JANUARY 2021 Volume 1 No. 7
FEATURES: LONGHAIR – SPANGLE SPANGLE SHORTHAIR – ASHBRITTLE PETER THE GREAT CATITURE – A NEW SPECIES OF CAT DWELLING BREED FEATURE – THE BRITISH LONGHAIR PURRSONALITY – MRS. W. E. COLBURN
and much more! INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE FOR CAT LOVERS - LINECHASERS - & FANCIERS OF FELINE HISTORY
“Today’s achievements are part of tomorrow’s history”
FELIS HISTORICA HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION © A-Cat-Emy Concepts
PUBLISHED BY A-CAT-EMY CONCEPTS for THE HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION EDITOR
John G. Smithson editor@felishistorica.com HISTORY PARTNERS
The CFA Foundation COLUMNISTS & CONTRIBUTORS
Karen Lawrence (St. Catharines, Canada)
Lorraine Shelton (California, USA)
JANUARY 2021
VOLUME 1 NUMBER 7
EDITORIAL The Editor outlines issues covered in Issue 5 of Felis Historica!
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CONTRIBUTING TEAM MEMBERS Gallery of our Team of Columnists, Contributors & Correspondents
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IN THIS ISSUE!
A TOAST TO 2021 - by retired CFA Judge Karen Lawrence A look at the CFAF’s unique Collection of Cat-themed ‘Liquor artefacts’!
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‘SPANGLE SPANGLE’ (Early Calico Persian) Born c.1900 – Imported from Aleppo Our Longhaired Cat History Feature – by John Smithson 22
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Dr. Leslie Lyons (Missouri, USA)
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Laura Dilley Thomas (Virginia, USA)
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 ANNUALLY $48.00 USD
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENETICS YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT! PART 7 - by Dr. Leslie Lyons White Spotting! - One Gene, Separate Alleles! The effects on pigment Melanocyte migration! BREED FEATURE: THE BRITISH LONG-HAIR - by Lorraine Shelton A very old ‘new’ breed!
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CATITURE – ‘A New Species of Cat Dwelling.’ - by Russell Law The latest architectural developments in ‘Feline Furniture or Dwellings’
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THE TEN CATS STORY Three initial storylines from the pen of cartoonist - Graham Harrop
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‘ASHBRITTLE PETER THE GREAT’ (Russian Blue) Born 1902 The story of a key early 20th century Russian Blue - by John Smithson
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CELEBRATING MODERN CATS – IN OUR FEATURED HISTORICAL BREEDS Longhair Breed Type – Brown Patched Tabby and White CFA GC, BWI, NW PINKPAWPAL CASSIOPEIA
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Shorthair Breed Type – Russian Blue CFA GC, BW, NW TSAR BLU’S ZINATRA DM MRS. W. E. COLBURN - by John Smithson A leading early Chicago Cattery owner and importer of Longhaired cats
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Editorial ’FELIS HISTORICA’ JOHN G. SMITHSON EDITOR
OUR COVER GRC RACHAEL DIONIS OF CWYTCHYCATS British Longhair Breeder: E. Lapina Owner: Carolyn Littlejohns
COPYRIGHT © 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 would be fair to say that 2020 has been a year like no other. In the realm of cat fancying and as pet owners, it has certainly thrown up many unexpected challenges. Those of you who were privy to reading our opening issue in July and its Covid-19 related articles from around the world, would have recognised just how drastically a pandemic of this nature affects almost every aspect of our lives – including employment and income, housing, the supply of necessary goods, medications for both humans and animals, and all the essentials for our beloved pets, and our hobby! Even access to critical veterinary care became a logistical nightmare in many instances. But this is where FAMILY counts, not only our blood family, but our family of friends, both local and international. The Cat Fancy as such, has never in its roughly 150-year history, been so affected. Shows world-wide were cancelled, and show seasons and scoring interrupted indefinitely. It was pleasing to see breeders and exhibitors alike, pull together to support one another during this time, and the creation of virtual cat shows, once considered an anathema to many, has provided a measure of relief to those who love the social interaction with other exhibitors and judges. We are now largely more comfortable wearing face masks for the protection of self and others. We have learned, albeit in some cases reluctantly, to be a little more patient in respect to getting access to services, knowing full well that others are in exactly the same position as ourselves. We are perhaps, I would hope, more thankful for what we DID have before the pandemic came into our lives, a realisation that only comes when things we take for granted, are suddenly no longer possible!
January 2021 CONGRATULATES But now, with the arrival of 2021, we have several vaccines against this disease within our grasp, and the very real possibility that in-person shows will soon become a reality once more. Some countries are more fortunate in this regard than others. My own local club is hosting a 5-Ring show in March, and as it will be the 70th anniversary year since our first Championship show, and the first live show here since the interruption to shows in this country. We are certainly looking forward to participating in it. Our congratulations go to all the Student Judges who have completed training and are eager to gain experience on the show floor. With international restrictions on travel still very much in force, clubs everywhere will struggle to even find available judges in a position and/or willing to travel. Hence local judges will now be in very great demand worldwide! Importantly I want to encourage all cat lovers, to make a real effort to connect with your local cat rescue organisations. They too have been seriously affected by the pandemic and their resources stretched beyond capacity. Those of you who can, please take time to ask them what you can do to relieve their burdens in any way possible, and remember, that above all else, it is about the CATS first!!! May 2021 bring us all together as never before, and may the New Year be as promising as we all hope it will be! Enjoy!
John EDITOR
KELELA ALOHA HUA OF TAJHARA BEST OF THE BEST Highest Scoring Championship Cat Photo Event CFA TOP CAT CHALLENGE 2020 Owner: Mary Franz. Breeder: Cheryl Davern Photo: Starrlight Photography
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 felinegenome@missouri.edu
JAMIE CHRISTIAN
LAURA D. THOMAS
LAURA A. VOCELLE
WRITER/COLUMNIST TICA INTERNATIONAL JUDGE OF THE YEAR 2016
COLUMNIST/AUTHOR Owner/Founder - Formulator at: CASTLEBATHS www.castlebaths.com Owner/Product Developer at: www.purrinlot.com
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 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
BANGKOK, THAILAND SEC: SIAM BLE-EYED CAT FANCIERS
CHAYAPON PUCHAROENYOS
ROBBIE WALKER
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, FCCQ. QLD
BAMBI J. EDWARDS
IZADDIN SYAH YUSOF
FARAH DIANA
(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
A RARE GERMAN STEIN in the Collection of THE CFA FOUNDATION Photo: Karen Lawrence
KAREN LAWRENCE PONDERS ON 2020 / 2021 while reviewing the ‘toasting’ artifacts in the CFA Foundation’s Feline Historical Museum As I write this, 2020 is drawing to a close … thankfully, as most of you, I’m sure, will agree. Good riddance to 2020 I say! BY
KAREN LAWRENCE
With a new year upon us, several countries have beat back the COVID-19 pandemic and others have started a series of vaccines to protect their countrymen. There is now a feeling of hope spreading throughout the world. Not only hope for our health, which is so very important, but hope for the future of our beloved Cat Fancy hobby, as the possibility of cat shows returning to normal seems more likely. So, grab your favorite beverage and join me as I toast 2021... may it be a GRAND year for all of us worldwide! Whatever your favorite alcoholic beverage may be, let’s take a look at the vessels that have been used to distribute them throughout the years.
Article Graphics © www.gograph.com
‘Hats off! To 2021!’ Photo: Karen Lawrence
If you’ve ever watched the movie “Sweet Home Alabama”, you’ll know that when lightning strikes sand, glass can be the result. A combination of the sand, dried salt from the water, and intense heat will create glass.
Left: Liquor Bottle circa 1890-1910 – This pre-Prohibition liquor bottle shows a jaunty and happy cat. Before prohibition, companies would use any kind of decanter for their liquor, and many of these were imported into the United States. Right: ‘Pussy Cat Saloon’ Decanter, Winnemucca, NV. Below: Hand-Painted Glass Decanter with Glasses. Photos: The collection of The CFA Foundation, Inc. Karen Lawrence.
Left: Sample corks and corkscrew, and Right: A rare hand-painted wine decanter, from the CFAF Collection. Photos: Karen Lawrence.
According to ‘The History of Glass Bottles’, glass was discovered in Syria after shipwrecked merchants used lumps of Natron (the chemical salt found at the edge of lakes) to “prop up their pots to cook food. When it combined with the sand in the fire, it created molten glass.” Blowing glass into a bottle shape began as early as 1500BC in western Asia, an area that is now modern-day Iraq. Around 1000AD, glass makers in Central Europe began making a distinctive green colored glass. It wasn’t until the Middle Ages that clear glass containers were produced in Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. Today, they are mass produced to distribute the fabulous wines and liquors that these countries are famous for. So what does all of this have to do with liquor, you ask? Storage of favorite alcoholic beverages, of course. As early as the 1300s, wineskins, made from cured animal bladders, were used to transport liquids. Flasks are a modern-day adaption of a wineskin, but they have become much more sleek and fashionable. Pocket flasks, sometimes fashioned out of precious and non-precious metals with an interior glass bottle, were very popular with the upper class in the United Kingdom during the Victorian era. Often engraved with a design or name, these small flasks could be discreetly tucked into a waistcoat pocket or a purse. Flasks certainly came in handy during the days of Prohibiton in the United States, in the days when a general dose of liquor was often prescribed by doctors as “medicine”.
Meukow Cognac – a brand of Russian Cognac, made in France, and marketed in this spectacular bottle featuring a black cat. The collection of The CFA Foundation, Inc. Photo: Karen Lawrence
The hiding of flasks became ingenious, with them not only found in pockets and purses, but also hidden away in items like hollowed out books, thus becoming a well-concealed contraband item. Today, flasks are most likely considered open containers, and while people still use them to carry liquor into music and sports venues, it’s probably against the law in most of the United States. In Scotland, John Dewar was the first to put out a bottled scotch whiskey, often in bottles that were stoneware as opposed to glass. But now, there’s the glass bottle, so that beverages can be transported in a simple, often clear, container.
Jim Beam's Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey – marketed in 1967 in a variety of these cat vessels by Royal China.
The collection of The CFA Foundation, Inc. Photo: Karen Lawrence
Here’s a look at some of the glass bottles and decanters that can be found in the ‘liquor’ collection of the Feline Historical Museum: -
• Meukow Cognac – This brand of Russian Cognac has become well known as the “jaquar liquor” because of its distinctive bottle that wraps a large black cat (actually, a puma) around it. According to their web site, “Meukow VS is characterised by its wellbalanced blend between the roundness of its fruity notes and the delicacy of its woody nuances.” Today, their cognac is one of the few cognac brands made in the Charente region of France, with the company headquarters in Cognac, France. • Jim Beam – well known for it’s superb Kentucky bourbon whiskey. The ‘Boehm’ family arrived in America in 1740, moved to Kentucky 40 years later, changed their name to ‘Beam’ and began growing corn. In the late 1700s, Jacob Beam began to distill whiskey using excess corn from his farm, creating a new, and sweeter, whiskey-bourbon and selling it as ‘Old Jake Beam Sour Mash’ in 1795. Today, tours and tastings can be had at the distillery in Clermont, Kentucky (they will be offered again, once this pandemic is under control).
Above left: - Garnier Creme de Menthe – this vintage Crème de Menthe bottle, is more valuable because
of its three intact labels. Above right: - Mosel-Sarr-Ruwer Reisling Wine Bottles – Celebrating the red, white and blue to ring in 2021 with Reisling wine in the delightful cat shaped decanters. The collection of The CFA Foundation, Inc. Photos: Karen Lawrence • Garnier Crème de Menthe – An 11” decanter for Crème de Menthe features a vintage cat with what could be termed Siamese coloring. Garnier is known for a wide variety of decanter designs used for distribution of its Crème de Menthe liqueur, which is made in Paris, France. • Mosel-Sarr-Ruwer Reisling Wine – The valleys in an area of Germany, surrounded by the Moselle, Sarr and Ruwer rivers, are famous for growing Reisling, Elbling and Muller-Thurgau grapes. A Reisling wine from these grapes has been, for years, exported in glass decanters shaped like a cat. These wine decanters can be found in a multitude of colors to fit in with any décor.
Above left: - White Toscay Wine Decanter by Bessi - Green Italian Art glass, in the shape of a dog and
a cat, was chosen as the decanters for this 1960s era wine from Tuscany. Above right: - 1966 Light Mosel Wine Decanter – This German decanter is a rare find because of the intact labels, the gilded cat, and the black cat hang tag. The collection of The CFA Foundation, Inc. Photos: Karen Lawrence • White Toscay Wine by Bessi – The higher elevation areas of Italy, in the foothills of the Apennine mountains, are almost perfect for growing grapes. Sangiovese is the most popular grape grown and the higher elevations allow the grapes to ripen at a slower rate, making them much more robust when it comes to making wine. These rare 1960s White Toscay Wine decanters are made of Italian Art glass in the shape of a dog and a cat. • Zeller Schwarze Katz – Translated from German, this means ‘Zeller Black Cat’. A Light Mosel Wine was distributed in this German wine decanter. Made from green glass, this bottle has an embossed gold cat, and a small black cat hang tag tied around the bottle neck. Made strictly for the export market, it is a rare find to come across this 1966 bottle with all labels, most of the gilting on the cat still intact, and still have the black cat hang tag tied to the bottle.
(Above): Borghini Lacrima Christi Wine – Back, Italy AND (Inset): Borghini Lacrima Christi Wine – Front – This 1960s vintage black cat glass decanter was used strictly for the export market.
The collection of The CFA Foundation, Inc. Photos: Karen Lawrence
Above Left: - Vintage Creme de Cacao bottle by P. Garnier – A porcelain decanter is just one in a series of animal decanters used to export P. Garnier’s Crème de Cacao liqueur. Above right: - Triple Sec Decanter by Coronetti – Decanters used by Coronetti of Cunardo, Italy, are usually hand painted and come in a variety of designs. Below: Collectible Plate – Zeller Schwarze Katz.
