December 2020 - Felis Historica, Vol 1 No6

FEATURES: SHORTHAIR – CHAMPION BILLIE BLUE EYES LONGHAIR – CHAMPION WHITE FRIAR PURRSONALITY – MR. FRED GRESHAM CELEBRATING – CONNIE STEWART A 19th CENTURY CHRISTMAS – and more!

‘Joy to the World… …the Lord is come!

DECEMBER 2020 Volume 1. No.6

INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE FOR CAT LOVERS - LINECHASERS - & FANCIERS OF FELINE HISTORY

“Today’s achievements are part of tomorrow’s history”

FELIS HISTORICA HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION SUBSCRIPTIONS Published Monthly Single Issue $4.00 USD ANNUALLY $48.00 USD EDITOR

DECEMBER 2020 - VOLUME 1 NUMBER 6 PUBLISHED BY A-CAT-EMY CONCEPTS FOR THE HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION Content: All Rights Reserved. © A-Cat-Emy Concepts

John G. Smithson editor@felishistorica.com HISTORY PARTNERS The CFA Foundation COLUMNISTS

Karen Lawrence (St. Catharines, Canada)

Lorraine Shelton (California, USA)

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Dr. Leslie Lyons (Missouri, USA)

5

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)

IN THIS ISSUE!

DECEMBER 2020 - Volume 1 No.6

EDITORIAL The Editor outlines issues covered in Issue 6 of Felis Historica!

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CONTRIBUTING TEAM MEMBERS Gallery of our Team of Columnists, Contributors & Correspondents

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THE CHRISTMAS ART OF DAVID TRANT Canadian Pop-Culture Folk Artist

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ICONS OF THE CAT FANCY A tribute to the beloved late Connie Stewart – by Karen Lawrence

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SHORTHAIR HISTORY FEATURE – ‘Ballochmyle Billie Blue Eyes’ (English/British White) – by John Smithson

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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENETICS YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT! PART 6 - by Dr. Leslie Lyons

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A NEEDLEPOINT CHRISTMAS – Ornaments by Donna Fuller and Vicki Nye

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DOMESTIC CAT FEATURE – ‘The Miraculous Life of Kai’ – by Karen Grantley

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CHRISTMAS AT THE FELINE HISTORICAL MUSEUM Cat-themed Christmas items from the CFA Foundations’ Museum

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A TEN CATS CHRISTMAS! – An Introduction to Graham Harrop – Cartoonist

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LONGHAIR HISTORY FEATURE – ‘White Friar’ (Blue-Eyed White Persian) - by John Smithson

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WE WISH YOU A MEOWY CHRISTMAS – Winning Photos from our Competition 106 PURRSONALITY FEATURE – Mr. Fred Gresham - by John Smithson Dog Breeder, Importer, Cat Judge, Columnist & Author.

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THE HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION – Recently preserved items in the Collection 122 CELEBRATING MODERN CATS - OUR FEATURED HISTORICAL BREEDS SH Breed - CFA GC, BWC. NW THE CAT INN’S DA BAI LH Breed - FIFe MW, NW, SC. GENASAQUA’S PRINCE OF WHITE’R’US DSM

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TOP CAT CHALLENGE – Pharoanic Cat Club – Judges Choice Winners

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A 19TH CENTURY CHRISTMAS TRADITION - Featuring works by Harrison Weir.

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Editorial ‘FELIS HISTORICA’ JOHN G. SMITHSON EDITOR editor@felis-historica.com

This month marks the beginning of both the Christmas festive holiday season, as well as our six-months anniversary edition!

It is not my intention to give a precis of all the content in this month’s issue, but simply to say that the over-arching theme for it, was based on ‘A White Christmas,’ which will become more apparent as you thumb through the pages on offer.

Our feature articles, whether celebrating historic felines of the past, or modern-day celebrity winners, all centre on ‘white’ cats of differing eye colours and breeds.

Importantly, we also feature and celebrate the domestic cat! In most associations there are show categories for domestic cats, and the owners of these cats, are usually in more cases than not, the pool from which our new and enthusiastic cat lovers, future breeders and future judges come from! As a class of responsible ailurophiles, it is our duty to promote and celebrate the beauty of the domestic cat as much as we do the ‘pedigreed’ ones!

Most of the popular ‘pedigreed’ cat breeds of today, owe their foundation to a domestic cat population, with either a unique phenotypical and/or genetic trait, or, a trait linked genetically influenced by their originating location.

These include the British Shorthair, the American Shorthair, the Maine Coon, the Persian, the Norwegian Forest Cat, the Siberian, the Scottish Fold, the LaPerm, the Devon Rex, the Cornish Rex, to mention only a few, but there are of course, many many others.

Type is influenced by selectively breeding, and colours of or patterns by the inherent gene pool.

DECEMBER 2020 Consequently, we include in this issue, just one unique story about a Domestic cat (a rescue kitten), and how it influenced the lives of the family members that became its adoptees. It is a heart-warming story, and a potent reminder that every cat deserves the chance to be loved and labelled as ‘special’ or unique.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank the many contributors of articles and photographs to our editions over the past six months. You have so generously helped us to provide a new and colourful cat-centric magazine. I most humbly thank our advertisers and the Cat Associations that have supported us in our efforts to date, during this, our first year out of the blocks!

To our subscribers, we promise to keep improving the quality of both content and presentation, and to provide you with a continuing array of informative articles on breeds, feline history, both pedigreed and domestic; humour and education on a raft of feline topics, including but not limited to genetics, veterinary care, the show scene, new products and services, and the stories about individual cats, cat lovers and fanciers.

It is our sincere hope that you will take time to sit back and enjoy this Christmas edition, and we look forward to bringing you more in 2021! Accordingly, we wish a safe and happy Christmas Holiday to one and all, and a blessed time spent with family, friends and beloved feline companions, leading you into a bright and prosperous New Year with great promise of things to come.

John EDITOR FELIS HISTORICA

Images: www.gograph.com

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

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

JUN KOHNO

RUSSELL LAW

CHATE RUENGRUGLIKIT

(CFA, JAPAN)

(CFA, HONG KONG)

TOKYO, JAPAN SEC: MICINA CAT FANCIERS

HONG KONG SEC: UNITED FELINE ODYSSEY

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

(CFA, THAILAND) BANGKOK, THAILAND SEC: SIAM BLE-EYED CAT FANCIERS

CHAIR: WCF DISCIPLINARY COMMISSION

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

Photos: by David Trant.

Article Graphics: www.gograph.com

For those of our readers who got to enjoy our October edition feature on the creative woodsculpting of Canadian resident David Trant, we did promise at the end of that article, to bring you examples of his Christmas themed work in our December issue! And this short missive is the fulfilment of that promise.

To recap on the artist himself, in David we found not only a talented artist and wood sculptor, but a truly modest man with a highly tuned sense of humour and wit, which finds perfect expression in his unique creations.

In the October issue, we were able to inspect his paintings, his wood sculpting of realistic fish, and of animal and human caricatures, but our primary focus in that article was of course, on his cat-themed pieces.

It was always clear to us, that he had an innate ability to visualise a finished piece in wood, and then the ability to craft it employing time honoured techniques and skill. But we were also drawn by the gentle humour he instilled into some of the pieces.

The fully carved Santa ‘in the raw’ before applying the paint to produce the finished Santa on the page opposite.

It was therefore quite obvious to us, that this was a man whose talent, technical expertise, creativity and light-hearted humorous approach to his work, needed and deserved to be commended to a wider audience.

Although he very modestly refers to himself as ‘an obscure Canadian pop-culture artist’, examination of his pieces suggest that he is an accomplished practitioner as a painter, illustrator, and wood sculptor. It is therefore a pleasure to bring to the attention of our readers, a sampling of David’s ‘Christmas-themed’ creations, most notably his many variations on Santa himself!

On these opposing pages we can view the working progression on a Santa, who in David’s quirky imagination, who is pictured as just another working plebian who has grabbed a copy of the Toronto Star and his morning treat of a Tim Horton’s coffee!

The writer is reliably informed by a fellow Canadian, familiar with the habits of locals, that this would likely be a ‘double double’ – (that’s Coffee with double cream and double sugar – in Canuck speak)! The same person advises that folk in Canada actually order it just that way at the drive-through!

What is particularly cute, is the addition of Santa’s cat slipper-wear! (seen as a perfect addition from the perspective of a cat lover or cat fancier!)

David best explains the reasoning behind this style of work with these following honest observations from life: “Style wise, there is a long tradition on the east coast of Canada, of whimsical folk art. My family are from there, and were fishermen, so I drew on some of that inspiration to produce what I called pop culture folk art. After a number of years, I found that I could make fully realistic sculptures, especially of fish.

“I still make some totally realistic work, but prefer to stylisze what I do and create what I call stylised realism, which is essentially something that appears real at first glance, but it more about how you feel the subject should look (or a more cartoon version, done is a realistic way) than about being identical to reality.

“Folk-art is more about the essence of a subject than it is about realism, and I try to capture that. Aften a carving is most expressive, just before you start to smooth out the flaws and create a more realistic image” As a loyal Canadian and sporting enthusiast, David’s creations respect the very best of those

those Canadian traditions. In the Santa carving leading this article, we see in that piece, a nod to the very popular winter sport of ‘Curling’.

In other pieces, the nod goes to the everpopular team sport of ‘Ice Hockey’ as shown on this paqe, (with or without the Santa theme thrown in for good measure!). And it would be remiss not to mention a second attempt by David to give his beloved ‘Tim Horton’s Coffee’ a plug again too! The ‘cat’ theme continues. It appears difficult for him to not include a cat in his photos of the many Santa options created for his clientele. But we are yet to see a cat AS a Santa! (to come?)

In the pages that follow we have selected a range of images depicting Santa in a selection of inspired alternatives to his traditional mode of transportation. We find that Rudolf the rednose reindeer has been delightfully morphed into a Moose, and even a Canada Goose for instance!

Left, above and below, the transitions (from a ‘progressional’ workshop piece to finished article), of David Trant’s interpretation of an alternative mode of transport to get Santa from the North Pole to worldwide destinations. In this case, Rudolph ‘the red-nosed reindeer’ has been morphed into Rudolph ‘the red-nosed Canada Goose!

While Dave admits that he doesn’’t get onto the computer to attend to email as much as he probably should, we found his responses not unduly delayed. He tells us that his wife is also working from home for an Engineering firm which is headquartered in Australia, and she reports to both North America and Australia, so working from home works better for calls to ‘down under’, with the 14 hour time difference.

What is perfectly apparent to the writer, is that David (Dave) Trant is a gifted artist whose tendency to humility belies his true ability. The scope of his work is tremendously wide and it is easy to see many applications for it across a plethora of design disciplines.

DAVE TRANT PRESENTS HIS WHIMCICAL ‘FOLK-ART’ INTERPRETATIONS OF MODERN-DAY SANTAS.

Article graphics: www.gograph.com

BY KAREN LAWRENCE

CONNIE STEWART - The first in our Icons of the Cat Fancy series No-one can say it was unusual to see Connie Stewart accepting a National Winner award at the CFA annual award banquets … it wasn’t. She either bred a beautiful cat, or found the ideal cat to show, groomed it to perfection, travelled the world to cat shows, accumulated tons of points during the year, and received accolades at the end of the show season.

For 25 years, Connie campaigned cats – it was simply what she did. And, oh, did she ever enjoy doing it!

It was always such a pleasure to see Connie in a show hall, smiling, laughing and chatting with fellow exhibitors. She was a fun-loving person, and it was contagious.

It didn’t matter if you were sitting in an airport club on the way home from a show, or climbing stairs to a mountain temple in Malaysia, admiring giant pandas in China, or snorkeling off some faraway beach – Connie made it an entertaining experience.

You never knew just where in the world she would pop up at a show, could be anywhere in the United States or Canada, or even Europe, the Middle East, or Asia.

But, when she was there, you just knew that you were in for a treat to see what she was showing.

Grooming was Connie’s forte – there was no-one comparable to her in presenting either an Exotic or a Persian to perfection. Her favorite specialty was white Persians, and you could count on no yellow spots, no eye discoloration, and not a hair out of place if Connie put a cat in your ring.

And Connie shared, often teaching her grooming tips and techniques to other exhibitors – sometimes sharing bathing regimens even in the wee hours of the morning in hotels. I’m told it wasn’t at all unusual to run into Connie in a hotel hallway, in the middle of the night or early morning, arms loaded down with grooming supplies … either on her way to, or back from, helping someone groom their cat.

Connie assisting with grooming a cat, at the second CFA Show in Kuwait.

Connie was well-known for her love of the Persian, specifically the white, and during the 2000-2001 show season she showed one of her own breeding – GC, BW, NW Wishes Lyric – to CFA’s Cat of the Year.

Lyric was out of a tortoiseshell Persian that Connie had received from Omar Gonzalez, with whom she remained a lifelong friend and relied on for breeding, showing and campaigning advice. Rarely did Connie make a move in her acquiring, showing and campaigning without consulting first with Omar.

Lyric’s sire was a copper-eyed white, bred by Ron Mahoney and Dirk Flinchbaugh. His lines traced back to the famous Q-T Cats and Kitty Charm lines, while the dam traces back to the Candirand and Southpaw lines.

In 2006-2007, she attained Cat of the Year with a copper-eyed white Persian, GC, BW, NW Melosito’s White Owl, which she co-owed with the European breeder, Sergio Miguel Melo Guerra, and also with Frederic Gaspard.

In 2007-2008, she repeated Cat of the Year with another Persian, this time an odd-eyed white, GC, BW, NW Sunny Ridge Polar Express of Wishes, bred by Sharon Markus with whom Connie co-owned the cat.

In 2011-2012, she co-owned Cat of the Year, a black and white Exotic for a change, GC, BW, NW D’Eden Lover Pepito of Wishes. Pepito was the first cat from Europe to take CFA’s Best Cat award. Pepito was the son of a calico Persian, bred by Connie, who was CFA’s 25 th Best Kitten in the 2005-2006 show season. His sire was one of the great lines of D’Eden Lover’s Exotic cats. He was truly an international collaboration, bred by Connie (USA), Frederic Gaspard(France), and Paolo Carnevaletti(Italy). He was co-owned by Connie with L. Battesti and M. Michel.

How most will remember Connie, running a cat at a show – on this occasion in Asia.

In 2013-2014, she once again showed a Persian to the Cat of the Year award, but a calico this time – GC, BW, NW Belamy’s Desiderata of Cinema. Desiderata was bred by Monika Vowe of Germany, and Connie co-owed her with Blake Mayes and Dennis Adler.

In total, between 1990 and 2015, Connie was the owner or co-owner of an amazing 42 different cats shown to National Wins!

Donna Fuller and Connie Stewart at the 2006-2007 Awards Banquet when Connie had Best Cat and Donna had 3rd Best Cat in Premiership.

Connie would occasionally agent cats that belonged to her friends. She didn’t care that they were competition – if she could help a friend, she would. During her 2001 campaign with Lyric, one of those agented cats was a Russian Blue belonging to Connie’s good friend, Donna Fuller.

Judging assignments kept Donna from an extensive campaign schedule, so Connie took Tsar Blu’s Zinata along with her and Lyric for several months. Lyric ended up as Best Cat and Zinata was 6th Best Cat, and Connie enjoyed every minute.

Connie and her cats became a fixture at the Los Angeles Airport, with the TSA agents accustomed to seeing her every weekend, often inquiring where she was headed or asking how the cat had done at the previous show.

In Connie’s words, from the 2008 CFA Yearbook: “Since out on the West Coast we just do not get the high count shows that would give me what I wanted, it meant traveling east every weekend. Some people have questioned my sanity and some people think I must not have a life. Well, I am here to tell the people who say this, you are probably right. I am a little crazy; and as far as having no life, that may be true, but I love this life! I love the traveling. I love the people that I meet and I love the thrill of competition. CFA has given me so many memories and I would not trade my life for anything.”

And Connie almost always wore her beautiful gold “National Winner” necklace at shows – she was almost weighted down by the number of ‘years” that dangled from it for each of her National Wins.

Connie had an extremely generous heart, mentoring several young Asian girls, having them live in her home and giving them an opportunity to learn the English language, among them Aki Tamura and Eri Takano. Counted among her best friends was another young Asian woman and her husband, Suki and Matthew Lee of Hong Kong

Remembrance Show Catalogue, Germany, in 2017

Connie fell ill with complications of her diabetes while at a show in Germany during the fall of 2015, and never recovered. In mid-December, I remember being in Asia and sharing excitement with Donna Fuller because we’d received word of Connie’s health recovery and expected imminent return to the United States. Only days later, the announcement of her sudden passing on December 23, 2015 took us all by surprise and was greeted with shock throughout the cat fancy. Connie’s many friends around the world mourned her and expressed their grief on Facebook, pouring out their hearts in tributes and memories. As Vicki Nye said at the time: “Lots of sparkle and joy left the show hall when we lost Connie. She was the most determined person I knew – she would find a cat, make a plan, and follow through.”

Connie’s Remembrance Service Card

Connie’s life was celebrated on January 23, 2016 at the Hilton Hotel in Del Mar, CA… fittingly, the night before the San Diego Cat Fanciers show at which Connie was normally a fixture.

About 40 of her friends and family gathered to share remembrances; a tradition that is still shared by several of Connie’s friends every Friday night before the Del Mar show.

CONNIE STEWART’S NATIONAL WINNERS IN CFA 1990-1991 GC, BW, NW Wishes Glad Rags Copper-eyed white Persian 13th Best Cat

1997-1998 GC, NW Briar-Mar Powder of Wishes Copper-eyed white Persian 5th Best Cat

1995-1996 GC, BW, NW Furfrenz Nice’N Easy of Wishes Black Persian 2nd Best Cat

1998-1999 GC, BW, NW Wishes Musicman Copper-eyed white Persian 3rd Best Cat

1996-1997 GC NW Ronkirk Liberace of Wishes Copper-eyed white Persian 2nd Best Kitten

GC, NW Wishes Serenade Copper-eyed white Persian 20th Best Kitten

GC, NW Briar-Mar Powder of Wishes Copper-eyed white Persian 4th Best Kitten

1999-2000 GC, BW, NW Wishes Powder Sugar Copper-eyed white Persian 4th Best Cat

GC, NW D’EDEN LOVER LOLLIPOP OF WISHES Brown spotted tabby & white Exotic - 2nd Best Kitten 2006-2007

GC, BW, NW BELAMY’S DESIDERATA OF CINEMA Calico Persian - Best Cat 2013-2014

CONNIE STEWART’S NATIONAL WINNERS IN CFA (continued) 1999-2000 (cont.)

