Crystal Palace. ‘Cassell’s Magazine, 1903 ¹⁶ Below, an Ogden’s Cigarettes collectors card based upon the same photograph (1925)
‘A representation of the famous Chinchilla queen published as a Trading Card for the 1925 Cowan’s ‘Noted Cats’ series. ¹³
Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection
Of course today, we have the benefit of hindsight, and we can quote: ‘If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again!’ We know now, that ‘perseverance and selection’ did in fact win the day, and that within less than 20 years from when this letter was written, that a good number of clear-coated chinchillas were indeed being produced and exhibited with success. These of course, went on to become the foundation of the clear-coated beauties of the latter twentieth century. As to ‘Zaida’s’ perceived value? At one point, after her second triumph at the Crystal Palace Show, Lady Decies was offered the staggering sum of £1,100 for ‘Zaida’, which was summarily refused. This transaction, if it had proceeded, would have made her by far, the most valuable pedigreed cat ever bred. ⁸
BREEDING & PROGENY It is Frances Simpson who first tells us about ‘Zaida’ as a breeder:“Zaida has produced some first class kittens, amongst which was Miss Sisted’s ‘Pearl’ (Fulmer Pearl) the owner of the latter pretty queen being a most devoted admirer of the chinchilla and sparing no expense to further its interests.” ³ This statement clarifies two points of interest, the first and most obvious being the confirmation that ‘Zaida’ was in fact a perfectly normal dam of kittens, capable of producing admirable progeny, even due to an apparent lack of verifiable information! The other, provides us with reliable information as to the ownership of ‘Fulmer Pearl’, who happens to be the only precious daughter of record.
‘Champion Zaida’ An interpretative illustration by Louis Wain, from the ‘Harmsworth Magazine’ 1898 ¹⁵ Taken from an illustration of many cats entitled ‘Some Costly Pets’ Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection
‘FULMER PEARL’ appears in the ‘The Cat Club Register’ Vol.IV (1900), as a chinchilla female, born 29th July, 1897. Her sire is listed as Mrs McLaren Morrison’s chinchilla male, ‘Ameer’, her dam as Miss Willoughby’s ‘Champion Fulmer Zaida’ and with breeder and owner as Miss G. Willoughby. ⁵ Of all the males she could probably choose from as a mate for her ‘Zaida’, ‘Ameer’ was an interesting choice by Miss Willoughby. His dam was ‘Lambkin Queen’, who combined ‘The Nizam’ (an outcross line also owned by Mrs McLaren
Zaida’ and with breeder and owner as Miss G. Willoughby. ⁵ Of all the males she could probably choose from as a mate for her ‘Zaida’, ‘Ameer’ was an interesting choice by Miss Willoughby; as his dam, was ‘Lambkin Queen’, in whom was com
Above left: ‘Ameer’ and right: ‘Zaida’, the parents of ‘Fulmer Pearl’. Illustration of ‘Ameer’ by Rosa Bebb, from ‘Rabbits, Cats & Cavies’ (1903) by. C.H. Lane. Photo of ‘Zaida’ ex ‘The Bystander’, November 1905. At right: Another illustrative interpretation of ‘Zaida’ by Louis Wain. ‘Prizewinners at the National Cat Club at the Crystal Palace. From The Illustrated London News, October 1896. All images courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection
preserved the combined lines of ‘The Nizam’ (an outcross owned by Mrs McLaren Morrison) and Miss Balding’s ‘Beauty of Bridgeyate’, the dam of ‘Ch. Silver Lambkin’. One cannot help but wonder whether Miss Willoughby had possibly taken this route upon the advice of Mrs Balding, who very probably took a personal interest in how such a famous and strikingly beautiful chinchilla female should be bred. To date, no photographic evidence of ‘Fulmer Pearl’ has been located.
IN SUMMARY Lady Decies was extremely fortunate to have owned three of the most significant and sought after cats living at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. These were the two outstanding chinchilla’s in the form of ‘Zaida’, by ‘Silver Laddie’, and ‘Lord Southamption’ by ‘Ch. Silver Lambkin’; but she also owned the superlative brown tabby English short-hair ‘Ch. Xenophon’. These three were between them, literally ‘giants’ of the show ring.
Above: Interior of Lady Decies Salon, at Beresford Lodge, Birchington-on-Sea, featuring her portrait. Above opposite: The painting of ‘Fulmer Zaida’ by W. Luker Junr, commissioned by Lady Decies. Below: The same painting in pride of place, on an easel in the conservatory at Beresford Lodge. Photos: Interiors from the private album of John Pett; Luker’s painting of Zaida, from ‘The Cat: Its Points and Management, in Health and Disease’ (1908) by Frank Townend Barton MRCVS ¹²
‘Zaida’ was the pride of the Fulmer Cattery, and was treated like a queen among cats. She was upheld as the epitome of her variety. She was, in her own time, an enigma; the evidence of things hoped for, and the promise of things yet unseen. References: 1.‘Photo: V & A., from ‘The Windsor Magazine’, 1899. 2.‘The National Cat Club Stud Book & Register’ Vols 1-5. 3.‘The Book of The Cat’ (1903) by Frances Simpson. 4.‘Our Cats’, 1903. 5.‘The Cat Club Register’ (Vols 1-5) 6.‘Rotary Photographic Series Postcard. 7.‘Cats: Show and Pet’ (1903) by C.A.House.
8. ‘The Cult of The Cat’ (1900) by W.M. Elkington. 9.‘Our Cats’, 1904. 10.‘Rabbits, Cats & Cavies’ (1903) by Charles H. Lane. 11.‘The Bystander’ November, 1905. 12.‘The Cat: Its Points and Management’ (1908) by Frank Townend Barton 13.‘Cowan’s Noted Cat Series’ of Collectors Trading Cards 14.‘Ogden’s Tab Cigarettes’ D Series of Collectors Trading Cards 15.‘Harmsworth’ Magazine, 1898. Article: ‘Some Costly Pets’ by Louis Wain. 16.‘Cassell’s Magazine’, 1903. ‘Some Celebrated Cats and Their Owners’. 17.‘The Illustrated London News’ November, 1905. 18.‘The Illustrated London News’ October, 1896 19. Interior photos of Beresford Lodge, owned by John Pett. 20. Photos and Quotations as per credits noted.