The collection of The CFA Foundation, Inc. Photos: Karen Lawrence • Borghini Lacrima Christi White Wine – This wine was produced and bottled by Augusto & Fili Borghini Company of Certaldo, Italy. It was a wine exported to the United States, imported by the Hulse Import Company of San Francisco. • • P. Garneri’s Crème de Cacao – This vintage porcelain decanter was made for P. Garnier in Paris, France. A large variety of different decanters were created to distribute their Crème de Cacao liqueur.
SPANGLE SPANGLE (Imp. Aleppo) Calico Longhair (Persian). Born June 1901, (Syria) Photo: by Reading. Published in The U.S. Register and Studbook for Cats (1906). Article Graphics © www.gograph.com
AN HISTORICAL PORTRAIT OF
BY
JOHN G. SMITHSON
Adapted from the author’s text for ‘Spangle Spangle’ @ The History Project
INTRODUCTION / HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Bi-colour and Parti-coloured longhairs have been part of the cat show scene from the very earliest of times, as is evidenced by those which were drawn by Harrison Weir himself, from exhibits entered in the very first Crystal Palace Show of July 1871. Despite this, they did not prosper in England as they probably should have, as aside from Tabbies and Silvers (Chinchilla’s) a greater majority of English breeders were focused almost solely on the facets of depth, purity and even-ness of colour, of clearing the coat of barring, and ensuring that the self-coloured cat was the best it could be. Consequently, the greatest emphasis was for several decades placed and remained on the refinement of self-coloured cats. A similar trend developed amongst those working with silvers, which suffered to a large degree by variation of shading and barring. This meant that few, if any, breeders seriously contemplated or were even remotely interested in the refinements associated with breeding a bicolour, let alone ensuring that by selection, they were correctly or evenly marked! As a result, noone of consequence appears to have entertained
the idea of retaining a bi-colour male for breeding. Although styled upon the English system, the officers of the early American Cat Clubs, were more open to providing a separation of classes at shows, where multiple exhibits of a rarer colour might be entered. A classic example of this approach was that the American clubs were the first to separate the extremely popular White Longhairs into individual classes based upon eye colour. An Orange-eyed White cat would no longer compete directly with a Blue-eyed White or an Odd-eyed white, until they had gained a first in the class for their own eye colour, and so on. Likewise, the very pragmatic American fanciers opened up the show classes for Bi-colours, so that Blacks with white competed firstly with other Blacks with white, unlike in the English shows, where Blacks with White, or Blues with white, or Tabbies with white, were invariably thrown together into one large A.O.C. (Any Other Colour) Class. Needless-to-say, the Bi-colour or Parti-coloured cats, having received much better publicity and
A period photograph, showing the random nature of markings when breeding Bi-colours. Photo: C.E. Bullard, 1902. An M.T. Sheahan ‘Cute Kitty’ Series Postcard. From the Feline Postcard Repository of The Harrison Weir Collection
opportunity, were generally more popular in the United States than they were back in Britain. Among the earliest breeders to produce Bi-Colours was Mrs Clinton Locke, whose well-marked ‘Lockehaven Prince Colburn’ was considered to be a standard-bearer for the correct markings. Several other early American breeders gladly took up the challenge, with Mrs W. Eames Colburn, Mrs Oella T. Blake, and Miss Nella B. Wheatley, all from of Chicago; Mrs E.N. Barker from New Jersey, Mr Huidekoper and Miss Ava Pollard from New York; and Mrs Charles Weed from Long Island, being among them. ⁵ PARENRAGE & OWNERSHIP It was Mrs. W. Eames Colburn, (well-known for her
‘Brushwood Cattery’ whites), and Mrs. Oella T.
Blake of the ‘Spangle’ Cattery who formed an alliance to import a Tortie and White Longhair. Mrs Colburn was already in the processes of importing her famous black male ‘BLACK THORN’ direct from Aleppo (in what is now modern-day Northern Syria). Her contact in the region was the U.S. Consul, William C. Magelssen. There is every reason to believe that an opportunity arose to bring in a Tortie and White cat at the same time, and the cost would conceivably have been significant. But whatever the reason, Mrs Colburn and Mrs Blake jointly acquired ‘Spangle’ and she duly arrived in the United States, direct from the Middle East, very probably in the same shipment as ‘Black Thorn’.
Two Bi-colour Longhairs shown in the United States in the late nineteenth century. Above left: “Taffy” a Buff and White (Cream & White), owned by Miss Nella B. Wheatley of Chicago ⁴ Above right: ‘Mustapha”, a Blue Tabby and White Longhair, owned by Dr. R.S. Huidekoper of New York.⁵ Images courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection
Of course, how she came about to be called ‘Spangle’ is a mystery, but suffice to say, that with Mrs Blakes Cattery name also being Spangle, she ended up with the somewhat incongruous appellation of ‘Spangle Spangle’ and was just affectionately referred to by her singular ‘proper’ name. ‘Black Thorn’ (USR 100), was of course, from an unknown sire and dam, but being of excellent conformation and a direct import from Western Asia, he became one of the most sought-after Black males in the United States and hence the sire of a string of well-known cats, among them, a superb male bred by Mrs Colburn, named ‘Menalowen Strongheart’, born in 1904. ³ ‘Spangle’ (USR 287) was similarly from an unknown sire and dam, and we do not know what age she was when she was exported to the United States. However, she did breed successfully for Mrs Blake, with her first American born litter very appropriately arriving on July 4th, 1902! ¹
SIBLINGS & SHOWS There are no siblings of record for ‘Spangle,’ but she is recorded as having been shown at Chicago in 1903, where she won a 1st and a Special. BREEDING & PROGENY We do not have an exact date of birth for ‘Spangle’ but a supposition has been made that in order for her to have been sourced, and of an age to travel safely and then be successfully bred and produce a litter in July of 1902, she is likely to have been at least in her second year of life by the time the litter was born. This would put her own date of birth as circa 1901. Her date of birth in the Register of the Beresford Cat Club (BCC 637), is listed as June 1901. ‘Spangle’ does appear to have been a regular and successful brood queen. For three consecutive years Mrs Blake selectively bred her to three different, distinctly high-class males. The first breeding was to ‘Black Thorn,’ which again adds
credence to the possibility that they may have travelled together from Aleppo. From this litter, born July 4th 1902, came a Black female with a white spot on her back. She was named ‘Thorne Rose’, and was duly retained for breeding ¹. The following year, both ‘Spangle’ and her daughter ‘Thorne Rose’ were bred to ‘Ravenswood Hamish’, a lovely Orange male, who was acquiring quite a name for himself. ‘Hamish’ was owned by Mrs F.W. Story, who also lived in Chicago, so neither female would have had to travel far to stud. ‘Spangle’ produced her litter first, on July 10th 1903, and from this litter came a Black male, who was named ‘Black Douglas’ (USR 162), who was similarly retained by Mrs Blake. ¹ Two of ‘Spangle’s’ amours. Above: ‘Ravenswood Hamish’ (Red) and below: ‘Ch. Lupin’ (Imp.UK) (Blue) Photos: Above: ‘The U.S. Studbook & Register for Cats’.³ Below: ‘Captain Kidd & Sinbad the Sailor’ ⁶
Her daughter kittened August 20th, 1903 and from this litter came a Black male, ‘Nelusko’,(USR 204), and two Bluecreams, one named ‘Penelope’, (USR 254) and one named ‘Spangle Amaryllis’ (USR 295). ‘Amaryllis’ was sold to Mrs W.F. Godley, of Joliet, Illinois. ¹ In late 1903, ‘Spangle’ was bred to the prizewinning English imported Blue male named ‘Lupin’, owned by Mrs Clinton Locke. Lupin was himself a son of the famous English Cream, ‘Ch. Romaldkirk Midshipmite’. Her litter was born on February 12th, 1904 and it included a Red male, whom Mrs Blake named ‘Red Lotos’ (USR 293). This young male eventually followed ‘Spangle’s’ granddaughter “Amaryllis’, to Mrs W.F. Godley in Illinois. ¹ ‘Spangle’ was probably one of the prettiest imports to come from Western Asia, direct to the United States. But although she was carefully and selectively bred to the choicest solid males available, both from her own region and from the best of English and American lines, the lack of a quality Bi-Colour male to breed her to, resulted in her producing mostly solid-coloured progeny.
EDITORIAL FOOTNOTES In the Harrison Weir Collection, in a very rare supplementary edition of ‘The U.S. Register & Studbook for Cats,’ (1907) which was clearly intended in its finished form to be a Second Edition, we find other entries both for ‘Spangle Spangle’ herself and more of her progeny. It would appear possible that Mrs. Oella T. Blake may have died, as her cattery name ‘Spangle’ along with the ownership of ‘Spangle Spangle’ herself are recorded as transferred to a Mrs. P. Mersinger on May 31, 1907. However, a daughter from ‘Spangle Spangle’ is also registered to the same Mrs. Mersinger, notably a Tortie & White named ‘Spangle II’, (573) born March 20, 1905; sired by Nelusko (294). Yet another Tortie & White is also recorded, named ‘Spangle III’, born March 21, 1906 out of ‘Spangle II’ and sired by Bozarris (110).
An American marketing Postcard, issued from Washington, D.C., to promote ‘The Cattarian’ magazine. Postmarked 1906 ² This photo also appears in ‘The U.S. Register & Studbook for Cats (1906) ¹ From the Feline Postcard Repository of The Harrison Weir Collection
best of English and American lines, the lack of a quality Bi-Colour male to breed her to, resulted in her producing mostly solidcoloured progeny. Nevertheless, her wonderful patching of Black, Red and White must have been a thrill to see, and would have shown her owners, that bright and cheerful colours were indeed achievable and something yet to attain to.
References: 1) ‘The U.S. Register & Studbook for Cats’ (1906) 2) ‘The Cattarian’ Postcard (1906) 3) ‘The Stud-book and Register of the Cat Fanciers’ Association’, Vol.1 4) ‘The Bazar’ December 14, 1898. 5) ‘Concerning Cats’ (1900) by Helen M. Winslow. 6) ‘Captain Kidd & Sinbad the Sailor’ (1908) by Caro Senour. 7) M.T. Sheahan ‘Cute Kitty’ Series Postcard. Photo by C.E. Bullard 1902. 8) Supplementary Pages from The U.S. Register & Studbook for Cats (1907).
Everything you need to know about Genetics… You can learn from your Cat! BY
DR. LESLIE LYONS Ph.D
Article Graphics ©www.gograph.com
PART SEVEN – WHITE SPOTTING Along with Dominant White, white Spotting is a coloration of cats associated with the domestication of cats.1 A long-term breeding program of wild foxes suggested white spotting phenotypes to be associated with foxes with more amiable temperaments and erect tails, hence, individuals more conducive to domestication.2 Many species have a variety of white spotting phenotypes, and many different genes and DNA mutations have been associated with the variants. 3-6 Hence, not all spots are created equal. Indeed, even the spotting phenotypes caused by a specific mutation can have a wide variance in the amount of white spotting present, such as the domestic cat.7,8 Spotting in the cat is caused by a dominant mutation in the gene called v-kit Hardy-Zuckerman 4 feline sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KIT)7,8, which is the same gene causing dominant White and is discussed in a previous article (Volume 1, Issue 6). The mutation occurs in the exact same position as White, however, the DNA alteration is much bigger! Approximately 7,125 bp of a DNA has been inserted into the intron 1 of KIT for Spotting, a full-length feline endogenous retrovirus (FERV1) element, as compared to only 700 bases for dominant White. This large insertion of DNA likely disrupts the joining of exon 1 to exon 2. Most all genes are constructed of many exons, which are the parts of the genes that make the actual protein.
EDITOR: This is the Seventh in a series of articles based on feline genetics by Dr Leslie Lyons being published in FELIS HISTORICA during the 2020/2021 period
In between the exons of genes, which average about 100 bases of DNA, are introns. The introns are spacers between the exons and can vary from a few DNA bases to thousands of bases of DNA in length. When making a protein from a gene, the exons of the genes are spliced / joined together, kicking out all the intron DNA. The exons that are spliced together are now called the coding DNA (cDNA). This DNA sequence of the gene gets changed into RNA (messenger RNA, mRNA), which is then coded into the protein. The protein does all the actual function of the gene, interacting with other proteins, to produce the overall look and function of the cat.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENETICS – YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT!
WHITE SPOTTING PHENOTYPES A SPECIFIC MUTATION CAN HAVE A WIDE VARIANCE
FOUR different phenotypical expressions of a specific mutation with a wide variance. From top, left to right: ‘Lindsaylover Tasmania’, ‘Lindsaylover Pia’, Lindsaylover Latina’, & ‘Lindsaylover Scandall’ all bred and photographed by Michael Izquierdo, of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENETICS – YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT!
WHITE SPOTTING PHENOTYPES A SPECIFIC MUTATION CAN HAVE A WIDE VARIANCE
Dense and Dilute Calico expressions of a specific mutation of white spotting. ‘Lindsaylover Gran Euforia of Viatrix’ and ‘Lindsaylover Vitani’ Both bred and photographed by Michael Izquierdo, of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENETICS – YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT!