GC, NW Wishes Lyric Copper-eyed white Persian 9th Best Kitten

2006-2007 GC, BW, NW Melositos White Owl of D’Eden Lover Copper-eyed white Persian Best Cat

2000-20001 GC, BW, NW Wishes Lyric Copper-eyed white Persian Best Cat

GC, BW, NW D’Eden Lover A-Paola of Wishes Tortoiseshell Exotic 25th Best Cat

2001-2002 GC, BW, NW Wishes Bolero Copper-eyed white Persian 2nd Best Cat 2002-2003 GC, NW Catsafrat Star Fish of Wishes Black Persian 4th Best Kitten 2003-2004 GC, BW, NW Briar-Mar’s Haley of Wishes Tortoiseshell Persian 8th Best Cat 2004-2005 GC, NW Couronne Magic of Wishes Black Persian 3rd Best Kitten GC, NW Argentovivo Juliet of Wishes Brown patched mackerel tabby Exotic 7th Best Kitten 2005-2006 NW D’Eden Lover She’s One of Wishes Brown patched spotted tabby Exotic 15th Best Kitten NW Couronne Casanova of Wishes Red Persian 17th Best Kitten NW D’Eden Lover One Star of Wishes Calico Persian 25th Best Kitten

GC, NW D’Eden Lover Lollipop of Wishes Brown spotted tabby & white Exotic 2nd Best Kitten GC, NW D’Eden Lover Cookie of Wishes Blue patched mackerel tabby & white Exotic 16th Best Kitten 2007-2008 GC, BW, NW Sunny Ridge Polar Express of Wishes Odd-eyed white Persian Best Cat 2008-2009 GC, BW, NW Chancery’s L.A. Ink of Wishes Brown tabby & white Persian 6th Best Kitten, 7th Best Cat 2009-2010 GC, BW, NW Chancery’s Tyra of Wishes Brown tabby & white Persian 2nd Best Kitten, 9th Best Cat 2010-2011 GC, NW Alemar’s Love Bug of Wishes Blue-eyed white Persian 5th Best Cat NW Sunny Ridge Bipolar of Wishes Copper-eyed white Persian 7th Best Kitten 2011-2012 GC, BW, NW D’Eden Lover Pepito of Wishes Black & white Exotic Best Cat

GC, BW, NW BELAMY’S ODETTA OF CINEMA Dilute calico Persian - 2nd Best Cat 2014-2015

CONNIE STEWART’S NATIONAL WINNERS IN CFA (continued) 2011-2012 (cont.)

GC, BW, NW Ghattas Deusa of Wishes Dilute calico Persian 25th Best Cat

2012-2013 (cont.)

GC, NW D’Eden Lover Godiva of Wishes Tortoiseshell Persian 12th Best Kitten

GC, NW Cinema’s Poetry of Wishes Copper-eyed white Persian 7th Best Kitten

GC, NW Cinema’s Obsession of Wishes Copper-eyed white Persian 13th Best Kitten

2012-2013 GC, NW D’ Eden Lover Giulietta Blue patched mackerel tabby & white Exotic 18th Best Cat

GC, NW Cinema’s Chanel of Wishes Copper-eyed white Persian 19th Best Kitten

GC, NW Latin Lover Danube of Jiang Nan Blue mackerel tabby Exotic 5th Best Kitten

2013-2014 GC, BW, NW Belamy’s Desiderata of Cinema Calico Persian Best Cat

GC, NW CINEMA’S LIBERACE OF WISHES Copper-eyed white Persian - 12th Best Kitten, 14th Best Cat in Premiership – 2014-2015

CONNIE STEWART’S NATIONAL WINNERS IN CFA (continued) 2013-2014 (cont.)

GC, BW, NW Cinema’s Valentino of Wishes Copper-eyed white Persian 2nd Best Cat

2014-2015 (cont.)

GC, BW, NW Cinema’s Don Juan of Wishes Odd-eyed white Persian 10th Best Cat

GC, NW Cinema’s Halo of Wishes Blue-eyed white Persian 18th Best Kitten

GC, NW Cinema’s Armani of Wishes Odd-eyed white Persian 5th Best Kitten

2014-2015 GC, BW, NW Belamy’s Odetta of Cinema Dilute calico Persian 2nd Best Cat

GC, NW Cinema’s Liberace of Wishes Copper-eyed white Persian 12th Best Kitten 14th Best Cat in Premiership

CHAMPION BALLOCHMYLE BILLIE BLUE EYES (NCC: 3356) Photo: ‘Our Cats’ Magazine, December 20, 1902. Courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

SHORTHAIR HISTORY FEATURE – ON THE LIFE OF

BY

JOHN SMITHSON

ENGLISH (BRITISH) WHITE MALE – Born C.1896 Adapted from ‘The History Project’ file, by the same author

Among the most strikingly beautiful of British Shorthairs, and equally as rare, are Blue-Eyed Whites and Silver Classic Tabbies. These colours and patterns are notoriously hard to beat, regardless of the breed that is being represented, and if exhibited in top show condition, simply put themselves forward for taking honours. When combined with the best phenotype, good temperament and a sound clean coat, they are often, virtually guaranteed winners.

‘Ballochmyle Billie Blue Eyes’ was one such strikingly handsome male. He was of sound type and structure, carried a dense coat, which in the one surviving photo of him, can be seen cracking open around the lower chest and top of the legs.

But apart from the fact that his name appears in both the registers of The National Cat Club and The Cat Club, he would have been mostly lost to history but for two chance references, plus images, one appearing in the section on Shorthaired Cats, in Charles Lane’s book on ‘Rabbits, Cats and Cavies’ published in 1903; and the other being a simple photographic reference and caption that appeared in the 20th December 1902 edition of ‘Our Cats’ magazine.

Apart from his wins at shows as a young cat, his greatest claim to fame was as the blue-eyed white King male of the famous ‘Ballochmyle’ stud, owned by Sir Claud and Lady Alexander, who lived at Ballochmyle House, Maunchline, in Ayrshire, Scotland.

PARENTAGE & OWNERSHIP In the National Cat Club Register he is listed in Vol.5 (1896-1899) as ‘Champion Master Billie Blue Eyes’ with his original owner as Miss R. Mortivals and an asterisk with the notation: “Now the property of Lady Alexander of Ballochmyle”. No date of birth is given, and Miss Mortivals is not specifically listed as his breeder.² In The Cat Club Register, he appears in Volume 4 (1900), as ‘Ballochmyle Champion Billie Blue Eyes’, pedigree ‘unknown’, and his owner as Lady Alexander.³

Both Sir Claud and Lady Alexander were animal enthusiasts from an early age, and were experienced breeders, owners and exhibitors of several breeds of dogs, cats, and poultry.

In his overall review of their personal interests and achievements, dog and cat judge Charles H. Lane gives the following account: “It is not often one has the pleasure of coupling husband and wife together as ardent fanciers, but it may be truthfully done in this case, for it would be difficult to say which is the more enthusiastic of the two about their several hobbies, and, in a very experience of fanciers in all ranks of life, I never remember to have met a couple who devote so much time and trouble to the various branches of the Fancy, in which they have taken such a prominent position.” ⁷

Lady Alexander (of Ballochmyle) Photo: Lafayette. ‘The Bystander’, June 28, 1905 ⁵ Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

“Lady Alexander with her cats probably occupies even a higher position in the Cat Fancy than she has yet obtained in the Kennel World, as she has spared no trouble or expense to get together a grand train of several varieties of shorthairs.

“This is another hobby of mine in which I have taken some hundreds of prizes at many of the best shows, and I should say that at the present time Lady Alexander owns the best collection of Blues, Tortoiseshells, Red Tabbies, Tortoiseshell-and-white, Black, Manx, and White, Short-haired Cats, in the possession of any one person in the country; and is the founder and very active supporter of the British Cat Club, recently started.” ⁷ “Lady Alexander does not confine herself entirely to four-footed pets, as she also keeps several varieties of poultry, and from an early age was a keen fancier of Black Cochins, some of which variety she still has, and, if I mistake not, has occasionally acted as a judge of some of the breeds of poultry.”

Mr Lane then gives account of the hobbies and interests of Sir Claud: “Sir Claud Alexander has been for many years – I think he told me ever since he was a schoolboy – a staunch admirer of one of his national national breeds, the Skye Terrier, and has often acted as their judge at leading shows.

“He is an active member of the committee of the Kennel Club, and a liberal supporter in general of anything relating to dogs and dog shows.

Three other winning ‘Ballochmyle’ English (British) Shorthairs.

Left: ‘Ch. Ballochmyle Brother Bump’ (Blue Male). Photo: ‘The Illustrated London News’ November 1905 ¹¹ Centre: ‘Ch.Ballochmyle Samson’ (Tortie Male) Photo: ‘The Book of Cat’ (1903) by Frances Simpson ¹² Right: ‘Ch.Ballochmyle Perfection’ (Red Tabby Male) Photo: ‘The Book of The Cat’ (1903) by Frances Simpson ¹² Images courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

“Although he goes in for both Drop-eared and Prick-eared Skyes, I think, perhaps, at the present time his team of the latter is rather the stronger of the two. As I have said before, I am very partial to Skyes, and although there are several strong kennel of these beautiful animals in England and Scotland, and I have had many hundreds of them before me at different times, I do not remember any that have been put down in better form than those shown by Sir Claud, and very few anything like as good. Those who know anything of this variety will be aware of the importance of coat and condition, which will often turn the scale in close competition.” ⁷

Sir Claud Alexander’s Perk-eared Skye Terrier – ‘Champion Ballochmyle Brother Beautiful’ Photo: Sir C.Alexander, Bart. ‘Rabbits, Cats & Cavies’ (1903) by Charles H. Lane ¹ Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

What he fails to mention about Sir Claud, is his own devoted interest in cats and the keen support in that hobby that he gives to Lady Alexander, even dating back to the mid 1890’s, when he took on the role of Show Manager for the famous Crufts sponsored Show of 1894. In January 1903, he was also elected to the position of Hon. Treasurer of The National Cat Club and was to be seen exhibiting the ‘Ballochmyle Cats’ at most of the leading shows.

SIBLINGS, SHOWS, BREEDING & PROGENY: As ‘Billie Blue Eyes’ had no known pedigree, there is no way to verify whether he had siblings or not.

We do, however, have some evidence of some of his show wins. Charles Lane, in his book tells us that he had FOUR Championships and many First Prizes.¹ Attached to his National Cat Club registration were his wins to date which included: 1st and Championship, Botanic, 1898.

2nd, Crystal Palace, 1898.

1st, Championship and Special, Botanic, 1899.

1st and Championship Brighton N.C.C. Show, 1899.²

Sir Claud Alexander (of Ballochmyle), Bart. with his white English (British SH), c.1912 Photo: Estate of Gladys Cheetham Image: Courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection.

These wins he appears to have gained under the ownership of Miss R. Mortivals, before changing ownership to Lady Alexander, circa 1900. Although he is likely to have been shown after this date, there are no records currently available to provide confirmation for his wins.

However, for Charles Lane to report in 1903, that he held four Championships, he must have been shown to attain the last one after his transfer of ownership.

Only two records can be found for progeny of ‘Ballochmyle Billie Blue Eyes’, - both of them being White Shorthair females, the first being ‘Ballochmyle Miss Billie’, born 30th August, 1898, (out of Sedgemere Betty Blue); and the second being ‘Ballochmyle White Violet’, (NCC: 7024), born 26th May, 1906, (out of ‘Ballochmyle Mother Bump’). ¹⁰

‘Ballochmyle House’, Maunchline, Ayrshire, Scotland. Home of the Ballochmyle Kennels and Catteries.

Photo Postcard, postmarked 1907 ⁸ Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection.

This would suggest that ‘Billie’ had a reasonably long and active life as a stud cat. It would also indicate that he was probably born somewhere between 1896 and 1897, so approximately rising 10 years old by the time his daughter ‘Ballochmyle White Violet’ was born.

From the Supplement to Volume 1 of the Stud Book of the GCCF, we find evidence of ‘Ballochmyle White Violet being shown at the Crystal Palace Cat Show of December 10 and 11, 1912. She would have been six years old at the time⁵. There are no other clear indications that she was shown either before or after this date.

The accompanying photograph, (opposite) shows Sir Claud Alexander holding a White English (British) Shorthair. The image is cropped from a photograph that came from the Estate of Miss Gladys Cheetham, now in The Harrison Weir Collection.

These photographs date from the period between 1910 and 1914. It is therefore distinctly possible that this may be from that specific date, and therefore may be the only photograph in existence of ‘Ballochmyle White Violet’ with her mistress’s husband. On that occasion, she was placed first in the White female class, against Lady Alexander’s ‘Weybourne Polly’ who took Second, and Lady Decies ‘Ch. Fulmer Snowstorm’ who took Third. ⁵

‘Champion Ballochmyle Billie Blue Eyes’ Illustration by Rosa Bebb, for ‘Rabbits, Cats and Cavies’ (1903) by Charles H. Lane ¹ Caption: “Four Championships, many First Prizes. Owner, Lady Alexander”.

Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

It is clear, that the above illustration by Rosa Bebb is based upon the photograph opposite, in all probability provided by Lady Alexander. It was commissioned for the book, ‘Rabbits, Cats and Cavies’ (1903) by Charles H. Lane. In this case, it would appear that in reality, the cat was in fact better in type than could have been anticipated, if you had seen the illustration first. When the photograph was published in ‘Our Cats’, in December of 1902, it is affirmed beneath, that: “This is the only photo in existence of this cat, and that is has never before been reproduced.” ⁴

‘Champion Ballochmyle Billie Blue Eyes’ ‘Our Cats’ Magazine, December 20, 1902.⁴ Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

Although not bred by Sir Claud and Lady Alexander, ‘Champion Ballochmyle Billie Blue Eyes’ was a shining example of the breed variety, in this colour. That he continued to be shown successfully, and to be siring at around ten years of age, stands testament to his care under the stewardship of both Sir Claud and Lady Alexander. Charles Lane testifies to the immaculate grooming and healthy, sturdy presentation of their dogs in competition, and from the photographs of ‘Billie’ at home, and that possibly of his daughter ‘White Violet’ in the arms of Sir Claud, it appears likely that the cats were also only ever shown in the peak of condition.

This is the fulfilment of the idiom, “If a thing is worth doing, it’s worth doing well.”

References: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

‘Rabbits, Cats and Cavies’(1903) by Charles H. Lane.

‘The National Cat Club Stud Book and Register’ (Vols.1-5).

‘The Cat Club Register’ (Vols 1-5).

‘Our Cats’ Magazine, 20th December, 1902.

‘The Bystander’, 28th June, 1905 ‘Photograph from the Estate of Gladys Cheetham’(c.1912) ‘Dog Shows and Doggy People (1902) by Charles H.Lane.

‘Postcard of Ballochmyle House, Maunchline’ postmarked 1907.

‘Supplement to Volume 1 of the GCCF Stud Book’.

‘Stud Book of the GCCF. Vol.1’.

‘The Illustrated London News’ November 1905 ‘The Book of The Cat’ (1903) by Frances Simpson.

Photos and Quotations as per credits noted.

Article graphics www.gograph.com

Everything you need to know about Genetics…

You can learn from your Cat! BY

DR. LESLIE LYONS

PART SIX

DOMINANT WHITE – not as clear as you think!

Dominant White (W,w) is a coat color trait recognized in cats since their domestication. The book “Siamese Cats: Legend and Reality”, recognized the completely white cat (Khao Manee) in ancient times.1 Many domesticated or fancied species, such as, mice, alpaca, donkey fox, and pig have versions of completely white individuals.2-7 All white and white spotting phenotypes are actually associated with the domestication process.8 Rarely do animals in the wild have and maintain all white (albino) colorations as these colors are not supportive of the camouflage necessary for tracking and hunting prey or eluding predators in most ecological niches.

SAME GENE – DIFFERENT MUTATION

College Of Veterinary Medicine University of Missouri

Early breeding studies suggested a completely white cat may be an accumulation of white spotting (piebald spotting), however, focused breeding studies proved dominant White was a separate “entity” from Spotting, but potentially an allele (different DNA mutation) at the same gene.9-11 Spotting was genetically mapped to cat chromosome B1 near the KIT locus, suggesting the involvement of this gene known to cause white in other species.12 Although white spotting and all white coat colors have historically been represented as two different loci, hence, two different genes, Spotting (S, s) and White (W,w), the early genetic suggestions are accurate, both white spotting and completely white cats are controlled by different mutations in the same gene.13,14 THE PROTO-ONCOGENE (KIT)

Article graphics: www.gograph.com

Not considering Spotting phenotypes, a completely white cat can occur by three different genetic means – they can be homozygous for two different recessive mutations in the gene called Tyrosinase (TYR) or have a dominant mutation in the gene called v-kit Hardy-Zuckerman 4 feline sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KIT).13,14 Notice the gene name has the word “oncogene”. Because cancer studies are so prominent, many genes are first identified via their associations with cancers. Oncogenes are a mutated version of a normal gene (a.k.a. proto-oncogene) that contribute to the development of cancer. The normal cells and DNA of a cat have the proto-oncogene called KIT.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENETICS – YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT!

HEART STEALER WHITE KNIGHT (Odd-Eyed White Maine Coon Male) Owner: Adrienn Cripper (Hungary) Photographs © Helmi Flick Cat Photography

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENETICS – YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT!

FIFe SC. GENASAQUA’S PRINCE OF WHITE’R’US (Blue-Eyed Persian Male) Breeder: Lisa Monical (USA) Owner/Photograph: Jose Dias (Portugal) KIT is also known as c-kit, meaning the cellular, i.e. the normal version of the gene. Two researchers, William Hardy and Evelyn Zuckerman, identified KIT is a type of skin cancer, fibrosarcoma, but it was a mutated version and known as viral (v-kit).15 This version of the gene had a specific DNA domain sequence called a kinase insert, hence was called kit (nothing to do with cats really). But since that early discovery, the KIT gene has been shown to play many other roles in cat development.