Photo © Diana Starr
KELELA ALOHA HUA OF TAJHARA BEST OF THE BEST – HIGHEST SCORING CHAMPIONSHIP CAT – PHOTO EVENT CFA TOP CAT CHALLENGE 2020 TICA IW RW KELELA ALOHA HUA OF TAJHARA (Kitten)
It is pleasing to be able to bring to our readers a story which celebrates the first and most consistent winner, from the 2020 CFA International Top Cat Challenge Virtual Cat Competition, from among the aggregate score of Championship Cats – Photo Event. It is especially so, given that Covid-19 has prevented the great majority of clubs from putting on live shows, and exhibitors from every association have felt the effects of those restrictions, with an inability to campaign or title their beautiful cats and kittens, and/or to socialise with their compatriot cat fanciers! Although these are ‘virtual’ competitions, the championship judges selected to assess the entries have been of the highest calibre. They are also used to doing ‘virtual assessments’ at a real show, when they walk along the cages, getting an early impression of overall quality and the first opportunity to find what might look to be something out of the ordinary. The handling process then usually offers them the chance to have their initial impressions reinforced by feeling the structure, coat texture, muscle tone, heft, presentation, and temperament of the cat, and of course it also helps to eliminate cats with hidden faults. But it is fair to say, that experienced judges will have an excellent impression before they handle the cat and in then handling it, may often have a reinforced opinion or otherwise, often before the cat even lands upon the judging table! A good judge is feeling for structural faults the moment they lift the cat from its exhibition cage.
Kelela Aloha Hua of Tajhara as a kitten with his dam Shadeaby Deluna of Kelela
Litter sister Kelela Kokomo at one month
Make no mistake, you all do the same when you view cat images online, quality stands out, and how many of you ordinarily make a snap assessment on what you believe is to be obvious? So, in the absence of live shows, the virtual shows have provided an outlet for the limitations placed upon us all, by a world event without comparison in recent decades. Our sincere thanks must go to the very dedicated teams behind these events, in all countries and associations! Thank you Cheryl Davern, for relating her story of ‘Kelela Aloha Hua of Tajhara,’ via questions posed to her about a cat that was ultimately scored as the 2020 CFA International Top Cat Challenge Virtual Competition’s Best of the Best Championship Cat – Photo Event!
GC RW Kelela Kahlua (Sire) with Judge David Mare and breeder Cheryl Davern
GC RW Kelela Kahlua – sire of ‘Kelela Alohua Hua’ (aka ‘Mack’). Photo by Chanan.
Editor:
How long have you been involved in cats? And where in the USA are you based?
Cheryl:
It is an honor for me to talk about my breeding program and my beautiful Abyssinian cats. We started in 2010 and Abyssinians were always the breed which appealed to us the most. We are based in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Editor:
Tell us a little about your lovely boy, when he was born… were there other show quality kittens in the same litter?
Cheryl:
Kelela Aloha Hua of Tajhara is known to us as ‘Mack’. He was one in a litter of four kittens, born June 15, 2019 and is a second generation ‘Kelela’. It was a consistent litter, which also included a truly lovely ruddy female, Kelela Kokomo, nicknamed ‘Koko’. She too was entered into the 2020 CFA International Top Cat Challenge, competing against 78 kittens, and was awarded Third Best Kitten in the Show.
Editor:
I note that Mack was not exhibited by you… how did you manage to part with such a striking young male?
Cheryl:
Mack is owned and shown by Mary Franz of Tajhara Somalis. The Abyssinian is the only outcross for the Somali breed, and I am pleased that Mary contacted me for an Aby boy for an outcross in her stunning Somali program.
Editor:
And what about his bloodlines? Who were Mack’s sire and dam? Can you tell us about the combination of lines behind him?
Cheryl:
His sire was our own ‘CFA GC. RW.Kelela Kahlua’, who is a gorgeous ruddy. Kahlua has a diverse pedigree which includes lines from Instinct’s, Anubis, and Ramkatz. Mack’s dam is Shadeaby Deluna of Kelela, and her pedigree includes lines from Des Entrechats and Des Cavalier. The pedigree is a complete outcross between the sire and dam.
Editor:
You appear to have had some success showing Mack’s sire, Kahlua then? What were his achievements?
Cheryl:
Yes. Kahlua was shown successfully in 2019, achieving CFA Regions 1-9, 3rd Best Abyssinian cat. He became a CFA Grand Champion and achieved his Regional win in Region 5. His awards included Region 5, 9th Best Cat overall in Championship & CFA Region 5 Best of Breed.
Editor:
So, was Mack ever shown as a kitten?
Cheryl:
Absolutely. Mack was shown during live shows before Covid, in season 2019-2020 by Mary Franz. His earned titles in TICA were: IW Best Aby Kitten, and SW Region BEST Kitten, resulting in his titles RW BW Kelela Aloha Hua of Tajhara.
Editor:
I am presuming that Covid interrupted his show career then?
Cheryl:
As an adult, yes. In 2020, due to Covid Photo © Diana Starr and cancellation of both CFA and TICA ‘in person’ shows, Mary Franz entered Mack in the CFA Virtual Cat Competition.
Mack’s litter sister, ‘Kelela Kokomo’
The event team enlisted cat judges from around the world to judge entries: CFA, TICA, FIFe. In the invitational finale, of the CFA 2020 International Top Cat Challenge Virtual Competition, Mack competed against 80 cats, and was the highest scoring cat, winning the BEST of the BEST Championship Award. Editor:
You must have been thrilled with that! What do you think appealed most about him to the judges?
Cheryl:
Yes, it was a thrill to be sure. Many comments from the judges suggest that they were impressed by the shape of his eyes, the glossy coat and the agouti ticking, which could be seen in the photograph; as well as the set of his ears and shape of his head; and the overall balance he portrays in his body.
Editor:
And what can you reveal to us about Mack’s personality?
Cheryl:
Mack’s temperament is all Aby. When I was practising at home with him for shows, I often found him hanging from the top of the judging cage or knocking off anything laying on top of the cage.