DOMINANT WHITE & WHITE SPOTTING ONE GENE – SEPARATE ALLELES Because Spotting is a mutation present in random bred cats around the world, many breeds include Spotting as an acceptable phenotype, but not all presentations are preferred as “high white” often detracts from the stunning patterns and coat colors. Since the DNA alteration for Spotting occurs in the same gene as White, in the gene called KIT, Spotting and White are not two different genes (loci) but different alleles in the same gene. White (W) wipes out all color thus is dominant to Spotting allele (S). The Spotting allele (S) is dominant to normal “wildtype” coloration (s+). Thus, the two alleles form the allelic series, W > WS > ws. Previously (Volume 1, Issue 3), Gloving in Birmans was discussed, which is an additional allele at KIT9 and further expanding the allelic series to W > WS > ws > wg. How the interplay of the Gloving allele and Spotting allele acts to influence white spotting in cats needs yet to be documented. Spotting is recognized as a trait that has both variable expression and co – dominance (a.k.a.) additive expression.10-12 A cat with one copy of the Spotting mutation, designated as Ss, will have a presentation that is actually called “ventral white” in other species. The dorsal side of the cat has coloration (a.k.a. a cape) and the underside, legs and midline of the face has varying degrees of white. The cause of the variation is unknown, but the variation likely has contributions of DNA variants from other genes because many breeds can produce a very consistent amount of ventral white. Two copies of the Spotting allele together produce a cat with “high white” or the “Van pattern” of a Turkish Van or the “Mi-ke pattern” of Japanese Bobtails. These cats will have coloration as spots, generally near the top of their head and the tail and perhaps additional spots on their flanks and back.
EDITOR: This is the Seventh in a series of articles based on feline genetics by Dr Leslie Lyons being published in FELIS HISTORICA during the 2020/2021 period
Random bred cats can have a large variety in presentations of spots whereas the breeds present with more consistent patterns, again, likely due to the selection of yet unknown modifying genes for the patterns. As presented in the article regarding White, KIT interacts with the development and migration of the cells needed to produce coloration (melanocytes). The Spotting allele seems to disrupt the migration of melanocytes while the White allele tends to cause the absence of the melanocytes in the first place. The melanocytes start at the area of the spinal column during the development of the embryo and progress from the back to the front of the cat, meeting at the midline, coming in from both sides. The Spotting mutation disrupts the normal migration and hence the migration is incomplete.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENETICS – YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT!
WHITE SPOTTING EFFECTS ON PIGMENT MELANOCYTE MIGRATION
Above: Munchkin ‘GC. Nutrenz Lets Get Jiggy With It’, showing variant melanocyte migration on each side. Below: Her daughter, ‘GC. Nutrenz Uh Oh Here She Comes’, who had a matching red spot on each side, with TICA judge Yuki Hattori (Japan) after winning Best All-Breed Cat. Breeder: John G. Smithson
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENETICS – YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT!
WHITE SPOTTING EFFECTS ON PIGMENT MELANOCYTE MIGRATION
Two variations on melanocyte migration, the above preventing pigment from reaching the head. Above: ‘Lindsaylover Bugatti’, Below: ‘Lindsaylover Kion of 4Loves’ Both bred and photographed by Michael Michael Izquierdo, of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENETICS – YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT!
WHITE SPOTTING EFFECTS ON PIGMENT MELANOCYTE MIGRATION
‘Lindsaylover Sarabi of Pele Mele’. Bred and photographed by Michael Izquierdo.
The melanocytes stop moving in the developing skin, leaving areas with no pigmentation cells and the cat is then white in these areas. Spotting can be actually viewed as a midline closure defect, like a cleft palate or a hernia at the belly button. Two copies of the Spotting variant seem to add up, and, besides disruption migration, also reducing the number of melanocytes, thus, only a few precusor melanocytes (melanoblasts) are present, and their migration is interrupted. Thus, the “spots” of coloration tend to be more on the back, generally, and occur at the extreme ends of the developing embryo – the head and the tail.
EDITOR: This is the Seventh in a series of articles based on feline genetics by Dr Leslie Lyons being published in FELIS HISTORICA during the 2020/2021 period
If by chance, the melanocytes do not migrate to the iris, Spotting can lead to cats with blue or odd-eye color. However, unlike dominant White, even “high-white” cats seem to have enough melanocytes to allow normal hearing. Again, some breeds and lines can produce, consistently, cats with blue or odd-eye colorations due to the Spotting trait. Why the melanocytes are more consistently present at the head and tail, and how the variation is controlled, neither process is yet understood. However, consistent selection can control the presentations, to some extent. Necklaces, chest and belly spots are also melanocyte migration problems and therefore, midline closure defects. However, the DNA variants controlling these presentations, which can often pop-up from nowhere, are still a mystery.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENETICS – YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT!
WHITE SPOTTING EFFECTS ON PIGMENT MELANOCYTE MIGRATION
‘Pinkpawpal Selene’ Red Tabby & White female. Photo: Sanchai Weeranon.
Perhaps these presentations are controlled by the modifying genes for White and Spotting, or yet undiscovered mutations in KIT. Many genes cause white phenotypes in other domesticated species, thus, each one should be examined in relationship to these minor but annoying spotting presentations. Of course, some spotting could be just random and bad luck too – thus rather difficult to eliminate in a breeding program – Out damned spot, out I say! References 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
Albert et al., Genetics. 2009 Jun;182(2):541-54. Trut L, Oskina I, Kharlamova A. Bioessays. 2009 Mar;31(3):349-60. Hauswirth et al., PLoS Genet. 2012;8(4):e1002653. van Hagen et al., J Hered. 2004 Nov-Dec;95(6):526-31. Aoki H, Hara A, Kunisada T. Genes Cells. 2015 May;20(5):439-49. Baranowska Körberg et al., PLoS One. 2014 Aug 12;9(8):e104363. David et al., G3 (Bethesda). 2014 Aug 1;4(10):1881-91. Frischknecht M, Jagannathan V, Leeb T. Anim Genet. 2015 Feb;46(1):98. Montague et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014 Dec 2;111(48): 17230-5. Whiting PW. J Exper Zoolo. 1918 25: (2) 539 – 569. Whiting PW. American Naturalist 1918 53: (629) 473–482. Robinson, R. Bibliogr. Genet. 1959 18:273-362.
Affectionately referred to as ‘MOOFY FLOOFY’ is a pedigreed British Longhair, owned by Lawlie Hill (UK). ‘Moofy’ was born June 13, 2016; bred from two British Shorthairs, her sire was an International Grand Champion (Blue) and her dam was a solid Lilac. She compares favourably with the more openfaced Blue Persians of yesteryear, (1910 – 1930’s). She is shown opposite sporting sound eye colour. Photos: Lawlie Hill Article Graphics ©www.gograph.com
The
BRITISH LONGHAIR BY
LORRAINE SHELTON The Selkirk Rex was still in early development when I walked the aisles of the big CFA Santa Monica Cat Club show and came to a stop at the benching area of a successful British Shorthair breeder. There was a gorgeous longhaired kitten with a “for sale” sign on its cage. Her dense coat, rounded head and eyes, broad muzzle, and substantial boning would make a wonderful contribution to our young breed. When I inquired if the breeder might consider parting with the kitten with breeding rights, I was told, “Nope. Can’t happen.” I was undeterred, as I had faced this challenge before when working with my chocolate and lilac Persians: breeders that didn’t want their cattery names in the pedigree of an “inferior” line of cats. I thought I might be able to convince the breeder of the merits of my plans. “You don’t understand,” she said, “I can’t give you papers, even if I wanted to. We can only place these kittens as pets without papers.” I was incredulous. An offspring of two CFA Grand Champions that can’t even be registered? She must have meant that there was no “Any Other Variety (AOV)” class to exhibit this cat in at the shows, right? Wrong. No papers to even acknowledge the kitten’s existence. No entry in the cat registry’s database to indicate how frequently this trait appears. I was looking at an “unmentionable”, an embarrassment, a “felis non grata”: a British Longhair. . Of course, a loving family quickly scooped up the adorable kitten. What is not to love? The word “cute” has a synonym in the world of science: “Neotony: the retention of juvenile features in the adult animal.”
‘Moofy’ – closeup on her eyes and profile Photo: Lawlie Hill
More photo-angles on ‘Moofy Floofy’, a Blue Spay British Longhair taken by her owner, Mr. Lawlie Hill.
Baby-like features of a large head, over-sized eyes, short muzzle, and stubby limbs even elicit a spike in hormones that ensures that we protect the young of our own and other species. This biological response has been hypothesized to contribute to the domestication of animals as pets and influence the development of various breeds. It is why teddy bears have their characteristic look. In summary, this kitten had been designed and selectively bred for well over a century, since the beginnings of the cat fancy, to be the epitome of an attractive show cat. Unfortunately, the length of its fur did not meet the current standard for its breed. The emergence of the dog and cat fancies in the late 19 th century is concurrent with the publication and increasing public awareness of Darwin’s Origin of Species in 1859, with the first formal dog show occurring in England that year and the famous Crystal Palace cat show 12 years later. Darwin often cited the Greyhound as an example of adaptation of conformation to function in his works. The ability of cat and dog fanciers to imitate the process of natural selection through directed breeding and artificial selection brought Darwin’s theories into the kennels and catteries of scienceminded individuals.
‘Bonnie’ – a Lilac British Longhair at 10 weeks Photo/Owners: Nick & Kim Blankley
“I think it is a great mistake to give “Russian” in our show classification now, as these are really almost extinct in England… The last time I showed my Russian was at the first Westminister show, in a class for Russians. She was, however, beaten by the round-headed British blue. In 1901 the class was altered to Short-haired blues… I had a most amusing talk with a blue Russian owner the other day, and a good laugh with him over the ancestors of his ‘Russian’ blues” – Annie James, 1902.
More appealing photos of ‘Bonnie’ – a Lilac British Longhair spay kitten, owned by Nick & Kim Blankley
In the early British cat shows of the 19th century, the majority of the exhibits were shorthaired. There were a handful of representatives from a few distinct breeds, namely the Siamese, Abyssinian, and Manx, but the remainder were differentiated by color. The Russian shorthaired cat (also known as the Archipelago cat), the Chartreux, and the blue European shorthair competed in a single color class, much to the dismay of breeders who preferred the “foreign” type, as judges usually selected the round-headed European type for awards, even in the few instances where a separate “Russian” class was declared! Breeders recognized from the beginnings of the cat fancy that the winning formula was to create a cute cat. “Blue short-haired cats – many of them imported from Northern Russia – make very desirable pets…There are some people who appear to wish to assert that there is an English breed of blues, and I have been told strange tales of unexpected meetings in country villages with cats of this colour, whose owners declared that both parents were English bred… I venture to doubt these assertions.” – Mrs. Constance Carew Cox, 1902. In the earliest cat shows, the few longhaired cats seen were usually elegant white cats imported from France, referred to as Angoras. Starting in 1896, longhaired cats began to dominate the cat fancy. Separate varieties of longhairs were described, but the Russian Longhair, Angora, and Persian cats competed together in the same color classes. Foundation imports were interbred to the extent that differentiation between the geographically labelled varieties was viewed with skepticism by early judges. Any purity of lineage that may have existed in their native country prior to importation into England quickly disappeared in the enthusiasm to fulfil the desire for these increasingly popular pets in the community. Type progressed away from the elegant look we associate today with Turkish Angoras towards the round-headed, baby-like look that was popular with the judges.
TWO TOP SHOW ‘OAKLANDS’ BLUE PERSIANS FROM THE 1910-1913 ERA to whom Modern-day British Blue Longhair counterparts could be favourably compared. Photos: © The Harrison Weir Collection
“It must be remembered that, however crossed, selected, re-crossed, domesticated, or what not, we have but two breeds on which the superstructure of what is known to-day as the classification of varieties has been reared: the Long-hair or Eastern cat and the Short-hair or European.” – John Jennings, 1901. Because the longhaired trait is recessive, these cats would breed true, unlike the shorthairs who might occasionally produce “throwback” longhaired offspring. Without knowledge of the genetics involved, the lack of consistent coat length in the offspring of shorthaired cats was erroneously interpreted as evidence of poor breeding practices. Keep in mind that cat fanciers of the day were trying desperately to produce tortoiseshell male cats so that they could breed pure specimens of that “breed”. “The kitten I have to sell (Ed. Note: Chinnie, the foundation of all chinchilla silvers) is quite pure bred… The father is one we bred partly from Mrs. Radford’s breed and partly from a splendid tom cat that was found living wild at Babbicombe” – Grace Hurt, 1882. The use of Himalayan cats in the 1970’s to produce chocolate, lilac, and pointed varieties in the British Shorthair resulted in these colors being expressly prohibited in CFA. However, long before that decade, John Jennings and Harrision Weir observed that breeders were being creative in their pursuit of new colors and the perfection of existing colors by performing numerous experimental crosses with cats of various breeds.
Miss Meilan-Wilkinson’s ‘BRIGHTON MIDGET’ – Silver Classic Tabby English Shorthair – born in 1897, was proven to carry Longhair. Progeny from her went on to produce Longhairs that were retained for breeding. Photos: Left, ‘Cats: Show & Pet’ (1903) by C.A. House. Right: Ogden’s Cigarettes Collectors Card READ about her and her legacy at ‘The History Project’ – www.cat-o-pedia.org/brighton-midget.html
“I yield to no one in appreciating markings in these <long-haired> cats… but that those markings have been obtained by crossing Short-haired cats is only too apparent, apart from the fact that I know those who have thus produced them.” – John Jennings, 1901. After the first world war, the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) declared that only third generation offspring of longhair to shorthair crosses would be eligible for competition, a definition that CFA adopted for its breeds in the 1950’s as well. However, after the decimating impact of WW II on the cat fancy, the few remaining individuals of the British Shorthair lines were bred with domestic shorthairs of unknown ancestry, Persians, and other breeds to recreate a new foundation population. “For a long time we have called the self blues Russians. No doubt they, in the first instance, came from the East but since they were imported into this country they have been mixed in a great measure with self blacks and in some cases with long-haired blues to get strong, short, round heads.” Mr. T.B. Mason, 1902 Three generation purity of pedigree in Shorthairs was later re-established by the GCCF, in response to the widespread interbreeding of Longhairs with Shorthairs. Across the pond, CFA decided to separate out the American Shorthair, the Exotic Shorthair, and the British Shorthair into separate breeds in 1967. This was a response to the observation that the shorthairs were increasingly exhibiting evidence of Persian ancestry (despite what their pedigrees might reflect). Ongoing breeding to Persians would only continue with the cats assigned to the Exotic Shorthair breed. In the initial period of this transition, individual kittens in a single litter could be assigned to any of the three breeds.