KIT plays a major role in normal cell migration during the development of the body – in all species.16 Particularly involved with melanocyte (the cells that produce pigment) migration, KIT mutations alter the normal flow of melanocytes in the skin.17 During development, as an early embryo, the precursor cells to melanocytes – melanoblasts - migrate from basically the backbone area (i.e. the neural crest) and move from dorsal to ventral – on both sides of the body. The melanoblast cells meet in the middle of the body (i.e. the midline) on the belly side (ventral) of the cat. Little white spots, including lockets and belly spots, are actually very mild midline closure defects, similar to a cleft palate, cleft lip, or umbilical herniations of the intestines.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENETICS – YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT! If a melanoblast does not finish its migration to a certain part of the body, such as the midline, the paws, the underside of the cat, then no cells will be present that can make color, thus, the cat will be white in these areas. A cat that is all white has a severe mutation that basically disrupts all melanoblasts, so no melanocyts are produced, therefore no color is produced. Sometimes just a tiny number of melanocytes are present, which will lead to a pigmented spot in the middle of the top of the head (i.e. a skull cap).

ODD-EYED WHITES Melanoblasts are very important cells and also migrate to the iris and the reflective layer in the back of the eye – the tapetum lucidum.18-20 The more melanocytes in the iris, the darker the eye color. Hence, when the KIT White mutation is present, cats can often have blue or odd-eyed coloration as they do not have enough melanocytes to produce more pigment. The blue eye will also have red eye shine since the melanoblasts did not migrate to the tapetum lucidum as well. In this layer of cells in the back of the eye, the melanoblasts specialize and uptake zinc, which then helps with light reflection. Light comes into the eye through the pupil, passes through the retina, which has the photoreceptors that read the photons of light, light hits the tapetum lucidum, then bounces back the other way to the photoreceptors again, thereby improving the light signal. Cats with red eye shine likely have a lower ability to see well in the dark, although this has never been proven to my knowledge.

DEAFNESS Deafness has been associated with White cats and documented in 1959. 21 Pigmentation cells are also important in the development of the inner ear.

Melanocytes are contained within a blood vessel–rich zone of the cochlea known as the stria vascularis.22-24 Disruption of the stria vascularis is known to cause deafness in many species, included mice and man, which will also have white spotting (hypopigmentation) phenotypes as well. Like eye color, a cat can have poor migration of the melanoblasts to the inner ear and some completely white cats may have unilateral or bilateral deafness. A BAER (brainstem auditory evoked response) test is required to determine if a cat has unilateral or bilateral deafness, since, you may think the cat can hear – but the cat may be using only one ear. Since cats can sense vibrations extremely well, deaf cats often go unnoticed.

The genes and mutations that produce alterations in many tissues have what is called “plieotrophic effects”. The migration of the melanoblasts can be somewhat random and may be disturbed by other factors.25-26 Thus, although a cat may have a mutation for dominant White, prediction of eye color and hearing is very difficult. Likely, other genetic factors are important and interplay with KIT as some lines of cats never have hearing problems, while other lines and breeds more commonly have blue, odd-eyed and hearing issues. Since white cats with blue eyes clearly did not have sufficient melanoblast migration during development, the correlation is strong that the cat may also have a hearing deficit, or on the same side as the blue eye for odd-eyed colored cats.

EDITOR: This is the sixth in a series of articles based on feline genetics

by Dr Leslie Lyons to be published in FELIS HISTORICA

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENETICS – YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT!

ASSOL DeMAUNTIFUL (Odd-Eyed White Oriental Shorthair) Breeder/Owner: Ivan Menshenin ‘cattery DeMauntiful’ /Photograph: E.Lisenkova In study of 84 cats from 10 breeds, overall deafness prevalence was 20.2%; 9 cats (10.7%) were bilaterally deaf and 8 cats (9.5%) were unilaterally deaf.

Deafness status was associated with iris color.28 In a second study, deafness was diagnosed only in solid white kittens of the breed cats examined, with a prevalence of 30.3% (15.9% bilateral, 14.4% unilateral). The prevalence of deafness was significantly higher in white kittens with one (44.4%) or two (50%) blue eyes than kittens with normal eye color (22.2%). Kittens with at least one blue iris were 3.2 times more likely to have deafness than kittens without blue eyes. Considering the breeds, deafness was diagnosed in 7 of 15 (46.7%) Turkish Vankedisi, 8 of 18 (44.0%) Maine Coon, 18 of 41 (43.9%) Norwegian Forest, three of 11 (27.3%) British Shorthair, two of 12 (16.7%) Devon Rex, two of 12 (8.3%) Persian, one of 21 (4.8%) Russian, and neither of two Sphynx.29 Therefore, breed differences may be a result of different genetic factors influencing the major KIT mutation. More studies need to focus on the genetic differences between breeds and lineages within breeds.

WHITE SPOTTING Other interesting facets regarding the mutations causing White and Spotting are the placement, size and types of the KIT mutations. The White and Spotting phenotypes are caused by a feline endogenous retrovirus (FERV1) in the first intron of the KIT gene. 13,14 A full-length (7125 bp) FERV1 element, a big mutation is associated with the lesser white spotting, whereas a smaller FERV1 long terminal repeat of ~ 700 bp (LTR) is associated with cats with a greater amount of white, all white cats.

Firstly, the bigger mutation causes the lesser phenotype and vice versa.

Secondly, the mutations are in an intron, which do not code for the protein.

Thus, the functions of these mutations are still unknown but must play a role in gene control, regulation and expression. Thirdly, the mutations are parts of an endogenous retrovirus.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENETICS – YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT! These are sequences of an inactive historical virus that are highly repeated and inserted all through-out the cat genome – junk DNA. Now we are finding that accidental insertions of this junk DNA into a gene or near a gene can cause a disruption in the gene’s regulation and function. Many more mutations are now being identified that affect the regulation of genes and not the production and function of the gene’s protein. These mutations are much harder to confirm and to understand.

Overall, most white phenotypes in cats are caused by mutations in the KIT gene, including White, Spotting and Gloves,30 however, other genes and variants may cause other white phenotypes as well, such as mitted in the Ragdoll.

KIT has many functions in development and its function is affected by sporadic chance occurrences and likely other genes and mutations.

Although the cats are white, the interactions of the KIT gene and its mutations are not exactly clear!

References:

1. Clutterbuck, M, Siamese Cats: Legend and Reality. 2004, Amarin Printing and Publishing Public Company Limited, Bangkok, Thailand. Pp 63-65.

2. Chabot B, et al., Nature. 1988, 335, 88-89.

3. Jones M, et al., Anim Genet. 2019, 50(5):493-500.

4. Haase B, Rieder S, Leeb T. Anim Genet. 2015, 46(3):321-4.

5. Yan SQ, et al., Anim Genet. 2014 45(2):293-6.

6. Haase B, et al., PLoS Genet. 2007 3(11), e195.

7. Marklund S, et al., Genome Res. 1998, 8(8):826-33.

8. Albert FW, et al., Genetics. 2009, 182(2):541-54.

9. Whiting, PW, J Exp Zool. 1918, 25(2):539 – 569.

10. Whiting, PW, American Naturalist. 1918, 53(629):473–482.

11. Robinson, R, Bibliogr. Genet. 1959, 18:273-362.

12. Cooper MP, et al., Anim Genet. 2006 37(2):163-5.

13. David VA, et al., G3 (Bethesda). 2014, 4(10):1881-91.

14. Frischknecht M, Jagannathan V, Leeb T. Anim Genet. 2015 46(1):98.

15. Besmer P, et al., Nature 1986, 320, 414-421.

16. P Besmer, et al., Dev. 1993, Suppl 125-37.

17. Price ER, Fisher DE. Neuron 2001, 30:15–18.

18. Bernstein MH, Pease DC. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1959, 5(1):35-40.

19. Büssow H, Baumgarten HG, Hansson C. Anat Embryol. 1980, 158(3):289-302.

20. Chijiiwa T, Ishibashi T, Inomata H. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 1990, 228(2):161-8.

21. Wilson TG, Kane F. Acta Otolaryngol. 1959, 50(3-4):269-75; discussion 275-7.

22. Bosher SK, Hallpike CS. Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 1965, 162:147-70.

23. Bosher SK, Hallpike CS. J Laryngol Otol. 1966, 80(3):222-35.

24. Rebillard G, et al., Acta Otolaryngol. 1976, 82(1-2):48-56 25. Geigy CA, et al., Vet J. 2007, 173(3):548-53.

26. Strain GM, Vet J. 2007, 173(3):471-2.

27. Bergsma DR, Brown KS. J Hered. 1971, 62(3):171-85.

28. Cvejic D, et al., J Vet Intern Med. 2009, 23(2):392-5.

29. Mari L, et al., J Vet Intern Med. 2019, 33(4):1707-1713.

30. Montague MJ, et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2014, 111(48):17230-5.

EDITOR: This is the sixth in a series of articles based on feline genetics

by Dr Leslie Lyons published in FELIS HISTORICA

A DOMINANT

GALLERY

Featured Cat: Gd. Db. Gr. Ch. & Gd. Db. Gr. Pr. JAYMLYNKATZ WHITE CHRISTMAS (Norwegian Forest Cat) Breeder/Owner: Denis Grace. Also pictured winning P.P.C.F. Cat of the Year Studio Portraits by Cate Thomas, Avedon Animal Portraits. Show Photo: Emma Kimberley

Featured Cat: GC, BW, NW THE CAT INN’S DA BAI (British Shorthair) Breeder/Owner: Sun Wei. 3rd Best Cat North China. National Best British China.

Top Portrait by SPYZOO, Bottom Portrait by Sun Wei

GC, RW JOLEIGH’S BAMBAM OF MAIKAI (Copper Eyed White Persian Male) Breeders: S. Bloomquist/C McKay Dorrell Owner: Carol Booth/Cheryl Dorrell Photograph: Helmi Flick Cat Photography

GP, RW. ETONNANT WINTER IS COMING (Green-Eyed White Turkish Angora Neuter) Breeder: Michelle & Dan Beaudry Owner: Elizabeth C. Thompson Photo: Helmi Flick Cat Photography

NZCF Gd.Db.Gr.Pr KA PAI KAI (Blue-Eyed White Domestic Longhair Neuter) Rescue kitty owned by Karen Grantley.

Photograph: Helmi Flick Cat Photography

LANNA SKY IF ONLY (Odd-Eyed White Scottish Fold Longhair Female) Breeder/Owner: Miss Karnkawee Srimongkol Photograph: Kiatkul Jirapatpimol

OZBORN KODIAK (Blue-Eyed White Munchkin Shorthair Spay) Breeder/Owner/Photograph: Karen Osborne

WHITEGEM TINY (left) and WHITEGEM ELLIOTT (right) (Odd-Eyed White Khao Manee pets) Breeder/Photograph: Lori Snook Haas

EMELYA DeMAUNTIFUL (Odd-Eyed White Oriental Shorthair) Breeder/Owner: Ivan Menshenin ‘cattery DeMauntiful. /Photograph: E.Lisenkova

Pet name: ZIGGY (Odd-Eyed British Shorthair Spay) Owner/Photograph: Alan Liao

A Needlepoint Christmas For those of our readers who particularly enjoyed the November article on Cat-themed Needlepoint, we now bring you some samples of cat themed needlepoint which is specifically aimed to fulfil the desire to celebrate the Christmas Season. These pieces were stitched by CFA Judges Donna Fuller and Vicki Nye. We hope that these will provide needlepoint enthusiasts with new inspiration.

Needlepoint Cat-themed decorations created by Donna Fuller.

Article graphics: www.gograph.com

Needlepoint Cat-themed decorations created by Vicki Nye.

Top quality Ragdolls bred for health, personality, type, but most importantly – love!

carolyn@cwtchycats.com

OUR READER REVIEWS… “This is an amazing e-magazine that I look forward to future issues and will be subscribing to – Check it out!

Lorna Dawn Friemoth “This magazine is highly recommended to all my ‘cat friends’! From the get-go Felis Historica truly makes a legitimate attempt in sharing valuable history and timeless knowledge with fellow fanciers around the world. Cannot wait for the next issue!

Kai Cao “The very clever and very interesting new review on the history of cats and breeds… supported by the CFA Foundation”.

Cat-H-Art Club “I’ve been glued to the August issue and I’m only on the first pages.

Love where John (Ed note’s) are inserted. It makes it all the more fun, perky and personal. Now, the question is, When will I stop reading and get back to work?”

Roeann Fulkerson

Photo: Catherine Holmes Photography

OUR DOMESTIC CAT FEATURE

BY KAREN GRANTLEY Kai came into our lives 6½ yrs ago. He was a rescue. The timing of his rescue was literally almost near his last breath. I am inclined to think that how he came into our lives, was almost Heaven-sent.

THE DAYS BEFORE ‘KAI’ Scroll back 9 yrs, to when my love affair with white cats began with a stunning Turkish Angora named Melek. He was a beautiful, single minded, quirky creature, that I adored. I was so proud of him. I began showing him in the Neuter Spay Pedigree Longhair class. Sadly, he had a fright at the hands of a young boy. The experience left an imprint on him that he associated with shows. But I persevered with him, knowing underneath his fear lay a brave, courageous soul. It wasn’t easy for him. He was just oh so stunning on the show bench. Little by little, we started to make progress.

In February of 2013 out of the blue Melek succumbed to an unusual urinary blockage. Despite the efforts of 3 experienced vets, one with a passion and strength in urinary issues, the other two in both surgical & medical procedures, we were unable to save him. I was bereft. And at the time, due to unkind, unsupportive comments & actions from others, it felt we were very much standing alone in our grief. So, I withdrew myself & my family from the cat show scene.

A couple of months after Melek passed, my best friend and soul sister Pip (who was clairvoyant) said to me one day, "I see your White Cat coming back to you. He won’t come to you how you expect. He won’t be what you expect, but he will be more than you expect". When I pressed her further, she said “I’m not looking. Let it unfold”.

A CRITICAL INTERVENTION Sixteen months on, on a wet winter’s late afternoon a young man & his Mum were driving in busy traffic on their way to parent/teacher school interviews. Jake suddenly yelled at his Mum & told her to stop the car. In the middle of the road was a small white kitten heading into the wheels of a large oncoming roading truck. Jake leapt from his Mums car, waving the truck down furiously. It came to a stop. The kitten was retrieved from underneath. It was alive. They thought it had been hit and called the SPCA.

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A young ‘Frosty’ in his foster home.

Incredulously, the SPCA instructions were to place the kitten back on the side of the road in the area it was found. By now, busy 5pm traffic was starting to build. Incensed at this response, they took the kitten to a vet.

A vet check revealed a longhair white kitten with blue eyes in poor condition, thin, heavily burdened of fleas & worms. It was an entire male, with no microchip. The good news was that he was unscathed, but all indicators showed that he was deaf.

FOSTER CARE & FIRST HOME Unable to find owners in the area and unable to keep him, the kitten was put into foster care. His fosters set about de-fleaing, worming and getting weight on him. His name became "Frosty". (Some years after “Frostys” rescue, we learned there was an entire white male roaming in that area "fathering" random litters. From time to time rescued white kittens arrived at the SPCA).

Frosty’s fosters set about finding him a home. Initially, he was placed in a home with an elderly lady who lived alone. She adored him. But unfortunately, the feeling was not mutual. Within a week he was returned to his foster home.

A NEW & FINAL HOME My elder daughter Hope was friendly with Frosty’s foster family. They knew we showed cats. Hope had mentioned how I had lost my adored white Angora. They asked if we would like to meet him. Hope’s words to me were "You know Mum if you see him, he is probably going to come home with us. Right??" Now, you already know how that part of our story went...

We decided that on having Frosty join our family, we would show him. In which case, we would do our best to get him to the show title of "Gold Double Grand Premier Domestic". (The highest award possible at that time in the New Zealand Cat Fancy). It was a time commitment really, due to the fact the domestic section was not large back when we started.

‘Frosty’ after his adoption and the move to the Grantley household

But it would also be an excellent opportunity to fly the flag for Domestics & get that profile out there. We had groomed & shown the Turkish Angora a Ragdoll, 2 Norwegian Forest cats, an Oriental & Burmese with relative success. Almost all had at some point finished in the top 10 cats of the NZCF Annual Awards in their relative categories. The Domestic & Companion show category at that time had somewhat of a "poor relation" vibe at pedigree cat shows, which is unfortunate, because largely this is where families like ours have their first introduction into the pedigree cat show world. From there, they can move on to owning or perhaps even one day breeding pedigree cats.

To my mind, in a time where our members are largely an aging population, these sections need to be nurtured & encouraged to sustain the future of the Cat Fancy. As a family with our now rescue cat, it was an obvious progression, although, I have to say (so typically us) we did the opposite, moving from the pedigree realms, to take a dive into the Domestic Show category.

A NEW NAME! We had to choose a name and show-name for "Frosty". We decided on an organic indigenous vibe "Ka Pai Kai". “Ka Pai” in New Zealand Maori means "good" or "well done". “Kai” in Maori means food!! (He’s rather partial). But, it was chosen instead in reference to ‘Sir Kai’ a knight of King Arthurs round table. Sir Kai was able to cheat death and magically arise two days later. Rather more poignant.

THE BIRTH OF A SHOW CAREER Our Kai entered the show world as a 6-month-old kitten in 2014 at Hutt Feline Cat Show in Lower Hutt. At this 1st show, he won a Judges choice Award & was "Best In show" in 5 rings from 5 cats. He also collected various Temperament & Grooming Awards. We were placed in a runoff for the Supreme Domestic Award, which the Shorthair won.