Editor:
And what of the future?
Cheryl:
Mack is now the father of beautiful variant kittens, that will only be used in Mary’s program, and then he will be returned to the Kelela Cattery. If time permits and subject of course to the current situation with Covid-19, perhaps a return to an adult show career in CFA might yet prove to be possible.
GC, BWR, NW CASTLEGATE’S TOY SOLDIER OF AOL
FACTFILE GC, BWR, NW CASTLEGATE’S TOY SOLDIER OF AOL – SHADED SILVER PERSIAN Pet Name:
‘TOY’
Awards & Titles:
Breed & Colour:
PERSIAN, - Shaded Silver
Date of Birth:
MAY 22, 2015
Sire:
GC, CASTLEGATE’S LUKE
Dam:
CASTLEGATE’S CROWNING GLORY
Breeders:
Barbara Bosco
Owners:
Barbara Bosco / Olivier Grin
CFA Grand Champion – Feb 20, 2016 (365 points) Regional wins: North Atlantic Region’s 7th Best Cat, 2015-2016 North Atlantic Region’s 2nd Best Cat, 2016-2017 Breed wins: CFA’s Best Persian, Silver/Golden Div. 2015-2016 CFA Best Persian, Silver/Golden Div. 2016-2017 National win: th CFA’s 19 Best Cat in Championship, 2016-2017
A HALLMARK OF THE BREED It gives us great pleasure to be able to bring to our readers, some insights and images of the cat who this month, is also featured on our Cover page, being held aloft by one of CFA’s most respected personages, the judge Mr. Richard (Dick) Gebhardt. It would be fair to say that both the man and this stunning Persian cat, were both respectively iconic examples among their peers; Mr. Gebhardt as a judge and ‘Toy’ as he was more affectionately known, as a representative of both the Persian breed, and of the Silver & Golden Division, historically a minority breed in recent years and one of the most difficult in Persians to perfect. Certainly, when feline historians reflect on the pedigrees of cats from the past, there are some, which over time prove them selves to be ‘Hallmark’ cats of their breed and/or variety, and this is especially so when we review the pedigrees of Persian cats and examine what lines they worked best with, and assess their long-term value, effect, or contribution to the breed. From a historical perspective, ‘Castlegate’s Toy Soldier’ stands out on several fronts. He succeeded in not only gaining recognition as the Best of his Breed in competition for two years running, he has also proven the strength and fecundity of his pedigree by siring not one, but two Best of Breed/Division winners that followed in his wake. These were namely GC, BWR, RW Castlegate’s Angel of Pirateheart (highest scoring Silver/Golden in Championship 2018-2019); and GC, BWI, NW Castlegate’s Bless of El Rohi (the highest scoring Silver/Golden in Championship 2019-2020)! Equally important, is the fact that he stands as a shining example of the Persian standard, which very specifically asks for a cat with ‘large round eyes’, giving a ‘sweet’ expression to the face! When we examine his portrait shown opposite, this is clearly the case; but also his chin, nose leather and doming of the forehead all appear to be in perfect alignment and his eye colour is exemplary. Over a period of many weeks, I have had an opportunity to ask his breeder about him and to pose to her some questions about his pedigree, his birth, his kittenhood and his campaign on the show bench, first as a kitten, and then as a young cat – following his progress through the title ranks to the fulfilment of his milestone achievements and the struggles encountered along the way. Barbara has very kindly also provided some of her own photographs, to illustrate his story, and his progression and ultimate contribution to the history of the breed to date. As a breeder who has a real passion for Silvers and Goldens, Barbara has worked extremely hard to set standards within her breeding program that are truly remarkable - and a stand-out legacy that would be difficult to match.
CASTLEGATE’S TOY SOLDIER OF AOL AS A KITTEN – Left: at 4 months, Right: Playing with a wand, at 7 months. Photos: Barbara Bosco
CASTLEGATE Barbara informs us that she began in cats in 1989, taking her cattery directly from their Insurance business name, but it was not until 1992 that her first litter was born. She then adds “But it was almost 10 years before I granded my first cat.” She freely admits that it is always a challenge to show a minority color, such as with Silver and Golden Persians, but as this is where her true passion lay, she persevered regardless. And certainly not without some notable successes along the way. She achieved her first home-bred National Win, in 2009, with GC, BW, NW Castlegate’s Puff The Magic Dragon, who was CFA’s 23rd Best Kitten for the 2008-2009 show season. This was followed in December 2011, when her GC, RW Castlegate’s Blue Falcon made breed history by becoming the first Blue Golden Persian to earn a coveted Grand Champion title and a regional win in CFA to boot! TOY SOLDIER TOY SOLDIER at 8 months Photo: Barbara Bosco
In the Spring of 2015, little did she know then, that when she paired her shaded silver male GC,
CASTLEGATE’S TOY SOLDIER getting into Show preparation at 6 months. Photo: Barbara Bosco
Castlegate’s Luke, to her shaded silver queen, Castlegate’s Crowning Glory, that it would result in an unexpected outcome, that would be roughly two years in the making. She recalls: “On May 22, Glory gave birth to a solitary kitten. Right from birth I could tell he had lovely structure, a sweet expression and huge eyes. As the weeks passed, he began to look a little crazy, with rather spikey hair, (Ed: see his kitten photo), mainly because his base coat had yet to come in!” – “As beautiful as he appeared, I considered him to be rather small and frail-looking and I thought – would he ever grow?” “I had been struggling to find a name for this singleton kitten from Glory, when one day, while my husband Ferdinand was showing me some favourites from his collection of antique toy miniature soldiers, amongst which was a standout figure of an English Guard for the home of the Queen. Upon seeing him, I immediately thought – ‘Castlegate’s Toy Soldier’ – that’s the perfect choice for my scruffy, toylike, but uniquely typey little kitten.” Barbara tells us that ‘Toy’ was notoriously slow to wean. She describes him as a “Momma’s boy,” telling us that even when he began his transition to solid food, it proved to be extremely difficult to get him to eat on his own, having to be hand at least twice a day for months. She then relates how her husband would attempt to assist. “Ferdinand would sit Toy on the kitchen table, feeding him small pieces of meat, one by one. In exasperation he one day he shook his head and sighed ‘I do not think he will ever eat on his own’”. But of course, he did. It happened she relates, “at around four months of age, something must have engaged inside that fuzzy Persian head of his, as he began to eat on his own, and he almost immediately began to flourish. He began to grow and to fill out properly. His coat also improved tremendously, so that before long, I was beginning to consider the possibility of showing him.” That day finally came, when Barbara decided to jump in with both feet first by entering Toy into the largest show possible, and with the fiercest competition possible. As a kitten of six months of age, Toy made his show debut at the CFA International, held that year in Oaks, Pennsylvania, in November 2015.