British Longhair (Blue Neuter) ‘Robyn’ owned by Bob & Lise Clark Photo: © Helmi Flick Cat Photography
“Because a specimen is described as emanating from this, that, or the other country, my readers will do well to avoid a too hasty acceptance as to the purity or nationality of the breed… the cat I refer to won principle honours in long-hair classes for several seasons, making a considerable total prize-winning record. Now this specimen, to my certain knowledge, was the result of an accidental cross quite foreign to the breed it represented. How many cases of a similar character could be addressed, I hardly like to suggest.” – John Jennings, 1901. So, if the crossing of British Shorthairs to Persians was discontinued four decades ago, why are longhaired kittens still being produced? Breeding two short haired cats together, even if both are carrying the recessive mutation for long hair, will only result in a 25% chance for an individual kitten being born with long hair. If only one cat in the pair is carrying the mutation, no longhaired kittens will be born. It may take multiple litters, with multiple mates, before a stud or queen produces evidence that they carry this mutation. Luckily, the molecular genetics of the long hair trait has been established and breeders no longer have to rely on pedigree or breeding history alone to try to ascertain if a litter of British Shorthairs may produce longhaired kittens. Genetic labs around the world can now test for this mutation, allowing breeders to choose to eliminate or perpetuate it in their programs. The genetic basis of long hair in cats, long known to be inherited as a recessive trait, was published in 2007 by a collaboration of researchers at the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity and the National Center for Biotechnology Information at the National Cancer Institute; the Center for Animal Transgenesis and Germ Cell Research at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine; Centro de Biologia Genômica e Molecular, Faculdade de Biociências in Brazil; and the Department of Otolaryngology and Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University.
‘Robyn,’ a British Longhair (a Blue Neutered male), bred at the LaziBlues cattery, owned by Zina Avrutova, New York State, and the much-loved pet of Bob & Lise Clark, of Chestnut Run farm, New Jersey. Photo: © Helmi Flick Cat Photography
TICA RW DINA PAREL OF CWTCHYCATS – Cream & White British Longhair female, bred by Peggy Defieuw Owned and photographed by Carolyn Littlejohns.
They found four separate mutations of the feline fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF5) gene, any combination of which will cause the longhaired phenotype in domestic cats. Mutations of this gene are responsible for long hair in other mammals as well, including dogs and mice. “I am disappointed at the neglect of the short-haired English cat, but the ascendancy of the foreign long-hair… I do not think that the breeding of short-hairs is yet properly understood” – Harrison Weir, 1901 In this study, three British Shorthair cats were assessed for the presence of mutations in the FGF5 gene. One of those cats carried Mutation 4, the variant found to be fixed in Persian cats and present in breeds known to have hybridized with them. This variant was also fixed in the Birmans, Turkish Angoras, and Turkish Vans in the study. The other three variants, often heterozygous with Mutation 4, were found in Ragdolls (Mutations 1 and 3), Maine Coons (Mutation 3), and Norwegian Forest Cats (Mutation 2). The genetic findings were, therefore, consistent with the history of the British Shorthair breed and suggested a penetrance of the longhair mutation of as high as 30% in the breed. “Miss Harper’s Blue-eyed Wanderer has great quality and lovely texture of (long) coat. He was in truth a wanderer in the streets of a London suburb and, although labelled ‘breeder and pedigree unknown’ he has almost always held his own in the white classes at our largest shows” – Frances Simpson, 1903 Therefore, there is no need to recreate breeds such as the Traditional Longhair, Sterling, or Doll faced Persian, as this breed has existed since the beginnings of the cat fancy, albeit hiding in plain sight.
Miss Ellen Harper’s ‘BLUE-EYED WANDERER’ (Blue-eyed White Persian). Left: An interpretative sketch by Louis Wain, and Right: A photograph of the cat himself from the cover of ‘Our Cats’ Magazine. Images: ‘Black & White’ Magazine, January 1902. ‘Our Cats’ Magazine, April 1901. Courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection.
The cat known today as a British Shorthair has always had a longhaired counterpart, cherished in the early years of the cat fancy. As the mutations for extreme brachycephaly became fixed in the Persian and Exotic breeds beginning in the 1980’s (although undoubtedly in the gene pool since the 1940’s), the non-extreme counterpart, sharing a foundation heritage in England, simply remained “under cover” within the contemporary British Shorthair breed. Genetic analysis of the of the Persian and British Shorthair breeds (Lipinski MJ, et al., The Ascent of Cat Breeds: Genetic Evaluations of Breeds and Worldwide Random-Bred Populations; Genomics, 2007) indicate that they are both members of the same extended family. “Pathfinders Tangle – This cat when arriving in the USA caused a sensation for being the best bi-colour seen there, and the breed was granted championship status since then…(Proposed Bi-Colour standard) Long-Haired - Breed 12a, ShortHaired - Breed 31… (50 points on colour, including eye colour) The remaining 50 points to be apportioned according to the standard laid down for all British ShortHaired cats” – Norah Woodifield, 1974. There are, as yet, no genetic tests for the two mutations that define the head structure of the contemporary Persian, but two genes (CHL1 and CNTN6) have been identified as candidates for these mutations. These genes are known to influence face shape in humans. Just as British Shorthair breeders have the ability to select cats based on coat length variants, breeders may one day, theoretically, have the ability to select cats free of the brachycephalic mutations in order to consistently produce British Longhairs of moderate type.
TICA GRC. RACHAEL DIONIS OF CWTCHYCATS – Chocolate Tortie & White British Longhair, bred by E. Lapina. Owned and photographed by Carolyn Littlejohns. Feature Head
Longhair (1902) Round and broad across and between the eyes. Nose rather short. Cheeks well developed
Shorthair (1902) Small, broad across and between the eyes, rounded above. Nose rather long than short
British Shorthair (GCCF current) Round face with full cheeks and good breadth of skull with round underlying bone structure. In profile, a rounded forehead should lead to a short, straight nose with a nose break which is neither too pronounced nor too shallow.
Ears
Ordinary size, but looking small (Weir). Small (Simpson) Width between the ears.
Ears of medium size (Weir). Ears small (Simpson). Rounded at apex and broad at the base. Good space between the ears.
Small, rounded at the tips. Set far apart fitting into (without distorting) the rounded contour of the head
Eyes
Large, round, (“or almond shaped”, Weir), full and very bright.
Large, round, and full.
Large, round and well-opened. Set wide apart.
Body
Large, small in bone. Body long, legs short. (Weir) Cobby and low on the legs (Simpson)
Cobby in build, round quarters, and good in bone substance.
Cobby type with short level back. Low on legs with deep chest. Equally massive across the shoulders and the rump. Medium to large, but not rangy. Short, strong legs.
TICA TGC EDELWEISS BRITFAVORITE OF CWTCHYCATS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Lilac Silver Mackerel Tabby British Longhair male, bred by Tatyana Olenitskaya. Owned and photographed by Carolyn Littlejohns.
CWTCHYCATS ONE IN A MILLION â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Lilac Tortie Smoke British Longhair female, bred, owned and photographed by Carolyn Littlejohns. Shown here in a frontal view portrait, and side body profile.
TICA GRC. RACHAEL DIONIS OF CWTCHYCATS – Chocolate Tortie & White British Longhair, bred by E. Lapina. Owned and photographed by Carolyn Littlejohns.
The animal welfare implications of extreme brachycephaly have been receiving increased attention in recent years, with legislation passed in multiple countries mandating the geometry of a dog’s skull to reflect a minimum muzzle length of 1/3 that of the total skull length. It is not unreasonable to assume that this trait will be targeted in the cat fancy as well. The Persian breed has been in decline of popularity worldwide for the past three decades. The famous chinchilla silver mascot of the Fancy Feast cat food brand, which has been a chinchilla silver of moderate type for close to 50 years, has more recently been a Burmilla Longhair or British Longhair, which seems to indicate that their marketing research shows a public preference for a moderate type cat. In the years since I admired that beautiful longhaired kitten in Calfornia, the status of these cats has improved. The British Longhair has been recognized for championship competition in TICA since 2009 and in FIFe and GCCF since 2017. In their first year of Championship competition in TICA, RW SGC Hunnybears Aristorex Fancy Faye was the highest scoring British Longhair Cat, finishing 11th in the Southern Europe Regional standings. A cream, IW SGC Smittenkitten Findus Fluffypants was the 25 th highest scoring longhaired cat Internationally for the 2012-2013 show year. A brown mackerel Tabby, IW SGC Fencroft Alabaster of Hashtag, was the 22 nd highest scoring Allbreed cat Internationally in the 2015-2016 show season and is TICA’s highest scoring British Longhair to date.
Top quality Ragdolls bred for health, personality, type, but most importantly â&#x20AC;&#x201C; love! carolyn@cwtchycats.com
One of the combos, ‘AD-6’ from the CATITURE ‘Matrix’ series Featuring Norwegian Forest kittens (from left to right): Max, Plato, Lucerne & Karyn, all Norwegian Forest cats bred in Cattery Russmania in Hong Kong. All photo images by Russell Law. Page backgrounds © www.gograph.com
INTRODUCING
BY
RUSSELL LAW
A NEW SPECIES OF CAT DWELLING CATITURE by Russell Law of Cattery Russmania / Studio OFF
In this article, Architect and Columnist, Russell Law, explains the evolutionary process of how a basic cube, has morphed into ‘The Matrix’ Series, of CATiture being showcased here today… INTRODUCTION – meet FLEXITURE, the platform from which CATITURE was created. First of all, where shall I start? It all goes back to around three years ago when we in our architectural & interior design studio (Studio OFF) were beginning to generate this idea of a brand new species of furniture (later on namely “FLEXITURE”) during our routine brainstorming sessions in the weekends. The idea of having this new furniture type has never been merely style related – we’ve done so many domestic interior projects in the past and all furniture involved in each project was unique in their own right – each piece just fit in perfectly with its designated purpose (functionality & style, so to speak). Nevertheless, it was such a high degree of customization that, on the other hand, it has inevitably cast some big constraints to those furniture pieces and made them rather “stuck in” to their one and only design purpose, so they’re quite incapable of another life in another space or application - and it looks like most, if not all, users are just fine with that – as long as nothing is changing. So why exactly did we want to design such a furniture system and what qualities did we expect this system to possess? Most furniture of our time, as consumable products, will inevitably end up as rubbish in the landfill or furnace - major reason for the obsolete nature of the furniture today is that they are designed (destined) to be UNFIT to adapt; and our goal of this FLEXITURE project is to design a totally new breed of furniture that is EVERFIT to adapt, hence being able to be reborn from one life to another during a major change of owners or uses.
In many aspects of product development & manufacturing, the idea of “modularity” has been adapted for decades with great success (e.g. electronics, industrial, exhibition, architecture, toys, etc.) but we have yet to see a modular furniture design system which is OMNIPOTENT under different scenarios, so is perfectly adaptable. We think we have come up with an idea that may just change all this & break all the rules and we code-name it the FLEXITURE.
THE FLEXITURE CONCEPT
Code-named ‘IT-4’, this combo belongs to the intermediate setup in the MATRIX series and is great for households with multiple cats with good social interation.
This ‘IT-5’ combo, again, belongs to the intermediate setup in the MATRIX series and is great for active cats and kittens that love to climb high.
The FLEXITURE is aimed at the study of a completely new modular furniture system from which various assembled combinations (combos) have the capability to heal themselves when damaged, renew their appearance and change their size/form over time as well as evolve with a new function when needed, and adapt to the new environment when moved. Let’s take a look of the advantages of the FLEXITURE system - now imagine a new breed of furniture that: (1) can grow with you and your family. (2) will make you spend far less when moving home. (3) will adapt to different functional needs upon request with no or minimal extra expenses. (4) will be “future-proof” thanks to its EVERFIT nature when needed to evolve into a major upgrade. (5) MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL – will lead to much less furniture abandoning (because they are UNFIT to adapt) as rubbish as a way to show our care for Mother Nature. (6) And we have not even mentioned the potential of a series of new business opportunities that will arise from the trading & associate services (design, spatial planning, logistics etc.) that come with this new furniture breed which shall collectively create what we firmly believe a vast market for the consumers who will need it & find the products affordable.
This combo is actually the fusion of Matrix Series ‘IT-2’ and ‘AD-1’ as they combine to form an ‘L-shaped’ structure which is perfect for wall corner positioning. This perfectly demonstrates the strength of all the CATITURE series – each unit is connectable to each other in at least four faces (some go for six) so the only limitation in assembling them is perhaps the users’ imagination.
This combo, ‘AD-8’, is an advanced large-scale set-up, with a lot of different units, blended together with various functions to offer the best fun for feline exploration.
The combo ‘IT-1’ is a great upgrade from the entry level combos. It offers a unique ladder for the active kitties play, while the quiet one can also rest.
During the design development of FLEXITURE, we have looked seriously at the following areas: -
The aesthetic of the design.
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The durability of the materials used.
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The structural integrity of the design.
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The ease of mobility.
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The adaptability of the furniture when it needs to be relocated to a new place.
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The functional upgradability when there is such a demand.
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The size of the used market to absorb the components.
We believe that the FLEXTURE will be particular helpful & beneficial to these scenarios: -
People who constantly need to move home for reasons like the rise of rent & change of workplace
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People who need to move home with very limited budget & cannot afford expensive extra furniture
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Business practices which need to replan the layout of their office from time to time as a response to change of manpower or business environment
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Young or/and first-time home-movers away from their parents
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MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL – the popularity of FLEXTURE will lead to much less furniture abandoned as trash (because they are UNFIT to adapt) so this will definitely ease the pressure on landfill, as well as a way to show our care for Mother Nature.