We were thrilled. Despite all our years of showing pedigrees, we had never "gone this far". My youngest daughter Faith who has Down Syndrome shyly collected Kai’s Award for Judges Choice. We weren’t to know then that, that was the beginning of many Awards for Kai. We had only entered 2 shows that year. But the longhair Domestic entry at each show was some of the best in our 4 years of showing Kai. His 2nd

Clockwise from top left:

Photo: Catherine Holmes Photography

Photo: Catherine Holmes Photography

1) Supreme Domestic Taranaki Cat Club 2) Faith, Best Junior Exhibitor P.N.C.C.,2015 3) 1st Supreme Domestic, P.P.C.F.,2014 4) Judges Choices, Wellington Cat Club, 2015 5) P.N.C.C. Supreme Domestic, 2016 6) Faiths excitement receiving Junior Exhibitors Award 2015.

Award.

& final show for that year was the Pedigree Persian Cat Fanciers & Pet Expo held in Trentham. He gained 5 Best in Shows from 6 Judges, 3 Best Groomed Awards & 2 Good Temperament Awards. At the end of the day when the Supreme Awards were announced he was "Supreme Domestic" in Show. We were both shocked but also delighted..... and intensely proud of him.

In early December of that year we unexpectedly received "Mail". In it was a Certificate, stating that Kai was New Zealand Cat Fancy’s No. 1 Longhair Domestic for 2014. We were so very dismayed & shocked (again), yet beyond thrilled!! Kai was taking us to places we had not experienced or expected.

BEST OF THE BEST The following year at the New Zealand Cat Fancy Awards Dinner a then 10-year-old, shy Rosie Grantley proudly collected Kai’s Award. I was beyond proud of her, and Kai.Over the next 4 years the girls & I hit the road showing Kai. Each show was an opportunity for us to travel to different places we had not visited before and explore the ‘Kai’ in his role as the Motel Inspector.

North Island here in New Zealand. Kai loved to travel. He is the only cat we ever showed that was waiting by the door expectantly at 5am ready with a blue eyed gaze into our eyes and a "hurry up Meow!!".

Over the years, I’m not sure how many reluctant show cats we had hauled out from under beds in the midst of darkness at that time of morning who were NOT thrilled at the prospect of a cat show!! Kai was different. He loved the travel. Staying in motels was a thrill for him. (Tiring for us, he chattered enthusiastically all night exploring the length, breadth, the heights, nooks and crannies of all our various motel rooms).

He loved the show bench. When he went into his show cage he always paddled happily on his favourite black padded bed. He was often the clown, upside down with his legs splayed in the air or hanging like a monkey from the bars on top of his cage. On the show bench he purred.

At times curious about happenings over the other side of show halls, particularly if the scent of food wafted his way. He was intensely Zen. That made showing him a pleasure.

I often heard it said "You have to be mad to groom & present a white cat in the Show ring". Hands up true!! It’s hard keeping them pristine white. He was always presented to perfection. My years of grooming pedigree longhairs held us in good stead.

I think we were lucky in the sense that Kai has an unusually "hard coat". Meaning that it isn’t porous and does not attract & hold dirt or water-stains. His eyes, nose & mouth never stained. So he remained a pristine snow white.

Rosie, collecting Kai’s NZCF Annual Award.

Kai with Pam DelaBar (CFA)

Kai with Rachel Anger (CFA)

Kai with Lyall Payne (NZCF) Kai with Andreas Mobius (WCF)

Kai and Faith - Expressions of mutual affection! – Photos: Catherine Holmes Photography

From 2014 -2017, for 4 years Kai was the New Zealand Cat Fancy’s Best Longhair Domestic. Always a delightful surprise when we received "Mail" at the end of the Show season. Each award was always collected by my girls Rosie & Faith at the Annual Awards Dinner.

Kai moved through the New Zealand Cat Fancy’s Title levels starting at Premier Domestic in 2014. He gained his Gold Title "Gold Double Grand Premier Domestic Ka Pai Kai on 29th April 2017.

Over the 4 years he amassed 91 Best in Show Awards in the Longhair Domestic Section. 48 Best Groomed Awards, 50 Temperament Awards. (No mean feat considering the Grooming & Temperament Awards weren’t side classes at all shows). He also garnered 5 Judges Choice Awards and 9 Supreme Domestic/Companion Awards. At the Palmerston North Cat Club, he gained the Club Supreme Domestic in 2015 and 2016. A very special ‘Best Junior Exhibitor Award’ was gained for Faith in 2015, from the same club.

One of my favourite Show report excerpts comes from NZCF Judge John Smithson’s Dominion Short Hair Cat Club Report dated 2nd April 2016: “Last but certainly not least, in the Domestic cats was a perfectly presented Blue-eyed White longhair, who would have passed for an exceptionally good Angora in decades past.

‘Ka Pai Kai’ was in tip top condition, not a mark or stain to be seen anywhere, physically in top form and so easy to handle. I was delighted to see him take out Supreme Domestic on the day and to note that he was a child’s pet and to see his little owner come up proudly on stage to collect her awards!!

This is what makes cat fancying worthwhile….”

In 2016, Kai appeared on the cover of Issue 1 of the New Zealand Cat Fancy ‘Flash Cats’ Magazine, as 2015’s Best Longhair Domestic. Also that year, he appeared as ‘Mr. June’, representing Domestics, in the Palmerston North Cat Club Calendar fundraiser.

Kai as ‘Mr. June’ 2016 on the P.N.C.C.’s Fundraising Calendar

Rosie and Faith with Kai’s Best in Show Domestic at the NZCF National

We had exhibited on a couple of occasions at Catz Inc shows. Kai received overall Best Companion at these shows. 7 Merit Awards and in 2015 "Overall Best Groomed" Exhibit in Show in Palmerston North. In 2015 Kai placed 3rd Best in the Longhair Companion Section. He also earned the Title of Grand Companion that year. A surprise we did not again expect.

KAI’S GIFT TO OUR FAMILY We are so pleased this ‘Angel Cat’ crossed our path and came into our lives. He gave us something beyond special, that was not Cat Show related. I have lightly touched on this subject. We aren’t winners, go getters, or a good at sport type family. My girls Rosie & Faith were shy.

As many know, my youngest daughter Faith has Down Syndrome.

Socialising & going outside our comfort zone wasnt "a thing" for our family. We are, in reality, quite private and keep our circle small.

Each of Kai’s Awards was an opportunity for my girls to stand with pride in front of an audience and grow in confidence and self-worth… i.e. feeling the pride of doing something well and owning it.

That didn’t happen overnight. You may have seen me standing back encouraging and/or prodding one or both up onto the stage to collect Kai’s Show wins. I calculatedly took a back seat. As time went by Faith more so than Rosie (but with her own demure pride), took to this.

Confidences grew. There was modest pride in my girls’ demeanours. So much so, that Faith would race to Kai’s show cage if needed for judging, have him in her arms stretched out like a pro before I'd even blinked!

We are talking about a little girl with Down Syndrome who grew in confidence during these 4 years aged from 9 to 13 yrs old. She had taken this all in & owned it.

Kai, with a sampling of his 91 Best in Show Ribbons and Rosettes.

Kai’s NZ Cat Fancy Annual Awards for Best Longhaired Domestic Cat

Scenes from the home life of Kai Photos: The Grantley Family

Kai says: ‘Me and my dog’

Whilst some rolled their eyes with a visible "Ugh! Those Grantleys again!!" when we did do well, just think about the wonderful personal growth my shy girls experienced, and what Kai gave to a little girl with a disability. It’s an experience I could only have dreamed of for my girls.

KAI’S LIFE AT HOME At home Kai is a chatterbox. He chirps when he’s getting up on a chair, leaving a room, entering a room, going in a litter tray, getting out. He is wildly curious & gets himself into all kinds of spaces. Tops of wardrobes, skylight windows etc. He sleeps in strange places, the top of the coffee machine, Simons filing "In Tray", bookshelves, washing machine top etc. Kai and Balou. Ying and Yang.

Any box.

His favourite spot is our couch. That consists of sitting on the arm of it.

Reversing down into "his spot”, like reversing a car... & flopping down. He is not fond of sharing this said spot. If another cat is innocently sleeping there, they are subjected to what we call the "Slow Bite" It consists of opening his mouth in slow motion and attaching himself to the unsuspecting incumbent. At this point, he stares into space and ponders "Did I eat breakfast today?", "Is that rain outside?", "What’s that over there?", "How did this cat get in my mouth?". With that the terrified unsuspecting (stuff of nightmares) victim leaves the scene at speed. Area clear, he reverses that white furry bottom into his now "warm" spot.

Ol’ Blue Eyes

Kai’s relationship with our other cats is one of indifference largely.

Perhaps because he is deaf. Anything crazy is usually created by his partner in crime Izzy. A little white rescue girl herself. They play hard together. And she “gets” his indifference.

Kai takes great pleasure in annoying the living daylights out of Balou (A beautiful black shorthair boy), simply because he can! Not with malice, but because he knows he gets a rise out of Balou. We often hear Balou swearing in disdain at Kai from the skylight windows in our lounge!! Kai below. Yet they both sleep inches from each other every night on our bed.

The Mr.Ying to Mr. Yang.

Any box, is a Cats Castle

Left: Faith and Kai today. Right: The Grantley girls, Rosie, Hope and Faith.

Kai’s relationship with our family is all encompassing. He loves the hard pats from our son Daniel. Comes back for more with a chatty meow. He loves the girls. He is sweet & gentle with them.

If they are unwell or worried, he spends the first half of his night routine tucked up with them on their beds. Nightly he sleeps with us in our bed. I notice if Simon my husband or I are stressed, he sleeps atop purring those "healing purrs". Regardless of whether he is like a ship on a tossing and turning ocean, he does not leave his post.

Simon isn’t a cat lover like the rest of us per se, but he has an unspoken soft spot for these cats...despite what he says. He shares sleep space with Kai. I would say he is quietly proud of Kai’s achievements, though it is never admitted.

A TRAGIC LOSS In May of 2015, my much-loved soul-sister Pip (remember the vision of Kai) called to say she was diagnosed with advanced cancer and had 6 weeks to live. We both broke down and sobbed.

Above Photo: Faith and Kai Catherine Holmes Photography

We both foresaw her passing which would involve her husband not letting me know her time had come or funeral details. This came to pass. We were both devastated at this vision. In a sense that call was our preparation goodbye.

On 23rd August 2015 Pip passed away in hospice care. I saw her 4 days before for the last time. I knew as I walked out the door, she was preparing herself to leave. When she died, a piece of my soul went with her. I have never known a grief like that which I felt at her transition.

Left: Karen Grantley’s beloved ‘Melek’ (Turkish Angora) and Right: her ‘Kai’ (Domestic Longhair).

Kai sensed this. Every night for 3 months I sobbed myself to sleep. Every night, he arrived with a chirp, strolled across the bed, tucking himself tightly into my side. As I turned, he stuck with me. It was almost as though we were one. He purred that constant, enthusiastic healing purr as I dwelled in my depths of despair. During this period, I received that "phone call" everyone describes... from Pip. The one where you are between dreamtime & awake, letting me know she had made it to the other side.

This little scruffy white rescue kitten has become so much more to my family than the "show pony" we all dream of. I am so deeply grateful for how he came into our lives and what he gives of himself to my family.

Some would say a "fourpawed white angel". I believe so. I believe how he came to us was how it was meant to be. I could never have imagined it. And as Pip had said "He won’t come to you how you expect. He won’t be what you expect, but he will be more than you expect".

And so it is.

K.G.

A CHRISTMAS NATIVITY FEATURING CATS – IN THE COLLECTION OF THE CFA FOUNDATION

Christmas at the Feline Historical Museum It would be fair to say, that without the CFA Foundation’s dedication to preserving the records, artefacts, ephemera, art associated with the history of the Cat Fancy, its clubs, its breeds and its participants, a very rich and important part of humanity’s social history would sadly be missing from the annals of modern-day human development with regard to the interaction between the cat as a species and humankind.

But fortunately, due to the generosity of cat fanciers, the Feline History Museum in Alliance, Ohio, houses some magnificent and unique items of that social history, including a variety of seasonal holiday items which celebrate Christmas. These include items such as the Christmas greeting card shown on the page opposite and a collection of nativity and other Christmas ornaments, similar to those shown above.

Every year, the Feline History Museum’s manager, Karen Lawrence, receives, sorts, catalogues and photographs an enormous number of donations that come from the former collections of fanciers from all over the world. We have selected just a small number of these to share with you in this short article.

Article Graphics www.gograph.com

Santa Cat Dolls, dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus

A rare set of feline themed Santa’s, a Sugar bowl, a Teapot, and a Creamer.

The above stunning Collectors’ Cat ‘Santa Claws’, is a whimsical treasure of the creative imagination of a cat-loving artist and master craftsman.

Among the donors who have generously donated Christmas related items to the Feline History Museum, are: Sharon Conrad, Pam Delabar, Donald Hargrove, the estate of Linda Hilton, the estate of Wilton E. Wheeldon & Gladys J. Wheeldon, Karen Lane, Glenna J. Moore, Rachel Anger, Marilyn Dipbove-Clark, the estate of Helen Jean Ussia, Leslie Leavitt, and the estate of Shirley Lois Hopkins.

Christmas ornaments from the collection of the CFA Foundation, Inc.

Christmas ornaments from the collection of the CFA Foundation, Inc.

Top: An Array of Cat-themed Christmas Tree Decorations.

Bottom: A Mexican interpretation of a feline nativity scene.

A fully decorated cat-themed Christmas Tree on display in the Feline Historical Museum, in Alliance, Ohio.

Graham Harrop Cartoonist - at work in his studio Felis Historica is simply delighted to introduce the talented cartoonist, Graham Harrop, whose amazing cat character cartoons, have recently brought us some light-hearted fun, in the previous two editions, and whose skilfully humorous work we plan to bring to our cat-loving readers for as long as we are able! Graham hails originally from Liverpool and now lives and works in North Vancouver. He has worked as a Vancouver Sun editorial cartoonist and for about 25 years his comic ‘Backbench’ appeared daily in The Globe and Mail. His work has appeared in the Readers Digest, the National Post and as greeting cards for Recycled Paper Greetings.

His cartoon collections are published by Gryndstone and Fusspot Press and by Ronsdale Press. He is the creator of the Ten Cats daily online comic strip, from which has been developed several e-books. Among his best known titles, are included ‘Behind Every Great Person There Was A Cat’ – ‘The Chesney Chronicles’ – and ‘Oliver, my own ..um Book’. Welcome! And thank you Graham!

CHAMPION WHITE FRIAR Cover Page from ‘Our Cats’ Magazine, March 15, 1902.

Scanned from the original, in The Harrison Weir Collection

LONGHAIR HISTORY FEATURE – ON THE LIFE OF

CHAMPION

BY

JOHN SMITHSON

BLUE-EYED WHITE LONGHAIR (PERSIAN) MALE – Born 1894 a.k.a. ‘TIM of REDGRAVE’ Adapted from ‘The History Project’ file, by the same author Article graphics: www.gograph.com

Originally referred to as the “Foreign Longhair”, many of the early whites were also known as ‘French Cats’, as a good number of them were brought to London from Paris. But their true roots were older and more widespread, including a liberal admixture of Angora and Persian imports from the middle and far eastern regions, including what today are known as Turkey, Northern Syria, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and India.

Their popularity was unparalleled for many decades, until finally challenged by the rise in popularity of the ‘Blue’ Persian and the ethereal Chinchilla or (Silver) Longhair. But they continued to be perennial favourites and in succeeding generations and decades would often rise to the very height of success at Championship Cat Shows.

The passion expressed for them by their adoring owners is perhaps best summed up in a quote from 19th century cat judge and author Charles H. Lane who said: “To my mind, the White is one of the most beautiful of the Long Hairs, and when pure in tint, in full coat, and with the pale blue eyes which should be a sin qua non in this variety, is an ornament fit for the palace of an emperor.” ² ‘Champion White Friar’ was arguably the most sought-after white male in the early history of the fancy. His contribution to the Persian breed was enormous both in the United Kingdom, and in the United States. However, we can only speculate on his background, which, while remaining unknown, is highly likely to have included imported bloodlines, and those, very probably having their origin in India.

Although he was bred to many fine females and we will list and review the breeding’s which in turn influenced and contributed to the growing Persian gene pool, it was his memorable and repeated pairing with Miss Hunt’s ‘Ch. Crystal’ that consistently produced some of the best blueeyed whites to be found.

THREE LATER CONTEMPORIES OF ‘CH. WHITE FRIAR’ – From left: Miss White Atkins ‘Ch. White Knight’ (1897); ‘The Cat Manual’, 1902.

Mrs. Pettit’s ‘King of Pearls’ (Imported) c. late 1890’s; ‘Our Cats’ Magazine, February 14, 1900.

Miss Ellen Harper’s ‘The Blue Eyed Wanderer’ c. late 1890’s: ‘Our Cats’ Magazine, April 12, 1901 Images courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

He was one of three contemporary foundation white males that forged a proud history for White Persians at Shows and as formidable stud cats renown for producing quality progeny. The other two males being Miss White Atkins ‘Ch. White Knight’ and Mrs Pettit’s ‘King of the Pearls’ respectively.

These three males were for some time akin to a veritable ‘triumvirate’, that serious breeders of whites all wished to have a share in! Another lesser known contender from a show point of view, was Miss Ellen Harper’s ‘The Blue Eyed Wanderer,’ who replaced Mrs. Pettit’s ‘King of Pearls’ in the triumvirate. ‘Blue Eyed Wanderer’ was a successful show cat of impressive structure and he offered yet another alternative outcross for those wishing to specialise in the highly competitive arena of the blue-eyed white longhair.

‘White Friar’s’ beginnings in the fancy however were very modest, his rise to fame being virtually accidental, the story behind it, is a most memorable one.

PARENTAGE & OWNERSHIP Born in 1894, ‘White Friar’ began life with the name ‘Tim of Redgrave’ and was owned by a Mrs Horsfall. But by the time he was registered with the National Cat Club, (NCC:3008) in 1898, he had adopted his new name of ‘White Friar’ and was then owned by Mrs Florence E.J. Champion.

How ‘Tim of Redgrave’ became the ‘White Friar’ is both an amusing and historically significant story, in that as ‘Tim of Redgrave’, this White Persian cat was relatively unknown.