CASTLEGATE’S TOY SOLDER at 7 months. Photo: Barbara Bosco
Barbara proudly but justifiably states – “He made six out of the eight prestigious award finals, while competing against the best kittens in CFA”. She also tells us that both Judges and breeders attending the show paid him numerous wonderful compliments. It was apparently at this show, that his future co-owner, Olivier Grin of AOL Persians in Switzerland first laid eyes on him. Barbara vividly recalls: “It was love at first sight. Olivier totally fell in love with him and it was he who the first among several to tell me to that Toy was a National Winner quality kitten. It would be fair to say that he was so impressed that he would eventually become a co-owner and Toy’s biggest fan!” However, Barbara had some minor reservations. Even though Toy had been well received and she was thrilled with his results at the International, she observed… “Privately, I considered that he was still small for his age and that he really needed more time to mature.” By January 2016, Toy had aged out of the Kitten class, so Barbara entered him into his first adult show, in Roanoke, Virginia. In her mind’s eye, he was still on track to earn his Grand title at this late January show. But, some seriously bad weather intervened, with an historic blizzard striking the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, basically making any type of travel an impossibility for roughly two weeks. A CFA GRAND CHAMPION Once the weather finally cleared and the roads reopened, Toy was finally able to be shown as an adult, and on February 20, 2016 he granded with an accumulated point score of 365, far exceeding the 200 points needed to gain his title. With only two months remaining until the end of the show season, it seemed ‘unlikely’ that he would now make enough points to secure a National win. Looking back Barbara observes with a note of melancholy: - “He should have been a National Winner when he was 11 months. He had turned 8 months old in January 2016 and he had accumulated just under 4000
This photo of ‘TOY’ appeared on the cover of ‘United Silver and Golden Fanciers’ Magazine, Summer 2016 Photo: Chanan
points in just three months. If there had been two more shows, or if I had been able to take him out for two more weekends during his run, he would have made National Winner the first time.” It was clear that the unforeseen blizzard had intervened, at just the wrong time in his first run as an adult. Nevertheless, Barbara felt that by continuing to show him until the end of the season, there was every chance he would secure a very worthy Regional win and quite possibly a Breed win! By the end of his short first adult season, he had indeed accumulated close to 4000 points in just 82 rings, and only a smidgen shy of a placing in the Top 25 cats for CFA. He did succeed however, to become the North Atlantic Region’s 7th Best Cat for 2015-2016 and was Best of Breed Persian in the Silver and Golden Division, thereby adding the RW and BW titles to his name. He was now GC, BW, RW Castlegate’s Toy Soldier of AOL. THE NEW SHOW SEASON By this time, many judges, breeders and exhibitors had seen Toy on the show bench and become fans and supporters of this memorable cat. Barbara was encouraged by many of them to campaign him for a National Win in the new season. Barbara also happily noted: “By now, Toy was maturing and looking even better. When he was a kitten, I had hoped that he would reach a weight of 6 lbs, so you can imagine my surprise and delight when I weighed him, only to discover that he had matured into a well-balanced 10lb male! So, armed with the knowledge of his ‘conditioning’ and with the strong encouragement of others, I felt that we had nothing to lose and everything to gain… so we set off to shows again, with our target for the 2016-2017 show season firmly in our sights!” She continued: - “It helped immensely that Toy really enjoyed the shows too. He was often a clown in th
‘CASTLEGATE’S ANGEL’ as a kitten of 12 weeks – sired by GC, BWR, NW Castlegate’s Toy Soldier of AOL. Inset: GC, BWR, RW Castlegate’s Angel of Pirateheart, with Vicki Jensen and CFA Judge Diana Rothermel. Kitten Photo: Barbara Bosco. Show photo provided by Vicki Jensen.
judging cage and always happily engaged in play on the judge’s table. His antics were never more evident than when he was being assessed by CFA Judge, Russell Webb, with whom he had developed a unique relationship of trust. When Russell removed him from the judging cage, Toy would invariably latch his mouth onto Russell’s hand – an action which would almost always draw gasps from those observing him - who thought that he was attempting to bite the judge! But in fact, he was just playing, and showing his delight at being handled by his human friend.” “In truth, Toy was a joy to exhibit, and for me personally, both a delight, and a dream come true.” Despite the challenges of exhibiting a Persian in a minority colour, the months rolled on, and Toy duly continued winning, gaining finals from a majority of judges, steadily accumulating points and as a result, edged upward in the National Standings. By the end of the 2016-2017, Toy had successfully achieved his goal of a National Win, in his second adult season. He was now GC, BWR, NW Castlegate’s Toy Soldier of AOL, was CFA’s 19 th Best Cat in Championship for the 2016-2017 show season, CFA’s Best Persian in the Silver/Golden Division for the second time, and CFA’s North Atlantic Region’s 2nd Best Cat. Reflecting upon his journey, Barbara reminded me of the miraculous transformation that had taken place since the time that her wee Toy, had changed from being a little shaded silver kitten that simply refused to eat on his own for four months solid - into the shining adult example of a typey, well-boned,
‘GC, BWI, NW CASTELEGATE’S BLESS OF EL ROHI’ – sired by GC, BWR, NW Castlegate’s Toy Soldier of AOL. Photo and Owner: Cho Long Park.
well-adjusted Silver Persian cat. For the writer, it is clear from his images, that he is in fact a cat of exemplary beauty of form and temperament. When his show career was over, Barbara advised that Toy ‘was now happily enjoying his retirement at home and had already sired his first litter of Toy Soldiers.’ In recent years, his ultimate success as a sire, has been reflected and measured in the consistency of his progeny. By the end of the 2018-2019 Show season, Toy’s daughter GC, BWR, RW Castlegate’s Angel of Pirateheart had duplicated her sire’s win as Best Persian, Silver/Golden Division; an achievement which would be repeated in the 2019-2020 season by his son, GC, BWI, NW Castlegate’s Bless of El Rohi (an export into South Korea), also gaining a win as Best Persian, Silver/Golden Division. Such milestones are unique, providing unequivocal proof of pre-potency; and as the saying goes, consistency of delivery is the true measure of success.