With all such ambitions in mind, we have aimed to revolutionize the conception of the mass public towards the established stereotype of household furniture and it is the background of the late project development that I’m going to talk about now – the CATITURE.
The combo ‘AD-2’ is a relatively smaller advanced set-up, featuring two scratch posts and a vertical ladder for a lot of climbing fun.
The combo ‘IT-2’ is a boxy set-up with an emphasis on a cosy and quiet life for the relatively inactive cats.
This combo, ‘AD-7’, is all about lots of big horizontal platforms.
THE ARRIVAL of CATITURE The next-generation cat furniture based on an innovative architecture of modularity for ultimate adaptability, flexibility, & most importantly, playability First of all, let’s try to wrap this up in simple words – the CATITURE is the cat furniture mutant of FLEXITURE and it works as a system of assembling units. Apart from being the co-founder of our design studio, the STUDIO OFF, I have also been a cat breeder (Cattery RUSSMANIA Norwegian Forest Cat) affiliated with the CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association) for a good 17 years (since 2003) – that’s exactly one year after we founded our design studio. I’ve been showing my cats in a worldwide scale (Hong Kong, Europe, South-East Asia, USA & China) since 2005 and have been the most winning Norwegian Forest Cat (NFC) breeder in Asia (The CFA International Division) and one of the most recognized & successful NFC breeders in CFA worldwide. As an experienced breeder and an architect/interior designer, I am indeed no different to any other typical cat owners – we all face the same issues of having cats in the domestic environment around the globe.
The combo ‘AD-5’ is a large but low-laid set-up for users that don’t want too much height that could be overwhelming.
One of such is the furniture we get for them, thinking that it does a decent job for our feline family members - and the reality is - not really, and actually very often the performance of many cat furniture products fall way short of our expectation. One major problem of the typical cat furniture is the materials used. It’s almost like a “predestinated feature” that wear and tear signs show up very quickly despite the fact that many of these cat furniture items look rather robust in shops and the fancy pictures in online shops. Very often the worn part could be just a small corner in the furniture; however, it looks so badly damaged that the whole piece may just have to go. And it’s not just the materials used being problematic, it’s the application of the materials in the furniture that results in the most troubles. Come to think of it – I know that while upholstered cat furniture may look good to many and perhaps feels good for the cats to be around, you need the right parts of the furniture to be padded so as to save you from a lot of hassles, because these are those soft and fluffed parts that would cost the most effort to maintain and stay in decent condition over time. These are the areas that catch the most cat hair getting tangled with it and also most vulnerable for damages (i.e. cat scratching). And once they’re worn beyond acceptance, they cannot be fixed.
MATRIX SERIES No. ‘AD-1’ – Left: Composite Unit in use. Right: Isometric Drawing
MATRIX SERIES No. ‘EL-1’ – Left: Composite Unit in use. Right: Isometric Drawing
MATRIX SERIES No. ‘IT-3’ – Left: Composite Unit in use. Right: Isometric Drawing
Apart from the longevity & maintenance issues, possibly the most uninteresting characteristic of almost all cat furniture designs available in the market is – they are what they are, and what you see from day 1 is what you get for as many days to come while they last. All cat furniture designs are so specific that they seem to fulfill just one designated purpose (use, function, style) and they aren’t supposed to change, let alone “evolve”, over time. If we try to look at the domestic dwelling environment for our families and cats as a whole like a kind of mathematical equation, while there are “constants”, there are also “variables” – and to be very specific in our example – the cat furniture in most scenarios, is a constant, whereas all other factors are variables. The number of cats and their need could vary, just as the place we live could change; our taste for the cat furniture could shift, just as the budget we have to upscale or downscale it may loosen or tighten up; we may want the cat furniture to serve some slightly different functions over time, just as we need it to adapt to a change of use or environment – all in all, we desire a cat furniture design that can change in size, shape, functions and perhaps best of all, style – we are possibly talking about a design that is so flexible that it can evolve over time!
MATRIX SERIES No.’AD-1’ - Elevation
MATRIX SERIES No. ‘EL-1’ - Elevation
Nevertheless, with the cat furniture design as a constant in its own right, it won’t be able to keep up with the pace of change of all other variables. And I have mentioned style above. Cat furniture design has not really changed much from day 1 ever since manufacturers, big and small, had started to turn it into a consumer product. We see a vast number of typical cat furniture products that are basically very alienated from our household furniture – funny shapes, funny
MATRIX SERIES No. ‘IT-3’ - Elevation
CATITURE MATRIX SERIES PRODUCT MODEL COMPARISONS Easy to read Product Model comparisons are a user friendly and reliable assessment tool for potential customers. The two shown here were created for Matrix Series Models AD1 & EL1 shown on the preceding pages with their matching Isometric Drawings and Elevations. They provide Easily accessible Information on each modelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s suitability for specific criteria, covering such topics as ease of set-up, potential expansion, interior style, comfort level, as well as suitability for the type of cats, whether for active kittens, for cat interaction, for active cats, or quiet cats, or hide and seek.
MATRIX SERIES Models ‘EL-2’ and ‘EL-3’ which are entry level combos.
colours, funny materials that are no object of desire in the eyes of the consumers who may demand a little bit more of taste in their dwelling space. All of the above expectations on an ideal product won’t be met unless a ground-breaking new design sees the light – and we think we certainly see that light in our CATITURE, based on our furniture project, the FLEXITURE, as we put it “the next-generation cat furniture based on an innovative architecture of modularity for ultimate adaptability, flexibility, & most importantly, playability”.
THE CATITURE SERIES There are currently 4 series of CATITURE on our drawing board that each serves slightly different specific purpose. Two series have been prototyped and sold by pre-orders to chosen users for testdrive purpose, and here are the 4 series: (1) The CUBIC Series This is the basic series comprising the basic fundamental cubic units which form the backbones of CATITURE. (2) The ZIG-ZAG Series Basically similar to the CUBIC series design but with much greater variety & flexibility in openings, so that units can be assembled in such a way which allows very exotic exploration/browsing experience for the cats. This series performs best assembled in a planar surface otherwise known as the “Vertical Maze”.
Four vertical views of options from within the Zig-Zag Series
Two horizontal views of options from within the Zig-Zag Series.
A lateral view, looking through a segment of an option from the Zig-Zag Series.
(3) The DIAGONAL Series This series is the mutant of the ZIG-ZAG cousin and although lots of details are yet to be developed, it works best to build tower with options of many accessories to be assembled for enriched feline experience. (4) The MATRIX Series The MATRIX series is actually the most open layout of all 4 series and there is a great variety of units in this series capable of building combinations (combos) of very unique forms with interesting functions & features. The pictures/isometrics/elevations illustrated are all belonging to the MATRIX series comprising some 18 combos - the showcase of all these combos is for reference purpose only (we ought to show to the users how combos can be assembled from the basic units) but the potential combination possibilities of this system are indeed LIMITLESS. There are no more than 10 basic units in the MATRIX series and from the three different levels of combos (Elementary – EL, Intermediate – IT and advanced – AD) we can see how these different units are put together to create combos that are unique in their own purposes. Some combos contain units that are room-like so they are more cozy for quiet cats; some combos are smaller and simpler to make so they’re good for smaller space and a tighter budget to start with. Some combos on the other hand, are much larger and more sophisticated so they’re good for multi cats household with various needs and interest.
A portal view across and through an option from the Zig-Zag Series.
Yet other combos come with specific accessory units like a hinged ladder, so they’re rather adventurous for active cats; while other combos are quite tall so that height-loving cats can enjoy a wander to the top - and there are always other combos that are one way or the other between all these different characteristics that make them worthwhile for what they do. All in all, no matter how many cats you have at home, what personalities they possess (brave, extrovert, introvert, active, quiet, love height, hate height) or whether they are adults or kittens, you’d be able to customize your combo of preference based on your cats’ needs – and the real beauty is – you could always dismantle your combo and re-assemble them, with or without new units, to become another combo of different purpose – these could be achieved on top of the great selection of finishes from our E0 grade pre-finished plywood panels. Through CATITURE we’re not building merely cat furniture – we’re revolutionizing the conception of domestic installations for our feline companions by introducing the notion of modular SUPER FURNITURE with morphosis liveliness over time – this is an organic system that literally grows and from there we aim to formulate a community of advocates orbiting around it in order to create more interaction & opportunities. Russell Law Founder & Principal, Studio OFF www.studiooff.net Cattery Russmania www.russmania.com
A SELECTION OF INTERCHANGEABLE BASIC DESIGN ELEMENTS FROM THE MATRIX SERIES
MATRIX SERIES Combo No. ‘AD-3’ is like towers connected by a bridge.
At left: Russell Law with CFA All-Breed Judge, Karen Lawrence (Canada) and his Norwegian Forest Cat GC, BW, DW Russmania Waimea Canyon, (‘Waimea’ for short). This photo was taken at the Hong Kong International Cat Club (HKICC) Championship Cat Show on December 3 & 4, 2016 in the MacPherson Stadium, in Mongkok, Hong Kong. ‘Waimea’ went on to become the 2016/17 CFA International Division Best Norwegian Forest Cat (BWI) and was also Best Cat in Hong Kong.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND CREATOR OF ‘CATITURE’ Russell Law was born in Hong Kong in 1969 and he’d spent his childhood and adolescence there before moving to study architecture in London in the early 90’s – this was the time in the UK when his impression about cats changed against what he had always contemplated from childhood experience – unfriendly and untouchable. Rusell went back to Hong Kong in 1998 and soon co-founded his design studio, the Studio OFF, in 2002 (www.studiooff.net). After some serious breed study, Russell acquired his first Norwegian Forest Cat – the “Wegie” – a male named ‘Frey’ from Australia in early 2003. Russell attended his first CFA show with Frey in December 2003 and he had decided to go much further with this new hobby. Soon he imported another male ‘Pepe’ from Japan and a female ‘Heavenly’ from Germany – this couple have proven to be game-changers for Russell’s dominance in the Asian cat fancy. Russell founded ‘Cattery Russmania Nowrwegian Forest Cats’ in 2003 and has become very active in the Asian cat fancy – the CFA International Division – Asia (aka “ID”). Russmania has its unique squad of wegies from Japan, Germany, USA, Switzerland, Denmark, Italy, Greece, Poland, Sweden & Portugal. Russell has won multiple ID “COTY” (Cat of the Year) & “POTY” (Premier of the Year) – ‘Antonio’ as COTY in 2006/7, ‘Bonhemia’ as POTY in 2007/8, ‘Darya’ as POTY in 2010/11. Since then Russell’s influence in the wegies’ development and as a key player in the ID has been widely recognised. The highlights of Russell’s achievements were ‘Apollo’ (2016/17) and ‘Destor’ (2017/18) with both achieving ‘CFA Best Norwegian Forest Cat worldwide’ and National Winners, the highest CFA title. This last season (2019/20), Russell’s boy ‘Gregory’ has won ID ‘POTY’ again and is his 3rd National Winner. Russell has been the Secretary & co-founder of the Club ‘United Feline Odyssey’ (UFO) since 2008 and a memner of the CFA Norwegian Forest Cat Breed Council since 2007. Russell has been Show Manager for over over 30 CFA shows to date.
HARRISON WILLIAM WEIR
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF
1824 - 1906
THE HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION
THE FATHER OF
An International Monthly Magazine
THE CAT FANCY
Dedicated to all things related to Domestic and Fancy Cats
NOW AVAILABLE through www.felis-historica.com
INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE CAT LOVERS - FOR LINECHASERS - & FANCIERS OF FELINE HISTORY
“Today’s achievements are part of tomorrow’s history”
‘PETER THE GREAT’ – at home in his ‘Ashbrittle’ cattery run. ‘The Cat: Its Care and Management’ (1907) Leslie Williams ⁵ Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection Page graphic ©www.gograph.com
AN HISTORICAL PORTRAIT OF
BY
JOHN G. SMITHSON
Adapted from the author’s text for ‘Ashbrittle Peter the Great’ @ The History Project (www.cat-o-pedia.org)
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Most of early English cat fanciers, with some notable exceptions, did not confine their breeding interests to one breed. Diversity, combined with specialization was widespread, and it was relatively common for breeders of for instance, Blue Persians; to also breed Chinchilla or Silver Persians. Many Longhair breeders supported at least one shorthair breed, be it Siamese, Manx, English Shorthair or Abyssinian. But a smaller select number, had very eclectic and widespread tastes across multiple breed disciplines, among them being for example, the likes of Mrs. McLaren Morrison, who bred Persians in multiple colours, Siamese, English Shorthairs, Russian Blues, Chinese, Japanese, etc, and Lady Marcus Beresford, who bred Persians in most colours, also had Siamese, Manx, and Russian Blues and so on. Among this elite number, we find was Mrs E.A. Clark, of Ashbrittle Cattery fame, who passionately supported Blue Persians and Chinchillas, but also, Russian Blues and Abyssinians. Where she stands out in particular, is in her ability to acquire some of the choicest bloodstock in Britain in her respective breed interests. When Blue Persians were in the ascendancy, she successfully acquired ‘Skellingthorpe Patrick’, who was the premier show specimen in his day. In Chinchillas, she acquired ‘The Absent-Minded Beggar’, a double son of the leading and lightest-coated male Chinchilla of the era, ‘Lord Southampton’ (a son of ‘Ch. Silver Lambkin’). When she parted with this cat, in a master stroke of planning, she replaced him with ‘His Majesty of Whitehall’, a son of the outstanding chinchilla female ‘The Seraph’, (aka ‘Whitehall The Seraph), who on her own account was the most famous daughter of ‘Lord Southampton’ and due to her line-breeding, closer than a half-sister to ‘The Absent-Minded Beggar’.