FORMER OWNERS AND INFLUENCER IN THE LIFE OF ‘TIM OF REDGRAVE’ (CH. ‘WHITE FRIAR’) – From left: Mrs. Horsfall (first owner of ‘Tim of Redgrave’) with one of her Great Danes. ‘The Tatler’, February 5, 1902 Mr. Fred Gresham (Influencer) Dog and Cat Judge. ‘Dogs Shows and Doggy People’ (1900) by Charles H. Lane.

Mrs. Florence Champion, of the Argent Cattery. ‘The Lady’s Realm’, August 1900 Images courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

His transformation into the ‘White Friar’ and subsequent success at shows, elevated him to the greatest heights of recognition, and to being one of the most sought-after Persian stud cats in the country.

The primary agent in this transformation appears to have been the eminent cat and dog judge, Mr Fred Gresham, who clearly had an eye for a good cat and a golden opportunity.

The first quote we find is related in a short piece published in the editorial columns of ‘Our Cats’ on February 7, 1900: “It will be interesting to many of our readers to learn that Mrs Horsfall was the original owner of the noted cat White Friar, having bought him when a tiny kitten and kept him for two or three years as her common stable cat. He lived as he liked and how he liked, needless to say he was ragged and dirty, and was once caught in a trap! He loved the horses and would sit on their back.

Mr Gesham discovered him to be a good cat, and he was accordingly sold to Mrs Champion for 3 Guineas at the Botanic Gardens.”

The story of his purchase is also ably recalled by Mrs Champion, in an article reprinted from the ‘Cats Review’, published in the October 31st, 1903 edition of ‘Our Cats’.

“Now to come to my first purchase, the now world renowned ‘Ch. White Friar’. At the Summer Show of the National Cat Club, held at the Botanic Gardens in 1898, this famous cat was exhibited

by Mrs Horsfall, under the name of Tim of Redgrave.

The same photo of ‘Champion White Friar’ featured on a Birthday Postcard A Rotary Photo Postcard ¹⁸ Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection.

“Many fanciers present, including myself, noticed the cat’s wonderful head and shape, but from the shocking condition he was shown in, no one, not even the judge, knew whether the cat was a white or a white with cream coloured patches.

“Naturally he was not in the prize money, although the judge gave him “Very Highly Commended” for head, shape and eyes. His owner, Mrs Horsfall, had simply kept him as a stable cat, hence his terrible condition.

“After the judging, Mr Fred Gresham, (the cat judge) advised me to buy the cat as his owner was willing to part with him at a low figure, and Mr Gresham assured me Tim was really white, having seen him running about the stables, at Redgrave, on a former visit. Well, to cut matters short, I purchased Tim. When we first combed him our troubles began, and it took three people to perform the operation. Of course, he soon gave in and eventually became very fond of having his toilet made, being naturally of a very sweet disposition. It took all the time from June to October, to get him in what we considered “show form.”

“In October at the Crystal Palace Show I exhibited him under his new name of White Friar. He won first in his class, the white Championship, and eight cups and specials. None of the cat fanciers could believe he was the same cat, he had so improved. Since that date he has gone on, steadily winning, until I believe he now holds the record number of six championships and about 20 first prizes.” ²⁰

‘White Friar’ after winning a first at the Botanical Gardens Show, 1898.

Photo: ‘Harmsworth Magazine’, 1900 ⁷ Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection.

Mrs Florence Champion, along with her husband Mr Alexander James Champion, their son F.G. Champion and daughters Dorothy Bevill, and Ethel R.B. Champion, were all natives of Surrey, England. The women were all active members of the Ladies Kennel Association and the National Cat Club, having an interest in dogs (Pomeranians), and Persian cats, namely specialising in Silvers or Chinchillas (Argent Cattery), and Whites.

However, in 1900, the family made a momentous decision to emigrate to the United States.

Naturally, this involved a tremendous rationalisation of their pets, both canine and feline and the hard decisions had to be made about whom they would take with them to re-establish their kennels and catteries in the United States.

Mrs Champion decided to leave ‘White Friar’ in England, and to take with her to the United States, his odd-eyed white* grandson ‘White Tsar II’(BCC:1022) bred in England by Mrs Pritchard, out of ‘Kate’, and his odd-eyed white* daughter, ‘White Friar’s Daughter’ (ACA:92), bred by Mrs Horsman, out of a blue ‘Nonna’.

Mrs Champions reasoning for selecting odd-eyed whites becomes clearer in an article on eye colour in whites, written by her for the ‘Cat Review’ (USA) and republished in ‘Our Cats’ in November 1903. From this we have taken a number of short but highly relevant extracts: “To obtain kittens with really dark blue eyes it is best to have one of the parents odd-eyed or yellow-eyed, or even two odd-eyed parents are better than two blue-eyed, as I will presently show. From our own pair of blue-eyed whites, we never bred one kitten with such deep blue eyes as we have from two odd-eyed.”

MISS AVA.L.POLLARD’S ‘USA CH. WHITE MONK’ – BLUE-EYED WHITE PERSIAN MALE - Born January 31, 1903 Sire: WHITE TSAR II (1900) Owned by Mrs. Champion. Dam: CH.PURITY (1901) Owned by Miss Pollard Combining a double on ‘Ch. White Friar’ with ‘Crystal’ and ‘White Witch’.

Sire: by White Tsar out of Kate. White Tsar by Ch. White Friar, out of White Witch. Dam: by Ch. White Friar, out of Crystal.

Image from ‘Stud Book & Register of The Cat Fanciers’ Association’, Vol.1 (1909)

“When leaving England for America I determined to take with me a pair of whites from my old strain. All I was able to obtain, was two odd-eyed white cats*. The male, ‘White Tsar II’, is a son of ‘White Tsar’, from a blue-eyed mother, so you will see that although both parents were blue-eyed, the kittens came odd-eyed in this case. My white queen is a daughter of ‘Ch. White Friar’, from the celebrated orange-eyed blue queen ‘Nonna’. ‘White Friar’s Daughter’ is also odd-eyed and is related to ‘White Tsar II’, who is a grandson of ‘White Friar’ while she is a daughter.

“In the first litter from these two cats there were two blue-eyed and one orange-eyed kitten. The next litter, born last February, contained two blue-eyed whites, a male and a female, one ambereyed male and one orange-eyed female. ‘Miss Bob White’ as the latter is called, (Ed: Registered as ‘White Star’) has eyes of a wonderful copper colour, and her litter brother the blue-eyed Friar, has gorgeous, round, deep blue eyes. Neither of these two litters had an odd-eyed kitten amongst them.

“In the third litter from the same parents, now six weeks old, there are five fine kittens, three with blue eyes, and two with odd-eyes. What all breeders of white Persians on this side of the water must aim at is to obtain the right type of a cat. A great many of the well-known whites in England lack this very type, and this is the reason that old ‘Ch. White Friar’, now nine years of age, and his many descendants, are usually in the premier positions at all the largest shows.” ²³ ‘White Friar’ was sold jointly to Miss Mary Hunt and Mrs Finnie Young, in Scotland late in 1900.

In her chapter on White Longhairs, Miss Frances Simpson provides us with her view on Mrs Champion’s contribution to Whites and specifically on ‘White Friar’: “Mrs Champion, whose name is well known in ‘catty’ circles, and who has now left these shores for America, did a great deal to establish a thoroughly good strain of blue-eyed Persians. Her celebrated ‘White Friar’ (now in the possession of Mrs Finnie Young and Miss Hunt) is justly considered the finest male specimen in the fancy. Certainly he could only have been beaten by his son ‘White Tsar’, bred by Mrs Champion from her ‘White Witch’. This cat, which assuredly would have had a notable career, was sold by Mrs Champion for £20 to Mrs Colburn, in America. He arrived in poor condition and died shortly afterwards.” ¹⁰ The ‘Champion’ family move finally came in the latter part of 1901, and their arrival in the United States was reported ‘back home’ in the 16th November issue of ‘Our Cats’:“Mrs Champion and her family have arrived in New York, per S.S. Cymric and have caused quite a flutter in catty circles across the water, their advent being heralded by exclusive telegrams in the New York Herald and Field and Fancy, our enterprising trans-Atlantic contemporaries. They took out with them eleven cats and four Pomeranians.” ²⁴ Mrs Champion and her daughters, Dorothy Bevill Champion and Ethel R.B. Champion were all heavily involved in the affairs of the growing Fancy in the United States. All three acted as judges in the early American fancy at the beginning of the new century.

Ethel was for a time the Registrar (Recorder) for the Cat Fanciers’ Association, later moving allegiance to the Cat Fanciers Federation. Dorothy Bevill Champion is best known for her classic work, ‘Everybody’s Cat Book’, which was published in New York, in 1909.

Returning to ‘White Friar’, we have Mrs Hunt comments relative to his career after he changed hands: -

Cattery advertisement for Mrs A. Finnie Young of Dunblane, including ‘Champion White Friar’ From: ‘Cats: Show and Pet’ (1903) by C.A. House.⁴² Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection.

“Since Mrs Finnie Young and I purchased ‘White Friar’ in 1900, whites have become much more plentiful in Scotland, and the competition is now very keen indeed up North. ‘White Friar’ has had a very successful career since he came into our hands, both as sire and on the show bench, and can still hold his own against all comers. He has won sixteen first prizes since 1900, besides championships and numerous specials.” ¹⁰

Two medals from a collection of eight owned by Miss Hunt, two of which were won by ‘White Friar,’ a Silver pictured, and a Bronze, both awarded by the Scottish Cat Club. The belt includes three Silver Medals won by Miss Hunt’s Blue Persian male, ‘Ch. Blue Jacket’, two from the National Cat Club and one from the Scottish Cat Club.

Medals and their photos, form part of the Cat Fancy Heritage Section of The Harrison Weir Collection.

KNOWN SHOW WINS – BREEDING & PROGENY: Wins listed in the National Cat Club Register, Vol.5 include: Crystal Palace – 1898; 2 Firsts, Championship, 2 Challenge Trophies, a 2nd and 8 Specials.

Brighton NCC – 1899; 1st, 2nd and Championship.

Holloway – 1899; 2nd. Botanic 1899; 3rd.

The below wins were gained after he became the property of Miss Hunt and Mrs Finnie Young and are taken from show reports published in ‘Our Cats’: (OC:17/12/1904) “At Kilmarnock Show on March 30th, Mr Colin Campbell judged. ‘Ch. White Friar’ and ‘Withnell Masterpiece’ won as best long-hair and short-hair respectively.” ²⁵ (OC:17/12/1904) “Falkirk Show was held on April 7th. Mr Mackintosh judged, and ‘Ch. White Friar’ and ‘Withnell Masterpiece’ again took premier positions.” ²⁵ Among the most famous of ‘Champion White Friar’s’ progeny are those that came from a classic breeding to Mrs Hunt’s ‘Champion Crystal’, who was at the time, considered to be the best blue-eyed white female in the country.

‘Crystal’ was herself bred by Mr. A. Gearn, in 1898, sired by Miss Hunt’s own award-winning Blue Persian male, ‘Champion Blue Jacket’ and Mr. Gearn’s white female, ‘Lilywhite’ (aka ‘Lily White’) whose sire was a white imported male, direct from Persia, known as ‘Emperor’ (aka White Emperor).‘Crystal’ was bought by Miss Mary Hunt, when she was exhibited as a kitten at the Crystal Palace Show of that year. From Frances Simpson’s ‘The Book of the Cat’ we have Miss Hunt’s own description of the purchase, (as at 1903).

Mrs Hunt’s ‘Champion Crystal’. Photo: C. Reid, Wishaw. Russian Postcard ⁸ Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

“I bought Crystal in 1898, when only four months old and she certainly has been a good investment.

Out of the sixteen white kittens she has had, ten of them have been blue-eyed.” * The NCC studbook under the registration details for Crystal, records her wins at the Crystal Palace in 1898, winning both a 1st and a 3rd. Miss Hunt goes on to say of Crystal’s winning ways: “Crystal herself has only been once by a white cat,and that had not even blue eyes; but she was in splendid coat, and Crystal was quite out of coat. Most judges are agreed, I think, that ‘Crystal’ is the best blue-eyed white female in the country.”

From this combination, in a number of litters, came ‘Ladysmith’, owned by Mrs McLaren Morrison, ‘White Butterfly’ owned by Miss White Atkins, ‘Blue-Eyed Edelweiss’,(aka Edelweiss of Kensington) owned by Miss Kerswill, ‘Ch. Purity’ owned by Miss Ava Pollard (USA), ‘Jovial Monk’ owned by Miss Ward, ‘White Friar II’ owned by Edwenia Baxter., ‘Crystal Friar’ owned by Mrs Champion, and a little known queen named ‘Snowbelle’ also owned by Mrs White Atkins.

Some of the early breedings were thwarted with disaster, but in time, a healthy dynastic line was firmly established from this unique combination on both sides of the Atlantic. The “White Friar” lines and especially those from a combination which included ‘Crystal’, remained highly sought after. Miss Hunt further explains: “The very best kitten I owned was never exhibited; he went to Mrs Champion, who considered him the best and healthiest kitten for his age she had ever seen. Unfortunately he died shortly after she had him. He was by ‘Champion White Friar’ ex ‘Crystal’ and was one of the same litter as ‘Jovial Monk’ which did winning for Miss Ward, who purchased him from me at the Crystal Palace, where he took first.” ¹⁰

‘Champion Crystal’ featured in period advertising.

Left: for ‘The Animals’ Guardian, and Right: for ‘Cadbury’s Cocoa’.

Images courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

“The very best kitten I owned was never exhibited; he went to Mrs Champion, who considered him the best and healthiest kitten for his age she had ever seen. Unfortunately he died shortly after she had him. He was by ‘Champion White Friar’ ex ‘Crystal’ and was one of the same litter as ‘Jovial Monk’ which did winning for Miss Ward, who purchased him from me at the Crystal Palace, where he took first.” ¹⁰ Miss Simpson herself enlarges upon the progeny of “White Friar” and remarks about a kitten she had seen from him, and may in fact have been referring to the same kitten described by Miss Hunt.

“I remember seeing an absolutely perfect white Persian kitten at Mrs Champion’s. It was by ‘White Friar’ ex ‘Crystal’. He had startling deep blue eyes, tiny ears, and broad, round head, and at nine weeks old his coat measured nearly three inches across. Alas! Though healthy and strong, this proved to be too perfect a specimen for this world, and ‘Crystal Friar’ succumbed to the epidemic of gastritis then raging among our feline pets.” ¹⁰ Other famous whites sired by ‘Champion White Friar’ but out of alternative queens, included Mrs Everett M. Davis’ ‘White Friar Junior’(USR:94), (Imported in Dam), out of ‘White Lilac’.

‘White Friar Junior’ in his turn was the sire of ‘White Friar III’(USR:304), out of ‘Little Miss Eiger’(USR:436), and ‘Oberon’(King of the Friars)(USR:480), out of ‘Cricket’. This ‘Oberon’ should not be confused with the English born ‘Ch. Oberon’ (CFA:1558), owned by Miss Ava Pollard, a blueeyed white son of ‘White Knight’ out of ‘Edelweiss of Kensington’(Blue-Eyed Edelweiss) by ‘White Friar’ and out of ‘Crystal’.

‘Ladysmith’ owned by Mrs McLaren Morrison. ‘Ch. White Friar’ x ‘Ch. Crystal’ Photo: C.Reid, Wishaw. ‘The Book of The Cat’ (1903) by Frances Simpson ¹⁰

Other prominent sons were Mrs W. Eames Colburn’s ‘Blue-Eyed Sirdar’(USR:96), out of ‘Snowflake’, and Mrs Florence Champion’s ‘White Tsar’ (ACA:133), out of ‘White Witch’. ‘Blue-Eyed Sirdar’ was the sire of Miss Emma Austin’s ‘Sir Friar’ (ACA:336), and ‘White Tsar’, was to become the sire of Mrs Champion’s ‘White Tsar II’ (BCC:1022), who was the basis of establishing a new dynastic line of whites, some from outcross lines and others by doubling back on his famous grandsire ‘White Friar’.

‘Sir Friar’ was also in turn the sire of Mrs Davidson’s ‘Columbine White Friar’ (ACA:841), out of the prize-winning white female, ‘Ch. Maid of Avenal’.

One catalyst in this process was another daughter of ‘Champion White Friar’ called ‘White Friar’s Daughter’ (ACA:92), bred by Mrs Horsman in England and owned by Mrs Champion. She was the product of an outcross to a female named ‘Nonna’(blue lines). ‘White Friar’s Daughter’ was the dam of Mrs Champion’s male ‘White Tsarevitch’ (by White Tsar II), and to add to possible confusion, a female from this breeding also named ‘White Tsar’ (ACA:93) but fortunately nick-named ‘Miss Bob White’!

‘White Tsar II’ (BCC:1022) was also used by Miss Ava Pollard over her ‘Ch. Purity’, one of the most successful and decorated daughters of ‘Champion White Friar’ and ‘Champion Crystal’. This produced Miss Pollard’s famous ‘White Monk’(ACA:246), a full brother ‘White Tassell’ (ACA:808) and a female ‘White Deutzia’ (ACA:245).

So now, let’s look at ‘Champion White Friar’s’ progeny out of ‘Champion Crystal’. Firstly ‘Ladysmith’, (born 17th October, 1899), bred by Miss Mary Hunt and sold to Mrs McLaren Morrison.

‘The White Butterfly’ owned by Miss White Atkins. ‘Ch. White Friar’ x ‘Ch. Crystal’ Photo: E.E. Lipputt, Leamington. ‘The Book of The Cat’ (1903) by Frances Simpson. ¹⁰

Mrs McLaren Morrison, who was known to be a very great admirer of Whites, and who had also imported a good number from eastern origins over a many years, was quick to establish her own lines based upon ‘White Friar’ with the purchase of ‘Ladysmith’, whom she then regularly bred back to her famous sire. From these breedings came the following progeny and sire siblings: ‘LADYSMITH’

(in a litter born 12th November, 1902)

‘AZALEA’, blue-eyed white female, possibly retained by Mrs. McLaren Morrison. (OC:28/Feb/1903) ‘CHRYSANTHEMUM’, blue-eyed white female, retained by Mrs. McLaren Morrison? (OC:28/Feb/1903) ‘THE WHITE COON’, blue-eyed white female, sold to Miss Aileen S.D. HuttonBalfour.(OC:21/Mar/1903) (in a litter born 28th April, 1903) ‘AYLIFFE’, blue-eyed white female, possibly retained by Mrs. McLaren Morrison. (OC:29/Aug/1903) ‘DEARIE’, blue-eyed white neutered male, (OC:29/Aug/1903) wrongly listed under ‘Blacks’ NCC Regns.