SILVER MEDAL OF THE NATIONAL CAT CLUB BASED ON THE CLUB’S LOGO Image from one of a series of medals held in the Harrison Weir Collection
Variations on a theme, the National Cat Club’s Trophy (note the cat at the top) Article page graphics © www.gograph.com
THE FOUNDING OF THE
NATIONAL CAT CLUB BY
JOHN G. SMITHSON
AND THE WORLD’S FIRST NATIONAL REGISTRY Adapted from the authors text for the book ‘A Persian Rhapsody in Blue’
INTRODUCTION THE ENDURING EMBLEMS OF THE NATIONAL CAT CLUB The National Cat Club was not only the first of its kind, and the first to establish a National Registry for Cats; it also produced two of the earliest and most enduring iconic emblems of the Cat Fancy – being its logo with the slogan ‘BEAUTY LIVES BY KINDNESS’ and its National Cat Club Trophy, which although seldom seen today still exists, locked away in a Bank Vault. The images opposite show both, the Silver Medal with the Club’s logo emblazoned upon it usually being awarded to the Best Cat at NCC sanctioned shows, and the NCC Trophy retained for the winner of the National Cat Clubs supreme show, in the past, the annual show held in the Crystal Palace. The first two images of the NCC Trophy, have atop, an effigy based on a photographic likeness of the Chinchilla Persian male, Ch. Silver Lambkin. In the third image, (taken at the National Show in 1960) we see that this has been replaced by a standing figure of a shorthaired cat. The two cats, namely ‘Champion Fulmer Zaida’ and ‘Champion Deebank Mascot’ are to my knowledge, the only exhibits ever to have won the trophy twice! The article which follows, was written to form part of the manuscript for my book, ‘A Persian Rhapsody in Blue’ so is moderately slanted towards that purpose; however, it does provide the reader with historically accurate factual information, on the founding of the world’s first national body for Cats. The first official stud-book or register for cats, was the by-product of the establishment of the National Cat Club, but did not make its appearance until some years had passed after the inauguration of that key body politic.
It is from that Stud-book and its successors, that most of the critical information regarding the first Blue Persians comes to light. But it is not the sole source, as sometimes information can also be obtained from public journals or published articles
articles about various cats and their owners. A good example of this is the publication ‘Small Pets’ which became ‘Fur and Feather’ in May of 1890, three years after the establishment of the National Cat Club, and three years prior to the release of the first NCC Stud-book. In its columns may be found classified advertisements for cats and kittens of varying breeds, and on rare occasions, reports about meetings of the National Cat Club, or the results from its major sanctioned shows. Almost all the detail regarding the formation of the National Cat Club, comes from a record published in the preface of the National Cat Club’s first stud-book. Its initiation appears to have arisen out of an informal gathering of cat fanciers comprised of both ladies and gentlemen, all of whom were attending a four-day cat show held at the Alexandra Palace, over June 14th to 17th 1887. What is not recorded, is just who may have at first suggested the formation of a club, but it is apparent that some discussion about it must have taken place, possibly on the first day; as on the second day, the parties gathered to begin the formal process of establishment, the detail of which is recorded as follows: “The N.C.C. owes it origin to some dozen ladies and gentleman, met together on June 15th, 1887, at the Alexandra Palace, on the second day of a four-day Cat Show. After the subject had been discussed, Mr. A. A. Clarke was appointed Hon. Treasurer and then and there collected in subscriptions from those present, about £6.” At this same meeting, it appears that Miss Mary Gresham was elected as Co-Secretary, but this fact is only confirmed from a portion of a counterstatement
MR. HARRISON WEIR, (F.R.H.S.) FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL CAT CLUB Photo: G. GLANVILLE, Tunbridge Wells.
statement written six years after the formative meeting, which followed the first paragraph: “A gentleman elected Co-Secretary with Miss Gresham, (Mary Gresham) failed to put in a second appearance….” TAKING SHAPE The first official general meeting then took place four months later, coinciding with the Crystal Palace Cat Show on 18th October 1887. The preface records: “On the following 18th of October, the first ‘General Meeting’ was held at the Crystal Palace during the Cat Show, a report of which is given in
“Mr. Harrison Weir, resigning in 1890, was succeeded by the present President, Mr. Louis Wain. Mr. J.W. Townsend took the place of Miss Gresham, in which office he was succeeded in 1891 by the present Honorary Secretary.” (Ed: Mr. J.G. Gardner). Few people in the world of cats, in which the writer has been heavily involved for more than 40 years; understand why, when Weir was known as ‘the Father of the Cat Fancy’, he suddenly appears to have withdrawn himself from involvement in the fancy at the organised National level. They can usually find no logical explanation why he only served between two to three years at the helm of the National Cat Club, when interest in its ongoing success was nearing new heights. A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE
MISS MARY GRESHAM FIRST HON. SECRETARY OF THE NATIONAL CAT CLUB Photo: Family Archive.