TWO OF MRS. E.A. CLARK’S LEADING LONG-HAIRED CATS Above left: ‘The Absent-Minded Beggar’ (Chinchilla Persian) sired by ‘Ch. Lord Southampton, out of ‘Windsor Dimity’. Above right: Best in Show winning ‘Ch. Skellingthorpe Patrick,’ (Blue Persian), sired by ‘Fulmer Roy’, out of ‘Maisie’. Photo: (Chinchilla) E. Landor, Ealing. ‘Cats, and All About Them’ (1902) by Frances Simpson Photo: (Blue) W.J.Smith; Lincoln. Cropped from ‘The Book of The Cat (1903) by Frances Simpson.
In a sad twist of fate, she also acquired the stunning Silver Tabby Persian, ‘The Marquis of Dingley’, which represented at that time, the culmination and epitome of Mrs Leake’s famous bloodlines, but sadly lost him in an untimely and freakish accident. In shorthairs, she was equally careful in her selections, owning and exhibiting the renowned Abyssinian male, ‘Ras Dashan’, a core stud male in the ongoing establishment of this rarer breed, while in Russian Shorthairs, she acquired from Mrs Constance Carew Cox, ‘Ashbrittle Peter The Great’, who in his time became another cornerstone male in the establishment of the Russian Blue! So this wise and resourceful lady was clearly adept, not only at ascertaining which cats were key to the success of her breeding programs, but at relentlessly targeting and pursuing those specimens that she deemed were critical to her ongoing success. The Russian Blue or ‘Archangel Cat’ as it was originally called, was for many years the subject of deep and prolonged controversy in the early cat fancy especially during the years of division between the National Cat Club and The Cat Club, which were both vying for domination of the cat fancy in Britain. But even without the existing division between the registering bodies, there was division amongst fanciers as to whether a blue shorthair cat could claim to be Russian when so many blue shorthaired cats were to be found in all corners of the world.
Above: - ‘The Archangel Cat’ or Russian Shorthair, drawn by Harrison Weir. The first image was published in 1889, but is based on an earlier drawing shown below, signed and dated 1873. Illustrations from: ‘Our Cats’ (1889) by Harrison Weir; ⁷ and a cropped image from a full-page illustration entitled ‘Cats’, a frontispiece from Routledge’s ‘Imperial Natural History Picture Book’ (1884), signed and dated 1873. ⁸
The counter argument was that if Siamese cats came from Siam and were called Siamese, and ticked shorthair cats coming out of Abyssinia were allowed to be called Abyssinians, then why should Blue Shorthair cats out of northern Russia, not be called Russians. The problem was exacerbated by the fact that local breeders were also producing fine looking solid blue English shorthairs, with broad rounded heads, and deep orange eyes. In this respect, the English cats followed the convention of the longhair breeders, whose Blue cats were respectively winning honours at shows, if they sported classically deep orange eyes. The serious breeders of the Russian Blue short-hair recognised that their cats were of foreign extraction, and were therefore generally more foreign in conformation than their English counterparts. The heads were usually longer, more wedge shaped, with larger, pricked ears which were wide at the base; the bodies were also longer, more lithe and graceful in movement, more sinuous, and the Russians had longer legs than their British Blue cousins. The imported cats out of northern Europe, generally had large, green eyes and the most desirable coat colour was a pale, blueish lilac tint.¹² With both registries only offering a single class for blue shorthairs, and only one standard against which they could be judged, the true fancier of the foreign blue shorthair was literally given no chance to compete on a level playing field. The judges were likewise caught in a trap, where they had to award according to the single standard, although confronted with two differing conformations, which were at variance with one another.The answer was obvious, - to create a second show class for foreign shorthairs and to give it, its own standard; but unfortunately - no side made any serious attempt to do so for several years, causing at times volatile debate between fanciers, through the columns of ‘Our Cats’ magazine and other fancier journals. Eventually of course, such a separation did take place, but in hindsight one cannot but wonder why the fanciers of the Russian blue did not band together to form a ‘Foreign Shorthair Cat Club’ and to use that, as a forum for promoting the adoption of separate standards for all the foreign shorthaired cat breeds. Even though Harrison Weir was not personally in favour in the early years of ascribing a breed name to blue short-haired cats; in 1889, this very astute capable and reasonable naturalist, nevertheless carefully observed: “I feel duty bound, however, to admit that those that came from Archangel were of a deeper, purer tint than the English cross-breeds; and on reference to my notes, I find they had larger ears and eyes, and were larger and longer in the head.” ⁷ In the drawing by him entitled ‘Archangel Blue Cat’, many a Russian breeder will recognise the distinctive and emerging qualities of the breed, and it is significant to note, that the image was a real and observational record of a winning Blue Foreign short-haired cat, from as far back as 1873!
The Paternal Grandsire of ‘Ashbrittle Peter the Great’ - Mrs Herring’s ‘Ch. Roguey’, as an exhibit at the Crystal Palace show of 1891. Illustration: ‘The Daily Graphic’, October 1891 ⁴ Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection
PARENTAGE & OWNERSHIP ‘Peter The Great’ was born 29th June, 1902. He was bred by Mrs Constance Carew Cox who was, without question, the most experienced breeder and authority on Russian Shorthair cats living at that time. She was widely travelled, and had imported literally dozens of blue shorthaired cats from many corners of the northern hemisphere. Peter’s sire was her beloved ‘Muchacho’,(ACA:226), himself sired by Mrs Herring’s imported Russian Blue male ‘Champion Roguey’, (NCC: 1104), and out of Mrs Carew-Cox’s queen, ‘Lingpopo’. (NCC:1155)
‘Mrs E.A. Clark’s ‘Ashbrittle Peter The Great’. Sire: Muchacho, Dam: Odessa Photo: ‘The Book of The Cat’ (1903)By Frances Simpson ¹
In the letters to the Editor column, of 28th November 1903 issue of ‘Our Cats’ magazine, Mrs Carew Cox notifies readers of the death of ‘Peter The Great’s’ sire, ‘Muchacho’, and in so doing throws some light on the paternal grandparents of ‘Peter’: “My dear old Muchacho has joined the great majority at the age of eleven years. He was the sire of many winning kittens, and claimed as his sire Mrs Herring’s late Roguey, one of the grandest Russians ever imported. His mother was my Lingpopo, a cat that was very well known on the show bench eleven years ago, winning amongst many other prizes firsts and specials at the Crystal Palace in 1892 and 1893. As a kitten Muchacho was sold to Mrs Addison, but re-purchased from her in 1896. Mrs Tottie shortly afterwards became his owner, but only for a short time, as he took to the woods and refused to be comforted. After several weeks he was captured with great difficulty and returned to me. Yet another home was found for him, but he would not settle down, and finally he returned again to his own old home, and to the only one to whom he ever attached himself, his great devotion to me being quite pathetic.” ⁶ From, ‘The Book of The Cat’ we gain an even deeper insight on the dam of ‘Muchacho’, Mrs Carew-Cox’s ‘Lingpopo’:“Lingpopo, an extremely beautiful blue – was imported from Archangel, very sound in colour, rather long in face and legs, sleek, sinuous, and graceful, peculiarly lethargic in her movements, and dainty in her deportment. I bought her in 1893, when she was seven months old. Unfortunately a disease of the kidneys carried her off when in the flower of her existence.” ¹
The dam of ‘Ashbrittle Peter The Great’ was Mrs Carew-Cox’s ‘Odessa’ (ACA:233). Through her, his maternal grandparents were ‘Blue Gown’ (NCC:1773), an imported blue male owned by Mr W. Richardson, a significant winner during the 1893/1894 show seasons; and Mrs Carew-Cox’s ‘Fashoda’, also imported. Mrs Carew-Cox says of ‘Fashoda’: “Fashoda was born in 1896 and was imported; she is a large, strong cat, and a winner of many prizes. ‘Odessa’ is a daughter of Fashoda, by Blue Gown.” ¹ So from the various sources available to us, we have deduced that ‘Asbrittle Peter The Great’ although a second generation Russian on both sides of his pedigree, was none-theless bred from purely IMPORTED lines. Moving from his breeder to his owner, we now touch upon the subject of the arrangement of Mrs Clark’s cattery, for which we have to hand, a report from Mrs Clark herself, who gives a personal opinion on what she considered suited her, and her cats: “For an ideal Cattery, I incline to the isolation system, generally speaking, in preference to one large building. In our grounds I have six of Boulton and Paul’s capital little houses (No.98) dotted about amongst flower beds and shrubberies. Besides these I have several large brick houses built, with very long wired-in runs, also a ‘home cattery’ adjoining the conservatory and house for queens with kittens, or for a cat needing attention in any way. “My stud cats as a rule, have each a daily walk on a lead when fine, and keep wonderfully well and healthy in their outdoor houses, with no heat even in winter, but a very warm, snug sleeping box for cold weather retirement. Most of my queens are very friendly together, and have a certain amount of liberty in the day time, my own special pet, Fai, a favourite neuter, and sometimes more, sleeping in the house, the others in various catteries. I have also, a large attic, an ideal place for queens at the ‘interesting event’ period; and they appear to quite enjoy each other’s society at that time, and also inspecting their friends’ families, some cats being so kind that whilst the kittens’ real mother is taking a short airing, these devoted ones develop a desire to ‘mother them all’ in their friends’ absence from the nursery! “As regards rearing kittens I think if the parents are strong and healthy there is no great difficulty, but commonsense is needed, and a little careful thought, such as keeping the new arrivals quietly in a dark corner until they can run about, then they wander out by themselves! I think four or five weeks’ old quite soon enough to go out of doors, and then only in fine, settled weather at first, above all not letting them remain on wet grass.I like the mother’s food put well out of reach of the kittens, and prefer letting her nurse them as long as she can or will, and until they are weaned I am careful they should have no other sort of milk given them – I mean by itself.
Russian Blues ‘Ashbrittle Peter The Great’ with ‘Ashbrittle Pitti Sing’ inside Mrs Clark’s cattery Photo: ‘Our Cats’ Magazine, June 1903 ² Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection
“I find porridge, (Provost oats), made not too sloppy, also Spratt’s kitten food, agrees with them well, also some of the foods provided for human babies; and then, as they get older, just a taste each of perfectly fresh raw minced lean beef, but care must be taken not to overload the little stomachs, or leave stale food within their reach. Cleanliness is everything as regards their welfare. I always use Richardson’s peat moss litter dust for their earth pans, and it is wonderful how soon the little things learn how to use them!” Mrs Clark then reviews her breeding cats and each of her breeding programs in turn, finally turning her attention to the Russian Blues: “Lastly, come my short-haired blues. Ashbrittle Peter The Great is a grand young stud of Mrs Carew-Cox’s well-known strain, but alas! I had this spring a great misfortune and grief in having lost my dear little queen Ashbrittle Pitti Sing, who won with him at Bath, and also wherever shown elsewhere previously – a terrible loss, but what pleasure is without pain in this world? Certainly not that most entrancing of hobbies, the breeding and rearing of cats!” ²
SIBLINGS & SHOWS Although there appear to be no known full or dam-siblings of ‘Ashbrittle Peter The Great’, there are a number of notable sire-siblings, by ‘Muchacho’ and out of a variety of queens. Some of these, but not all, include: ‘BALLOCHMYLE BELL BURNS’ (Blue Female, born 2th April, 1897). (CCR). By ‘Muchacho’ out of ‘Durma’. Bred by Mrs Carew-Cox and owned by Lady Claud Alexander. ‘LOCKEHAVEN SCHUYLA’ (Blue Female, born 28th, April, 1899). (BCC: 239) By ‘Muchacho’ out of ‘Paulina Topsey’. Topsey was owned by Mrs M.L. Evans, but her kitten , originally known as ‘Kitten Pauline’ was purchased by Mrs Clinton Locke (Chicago, direct from Mrs Carew-Cox. She was shown successfully as a kitten, gaining a 2nd in a very strong class at Narbeth in 1899, before being exported to the United States. ‘SINGSING’
(Blue female, born c.1899). By ‘Muchacho’ out of ‘Fashoda’. Bred by Mrs Carew-Cox, ‘Singsing’ was a younger dam-sibling to ‘Odessa’, (born in 1898),also out of ‘Fashoda’, and the dam of ‘Peter The Great’. In essence, this makes ‘Singsing’ a three-quarter sister to ‘Peter’ as well as being his aunt!
‘PUE PUE II’
(Blue female, born 7th July, 1899). By ‘Muchacho’ out of ‘Pue Pue I’. Breeder/Owner: Mrs C.Emmett.
‘PUE PUE III’
(Blue female, born May, 1900). By ‘Muchacho’ out of ‘Pue Pue I’. Breeder/Owner: Mrs C.Emmett.
‘BLUE MINX’
(Blue female, born 22nd January, 1901). (ACA: 229) By ‘Muchacho’ out of ‘Lady Blue Ruin’. Breeder/Owner: Mrs R.M. Middleton. ‘Blue Minx’ was the dam of ‘Olivette’, (born 1905), who was sired by ‘Bayard’. ‘Olivette’ was subsequently bred to ‘Peter The Great’ and exported in kitten to Miss Jane Cathcart, of Oradell, New Jersey.
‘SILVIE’
(Blue female, born May, 1901). (CCR). By ‘Muchacho’ out of ‘Fashoda’. Bred by Mrs Carew-Cox and owned by Mrs F. Walker. A full younger sibling to ‘Singsing’.
SHOW WINS Few official records exist for wins by ‘Ashbrittle Peter The Great’ and those that have come down to us are those in the Register of The National Cat Club and the Supplement to GCCF Studbook Vol.1. These are: 2nd at Southampton, in 1903 and then much later, 3rd at Hounslow in 1912, and 2nd at Newbury in 1913! By this time, he was quite an elderly gentleman!