‘FLY’, blue-eyed white neutered male, (OC:29/Aug/1903).

‘MERRYLEA’, blue-eyed white female, possibly retained by Mrs. McLaren Morrison. (OC:22/Aug/1903) ‘MUSCARI’, blue-eyed white female, held/exhibited by Mrs. McLaren Morrison. (MCCC:1905/1906).

‘WOOSCHEUKA’, a blue-eyed white male, sold to Mrs C. Baxter. (in a litter born 23rd March, 1904) ‘CRICKET’, blue-eyed white male, presumably retained by Mrs McLaren Morrison. (OC:16 th/July/1904).

‘WHITE BUTTERFLY’ (aka ‘The White Butterfly), blue-eyed white female, born in 1899. No progeny of record.

Bred by Miss Mary Hunt, from ‘White Friar’ and ‘Crystal’ ‘The White Butterfly’ was owned by Miss White Atkins. In an article about Miss White Atkins cats, in ‘The Country’ (c1908), we find this commentary: -

Miss Nora Kerswill’s ‘Blue-Eyed Edelweiss’ - ‘Ch. White Friar’ x ‘Ch. Crystal’ Photo: ‘Our Cats’ Magazine, 19th December (1903) ³⁸ Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection.

“‘The White Knight’ is understandably the king of the cats as far as his owner’s affections and possessions go, but there are plenty of rivals near his throne, of whom the ‘White Butterfly’ is not least. Her picture, taken at an early age, no longer does her full justice, but the sweetness of her expression, her short cherubic face, tiny ears and immense coat – which by the way, is of a peculiarly fine hairy texture – are sufficiently evident, only needing the charm of life in the exquisite contrast of deep turquoise eyes and snowy garment. The texture of her coat, is an inheritance from her sire, ‘Champion White Friar’, who is said to have been an Indian cat, and as such possessed of this characteristic.” ¹⁶ ‘BLUE-EYED EDELWEISS’ (Born June 1899) and often also referred to as ‘Edelweiss of Kensington’ As may be evidenced in the register of the Independent Cat Fanciers Association of Great Britain, (known as the ICFAGB), where Miss Kerswill registered a number of her cats during the critical period of strife in 1909, between the failing National Cat Club and the establishment of the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy in 1910; we find a registration record, for Miss Kerswill’s ‘Edelweiss of Kensington’ with the date of birth as June, 1899, and her breeder as Miss Hunt.

It is also significant to note that a son ‘Peter Pan of Kensington’ also appears in this register, born 1st April, 1909, indicating that ‘Edelweiss’ was still breeding proficiently at the age of almost 10 years! Originally registered as ‘Blue-Eyed Edelweiss’, her new name would have been taken up upon her purchase by Miss Kerswill.

‘Champion Purity’ owned by Miss Ava Pollard (Omar Cattery). ‘Ch. White Friar’ x ‘Ch. Crystal’ Photo: A. Radclyffe Dugmore. ‘Country Life in America’, Sept.1908 ¹¹ Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

Amongst her noted progeny may be counted ‘Una of Kensington’ (NCC:3020) born 7th March, 1902, sired by ‘White Knight’, who was retained by Miss Kerswill. ‘Una’ was herself bred directly to ‘White Friar’, producing the blue-eyed white female ‘White Blossom of Kensington’(OC: 17/Apr/1902).

‘Oberon’ (NCC1498A)(CFA:1558v4), also sired by ‘White Knight’ who was duly exported as a future stud to Miss Ava Pollard, in Elizabeth, New Jersey; ‘Immaculata of Kensington’ (NCC:5570), sired by ‘White Hussar of the Midlands’, who in her turn became the dam of ‘Sir Launcelot of Kensington’ (ACA:834), similarly exported to Miss Ava Pollard; the female ‘Edelena of Kensington’,(ICFAGB) born 5th April, 1908, sired by ‘Addisham Prince Blue Eyes’; and the male ‘Peter Pan of Kensington’ (ICFAGB) born 1st April, 1909.

‘CH. PURITY’ Born 16th February 1901. A blue-eyed white female bred by Miss Mary Hunt and originally sold to Mrs Toothill, (OC:26/April/1902) (BCC:741).

‘Purity’ was duly exported to the United States, becoming the property of Miss Ava Pollard, of Madison Ave, Elizabeth, New Jersey. She was ultimately the most successful of all the daughters of ‘Ch. Crystal’, accumulating 47 prizes and numerous trophies. She was also a highly profitable breeding queen, producing amongst others, the yellow eyed male ‘Ch. White Monk’,(6th April,1903) (ACA:246); his yellow-eyed litter brother ‘White Tassell’,(ACA:808; ‘the odd-eyed white female ‘White Deutzia’, (4th April, 1904) (ACA:245); and the stunning blue-eyed white female ‘Ch. Puritana’, (23rd March, 1905)(ACA:292); followed by another blue-eyed white female named ‘Purity II’, (20th September, 1906)(ACA:333).

Above: Stud advertisement for ‘WHITE FRIAR II’ owned by Mrs Edwenia Baxter.

‘Our Cats’ Magazine, December 5, 1903 ¹³

Right: ‘SNOWBELLE’ owned by Miss White Atkins ‘Ch. White Friar’ x ‘Ch. Crystal’ Photo: ‘The Cat Manual’ (1902) by Dick Whittington ¹⁴

‘WHITE FRIAR II’ Born 16th February 1901. A blue-eyed white male bred by Miss Mary Hunt and originally sold to Mrs Edwenia Baxter. Litter brother to the female, ‘Purity’. Although we have no image to share of him, we can reference a short notice given about him from ‘Our Cats’, accompanied by his first stud advertisement (Above).

“Mrs Baxter is placing ‘White Friar II’ at stud in our columns, and wisely chooses this time to bring him before the notice of the public, as his recent win at the Palace is fresh in the minds of all. He has only been shown four times, and three times out of the four has taken first prize. White Friar II resembles his sire in never having sired a coloured kitten. He is litter brother to ‘Purity’, who made such a sensation in America, and will be not be three years old until February.”

‘SNOWBELLE’ Blue-eyed white queen. Date of birth unknown.

No records can be found for this daughter of ‘Ch. White Friar’ and ‘Ch. Crystal’, other than her image and caption, which confirms her parentage and her ownership, as the property of Miss White Atkins, the owner of ‘White Knight.’ Nor have we yet found any evidence of progeny. Her charming face is very reminiscent of her full sister, Miss White Atkins’ ‘White Butterfly’.

Other progeny from a pairing of ‘Ch. White Friar’ and ‘Ch. Crystal’ for whom we do not currently have images include: ‘LADY WHITE’ Born 17th October 1899. A blue-eyed white female bred by Miss Mary Hunt and owned

by Mr J.C. Dunkley. (MCCC:1902). However, she also appears in the ownership of R. Moffett in the NCC Registrations for Whites published in ‘Our Cats’ 26th April 1902.

‘SNOWDROP’ Born 9th July, 1900. A blue-eyed white male, bred and owned by Miss Mary Hunt, included in NCC Registrations published in ‘Our Cats’, 26th April,1902.

JOVIAL MONK (aka. The Jovial Monk), owned by Miss F. Ward Cover Photo: ‘Our Cats’ Magazine, January 19, 1901 ⁴⁴ The Harrison Weir Collection

‘THE JOVIAL MONK’ Born 9th July 1900. A blue-eyed white male, bred by Miss Mary Hunt, and owned by Miss Fanny Ward, daughter of the much-respected Veterinarian, Mr. A. Ward of Longsight. Litter brother to the afore-mentioned ‘Snowdrop’. Winner of Five firsts, and Seven Specials as a kitten, in 1900.

‘ST. MUNGO’ Born 9th July 1900. A blue-eyed white male, bred and owned by Miss Mary Hunt. A litter brother to those immediately above. (OC:08/Dec/1900).

WHITE FRIAR’S PROGENY FROM OTHER QUEENS: Now we look at the celebrated progeny of ‘Ch. White Friar’, from queens other than ‘Ch. Crystal’!

From Mrs Champion’s ‘WHITE WITCH’ (in a litter born 25th September 1898) ‘WHITE TSAR’, a blue-eyed white male. (ACA:133). Bred and owned by Mrs Champion. His dam, ‘White Witch’(CCR), by ‘Punch’ out of ‘Stella’. Sire of: ‘White Tsar II’ (BCC:1022), an odd- eyed white male bred by Mrs. Pritchard, taken by Mrs Champion, when emigrating to America. ‘White Star II’ was the sire of ‘White Tsarevitch’(M) and ‘White Star’(F), both out of ‘White Friar’s Daughter’. Sire of: ‘The Welsh King’(ACA:131), a blue-eyed white male, the sire of ‘Ch. Y Brenin Gwyn of Arrandale’(Imp.UK) (in a litter born 14th April 1900) ‘KENSINGTON WHITE NYMPH’, a blue-eyed white female. (OC:08/Dec/1900) One of the last litters bred by the Misses Champion before emigrating to the United States. Owner: Mr Frank Abbott.

‘WHITE FRIAR JR’ owned by Mrs Everett Davis, Chicago. ‘Ch. White Friar’ x ‘White Lilac’ Photo: ‘Captain Kidd Jr and Sinbad The Sailor’ (1908) by Caro Senour ¹⁵

From Miss Kirkpatrick’s ‘WHITE LILAC’ (In a litter born 19th April 1900) ‘AVRIL’, a blue-eyed white neuter, retained by Miss Kirkpatrick. (CCR) (In a litter born 26th June 1901) ‘WHITE FRIAR JUNIOR’,(BCC:432) Odd-Eyed White male, imported in dam into the United States when Miss Kirkpatrick, the owner of his dam ‘White Lilac’ bred her queen to ‘Champion White Friar’ and then sent her in kitten to Mrs Everett Davis, in Chicago.His entry in Volume II of the Beresford Cat Club Register clearly states, ‘bred in England, born in America’.

From ‘Captain Kidd Jr and Sinbad The Sailor’ by Caro Senour, published in 1908 comes a few short excerpts of historical significance about the origins of ‘White Friar Jr’: “‘White Friar Junior’ came across the Atlantic Ocean with his lovely mother, ‘Madam White Lilac,’ in 1901. He has what is known as ‘odd’ eyes. That is, one eye bright blue while the other is golden in color…This Junior’s father was ‘Champion White Friar’ of England, a beautiful blue-eyed Persian, with perfect hearing, which is not always the case with white, blue-eyed, long-haired cats, for many of them are deaf.” ¹⁵ Then a description is given of ‘White Friar Junior’s’ coat: “His body-coat measures 5 ¾ inches in the longest places, and this, with his plume, which is something like an ostrich feather, are his chief attractions. This tail-plume measures twelve inches across.” ¹⁵ ‘White Friar Junior’(USR:94) in his turn, is the sire of both ‘White Friar III’(USR: 304), out of ‘Little Miss Eiger’(USR:436), and ‘Oberon’(King of the Friars)(USR:480), out of ‘Cricket’.

‘KUISHAH’ (Imp.), dam of ‘Beautiful Spring’ by ‘Ch. White Friar’ Photo: Mrs Leslie Williams. ‘The Country’ (c.1908) ¹⁶

From Miss A. Lockhart Robertson’s ‘CELIA OF HULLERHURST’ A copper-eyed white female, born 26th June, 1902. Bred by Mrs Pettit, sired by ‘King of the Pearls’ and out of ‘Stanstead Lily’.

(In a litter born 28th May, 1903) ‘ALISTER OF HULLERHURST’, blue-eyed white male, owned by: Miss L. Robertson. (OC:12/Nov/1904) ‘IAN OF HULLERHURST’, blue-eyed white male, owned by Miss A. L. Robertson. (OC:03/Oct/1903) (In a litter born 4th June, 1904) ‘PRESENT FASHION’, blue-eyed white female, owned by Mr Jas. Reid. (OC:12/Nov/1904) ‘THE ABBOT’, a blue-eyed white male, bred and retained by Miss A. Robertson.

(In a litter born 7th November, 1904) ‘SPINDRIFT’, blue-eyed white female, bred by Miss A. L. Robertson and exported to Mrs. Ferguson, of Denver, Colorado. (ACA:399) From Miss Nora Kerswill’s ‘KUISHAH’(IMP) (aka ‘KINSHAH’). ‘Kuishah’ was an odd-eyed white with one blue and one green eye. She was imported from the orient, and her name in the native tongue translates as ‘the young person’. She was imported and owned by Miss White Atkins, but also bred by Miss Nora Kerswill. Miss Atkins bred her to ‘White Knight to produce Mrs Robinson’s ‘Zephyrine’, who took a championship and two firsts at a Manchester show of the National Cat Club. Miss Kerswill however, bred her to ‘Ch. White Friar’.

(In a litter born 1st, April, 1903) ‘BEAUTIFUL SPRING’, a blue-eyed white female, bred by Miss Nora Kerswill, and sold to Ellen Woodhouse. (OC:20/Jun/1903) Although we have no image of ‘Beautiful Spring’ we do have an image of her dam ‘Kuishah’. (Above)

‘Columbine White Friar’, a grandson of ‘Blue-Eyed Sirdar’ (by ‘White Friar’) Photo: ‘Everybody’s Cat Book’ (1909) by Dorothy Bevill Champion. ¹⁷

From Mrs Bryson’s ‘SNOWFLAKE’ (In a litter born 19th March, 1901) ‘BLUE-EYED SIRDAR’, a blue-eyed white male, bred by Mrs Bryson and owned by Miss A. Finnie Young. (OC:07/Feb/1903). ‘Blue-Eyed Sirdar’ was eventually exported to the United States, to Mrs W. Eames Colburn of the ‘Brushwood’ cattery. He became the sire of Miss Emma Austin’s ‘Sir Friar’ (ACA:336), and ‘Sir Friar’, was in his turn the sire of Mrs Lillian E. Davidson’s ‘Columbine White Friar’, (above) out of the exceptional dam, ‘Ch. Maid of Avenal’.

‘BLUE-EYED PRINCE’, a blue-eyed white male, (date of birth unconfirmed) but a full sibling to ‘Blue-Eyed Sirdar’.(Appears in ACAv3,pg13), as the sire of ‘Rokeles Blue-Eyed Bloke’, in the pedigree of ‘Sir Launcelot of Kensington’(ACA:834).

When ‘Blue-Eyed Sirdar’ was exported, a small news item appeared in the 3rd October, 1903 issue of ‘Our Cats’ about the collection of studs at Mrs Colburn’s ‘Brushwood’ cattery, under the heading ‘A Fine American Stud’. It reads: “Mrs W.E. Colburn, of Chicago has recently imported ‘The Blue-Eyed Sirdar’, a son of ‘Champion White Friar’, bred by Mrs Bryson of Edinburgh. Miss Frances Simpson’s ‘Persimmon II’, has also recently joined the Brushwood cattery and ‘Blue Jacket IV’ is soon expected. ‘Blackberry Fawe’ has been sold, as Mrs Colburn makes a specialty of stud cats and kennel service. She undoubtedly possesses the largest and finest stud of Persian cats in the United States. ‘Paris’ and ‘Blue-Eyed Sirdar’ represent whites; ‘Blackthorn’ blacks; ‘Torrington Red Knight’, reds; ‘Persimmon II’, brown tabbies; ‘Lui’, chinchillas, and two of the finest blues to be had in England are on the way.” ²⁷

Miss A. Pollard’s ‘Periwinkle’ and ‘Blue-Eyed Fairy’ (granddaughter of ‘White Friar’) Photo: ‘Country Life In America’ (1908) ⁴ᶾ The Harrison Weir Collection.

From Mr Ernest Smith’s ‘DUSKY BEAUTY’ (In a litter born 9th April 1899) ‘CHISWICK SNOWFLAKE’, (NCC: 3011) a blue-eyed white female, bred by Mr. Ernest Smith, and owned by Mrs Mills. An apparently typey female, with a mixed color pedigree, Snowflake’s dam ‘Dusky Beauty’ was probably a black smoke, as she was by the Chinchilla ‘Lord Argent’, a son of ‘Silver Lambkin’ and out of ‘Princess Nicotine’. ‘Chiswick Snowflake’ gained two firsts, a Championship and five specials at the Crystal Palace Show of 1899.

‘CHISWICK SNOWBALL’, (CCRv4), likely to have been another blue-eyed white female, and probable litter sister to the above ‘Snowflake’, ‘Snowball’ was sold to Mr. Minahane. She is listed as the dam of the silver female ‘Barnes Starlight’, (born 22nd April 1900), bred by Mr. Minahane and owned by Miss Florence Slatter. Note: The ‘Chiswick’ cattery name is taken from the suburb of Chiswick in West London, where both Mr Ernest Smith and Mrs Florence Champion resided while she remained in England.

From Mrs S.E.Horman’s celebrated orange-eyed blue female ‘NONNA’ (In a litter born September 1900) ‘WHITE FRIAR’S DAUGHTER’, (ACA:92) an odd-eyed white female, sold to Mrs Florence Champion, whom she subsequently imported into the United States with her when she emigrated to New York.

Mated to ‘White Tsar II) an odd-eyed White grandson of ‘White Friar’, she produced the orangeeyed white queen ‘White Star’ (aka Miss Bob White) in 1903, and the blue-eyed white male, ‘White Tsarevitch’, in 1904.