in the first entry on our Minute Book (attested by F. Gresham).There we find, among others present, were Mr. Harrison Weir, first President, in the Chair, A.A. Clarke, first and present Treasurer, Miss Gresham, the first Honorary Secretary, and eight others.” A SHORT HONEYMOON Unfortunately for the National Cat Club, the honeymoon period did not last very long, and by early 1890, less than three years after its establishment, it suffered a major loss of key personnel. In the preface this is briefly acknowledged as follows:
The truth of the matter is that the aging Naturalist was a man of considerably strong principles. He stood firm on what he believed and more particularly strongly where he perceived that the issues affected innocent parties, especially in the arena of animal welfare; both for the animals themselves and for their owners, if they too were deemed to be affected. If he suspected the motivation behind any decisions taken by the committee to be either inherently unfair, or ethically anything less than noble; then he would take a stand against it; and was not afraid to do so publicly. In his mind, such actions simply equated with deception, and therefore were essentially ‘evil,’ by definition. Cat fanciers need to remember that Weir was first and foremost a poultryman, and in this field he had personally had hands-on experience for more than 40 years, being well versed in all the tricks of the trade and in the manner that individuals had m
manipulated gains for themselves on the show circuit. He came from a background that believed in equitable opportunity to succeed with a worthy exhibit, regardless of class or social standing. And he firmly believed that judges had to be seen to be fair in their assessments, in granting awards based solely on the merit of an exhibit, and not coloured by class distinction, OR by any hidden agenda. So, it should come as no surprise then that when some members of the National Cat Club, decided to introduce classes of awards at shows for which eligibility to win was limited to a ‘members-only’ class, he quickly saw it for exactly what it was; nothing more than a ruse to fool unsuspecting exhibitors who had entered the show expecting that their exhibit had a fair and equitable chance of winning an award. He therefore saw the application of some wins to a ‘members-only’ class, as not only discriminatory, but as a tactic that was inherently underhand in its motivation, as well as demonstrably confusing for the uninitiated and/or uninformed. Upon the adoption of such classes, Weir acted in the only way he could. He was not going to compromise or be party to what was in his mind, nothing more than caring about ‘the win’, instead of caring about ‘the cats’. It was this that in the end, was the main reason behind his resignation from the Presidency and Chairmanship of the National Cat Club. He simply felt duty bound to act on his principles. But that was probably not the only problem. It is distinctly possible, that some of the committee and some of general membership, were not happy that more than one family member could serve on the Committee; most notably the Gresham family, which
MR. FRED GRESHAM ST. BERNARD DOG & PIGEON FANCIER DISTINGUISHED DOG & CAT JUDGE Photo: W.H. PUGH, Liverpool ‘Dog Shows and Doggy People’ (1900)
which included the founding Secretary, Miss Mary Gresham (later Mrs Balding), her sister Miss D. Gresham (later Mrs Bridgewater), and their father, Mr Fred Gresham; whom Harrison Weir had encouraged to become a judge of cats, as he had a long experience in judging dogs and like Weir, was a fellow fancier and breeder of Pigeons. A TURNING POINT But the trend to introduce (financial) ‘members only’ classes was not the sole province of the Cat Fancy and to Weir’s dismay, some of the Poultry clubs chose to introduce similar classes at their shows, and Weir was equally incensed by that trend in a hobby he had quite literally supported for
for decades. Having already taken a firm stance on this within the world of cats, he must have felt duty bound to replicate his actions in the world of Poultry. This is made particularly clear in the following letter dated October 25th, 1890, that he penned to Mr J. Harris (another Poultryman), who had forwarded him the schedule to peruse for a forthcoming Poultry Show. Iddesleigh, Sevenoaks. Oct 25th, 1890. Dear Sir, How kind and good of you to write me so long a letter. Yes! It is a nice schedule and is well meant. I think you might have made the entrance fee 2/6. People don’t look at the 6d and it adds to the coffers of the Show. As I told you, I have made up my mind thoroughly not to judge or assist any Shows that have private club prizes and cannot advise any friends of mine to show at them. If you will kindly get the last weeks “Poultry” you will see my article and also that the Editor is very strong on the subject and blames shows for accepting such prizes as they are to the public deceptive. I feel sure it will debar exhibitors from shewing and I am going to do my utmost to put down such practices as I see the evil of them. I am glad that I saw you and have such a nice friend, this because I feel sure you will understand me on the subject thoroughly. With all kind and good wishes, I am Dear Sir, In haste, Yours very truly… Harrison Weir Weir’s comments in the above letter, make it clear where he stood on this issue. His sudden departure from the world of cats only months beforehand, is recorded along with other resignations
WEIR’S LETTER CONCERNING PRIVATE CLUB PRIZES HW Correspondence Archive of The Harrison Weir Collection
resignations from the National Cat Club, in a report provided by the new Secretary pro-tem, Mr J.W. Townsend, for the July 24th, 1890, issue of ‘Fur and Feather’: “NATIONAL CAT CLUB “A week or two ago we had the misfortune to read in one of the well-known papers, a hardly merited, and by no means creditable account of the National Cat Club, I think, however, that our readers will agree with me that there cannot be two opinions about the thoroughly satisfactory nature of the last committee meeting held on Monday
PRE-PRINTED POSTCARD ADVISING A NOTICE OF MEETING OF THE NATIONAL CAT CLUB FIR DECEMBER 20TH, 1890. Possibly the oldest original document/correspondence yet found originating from The National Cat Club The handwriting is that of Hon. Secretary pro-tem, Mr. J.W. Townsend. Held in the Archives of The Harrison Weir Collection
Monday 7th July, in the room of the Fanciers’ Gazette office; at which meeting were present, Mr. A.A. Clarke (treasurer), Mrs. Kinchant, Mrs. Vallance, Mrs. A.A. Clarke, Mrs. Ellerton, Miss Moore, and Mr. J.W. Townsend. After reading a letter regretting inability to be present from Mrs. Herring, the minutes of the last committee meeting were read and confirmed. The treasurer then read a few letters of resignation he had received, and, although the committee had with much regret to accept five such departures, they shortly after had the pleasure of electing thirteen new members. Amongst the resignations the name of the president, Mr. Harrison Weir, was of course met with expressions
expressions of deep regret, that also of our enthusiastic friend the Rev. J.G. Gardener, but, above all, that of the late secretary, Miss M. Gresham, will be most keenly felt, it is a great loss to the club, and greatly to be regretted, that domestic reasons should make it necessary for her to give up her labour of love, which her energy did so much to inaugurate and found; Miss D.B. Gresham and Mr. Frederick Gresham also retire with her. The club, however, is greatly to be congratulated upon the election of one of its new members, I refer to that of the celebrated artist, Mr. Louis Wain, whose paintings and love of cats are too well known to need comment; let us hope that we may be able to induce him to take
THE ADDRESSEE OF THE NATIONAL CLUBS NOTICE OF MEETING IS MR. CHARLES H. LANE ESQ. A respected Judge and Historian from the Dog World, he was also an active breeder and fancier of Cats under the ‘Laurel’ cattery name. Admirer of Harrison Weir, and author of the book ‘Rabbits, Cats & Cavies’ (1903) Archives of The Harrison Weir Collection.