A close-up of ‘Ashbrittle Peter The Great’ Photo: ‘Our Cats’ June, 1903 ² Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection
BREEDING & PROGENY Progeny of record for ‘Ashbrittle Peter The Great’ include, but are not limited to, the following cats, which are listed in chronological order by date of birth: ‘VIKING’
(Blue Male, born 24th March, 1904). By ‘Peter The Great’ out of ‘Bete’. Bred by Mrs Bailey and owned by Rev.Henry Staveley. (Our Cats: 10.12.1904)
‘THE MUSCOVITE’ (Blue Male, born pre-1905). By ‘Peter The Great’ out of ‘Bete’. Likely to have been a litter brother to ‘Viking’, or a younger full sibling. ‘GROVE JACK’
(Blue Male, born 17th September, 1904). By ‘Peter The Great’ out of ‘Blue Minx’. Bred by Mrs Middleton and owned by Mr Burton Heaps. (Our Cats:28.01.1905)
‘GROVE JOHN’
(Blue Male, born 17th September, 1904). By ‘Peter The Great’ out of ‘Blue Minx’. Bred by Mrs Middleton and owned by Mr Burton Heaps.
‘BELLINA OF BATH’ (Blue Female, born 10th May, 1905). By ‘Peter The Great’ out of ‘Blue Belle of Bath’. Bred by Mrs E.A. Clark, and exported to Miss Jane Cathcart (USA). (ACA:236 v1)
‘LUCKY DROP’
(Blue female? born 13th September, 1905). By ‘Peter The Great’ out of ‘Madre Mia’. Bred by Mrs. Bailey and owned by Miss A.M. Burton. (Our Cats: 04.02.1911)
‘RUSTY’
(Blue female, born 13th September 1905). By ‘Peter The Great’ out of ‘Madre Mia’. Bred by Mrs. Bailey and owned by Dr James Prior. (Our Cats:22.02.1908)
‘JIM’
(Blue Male, born 17th June 1907). By ‘Peter The Great’ out of ‘Olivette’. Breeder/Owner: Miss J. Cathcart. (possibly imported in dam) (Our Cats: 26.10.1907)
‘LICKS-EM-ALL’
(Blue Male, born 15th July 1907). By ‘Peter The Great’ out of ‘Deva’. Bred by Mrs. Harpur and owned by Miss A.M. Burton. (Our Cats:22.02.1908)
‘RUDDINGTON PETERBELLE’ (Blue Female, born 24th March,1908). By ‘Peter The Great’ out of ‘Blue Belle of Bath’. Bred by Mrs. E.A. Clark and owned by Miss E. Marquand. (Our Cats:14.11.1908) ‘BABS II’
(Blue Female, born 2nd May 1908). By ‘Peter The Great’ out of ‘Deva’. Bred by Mrs. Harpur and owned by Miss Burton. (Our Cats: 08.05.1909)
‘YOUNG BELLE OF BATH’ (Blue Female, born 1st April 1909), By ‘Peter The Great’ out of ‘Blue Belle of Bath’. Breeder/Owner: Mrs. E.A. Clark. ‘NICHOLAIEVITCH’ (Blue Male, born 25th April 1910). By ‘Peter The Great’ out of ‘Ritza’. Breeder/Owner: Mrs. E.A. Clark. (Our Cats:25.02.1911) ‘SOUTHAMPTON NICOLAIFFE’ (Blue Male, born 26th June 1911). By ‘Peter The Great’ out of ‘Southampton Romanoff’. Breeder/Owner: Mrs. Allen Maturin. (Our Cats:06.01.1912) ‘SOUTHAMPTON VELMA’ (Blue Female, bor 26th June 1911), By ‘Peter The Great’ out of ‘Southampton Romanoff’. Breeder/Owner: Mrs. Allen Maturin. ‘MICHAEL MORDKIN’ (Blue Male, born 29th June 1910). By ‘Peter The Great’ out of ‘Deva’. Bred by Mrs E.A. Clark (presumably on loan from Mrs. Harpur), and owned by Miss W. Voules. (Our Cats:25.02.1911) ‘CHORT’
(Blue female, born 30th March 1913). By ‘Peter The Great’ out of ‘Mousmee’, Breeder/Owner: Mrs. George Livesay. (Supp.SB 1)
‘COCKIEOLLY BIRD O’MENDIP’ (Blue Female, born 2nd February 1915). By ‘Peter The Great’ out of ‘Rocca’. Breeder/Owner: Mrs. F.H. Stevens. (GCCF SB2)
Mrs Clark’s Cattery advertisement including the Blue Russian ‘Ashbrittle PETER the GREAT’ From: ‘Our Cats’ Magazine, December, 1903 ¹¹ Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection
IN SUMMARY The last word on the “Russian Blue” however, must surely come from the one person, whose wide experience with, and observations of, the foreign blue shorthair, far exceeded that of anyone else living at the time. From the pen of Mrs. Constance CarewCox, we proffer this well-written and insightful excerpt of a letter to the editor of ‘Our Cats’, published in January 1904: “I quite endorse ‘Archangel’s’ remarks concerning Russian cats, in ‘Our Cats’ of January 2nd, and share his regret at the fact that half-bred blues are usurping the places formerly awarded to pure-bred specimens, simply because it is far easier to breed them with orange eyes, when crossed with English cats.”
Mrs. Carew-Cox continues: “As a matter of fact, the orange eye, although it is so attractive, is by no means symbolical of the foreign variety. Many dozens of imported cats have during the past twenty years passed through my hands, and, as a rule, their eyes were green. “It is quite exceptional to come across an orange-eyed imported Russian, although I have from time to time owned imported cats with yellow eyes. Many beautiful short-haired blues do not come from Russia at all. They have frequently been imported from Norway and Iceland, and are occasionally to be seen in the United States, Canada, and Australia. One of the best I ever saw came from Iceland. “I now have one that was imported from the borders of the Black Sea. She has a beautiful coat of a soft shade of blue, and large wondering eyes of Emerald.... “So it appears to be very difficult, if not quite impossible, to locate these cats, but, at any rate, they are not English cats – and never will be.” ¹⁰ (Editor’s bolding)
References: 1. ‘The Book of The Cat’ (1903) by Frances Simpson. 2. ‘Our Cats’ Magazine, June, 1903. 3. ‘The Cat: Its Care and Management’ (1907)by Leslie Williams. 4. ‘The Daily Graphic’, October, 1891 5. ‘The Stud-Book and Register of The National Cat Club’, Vols. 1-5 6. ‘Our Cats’ Magazine, November, 1903 7. ‘Our Cats’ (1889) by Harrison Weir. 8. ‘Imperial Natural History Picture Book’ (1884)(Routledge) 9. ‘Stud-Book: American Cat Association’. Vol.1 10. ‘Our Cats’ Magazine, January, 1904. 11. ‘Our Cats’ Magazine, December,1903. 12. ‘Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia’ (1910-1912) Vol.2 (Mrs Harpur) 13. Photos and Quotations as per credits noted.
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Photo: © Larry Johnson
CFA GC, BWI, NW PINKPAWPAL CASSIOPEIA
FACTFILE Pet Name:
‘YAYO’
Date of Birth:
September 25, 2018
Breed: Persian (Brown Patched Tabby & White Sire: GC, NW Ericshaw First Kiss of Pinkpawpal Dam: CH Toy Tricksy Semele of Pinkpawpal Breeders/Owners: Pattama Weeranon – Chate Ruengruglikit Achievements/Titles: CFA 2019-2020 National & International Wins:
CFA 2019 INTERNATIONAL CAT SHOW BEST CAT IN SHOW CFA International Division CFA NATIONAL BEST OF BREED 2019-2020 CFA 4TH BEST CAT IN CHAMPIONSHIP 2019-2020 CFA Thailand – BEST CAT IN CHAMPIONSHIP (Thai.) 2019-2020 CASSIOPEIA’S STORY
Sometimes you can feel your life being blessed - and that is what happened one day in September 2018 when a litter of three sweet and lovely kittens consisting of one red tabby and white male and two brown patched tabby and white females was born. Their sire was a CFA National Winner in 2017-2018 and he was a son of Pinkpawpal homebred male, GC, DW Pinkpawpal Kronos of Ericshaw. Their dam was a rare odd-eyed calico bred by Galina Gurieva from Russia. The male was named ‘Phoenicia’ and the two females were named ‘Hemera’ and ‘Cassiopeia’. Cassiopeia has ‘messy’ pattern on her face and is the cobbiest among the three. Her eyes are large and owl-like, and she always holds them fully open. She loves climbing up and lying down on the chest of anyone who wants to make friends with her. When Cassiopeia was five months old, she was entered in her first CFA show in Bangkok, Thailand, as one of eight calico & bi-color Persian kittens in the show entries. She was the smallest Persian in the competition but her first miracle happened in Carolyn Owen’s ring, in which Cassiopeia was named Best Kitten. Carolyn, like a feline Nostradamus, predicted that Cassiopeia would surely be a future ‘Rock Star,’ and no one could ever have known then, that her foretelling would become a reality when she grew up because her siblings at that stage looked to have more potential.
A miracle ‘PINKPAWPAL’ litter, from left to right: GC, DW Pinkpawpal Hemera, GC, DW Pinkpawpal Phoenicia of Ricimacka, & GC, BWI, NW Pinkpawpal Cassiopeia
Above left: ‘Pinkpawpal Cassiopeia’ and ‘Pinkpawpal Vayu’ at a show in Indonesia on August 3 & 4, 2019 where they were respectively Highest Scoring Championship Cat and Highest Scoring Kitten. Above right: ‘Pinkpawpal Cassiopeia’ winning Best Cat under Satu Hamalainen in Thailand, December 28, 2019.
Her sister Hemera had better results in other rings. Her brother Phoenicia was the Highest Scoring Kitten at the CFA show in Malaysia in April 2019. As time went by, Cassiopeia grew up beautifully and became one-show Grand Champion when she entered her second CFA cat show in Bangkok the last weekend of July 2019. At the same show, her sister Hemera was the Highest Scoring Cat in Championship. From that point on, it was hard to find a rationale to campaign Cassiopeia instead of Hemera, but it must have been a whisper from God that inspired the us to continue the long-fought journey with Cassiopeia. That decision was immediately fruitful in the next CFA show a week later in Indonesia when Cassiopeia got her first award as the Highest Scoring Cat in Championship. She was Highest Scoring Cat in Championship for the 2nd time in the CFA show at Bangkok, Thailand in September 2019. The second turning point was looming after that show. The CFA International Cat Show is always a dream for any cat breeder wishing to celebrate the best cats from their breeding programs. It compares to taking an entrance examination, providing breeders which feedback and direction on where to go next. However, it is a heavy financial and physical burden for a Thai cat to go far in such a prestigious competition.
‘Cassiopeia’ and ‘Vayu’ on their way to the USA! Photo: Pattama Weeranon
Inspired by her excellent results, the arduous USA journey began on October 4, 2019. Cassiopeia landed in Louisville, KY to join her first CFA show in USA as a precursor before the real test a week later.
Above and centre: ‘GC. Pinkpawpal Cassiopeia,’ groomed and photographed by Pattama Weeranon
She did well in her first USA based show and was 2nd Highest Scoring Cat in Championship. The cooler Fall weather in the USA suited Cassiopeia tremendously, so she maintained a good temperament during her stay there. She can adjust herself nicely and was at her peak before the biggest show of the year. After two days of the competition, she was the Highest Scoring Cat in Championship in the Teal Show and was nominated for Best in Show with another five of the Highest Scoring Kittens and Cats. On the Sunday evening of October 13, 2020, it was the most unforgettable moment for Cassiopeia and her breeders when Cassiopeia was crowned as the overall Best in Show exhibit! She is the first Asian-bred cat to gain this prestigious award and by doing so, she made it into the annals of feline history. Cassiopeia attended two more shows in USA before flying back home. She was the Highest Scoring Cat in Championship again for the fourth time at Phoenix, AZ. In November and December, she got Highest Scoring Cat in Championship for the 5th, 6th, and
CFA Judge Darrell Newkirk, assessing ‘Cassiopeia’ during the ‘Best of the Best’ finals at the CFA International Show. Photo: © Chanan
Best in Show finalists in the ‘Best of the Best’ segment of the CFA International Cat Show, 2019 Photo: © Chanan Above from left to right: First runner-up and Best Shorthair Kitten in Show British Shorthair Kitten Teddy-Cat Antony of R-Mint Cat Bred by Bei Xue Wang and owned by Yiru Wang & Bei Xue Wang China. Second runner-up and Best Shorthair Cat in Championship British Shorthair adult GC Chelsea Rose Raspberry Tart Bred by C. Byrd-Andrea Bohren of California and co-owned with Wenwei Shi, China. Overall Best in Show and Best Longhaired Cat in Championship Persian Brown Patched Tabby with White adult. Bred and owned by Pattama Weeranon.
This and other non-credited photos by Pattama & Sanchai Weeranon
Photo at left: Pinkpawpal exhibits ‘Vayu’ and ‘Cassiopeia’ in their show cage after winning Best LH Kitten and Best LH Cat in Show.
7th time during her shows at Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, respectively.