From Mrs S.E.Horsman’s ‘MISS PUSSIE’ (In a litter born 30th April 1900) ‘WHITE ABBESS’, a blue-eyed white female, originally sold to Mrs E.E. Baxter. The ‘White Abbess’ then appears to have been passed to Mrs E.G. Rock, who bred her to the ‘White Knight’ to produce the ‘Blue-Eyed Fairy’. This female, who combined the lines of two of the greatest whites in England was subsequently exported to the ‘Omar’ cattery of Miss Ava Pollard. She is registered as ‘Omar Blue-Eyed Fairy’.(BCC:742)

‘CHAMPION WHITE FRIAR’ (formerly ‘Tim of Redgrave) Photo: ‘Windsor Magazine’ (1899) ³ The Harrison Weir Collection

From Mrs Pettit’s ‘BEAUTIFUL PEARL’ (In a litter born 1st September 1903) ‘PIQUANTE PEARL II’, a blue-eyed white female, retained by Mrs Pettit. This female was bred back to her dam’s half-brother, ‘Picturesque Pearl II’ to produce ‘King of the Pearls III’ a blue-eyed white male who was exported to Mr. F.G.Hasselman, of Indianapolis, Indiana. His registration (ACA:375), is clearly notated: ‘Deep blue eyes’.

From Mrs MacKenzie Stewart’s ‘WHITE NUN’ (In a litter born 18th May, 1901) ‘WHITE NUN’S GIRL’, a blue-eyed white female, retained by Mrs. MacKenzie Stewart. (CCRv5) ‘NUN’S BOY’, a blue-eyed white male, who also appears to have been retained by Mrs. MacKenzie Stewart. (CCRv5).

There are of course, many more, but the above will certainly suffice to show the extent of ‘White Friar’s’ influence on the Persian breed on the American continent in particular, as well as in England. Other exports of grandsons, and great-grandsons provided invaluable line-breeding and outcrossing. Just one such example is ‘Sir Launcelot of Kensington’ (ACA:834), a blue-eyed white male born 28th March, 1908. He was bred by Miss Nora G. Kerswill in England and exported to Miss Ava Pollard of the Omar Cattery in Elizabeth, New Jersey. His sire was ‘Rokeles Blue Eyed Bloke’ who through ‘Belle Vue Blue Eyed Prince, was himself a grandson of the ‘White Friar’. His dam, ‘Immaculata of Kensington’ was a grand-daughter of ‘White Friar’ via her dam, ‘Edelweiss’; but also brought in outcross lines via her sire, ‘White Hussar of the Midlands, a grandson of ‘Aurora’, a white female imported directly from Thibet.

If ever there was a case for how an experienced eye can spot hidden potential and then through hard work, due diligence and care, draw out that potential for the benefit of many, the story of ‘Tim of Redgrave’ and his transformation into the world-renown ‘White Friar’, would certainly qualify as one of the prime examples.

Through the timely advice of Mr Fred Gresham, and the agency and energy of Mrs Florence Champion, the world of the white Persian was given a truly amazing and lasting legacy, that may never have seen the light of day.

Mrs Champion’s excellent decision to leave him in the United Kingdom in the careful stewardship of Miss Hunt and Mrs Young, upon her emigration to the United States, continued to ensure the flow of his bloodlines in both countries. She certainly demonstrated on many occasions, her ability to make well-considered decisions under pressure, as evidenced by her quick action in acquiring ‘Tim of Redgrave’, in deciding to leave the ‘White Friar’ in England, in choosing to take with her to the United States, his odd-eyed Grandson and odd-eyed daughter to re-establish his lines in the United States, whilst also juggling an amazing and influential bevvy of Silvers and Chinchillas, that would, as the ‘Argent’ cattery, become world famous in its own right.

It would be fair to say, that both she and her daughters Dorothy Bevill, and Ethel R.B. Champion and their ship’s cargo of eleven cats, were together, one of the most influential single ‘feline’ export packages ever to leave England for the United States!

The key lesson here is that ‘potential’ is in the eye of the beholder. To have the knowledge and ability to pull out that potential takes dedication, skill and a lot of determined love. ‘White Friar’ is possibly one of the best examples of just that sort of dedication and skill, one which we can only hope, will continue to be emulated by future generations of cat fanciers.

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‘Our Cats’ Magazine, 15th March 1902.

‘Rabbits, Cats and Cavies’ (1903) by Charles H. Lane.

‘Windsor Magazine’, 1899.

‘Our Cats’ Magazine, 19th March 1904.

‘Dog Shows and Doggy People’ (1902) by Charles H. Lane ‘The Lady’s Realm’ August 1900.

‘Harmsworth’ Magazine, 1900.

Russian Postcard, ‘Crystal’ Photo: C.Reid, Wishaw.

English Postcard, ‘Crystal’ Photo: C.Reid, Wishaw.

‘The Book of The Cat’ (1903) by Frances Simpson.

‘Country Life in America’, September 1908.

‘Stud Book & Register of The Cat Fanciers Association’ (V.1).

‘Our Cats’ Magazine, 5th December 1903.

‘The Cat Manual’ (1902) by Dick Whittington.

‘Captain Kidd Jr & Sinbad The Sailor’ (1908) by Caro Senour ‘The Country’ Magazine, (c.1908) ‘Everybody’s Cat Book’ (1909) by Dorothy Bevill Champion.

A Rotary Photo ‘Birthday’ Postcard.

‘The National Cat Club Stud Book and Register’ (Vols 1-5) ‘Our Cats’ Magazine, 31st October 1903.

‘Stud Book and Register of The Beresford Cat Club’ (Vls.1-4) ‘Stud Book of The American Cat Association’, (Vols 1-3)

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‘Our Cats’ Magazine, November 1903.

‘Our Cats’ Magazine, 16th November 1901.

‘Our Cats’ Magazine, 17th December 1904.

‘U.S. Register and Stud Book for Cats’ (1906).

‘Our Cats’ Magazine, 3rd October 1903.

‘The Cat Club Register’ (Vols1-5) ‘Catalogues of the Midland Counties CC’ 1902, 1905, 1906 ‘Our Cats’ Magazine, 8th December 1900.

‘Our Cats’ Magazine, 20th April 1902.

‘Our Cats’ Magazine, 7th February 1903.

‘Our Cats’ Magazine, 28th February 1903.

‘Our Cats’ Magazine, 21st March 1903.

‘Our Cats’ Magazine, 20th June 1903.

‘Our Cats’ Magazine, 22nd August 1903.

‘Our Cats’ Magazine, 29th August 1903.

‘Our Cats’ Magazine, 19th December 1903.

‘Our Cats’ Magazine, 16th July 1904.

‘Our Cats’ Magazine, 12th November 1904.

‘Incorporated CFA of Great Britain’(1909) Registrations.

‘Cats: Show and Pet’ (1903) by C.A. House.

‘Country Life in America’ (1908) ‘Our Cats’ Magazine, 19th January 1901 23. Photos and Quotations as per credits noted.

We wish you a Meowy Christmas…

Congratulations to all of our

A big ‘thank-you’ to all of our readers and followers who took the time to enter our seasonal Christmas photo competition. Out of the many entries submitted, our judges could sadly of course, not place everyone, but did manage to choose 8 finalists as contenders for the overall winner. As two contestants managed to get TWO out of a maximum of six entries per person into the final, we have decided to provide them with an additional month’s full subscription to Felis Historica, in honour of their exemplary success. These were Karen Beyers and Alexandra Dorstewitz.

The overall competition winner was Julie Stanaway, with her splendid candid action shot of a Sphynx kitten enjoying all that at atmosphere of Christmas in the home could provide!

Hearty Congratulations to all our finalists! – You will be hearing from us very soon!

HIGHLY COMMENDED 2nd in CATEGORY SHORTHAIR TABBY & WHITE

‘SQUEAK’ Alexandra Dorstewitz “A great still shot with clarity and depth of field.

We wish you a Meowy Christmas…

‘MY LITTLE CHINCHILLA FAMILY’ – Janka Smith A delightful grouping of kittens framed in the trappings and spirit of Christmas!

CATEGORY WINNER PHOTOSHOP SANTA

Article graphics www.gograph.com

We wish you a Meowy Christmas…

‘TESSA’ (Cream Persian) Cynthia Burnett Totally relaxed in her Christmas bonnet!

CATEGORY WINNER SHORTHAIR SANTA

CATEGORY WINNER LONGHAIR SANTA

‘RUDI-BLUE’ (Russian Blue) Kathie McGuire Perfectly at home sporting his Santa outfit!

We wish you a Meowy Christmas…

CATEGORY WINNER SHORTHAIR TABBY & WHITE

‘SEBASTIAN’ Karen Beyers “Excellent shot with kitten Engaged in the fun!

CATEGORY WINNER SHORTHAIR BLACK & WHITE

‘JUMPIN JEHOSECAT’ Karen Beyers “Another Excellent shot with kitten content to play ‘Mr Cool!”

We wish you a Meowy Christmas…

CATEGORY WINNER LONGHAIR TABBY

‘BUBL’ Alexandra Dorstewitz A well composed photo with good depth of field, catching the kitten, while alert and energised!

We wish you a Meowy Christmas…

CATEGORY WINNER CANDID ACTION

‘POPPY’ Julie Stanaway

Captures a candid moment of fun where a family pet partakes in the seasonal joys of Christmas!

BEST IN COMPETITION PRIZE WINNER

DO YOU‌ ..have an interest in the history of cats?

..want to know the early history of your breed? ..wish you could see trophies of the past? ..enjoy reading catalogues from early cat shows? ..care about the preservation of early pedigree records?

..hope that artifacts are saved for future generations?

SUPPORT The CFA Foundation’s Feline Historical Museum!

Donations to The CFA Foundation, whether they be monetary archival or estate donations, all help to maintain YOUR museum.

The CFA Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organisation and all contributions are deductible for Federal income, gift and estate tax purposes.

THE CFA FOUNDATION, PO Box 2155, Alliance, OH 44601 330-680-4444 www.FelineHistoricalFoundation.org

MR. FRED GRESHAM (1838-1920) From ‘Dog Shows and Doggy People’ (1900) by Charles H. Lane.

Photo: W.Pugh, Liverpool

Mr. Fred Gresham

BY

JOHN SMITHSON

DOG BREEDER & DOG JUDGE COLUMNIST & AUTHOR CAT FANCIER & CAT JUDGE Selections from the Historical Records in The Harrison Weir Collection

Even amongst well-read cat fanciers who might consider themselves as history buffs, the name of Frederick Gresham will not necessarily be as familiar as the many other judges of cats over the succeeding generations.

His name has somewhat paled in significance alongside those which are usually better referenced, such as Mr. Harrison Weir, his brother John Jenner Weir, then later Miss Frances Simpson and contemporaries such as Mr. T.B. Mason. He was however, an extremely popular and respected judge of cats in the 1890’s and early 1900’s, with a well-practiced eye for conformation.

When the first organised cat shows were launched in 1871, beginning with the Crystal Palace Show suggested

by Harrison Weir, there were of course, no cat judges per se. Expertise therefore was drawn from a wide range of either cage-bird, dog, small animal and/or poultry disciplines.

It is easy to forget that at that time, there were very few cats known by a specific breed name, and that of itself, was almost wholly reliant on the place of origin.

A portrait of Mr. Fred Gresham when judging a Dog Show in Edinburgh in 1889. (cropped from a full-page illustration)

Longhairs from Persia were known as Persian, while longhairs from Russia were known as either Russian or Siberia. Siamese cats were so named due to having been imported from Siam, (regardless of colour!).

Today’s Russian shorthair, (was simply referred to as the foreign shorthair). Similarly, a longhair for instance brought in from Algeria, would simply be referred to as an Algerian longhair. but over time, as cats began to be classified more by coat and colour variations, the accepted terminology was adjusted.

Winning entries from the Crystal Palace Poultry Show in 1874, drawn by Harrison Weir.

At top centre is the prizewinning Pouter Pigeon, bred by Mr. Fred Gresham.

Published in ‘The Pictorial World’, Nov.28, 1874. Image: The Harrison Weir Collection.

The generic term ‘Spanish’ was eventually dropped for ‘Tortoiseshell and White’, the term ‘Angora’ once solely relegated to longhaired cats originating from Turkey, was applied to almost any longhaired cat without specifying origin, from almost anywhere in Europe and the wider Mediterranean.

When Harrison Weir was looking for potential judges, his first instinct as a naturalist and an experienced judge of poultry and cage-birds, was to engage the services of gentleman and ladies who were already judges of conformation in other breeds. In the case of Fred Gresham, he had long been a breeder and importer of Saint Bernard dogs, a passion shared by one of the very first judges to officiate at the Crystal Palace, the Rev. Cumming Macdona. By the time Fred became involved in the cat fancy, he had already been a widely used dog judge of long experience.

When reviewing the best-known dog fanciers in Britain in 1900, author, dog and cat fancier Charles H. Lane, in his book ‘Dog Shows and Doggy People’ gave the following review of Fred Gresham: “It is not always one is able to turn their hobbies to good account, but I think this gentleman may be said to have done so. When I first knew Mr. Gresham, he was residing at Shefford, in Bedfordshire, where

An obtuse link between the world of dogs and the emerging world of the fledgling cat fancy, was that several cat judges were originally breeders or judges of Saint Bernard dogs and other canine breeds.

But judges were also recruited from the cagebird and poultry fraternity, as well as judges of small animals, including Rabbits and Cavies.

The above Saint Bernards were owned by the Rev. J. Cumming Macdona, a cat judge at the first Crystal Palace Show in 1871 and the first shows in Scotland the same year.

The below Saint Bernard ‘Abbess’ was bred and owned by Mr. Fred Gresham.

Images from Cassells ‘The Book of the Dog’ (c1870) The Harrison Weir Collection

where he kept a large establishment, did a good deal of hunting with the neighbouring packs, and was a pretty keen sportsman all round, as, besides doing some shooting, he kept a large kennel of St. Bernards, with which he was almost invincible at the shows in those days, and was a successful breeder and exhibitor of several varieties of pigeons. Since those days he has devoted much of his time to various branches of sporting and fancier literature; and not only all over the United Kingdom, but on the Continent and other places abroad, he has again and again been called upon to judge all sorts and conditions of dogs, and has probably acted more often than any other man living as referee, when any question has arisen about an award or special prize or some such matter”

Mr. Fred Gresham (at left) judging a selection of ‘Beagles’ Photo: ‘The Ladies Field’, August 29, 1903. The Harrison Weir Collection

“His extensive and varied experience of dogs and dog shows, combined with his careful and impartial judgments and courteous dealing, have made Mr. Gresham popular with all classes of exhibitors, and I hope the day may be far distant when we shall cease to welcome his well-known figure at all the leading gatherings of Doggy People, amongst whom he had such a multitude of sincere friends and acquaintances.”

When he came into the cat world, it was more than likely at the behest not only of Harrison Weir, but also of his two daughters (formerly Mary and Dorothy B. Gresham), who were taking an active part in the new ‘cat’ fancy, both being intensely keen on the developing Silver Persian, or Chinchilla.

Mary eventually became Mrs. Bridgewater, and Dorothy, Mrs. Balding.

When the National Cat Club was formed in 1887, Mary was the founding Secretary, and in due course was the breeder/owner of Champion Silver Lambkin, popularly referred to today as the ‘father’ of the Chinchilla variety. The close association between the Gresham family and Weir cannot be underrated. When Weir decided on a matter of principle to resign his position as Chairman of the National Cat Club in 1890, Miss Gresham also resigned as Secretary and Mr. Fred Gresham resigned from the Committee. An excerpt from a record of this event, written by the new Secretary pro-tem, Mr. J.W. Townsend, was published in July 24, 1890 issue of ‘Fur and Feather’ as follows: “NATIONAL CAT CLUB - A week or two ago we had the misfortune to read in one of the well-known papers, a hardly merited, and by no means creditable account of the National Cat Club, I think, however, that our readers will agree with me that there cannot be two opinions about the thoroughly satisfactory

Mr. Fred Gresham (centre) judging an array of ‘Samoyeds’ Photo: ‘The Illustrated London News’, July 8, 1905. The Harrison Weir Collection.

thoroughly satisfactory nature of the last committee meeting held on Monday 7 th July, in the room of the Fanciers’ Gazette office; at which meeting were present, Mr. A.A. Clarke (treasurer), Mrs. Kinchant, Mrs. Vallance, Mrs. A.A. Clarke, Mrs. Ellerton, Miss Moore, and Mr. J.W. Townsend.

“After reading a letter regretting inability to be present from Mrs. Herring, the minutes of the last committee meeting were read and confirmed. The treasurer then read a few letters of resignation he had received, and, although the committee had with much regret to accept five such departures, they shortly after had the pleasure of electing thirteen new members.

“Amongst the resignations the name of the president, Mr. Harrison Weir, was of course met with expressions of deep regret, that also of our enthusiastic friend the Rev. J.G. Gardener, but, above all, that of the late secretary, Miss M. Gresham, will be most keenly felt, it is a great loss to the club, and greatly to be regretted, that domestic reasons should make it necessary for her to give up her labour of love, which her energy did so much to inaugurate and found; Miss D.B. Gresham and Mr. Frederick Gresham also retire with her.”

Nevertheless, Miss Mary Gresham continued as a breeder and later as one of the earliest women judges of the latter 19th century.

Fred Gresham was in fact, an expert on many dog breeds, and like many in Harrison Weirs wider circle of friends, a columnist and an author. He is likely to have been a contributor to ‘Fur and Feather’, as was Mr. Mason and Mr. Charles House, Mr. T.J. Ambrose, Mr. Charles Lane and many others, most of whom

Mr. Fred Gresham (second from right) assessing a class of ‘Skye Terriers’ Photo: ‘The Illustrated London News’, July 8, 1905. The Harrison Weir Collection.

of whom had authored books on their respective small animal interests. Mr. Mason on ‘Silver Rabbits,’ Mr. Lane on ‘Rabbits, Cats and Cavies’, Mr House on ‘Poultry’, ‘Pigeons’and ‘Canaries’, Mr. Ambrose on ‘Dutch Rabbits’, and Mr. Gresham on ‘Dogs’. Even as early as the mid 1870’s judges such as the naturalist William Tegetmeier (an acknowledged expert Poultry) and a writer for had been encouraged

by Weir to Judge cats.