take up some active position in the club. Mr. A.A. Clark (sic), treasurer, informed the committee that the club never had been in such a flourishing condition as at present, and we heard with joy that money had been coming in fast of late, and that he had before him the 1889 balance sheet reading for printing as soon as audited. Mrs. Kinchant kindly consented to act as auditor with Mrs. Vallance, in the place of the Rev. J. G. Gardener, who has retired. It was then agreed that the vacancies upon the committee should remain until the annual ballot in September. In this connection it was proposed by Mr. A.A. Clarke and seconded by Mrs. Kinchant that it becomes forthwith a members
regulation that no two members of one family can act together as members of the same committee. The meeting was then brought to a close with an appeal from the secretary urging the members to do all in their power to introduce new members, and make the club better and wider known, also promising that the stud books should be at once started and out into full working order. The following new members were elected: - Miss F. Simpson, Miss M. Shaw, Miss Walker, Mrs. Hunt, Mrs. Hill, Mrs. Panton, Mrs. Newell, Miss Marshall, Louis Wain, Esq., J. McDougall, Esq., R. Savill, Esq., H.W.H. Warner, Esq., and Mr. Yelf. J.W. Townsend, Hon.Sec. pro tem.
Although there were no specifics given in the above report, we must assume that Weir must have encountered opposition to his view at least among some cat fanciers on the Committee. His actions were swift, and it becomes apparent that his unstated view was strongly supported by others of influence in the cat world, who were ethically aligned with his principles. The result was therefore a departure ‘en masse’ of some of the heavyweight notables in the then world of cats. That he continued to maintain this stance is very clearly indicated in his secondary preface to the New Edition of his book ‘Our Cats’, which he caused to be published by ‘The Fanciers Gazette’ in 1892. It is a lengthy preface, covering a number of topics ranging from new cat breeds and varieties he had encountered since the first edition had been published, as well as quoting from other naturalists who had shared information with him on both domestic and wild species of cats. At the end of this preface, he directly confronts, and seeks to distance himself from the National Cat Club. His opinion is both forthright and direct, the ethical thrust of his argument being clearly defined, almost bordering on hostility. Without naming names, he again clearly delineates between those cat fanciers who were chiefly only in the hobby for ‘the win’ as opposed to those who truly cared about the welfare of all ‘cats’, regardless of ownership, or the owner’s status with the club. He states: “In my former edition of ‘Our Cats,’ I wrote hopefully and expectantly of much good to be derived from the institution of the so-called National Cat Club, and of which I was then President
President; but I am so to say that none of those hopes or expectations have been realised, and I now feel the deepest regret that I was ever induced to be in any way associated with it. I do not care to go into particulars further than to say I found the principal idea of many of its members consisted not so much in promoting the welfare of the Cat as of winning prizes, and more particularly their own Cat Club medals, for which, although offered at public shows, the public were not allowed to compete, and when won by the members, in many cases the public were thoughtlessly misled by believing It was an open competition. I therefore felt it my duty to leave the club for that and other reasons. I have also left off judging of the Cats, even at my old much-loved show at the Crystal Palace, because I no longer cared to come into contact with such ‘Lovers of Cats’. “I am very much in favour of the Cats’ Homes. The one at Dublin, in which Miss Swift takes so much interest; the one in London, with Miss Mayhew working for it with the zeal of a true ‘Cat-Lover’; and that where Mr. Colam is the manager, all desereve and have my sincerest and warmest approbation, sympathy, and support, standing out as they do in such bright contrast to those self-styled ‘Cat-Lovers’ the National Cat Club. HARRISON WEIR, F.R.H.S. Sevenoaks, March 12th, 1892
Although the National Cat Club survived this sad episode and Mr Louis Wain was in due course elected to the Chairmanship of the Committee, it continued to face many difficult challenges in the years to come. To his credit, Louis Wain remained steadfast, patiently steering the National Cat Club through a raft of trials and tribulations during the 1890’s, and into the dawn of the new century. Weir had nothing more to do with the National Cat Club or shows sanctioned by it, for more than a decade.
It is distinctly possible that Mr. Weir may have felt duty bound to show support for Mr. Fred Gresham and his two daughters, as both he and Mr. Gresham, had known each other for many years. Mr. Gresham had had a long association in the dog world, having established a fine reputation as a popular judge of considerable ability. He had been one of the early importers and breeders of the Saint Bernard, his famous female ‘Abbess’ having featured in Cassell’s ‘The Book of the Dog’ published in 1881.
MR. LOUIS WAIN SECOND CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL CAT CLUB Photo: ‘Our Cats’ December 10th (1903)
Reading between the lines, Louis Wain (who had been a much younger working colleague of Weir for the Illustrated London News) spent a lot of time smoothing the waters with Weir during the intervening period, and it becomes apparent that he was eventually successful in reaching at least a partial compromise with Weir, early in the new century; drawing him back to the world of cats in a minor capacity, by gently appealing solely to Weir’s love of ‘the cats’. Despite this set-back, the National Cat Club neverthe-less managed to thrive under the stewardship of its committee and its new Chairman, Mr. Louis Wain.
Prior to that, during the 1870’s he had been active in the Poultry and Cage-Bird fraternity having successfully bred prize-winning Pouter Pigeons, some of which had even featured in drawings by Weir for the popular press of the day. They had also more recently worked alongside each other, with the young Mr. Charles A. House, as writers and correspondents on the staff the ‘Fanciers’ Gazette’ during the time when Mr. Weir was putting the finishing touches to his classic work ‘Our Cats’ in 1888. In 1930, Mr House, who later served as Editor of ‘Fur and Feather’ recalled: “At the time when Harrison Weir brought out his book, he, with Mr. Fred Gresham (the father of the Misses Gresham, who bred the first Chinchilla), and myself were all on the staff of the ‘Fanciers’ Gazette,’ and I read much of the book in proof form, even as I discussed it with the author.” Mr Gresham’s reputation is further enhanced by these quotes from an account written by Mr. Charles H. Lane, from ‘Dog Shows and Doggy People’ published in 1900. “When I first knew Mr.Gresham he was residing at Shefford, in Bedfordshire, where he kept a large .