Then the unexpected Covid-19 pandemic arrived in early 2020, effectively halting any plans to further campaign Cassiopeia. After the end of 2019-2020 season, Cassiopeia was crowned as a National Winner, Breed Winner and Divisional Winner! Her siblings also both gained their Divisional Winner titles. Cassiopeia will always be remembered as one of the best, truly fulfilling the early prediction that she would become a ‘Rock Star’ in the cat fancy in 2019-2020. Chate Ruengruglikit
CFA GC, BW, NW TSAR BLUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ZINATRA DM
FACTFILE Pet Name:
FRANKIE
Date of Birth:
April 10, 2000
Breed:
Russian (Blue)
Sire: GC. TZAR BLU’S TZARDUST CROONER Dam: Ch. RW KYINA’S ANGEL DUST OF TZAR BLU DM Breeder/Owner:
DONNA J. FULLER
Achievements/Titles CFA 2000-2001 National Wins: THIRD BEST KITTEN 6th BEST CHAMPIONSHIP CAT BEST OF BREED Russian Blue CFA 2000-2001 Northwest Regional Wins: 2nd BEST KITTEN BEST CHAMPIONSHIP CAT BEST OF BREED Russian Blue
GC, NW, BW Tsar Blu’s Zinatra, DM was CFA’s 2000-01 Third Best Kitten and Sixth Best Championship Cat. This Russian Blue male (Frankie to his friends) was bred and owned by Donna Fuller. His sire was GC Tsar Blu’s Tsardust Crooner and his dam was CH, RW Kyina’s Angel Dust of Tsar Blu. His grandsire was GC, NW, BW Tsar Blu’s Ziggy Tsardust, DM CFA’s 1997 4th Best Cat and Best Shorthair, and most of the other Tsar Blu National Winners can be found in his pedigree. At birth, this little male kitten looked promising so a special name was needed. After settling on a favorite “crooner” and changing the spelling to fit with Tsar Blu’s long-standing use of names starting with ‘Z’, Zinatra was registered and ready to begin his show career. He had tremendous show presence and a way of demanding attention in the judging ring, either knocking his cage number off his cage and pulling the block in to play with it, or reaching out to the cat next to him to steal their ribbons. He also was a big fan of the sisal-covered light posts found in Eastern show rings and would stretch to his full length before climbing to the top. His playful antics drew lots of attention from exhibitors, spectators, and judges; he even gathered a fan club among some of the other exhibitors. He was an absolute joy to show – especially since he did all the work. Donna’s fall judging schedule was quite heavy, and had it not been for some cancelled shows, a kitten win might not have been possible. He was entered in a show every weekend Donna wasn’t judging but this still left him only one in September, and two each in October, November, and December. He was highest scoring kitten in three of his six ‘counted’ shows and second by a nose in his final show in Phoenix, missing only one final in the six shows. Credit for his National adult win goes entirely to his biggest fan: ‘aunt’ Connie Stewart. After showing him to his kitten win, Donna had planned to show him enough to get Best of Breed, which could be done in the 50+ rings Donna could show the weeks she wasn’t judging. This used up the whole quota
of “husband-as-exhibitor” for the year so his January through April shows were dependant on the six weekends Donna wasn’t judging. In his first show as a grand, he did great and was second highest scoring at a show with several of the highest ranked cats at the time. While Donna was talking to Connie after that show and lamenting the few weekends available to show him, Connie talked Donna into letting her take him to a show in Massachusetts the first weekend of February, where she was showing her Cat-of-the-Year, Lyric. Donna says: “I was VERY reluctant, as I have never liked having my cats agented. As I watched Connie and Frankie go down the jetway of the plane for Boston, I felt like I was sending off my firstborn child.” That show went very well and Frankie handled beautifully for Connie – he didn’t even seem to notice that he had a different mom for the weekend. He went to two shows in February and again did very well, accumulating almost 2500 points in his first four shows as a grand. At this point, Connie wanted to take him to more shows because she felt he could make a National adult win if he just got to enough shows. Since Frankie seemed to enjoy the shows so much, no matter who was showing him, Donna agreed. Connie was planning to go to the biggest, most competitive shows to top off Lyric’s stellar year, so Frankie was entered and trekked off to all the big shows with Connie and Lyric. Although Donna didn’t know it until after the end of show season, Connie used to let Frankie run loose in the hotel room while she was drying Lyric and eventually he would come sit beside her and pat her hair as it was getting fluffy. Fortunately, he still thought he was a kitten so never exhibited any of his “studly” behavior. However, after he retired from showing, he became an accomplished stud producing more than the 15 grands needed to earn the title ‘Distinguished Merit’. In his later years he would breed anything put into his enclosure earning him the nickname “Frankie the rapist”. His last litter was born after he crossed the rainbow bridge. D.J. Fuller
MRS. W. EAMES COLBURN with ‘PARIS,’ her highly successful blue-eyed white born July 5, 1897. Photo: F. Schnabel, Chicago. ‘The Book of the Cat’ (1903) by Frances Simpson. Background graphic ©www.gograph.com
Mrs. W. Eames Colburn of the ‘Brushwood Cattery’
BY
JOHN G. SMITHSON
A LEADING LIGHT IN EARLY DAYS OF THE CAT FANCY IN THE UNITED STATES
Mrs. W. Eames Colburn, in an historical sense, to the highly active ‘Chicago set’ of enthusiastic breeders that formed the core of the powerhouse ‘Beresford Cat Club’. She was already actively breeding well before the formation of that club in 1899 and was at the time, among those daring women in Chicago who were also actively importing longhaired cats into the United States from virtually anywhere it was possible to obtain them. Although she was primarily known for her Whites, like so many of her contemporaries, she had eclectic tastes, which lead her pursue Blacks, Reds (Oranges) and was also among the core of breeders that entertained the difficulties associated with breeding Bi-colours. She also owned Siamese. It was primarily her active participation in Bi-colours that originally drew her to my attention when assembling for this issue, the story on the Calico longhair known as ‘Spangle Spangle’, which she jointly owned and imported from ‘Aleppo’ a city in what is now modern-day Syria. She also clearly also successfully forged excellent working relationships with key cat fanciers, among
It is apropos on this occasion that the subject of this month’s historic cat fancier ‘purrsonality’ profile, is none other than Mrs. Louisa Herring, given that she
them being two key figures in the indomitable Mrs. Clinton Locke, also based in Chicago, and the exceptionally well connected, Miss Frances Simpson, based in the United Kingdom. So, we will now turn to a report published in Miss Simpson’s ‘The Book of the Cat’ (1903) which was written by American judge Mr. E.N. Barker, on the subject of ‘Cats (and catteries) in America’, to gain a first-hand account of Mrs. Colburn’s standing among American fanciers at the beginning of the 20th century: “Mrs. W. Eames Colburn has at the present time one of the largest and most successful catteries in America. In 1901 she made a reputation with her cat ‘Paris,’ which was bred by herself, and which, besides winning in the strongest of company, has been a most successful and prolific sire of white kittens, a good many of which have taken honours on the bench. Mrs Colburn also possesses two very fine blacks – ‘Blackthorn,’ which she imported from Asia, and ‘Blackberry Fawe,’ sent to her from England by Miss Frances Simpson. Many
An image of the ‘Brushwood Cattery’ of Mrs. W. Eames Colburn, 7306 Bond Ave, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Photo: F. Schnabel, Chicago. ‘The Book of the Cat’ (1903) by Frances Simpson. At left: ‘Brushwood Caprice’ (BCC:207) Born c. 1893/1894. Originally owned by Miss. Nella B. Wheatley (another early stalwart breeder with a successful cattery based in Chicago), but was destined to become a foundation queen of the Brushwood Cattery and the dam of Mrs. Colburn’s famous blue-eyed white Persian male ‘Brushwood Paris’ (BCC:188) Born July 5, 1897; sired by Lord Elton II. She is also the forebear of numerous other famous whites, among them her grandson ‘Royal Norton’ ex her daughter ‘Chiffon,’ (BCC:270) who was from a repeat breeding to Lord Elton II, born Dec. 18, 1898. She can also be found behind ‘Ch. Sousa’ born Oct.19, 1902. This photo appears in both ‘The Bazar’ Dec, 14, 1898 and ‘Concerning Cats’ (1900) by Helen M. Winslow. Photos: ‘The Bazar’
Mrs. W. Eames Colburn’s first famous son, the blue-eyed white male, ‘Paris’. Photo: ‘Concerning Cats’ (1900) by Helen M. Winslow.
people who have visited the cattery of late are heard to speak enthusiastically of the quality of the inmates and of the perfection of the appointments and the way the cattery is fitted up.” Although Mr. Barker has already provided us with evidential information suggesting a strong level of trust and of good friendship with Miss Simpson, this fact is reinforced by another statement from the hand of Miss Simpson herself; who, in her chapter on
on reds in ‘The Book of The Cat’ (1903) states: “A son of ‘Torrington Sunnysides’ has also found a home in Chicago cattery. ‘Red Knight’ was sent by the writer to Mrs. Colburn, and in an article in the American ‘Field and Fancy’ mention is thus made of him: - “ ‘Red Knight’, an orange male, with deepest orange eyes, was imported from England. He is a very good type, and has sired some beautiful kittens, notably
Mrs. W. E.Colburn’s Black Bi-Colour male kitten, ‘Lockehaven Prince Colburn’ (BCC:384) born Oct 26, 1898. Photos: ‘Treatise on The Cat’ by G.W. Clayton (c.1899) and ‘Concerning Cats’ (1900) by Helen M. Winslow.
two by (Ed: out of) Miss Adams’ ‘Daffordil,’ very fine specimens of pure orange, with cobby bodies, wide heads, tiny ears set far apart, and beautiful coats.’ “
Nevertheless, when Mrs. Clinton Locke produced an almost perfect symmetrically marked black Bicolour male kitten, born on October 26, 1898; Mrs. Colburn was eager to obtain him.
But in fact, it is Mrs. Colburn’s working relationship with Mrs. Clinton Locke that is most relevant to this story, which centres on Mrs. Colburn’s attempts to breed Bi-coloured longhairs with especially good markings. In England, only those with symmetrical markings in what was recognised in the Rabbit world as the ‘Dutch Rabbit’ pattern, could possibly constitute anything remotely to be considered acceptable. Their American cousins were more open to interpretation, for them, the desire was not so much on colour and a perfect pattern, as it was on type and on a plattern pleasing to the eye.
She, was one of a growing number of breeders on the North American continent, who rather fancied producing longhairs with a contrast between a coat colour and white, and unlike their English counterparts, they were far more used to seeing Bi-colours on the show bench! Other fanciers included the likes of up-and-coming New York breeder of blue-eyed white and silver Persians, Miss. Ava Pollard, who within a year of Mrs. Colburn had acquired and retained at stud, an imperfectly marked black Bi-Colour male, named ‘Uncas’. (aka ‘Omar Uncas’). But in truth, Bi-colour longhairs were not uncommon, with other early
Above left: Miss Ava Pollard’s Black Bi-colour male ‘UNCAS’ (aka. ‘Omar Uncas) and right, Mrs. W.E. Colburn’s rather striking ‘Lockehaven Prince Colburn’ as a matured adult. Photos: ‘Diseases of the Cat’ (1907) by Woodroffe Hill. ‘The Book of The Cat’ (1903) by Frances Simpson.
examples to be easily found in the American-based registers – cats such as the Cream Bicolour males (aka ‘Fawn Bi-colours’ or ‘Buff and White’) ‘Silver Dick’, (BCC:114) (aka. Brighton Silver Dick) born June 7, 1896, bred and owned by Mrs. Porter L. Evans; and his sire ‘Taffy II’, (BCC: Vol.1).
Mrs. W.E. Colburn, could have been the breeder of ‘Taffy II’. In either case, ‘Caprice’ coincidentally features behind a variety of whites AND bicolours, raising the question as to whether she may also have been a dominant white, masking the white spotting factor!
‘Silver Dick’ had won prizes at St.Louis in 1897, at Chicago in 1898, and again at the Beresford Cat Club Show in 1900. His sire ‘Taffy II’ is shown in the register of Beresford Cat Club as being ‘Taffy II’ who is recorded as being sired by ‘Taffy’ another Bi-colour and out of ‘Brushwood Caprice’, the white dam of ‘Brushwood Paris’. No breeder is given, but as Caprice had been formerly owned by Miss N. Wheatley it is quite conceivable that she or
It is easy then to see why Mrs. Colburn formed an alliance with Mrs. Oella Blake to import the Calico longhair female ‘Spangle Spangle’. She has already harboured a desire for a good bicolour, and a calico was only one step further. Hence, as we now know, she was instrumental in importing both ‘Spangle Spangle’ and in due course also ‘Blackthorn’, both from Aleppo. As she became more involved in the fancy, she established, over
Above left: ‘Silver Dick’ (aka “Brighton Silver Dick) born June 7, 1896. (a grandson of ‘Caprice’) and right: his grandsire ‘Taffy’, (Buff and White) owned by Miss Nella Wheatley. Photos: ‘The Bazar’ December 14, 1898 and ‘Concerning Cats’ (1900) by Helen M. Winslow.
a short timeframe, a cattery that was renowned for its exceptional selection of stud males, covering an array of colour varieties, which were made available to the discerning breeder. Helen Winslow, in ‘Concerning Cats’ (1900) and her chapter on ‘High-bred Cats in America’ provides us with the following summary about Miss Nella B. Wheatley and Mrs. Walter Eames Colburn: “Miss Nella B. Wheatley has very fine kennels, and raises some beautiful cats. Her Taffy is a beautiful buff and white Angora, which has been very much admired. Her cats have been sold to go to many other cities. Speaking from her own experience Miss Wheatley says, ‘Raising Angoras is one of the most fascinating of employments, and I have found, when properly taken care of, they are among the most beautiful, strong, intelligent, and playful of all animals.’”
“Mrs. W.E. Colburn is another very successful owner of cat kennels. She has had some of the handsomest cats in this country, among which are ‘Paris,’ a magnificent white cat with blue eyes, and his mother ‘Caprice,’ who has borne a number of wonderfully fine pure white Angoras with the most approved shade of blue eyes. Her cattery is known as the ‘Calumet Kennel,’ and there is no better judge of cats in the country than Mrs. Colburn.”
Above and below right: ‘Dr. Huidekoper’s ‘brindled’ bi-colour Persian male, ‘MUSTAPHA’ who was placed on exhibition only at the 1895 Madison Square Garden Cat Show, in New York. Photo: Above: ‘Concerning Cats’ (1900) by Helen Winslow.
Messrs Blake & Colburn’s ‘Spangle Spangle’ (Imp.) Photo: U.S. Register & Studbook for Cats (1906)
Dr. Huidekoper’s ‘Mustapha’ Photo: ‘The Cat’ (1895) by Dr. Huidekoper.
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..hope that artifacts are saved for future generations?
SUPPORT The CFA Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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