Many of the early breeders of cats, had an enthusiastic engagement with dog breeds as well, both men and woman. Examples of these include, Mr. Sam Woodiwiss who was a leading figure in English Bulldogs as well as many breeds of shorthaired cats, most notably Manx, English Shorthairs and Abyssinians; Mr. Charles Lane, another dog and cat judge who was a specialist breeder of Skye Terriers and English Shorthaired cats; Mr. H.C. Brooke, who bred many unusual foreign varieties of dogs, plus Manx and Abyssinian cats; Mrs. McLaren Morrison, who imported numerous new dog breeds (Including the first Tibetan and Bhuteer Spaniels amongst others) and imported and bred both Longhaired and Shorthaired cats… but the list of these influential fanciers is far too long to cover here.

‘Everybody’s Book of the Dog’ – written by Fred Gresham, and published by Brindley & How Ltd. C.1902 Photo: The Harrison Weir Collection.

It was Mr. Gresham who had intervened when the white Persian formerly known as ‘Tim of Redgrave’ was exhibited, and although very poorly presented, he could see beyond those deficiencies, observing that this was a cat which was structurally very sound, with the potential if brought into show condition to prove of immense value.

He was therefore instrumental in encouraging Mrs. Florence Champion to purchase him, suggesting that the cat would go far, if presented in proper show condition and be a very valuable breeding prospect. His advice would prove to be not only true, but this same cat, under the new name of ‘Champion White Friar’ would become the leading blue-eyed white male in Persian breeding history, with key progeny influencing the colour variety’s development well beyond two decades on both sides of the Atlantic. © John G. Smithson Article graphics: www.gograph.com References: ‘Our Cats’ Magazine, March 15, 1902.

‘The Pictorial World’, November 28, 1874

‘The Illustrated London News’ July 8,1905.

‘Dog Shows and Doggy People’ (1900) by Charles H. Lane

‘Fur and Feather’ July 24, 1890.

‘Everybody’s Book of the Dog’ (c.1902) by Fred Gresham.

‘The Ladies Field’ August 29, 1903.

‘The Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News’ November 2, 1889

The Harrison Weir Collection The images on these two pages represent just a handful of original items added to the Harrison Weir Collection over the past three years. The above images include a collection of six letters written by Weir between the 1870’s and late 1880’s, revealing much about his life and work; plus the portrait is an original carte-de-viste photo of Weir, exactly the same as another held in the National Portrait Gallery.

Wishing all our visitors and readers a joyous and

Blessed Christmas with family, friends and beloved pets, and a

Happy New Year!

Article graphics: www.gograph.com

A large watercolour, ‘Inside a Sussex Barn’ signed and dated by Harrison Weir in 1846.

Currently, this is the earliest original piece by this artist that includes a cat! Painted when he was only 22!

Left: An original Harrison Weir pencil drawing of a cat, heightened with white, signed and dated 1862.

Right: An original studio photo of Harrison Weir, the only full-length photo of him in existence to date.

Celebrating the ‘Father of the Cat Fancy’

GC, BWC, NW. THE CAT INN’S DA BAI FACTFILE DOB:

March 20, 2018

Pet Name:

‘BAYMAX’

Breed :

British Shorthair (White)

SIRE: GC Teddy-Cat Wu Huang of The Cat Inn DAM: GC A Zha Dada Alice of The Cat Inn OWNER/BREEDER: Sun Wei MAJOR AWARDS: CFA International Division CFA National Best of Breed 2019-2020 CFA International Division CFA 3rd Best Cat 2019-2020 Photos:

Spyzoo, & Sun Wei

Article Page Graphics: www.gograph.com

Our stunning white British Shorthair male, ‘DA BAI’ was bred in ‘The Cat Inn’ cattery, being born on March 20, in 2018. Amazingly, he resulted from our very first litter as breeders.

His sire was our British blue male, GC Teddy-Cat Wu Huang of the Cat Inn, and his dam was our British white female GC A Zha Dada Alice of The Cat Inn. Both parents have exceptionally good profiles and excellent temperaments, important qualities which they thankfully passed on to their baby son.

Being 100gms at birth and growing exponentially, he was subsequently named ‘DA BAI,’ which in Mandarin means ‘Big White’.

His name reflected the fact that he had a strong body and a super dense, thick coat. But his given pet name however, is ‘Baymax’.

Da Bai's first competitive show was a kitten. Of course, everything looked very new to him, and he

was curious of everything in his immediate surroundings, but slowly he adjusted to the sights and sounds of the show hall and got off to a flying start in all the shows that he participated in.

He has competed in many cities throughout China, and at almost all the shows that have been available to him throughout the country. He did very well in every single show and never once disappointed me.

In the 2019 show season, Da Bai was successful in gaining his Grand Championship title. He was the first British shorthair to grand after CFA shows began again in China.

He was the highest scoring British Shorthair in many shows and in the end, he became a National Winner and BWC (Breed Winner China) in the show season of 2019 to 2020.

Although he is big in size, Da Bai is very sweet natured, and is a very loving boy. He very much enjoys a cuddle with us and to play along with children. He is very popular with kids of any age. He has an easy temperament and always remain alert and active in the show hall, even under strong competition. He is therefore very much appreciated by breeders, judges and event visitors alike.

Sun Wei

FIFe MW 17, MW 15, SC. GENASAQUA’S PRINCE OF WHITE’R’US DSM FACTFILE DOB:

June 24, 2014

Pet Name:

‘PRINCE’

Breed :

Persian (Odd-Eyed White)

SIRE:

GC Genasaqua’s Benjamin Cho

DAM:

GC Purreden Darlin of Genasaqua

BREEDER:

Lisa Monical (USA)

OWNER:

Jose Manuel M. Dias (Portugal)

MAJOR AWARDS: FIFe National Winner 2015 FIFe Distinguished Show Merit 2016 FIFe Mediterranean Winner 2017 FIFe GIC, & Supreme Champion 2018 Article Page Graphics: www.gograph.com

Prince is an exceptional Odd-Eyed white Persian male, who was born on June 24, 2014, in the city of Medford, Oregon, in the United States. He was bred by Lisa Monical of the Genasaqua cattery.

His sire was Grand Champion Genasaqua’s Benjamin Cho, another Odd-Eyed white Persian male, and his dam was Grand Champion Purreden Darlin of Genasaqua, a black bi-colour Persian female.

He travelled from the United States to Portugal at the age of seven months, accompanied by Tristan Anderson, making a total of 5 stopovers by plane before arriving safely at Lisbon airport. His new owner was there to meet him

and was absolutely delighted with his new cat, who was not only stunningly beautiful but also sweet natured. It was love at first sight!

Prince’s very first competitive show came when he was one year and three months old, held in Aveiro. At this show he won two Best Male in Show awards, making a brilliant start to his show career, and went on to win at all the shows in which he participated. He competed in several countries in Europe at FIFe shows, reaching the titles of Champion, International Champion, culminating in Grand International Champion and Supreme Champion in 2018. He has achieved 20 wins as Best Male in Show during his show career. In 2015 he achieved the title of National Winner (NW), followed by the title of Distinguished Show Merit (DSM) in 2016; then continued to obtain the title of Mediterranean Show Winner (MW) in 2017, in the adult Male show category. His combined titles now form part of his permanent name, which in its full form is now MW 17, NW 15, SC GENASAQUA’S PRINCE OF WHITE’R’US DSM. PRINCE is a particularly loving cat, that enjoys participating in all his show competitions. He is admired and appreciated by breeders, judges and event visitors alike. He loves interacting with people and is always attentive to those who come to admire him or to celebrate his victories. He enjoys travelling, especially by car, when he is loose and can go to the window to see what is going on outside! At home or at hotels/motels, he loves to go to sleep in his owner’s bed. He is now the celebrated sire of several beautiful cats living with appreciative owners around the world, based in countries such as Russia, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Poland and Portugal. Noteworthy among Prince’s sons are cats such as the Copper-Eyed males GC RW WHITE’R’US BEN (Russia) and GC RW WHITE’R’US CLARK GABLE (Portugal), both successfully competing at CFA shows. His Blue-Eyed white daughter NW NSW19 SC PT*WHITE’R’US BETTY BOO DSM (Portugal) has competed successfully at FIFe shows.

Another prize-winning son is GIC, SC. WHITE’R’US STAR (Portugal) who is an Odd-Eyed white like his famous sire.

The White’R’Us cattery, is registered with both FIFe and CFA and is owned by Jose Manuel Monteiro Dias. Jose has had a passion for breeding solid and smoke Persian for over 30 years, and a special interest in Blue-Eyed, Copper and OddEyed white Persians.Now 6 years of age and weighing in at 6.5kg Prince is still as playful as when he was a kitten. He plays with everything on the floor and has a special taste for balls and feathers.

(Photos courtesy of Jose Dias)

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 www.harrisonweir.com

INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE CAT LOVERS - FOR LINECHASERS - & FANCIERS OF FELINE HISTORY

“Today’s achievements are part of tomorrow’s history”

www.felis-historica.com ‘Felis Historica’ takes this opportunity to gratefully acknowledge our loyal subscribers for their support over the first six months of our venture to provide an online magazine devoted to all things cat related.

Wishing you all a joyous Christmas spent with your family and beloved pets

Love * Joy * Peace Page graphic: www.gograph.com

JUDGE’S CHOICE WINNERS Sponsored by FELIS HISTORICA Magazine DARRELL NEWKIRK PinUpCats Supa Dupa Fly (Black & White Sphynx) DOUGLAS MEYERS Suavere's Dark Secret of Penobscot (Black Persian) ALLAN RAYMOND Thaifong Santorino (Chocolate Point Siamese) SUKI LEE Sugarcubes "Grochu" Rocco (Silver Shaded Persian) IRIS ZINCK Best Line’s Jenewa (Scottish Straight Shorthair) LORRAINE SHELTON PinUpCats Vision in Black & White (Black & White Sphynx) KATHY CALHOUN Highlandkatz Avenger of Believers (Blue Selkirk Rex LH) KIT FUNG Ready or Not Sweet Emotion (Silver Patched Tabby & White Devon Rex) TEO VARGAS Jewelstory Heartbreaker (Dilute Calico Persian)

Hearty Congratulations to all the worthy winners!

YOU WILL HEAR FROM US VERY SOON! FELIS HISTORICA

Page graphic: www.gograph.com

‘THE CHRISTMAS CAROL SINGER’ A watercolour by Harrison William Weir Published in the Illustrated London News December 25th, 1858 The Harrison Weir Collection Article graphics: www.gograph.com

‘Home for the Holidays’ – a half page wood-block engraving from a design by Harrison Weir, depicting a boy being delivered by coach from London to Lewes, to the gate of the family homestead for Christmas.

Published in the Illustrated London News, December 23, 1848. From the Harrison Weir Collection

th

A 19 Century Christmas Tradition Advertisers in the Victorian era, even as early as the 1850’s, were supremely aware of the power and influence of newspaper marketing. With the advent of the highly successful, Illustrated London News founded by Herbert Ingram in 1842, print as a media expanded exponentially with a plethora of copycat entrepreneurial papers targeted at a variety of market audiences being established year on year. But very few were as successful or had managed to develop such a wide client base as Ingram’s Illustrated London News. When the paper began in 1842, Harrison Weir, who was then only 18 years old, was encouraged by the young but talented wood-block engraver Frederick Smythe to join the large band of young engravers and artists that were needed to fulfil Ingrams vision. It was the beginning of a long association between both Ingram and the talented young artist, who recalled the event in an autobiographical sketch written in 1901: “Again, it seems ‘but the other day’, that Mr. Frederick Smythe, the wood engraver, called on me, then a young fellow ‘in my teens,’ to say that an illustrated weekly paper was to be brought out, and as I could draw for engraving, would I join it and begin by drawing the fashions. I agreed, and thus became one of the original staff of the Illustrated London News, of which, alas! I am the only survivor.”

‘Going to the Christmas Party’ - a full page design by Harrison Weir, published in the Illustrated London News, December 24, 1859. This specific print has been hand-coloured, which was a common practice at the time.

The Harrison Weir Collection

‘Christmastide’ was duly celebrated and marketers keen to promote their products or services could rely on most journals, magazines and papers, to provide a ‘Christmas Supplement’ on top of their regular publication, often referred to as a ‘Christmas Number’. Christmas greetings, stories and products would grace the pages of these supplements, which initially were all printed in black ink on the common newsprint paper of the period.

But Ingram, having already established his highly valued paper on the principles of fast news and as many illustrations as could be achieved in the shortest possible time, was already on the lookout for taking the Christmas Supplement to a new level, by introducing colour.

Colour printing was still relatively speaking, in its infancy, and chief among those who had begun to navigate it many challenges, were men like George Baxter, a fellow ‘Lewes’ man like Weir, an older contemporary, who had developed a patent for his own technique which involved multiple blocks and overlays (usually using a minimum of 12!) to produce an image that was of sufficient quality and had colour integrity to the original subject. Baxter was based in London and had a raft of apprentice engravers and printers under his wing, including George Leighton and the young Harrison Weir.

By the 1850’s Baxter’s patent had run its course, and many of Baxter’s early apprentices had already parted company with him, and were developing alternative, usually simpler techniques and methodology to obtain a less precise but none-the-less effective colour impression. Among these, was George Leighton, who with his brother had adapted and set up a style of colour printing referred to as a chromolithograph. Later Weir too, who had been both an engravers and printers apprentice, had by the mid 1840’s parted company with Baxter, after completing his seven-year indenture.

‘From Danger Free’ – a Robin Redbreast in Winter. A full page, full colour image from the Christmas Number of the Illustrated London News, published in December 1879. Print from the Harrison Weir Collection.

‘Christmas Joys be yours to-day!’ – a yuletide postcard designed by Harrison Weir in 1881.

Image: The Harrison Weir Collection.

Colour printing had mostly been limited to small run book printing, to just a few pages produced on a higher grade of stock, but Ingram had his sights on bringing colour images to the masses through his widely read newspaper.

He did attempt to sell colour prints separately with limited success, but what he really wanted, was to include a colour plate or two in his newspaper, and to do this, he began to speculate about introducing it to a ‘Christmas Supplement’.

In 1858, Harrison Weir produced a painting called ‘The Christmas Carol Singer’ which featured a Robin Redbreast in winter, singing while perched on a branch in the midst of a winter snow. He had produced it with the intention of placing it in an exhibition at one of the many society galleries for whom he regularly created his naturalist images.

Two Robins in covert – a Christmas Card designed

by Harrison Weir, published c.1887 The Harrison Weir Collection

But when Ingram saw the piece, he immediately fancied that this was the right piece to include in his Christmas Supplement of December 1858.

‘Bright be thy Christmas at home and abroad!’ – another Christmas Card by Harrison Weir, c.1888.

From the Harrison Weir Collection.

With true entrepreneurial foresight, Ingram very shrewdly negotiated with Weir, to not only purchase the painting itself, but to also acquire the permanent copyright to it, and in so doing, offered Harrison Weir £150 for it, which was an almost unprecedented sum at the time.

But Weir, had by 1858, at 34 years of age, already established an enviable reputation as an artist of natural ability, especially in relation to his portrayal of birds and wildlife. His work had been widely published in both reference and children’s books not only nationwide, but internationally. He had also proven to be a loyal contractor for the Illustrated London News for over 16 years and Ingram respected his personal integrity and work ethic.

Weir acquiesced, accepting the offer and Ingram immediately set about to feature it as the first colour image to be included in a Christmas Supplement. It had to be produced on a higher grade of paper, and the task of printing it fell to the Leighton Brothers, who rose to the occasion, somewhat challenged to do so due in part to the unprecedented demand upon them to produce a colour page for such a large print run!

Ingram’s foresight was to prove him right yet again. The introduction of a colour page into the Christmas Supplement was an extremely novel and popular move, one which the public took to like the proverbial duck to water!

Consequently, it began a new tradition, and henceforth, most, if not all the Christmas Supplements included at least one or more coloured plates, and Weir was called upon to produce some of them, including one in 1859 featuring a ‘Blackbird and Thrush in covert’, and two decades later, in 1879, another Robin in ‘Danger Free.’

But the story of the Robin as a ‘Carol Singer’ does not end there.

‘May Christmas bring thee many pleasures!’ – a Christmas Card designed by Harrison Weir, published c.1890 From the Harrison Weir Collection.

Ingram, having paid a relatively princely sum for the rights to the image, and having been inundated with request for prints after its initial publication, set about meeting this demand for copies by reproducing for individual sale to the public. He then shrewdly also on-sold the right to reproduce ‘The Christmas Carol Singer’ onto crockery, specifically to the makers of Copeland spode! Christmas themed platters, referring to the painting’s publication in the Illustrated London News were duly manufactured

by Copeland’s, appearing in 1861. They are now quite rare collectors’ pieces of considerable value.

As our readers may assess for themselves, the work of Harrison Weir reached into the homes of many Britons through multiple mediums, securing his reputation as an artist and illustrator with a passion for animal life, throughout Britain and internationally, in a career spanning in excess of sixty years.

‘BLACKBIRD AND THRUSH, IN COVERT’ A watercolour by Harrison William Weir Published in the Illustrated London News December 24th, 1859 The Harrison Weir Collection Article graphics: www.gograph.com

www.gograph.com

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IN OUR NEXT ISSUE – HAPPY NEW YEAR ! – 2021 !

HISTORICAL LONGHAIR FEATURE: SPANGLE SPANGLE (Dense Calico Persian)

HISTORICAL SHORTHAIR FEATURE: ASHBRITTLE PETER THE GREAT (Russian Blue)

PURRSONALITY FEATURE: MRS.W.E. COLBURN (USA)

CFA FOUNDATION FEATURE: A TOAST TO 2021!

CREATIVITY FEATURE: CATITURE – A NEW SPECIES OF CAT DWELLING

GENETICS FEATURE: WHITE SPOTTING

BREED FEATURE: THE BRITISH LONGHAIR

THE HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION FEATURE: EARLY 20th CENTURY VETERINARY CARE

MODERN LONGHAIR FEATURE:

MODERN SHORTHAIR FEATURE: GC, BW, NW TSAR BLU’S ZINATRA, DM

GC, BW, NW BELAMY’S DESIDERATA OF CINEMA AND of course - plus more!!!

AND of course - plus more!!!

A very Merry Christmas everyone!

AND FROM

our cats to yours!

Photo & Cat Wrangling Lorraine & Michael Shelton