In the top right-hand corner of this photograph of the Chinchilla male, Ch. Rob Roy of Arrandale, can be identified a National Cat Club CHAMPIONSHIP CERTIFICATE, giving an indication of how it must have looked. Photo: Russell & Sons, Crystal Palace. Image: The Harrison Weir Collection.
large establishment, did a good deal of hunting with the neighbouring packs, and was a pretty keen sportsman all round, as besides doing some shooting, he kept a large kennel of St. Bernards, with which he was almost invincible at the shows I those days, and was a successful breeder and exhibitor of several varieties of pigeons. “His extensive and varied experience of dogs and dog shows, combined with his careful and impartial judgments and courteous dealing, have made Mr. Gresham popular with all classes of exhibitors….” Indeed, Mr Gresham’s popularity appears to have won through even after his departure from the National Cat Club in 1890, as it is a matter of record that he returned at least to judge cat shows, during the next decade and beyond.
The Misses Gresham did not appear in office again, until well after their marriages. Both were instrumental in the rise of the Silver Persian among the rankings of the most popular varieties of cats ever bred. Later, as Mrs Balding and Mrs Bridgewater, both enjoyed very creditable reputation as judges, whose expertise was widely acknowledged. By the end of the century Mrs Balding had returned to the Committee. MR WAIN AT THE HELM The decision to encourage Mr. Louis Wain to accept the role of Chairman of the Committee of the National Cat Club, was at the time, a stroke of genius; in as much as he was becoming widely recognised for his aptitude and talent in drawing and painting anthropomorphic caricatures of cats in human roles and adventures. This meant that he was perfectly able to connect with the general
and painting anthropomorphic caricatures of cats in human roles and adventures. This meant that he was perfectly able to connect with the general public, and thereby by association, perfectly positioned to raise the profile of the National Cat Club, both nationally and internationally. Work immediately began on compiling the first Stud Book and Register, under the auspices of the then Hon. Secretary, Mr. J. W. Townsend, beginning with the first entry received on July 31st, 1890 and closing with the last at the end of 1892. It was duly published in 1893, at the printing works of E. Clarke & Son, Bromley, Kent; under the auspices of the new Hon. Secretary, J.G. Gardner. In his introductory preface the new Hon. Secretary declares: “The object of the National Cat Club cannot be better summed up than in the concluding words of the second paragraph of the Club ‘Rules and Regulations,’ namely, to do all in its power to protect and advance the interest of the cat.” At the time of publication, the officers were: President: Louis Wain, Esq. Vice-Presidents: Gordon Stables, M.D., C.M., R.N. H.W. Bullock, Esq. Members of Committee: Messrs. Arnald, Butler, Carvosso, Ellerton, Herring, Heath, Howard, Leeney, Lugard, Manley, Morrison, Thompson, Vallance. Treasurer: A.A. Clarke, Langham Hotel, Hastings. Hon. Secretary: Rev. J.G. Gardner, St. Paul’s Cray, Kent.
THE NATIONAL CAT CLUB STUD BOOKS The National Cat Club Stud Books marked a key turning point in cat fancying world-wide. They were the first official record of the parentage (pedigrees) of domestic and fancy cats, and as
such have provided historians with a wealth of critical knowledge about many of the founding bloodlines across a variety of breeds. The first volume contained just 180 entries, covering a range of birth dates from between 1876 to 1892. They also contained key references to importations, recording the ownership, and where possible, the point of origin of many newly introduced bloodlines. The second volume was published in 1894 and was exponentially larger, as breeders and exhibitors realised how important it was to register their stock and take advantage of the recognition of their cats recorded lineage. This volume contained 471 entries, taking account of all the cat registrations received between the beginning of January 1893 and the end of March 1894; covering a period of 15 months. Volume Three was published in 1895, covering a period of one year, between the end of March 1894, and the end of March 1895. It contained a further 397 entries. A fourth volume was released in 1896, once again covering a period of one year, between the end of March 1895 and the end of March 1896, during which another 364 entries were added. However, publication of the 5th volume was delayed until 1899, and covered all registrations between the end of March 1896, to the end of March 1899. During that time, the structure of the National Cat Club had changed considerably. It now had a Royal Patron, a titular President and a bevy of thirteen largely titular Vice-Presidents. Mr. Louis Wain remained as Chairman of the presiding committee, ably supported by ten active committee members, including Mrs. Balding.
HARRISON WILLIAM WEIR
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1824 - 1906
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COMING IN FUTURE ISSUES… LONGHAIR HISTORY FEATURE: KING MAX (Maine Angora? or Persian?)
SHORTHAIR HISTORY FEATURE: NELLIE & DICK (Mexican Hairless)
PURRSONALITY FEATURE: DR. GORDON STABLES, M.D., R.N.
GENETICS FEATURE: HAIRLESS CATS – DR. LESLIE LYONS, Ph. D
MODERN LONGHAIR FIFe COTY - NW, GIC BEAUBELL’S STETSON
CLUB HISTORY FEATURE THE ROYAL CANADIAN CAT CLUB
CAT FANCYING FEATURE TRAVELLING WITH YOUR CAT
MODERN SHORTHAIR: GC, BWR, NW PINUPCATS SUPA DUPA FLY OF KUORII … PLUS, SO MUCH MORE!!!
SUPPORT The CFA Foundation’s Feline Historical Museum!
Donations to The CFA Foundation, whether they be monetary archival or estate donations, all help to maintain YOUR museum. The CFA Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organisation and all contributions are deductible for Federal income, gift and estate tax purposes.
THE CFA FOUNDATION, PO Box 2155, Alliance, OH 44601 330-680-4444 www.FelineHistoricalFoundation.org