Felis Historica - September 2020

FEATURES: LONGHAIR – DIEU D’ARAKAN SHORTHAIR – BOGIE BREED – THE TEMPLECAT ARTIST – THEOPHILE STEINLEN SEPTEMBER 2020 Volume 1 No. 3

A FELINE HISTORY LIBRARY…

and more!

INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE FOR LINECHASERS & FANCIERS OF FELINE HISTORY

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

THIS MONTH’S FEATURED BREED…

Chocolate Tortiepoint Birman owned by Karen Walbrun. Photo © Helmi Flick Cat Photography

THE BIRMAN

FELIS HISTORICA HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION © A-Cat-Emy Concepts

PUBLISHED BY A-CAT-EMY CONCEPTS for THE HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION EDITOR

SEPTEMBER 2020

John G. Smithson

VOLUME 1 NUMBER 3

editor@felishistorica.com HISTORY PARTNERS The CFA Foundation COLUMNISTS & CONTRIBUTORS

Karen Lawrence (St. Catharines, Canada)

Lorraine Shelton (California, USA)

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Dr. Leslie Lyons (Missouri, USA)

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Laura Dilley Thomas (Virginia, USA)

Laura Vocelle (Muscat, Oman)

Dr. Keith Hammett (QSM) (Auckland, NZ)

Valerie Sheldrake Feline Historian (Suffolk, UK)

Jamie Christian (Ohio, USA)

PHOTOGRAPHY & GRAPHICS

Helmi & Ken Flick (Florida, USA)

EDITORIAL The Editor outlines issues covered in Issue 3 of Felis Historica!

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

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SKYWAY CAT CLUB – AUGUST 8 & 9, 2020

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IN THIS ISSUE!

Contents Photos: Wanda Banfield

THE TEMPLECAT – A Cat Breed for the 21st Century – Origins & Foundation Introduction/Preamble

by John G. Smithson (NZ) Excerpt from The Alchemy of Cat Breeds (2011) The Birman Shorthair The Templecat at Shows

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THE BUILDING OF A LIBRARY – Literally! Preservation of our Feline History The unique collection in the Feline Historical Museum by Karen Lawrence

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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENETICS YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT! PART 3 by Dr. Leslie Lyons

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THE BOOK SHOPPE Book Reviews and Promotions on ‘Cat-Related’ Publications

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THE TEMPLECAT – A Cat Breed for the 21st Century – Passing the Torch An Interview with Cheryl Davies-Crook

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LONGHAIR BREED FEATURE – “DIEU D’ARAKAN” (Birman)

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OUR COVER CAT – NZCF BR.DB. GR. CH. CHALFRONT WILLIAM TELL (Birman)

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SHORTHAIR BREED FEATURE – “BOGIE” - (Burmese???)

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COAT CARE & CONDITIONING FOR YOUR CAT by Laura Dilley Thomas

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CELEBRATING MODERN CATS - OUR FEATURED BREEDS Longhair – GC. BWR. RW. TORIELLE’S PRETTY BOY Shorthair – GC. GP. RW. CARICATURE’S SARAYA OF TIGERWINGS

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THE FELINE ART OF THEOPHILE ALEXANDRE STEINLEN by Laura A. Vocelle Swiss born, Paris based - Painter, Sculptor, Illustrator

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FELIS HISTORICA

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Jack Terry (Florida, USA)

CONTENT All Rights Reserved © A-Cat-Emy Concepts SUBSCRIPTIONS Published Monthly Single Issue $4.00 USD ANNUALLY $48.00 USD

Welcome! to ’FELIS HISTORICA’

JOHN G. SMITHSON EDITOR

It is hard to believe that this is already our third issue. The time between issues just seems to be flying by! But that is probably because we have been engaged in not only bringing you more of the things you already like, but we have been actively engaged in forward planning, to bring you the unexpected! In some cases, organising articles up to six months ahead, while trying to maintain some built-in flexibility on topics that arise unexpectedly.

We had planned and announced an article on 19th Century breeder and Judge Mr. Enoch Welburn for this issue, but due to space restraints have decided to postpone the story of his life in the fancy to a later issue.

Following on from our series on the effects of Covid-19 on the cat fancy on-the-whole in the last issue, we celebrate TICA’s Skyway Cat Club’s resumption of shows, with social distancing, and both judges and exhibitors wearing masks. Congratulations to the Skyway Cat Club for their efforts, and our sincere thanks to Wanda Banfield for her great photographs!

OUR COVER NZCF BRONZE DB. GR. CH. CHALFONT WILLIAM TELL Bred by Lyall Payne Photo: © Helmi Flick Cat Photography

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

In this issue we also celebrate the BIRMAN and the BURMESE with two unique histories dating from the late nineteenth century and the 1930’s. Accordingly we also bring you an update on a new related breed, the Templecat. Formerly referred to as the Birman shorthair, it has been in development now for 25 years and has recognition in both of New Zealand’s National Registries.

In 2011, I penned an article on the breed and its development up until that time, which is reviewed and included in this issue. But I have sought out and interviewed the current breeders carrying on the task of its continued development to the present time and their efforts to have it gain wider recognition around the globe. That story and many new images of the latest examples of a breed popular with public is also included.

The CFA Foundation’s Karen Lawrence gives us an up close and personal perspective on how to build, fill and maintain a valuable feline historical library. The Feline Historical Museum’s library and resource rooms house an incredibly valuable and largely irreplaceable record for researching the history of our favourite breeds, the clubs, shows, and individual cats of the past.

It is a continual labour of love to maintain, and a continual challenge to the Board of the CFA Foundation to do so responsibly and with an eye to the future. The inclusion of a Children’s Library, and a Rainbow Bridge nook, stand as a clear testament to the imagination and ongoing work of Manager Karen Lawrence.

Dr. Leslie Lyons continues her series on Feline Genetics, under the banner of ‘Everything you need to know about genetics you can learn from your cat!’ and we include for the first time, a celebration of our first living ‘Cover Cat’ – a Birman of course! – in the form of Lyall Payne’s striking ‘Chalfont William Tell’, the Birman male from ‘down under’!

Laura Thomas continues her series on how to maintain your cats health, with a great article on Coat Care and Conditioning, with excellent advice for both Longhaired and Shorthaired coats, and many valuable tips garnered from long experience about both skin and coat care. Her eight tips are an invaluable guard against pitfalls, and very much a ‘must read’.

Then, author Laura Vocelle walks us through a feature article on the fascinating world of late nineteenth and early twentieth century cat artist Theophile A. Steinlen, whose magnificent art nouveau period cat posters in particular, are so recognisable to us even to this day as iconic classics of an art form that has stood the test of time.

And what of future issues I hear you wondering?

In our forthcoming October issue, we will be celebrating one of the key Siamese males of the late nineteenth century, imported into England with the aid of William de la Poer Beresford, as well as a Brown Tabby Persian male from the same period, who was a standout specimen for head and body type in his era.

Another key article will be our Breed Feature, which on this occasion is focused on the Khao Manee, an original breed from Thailand, presented by our regular columnist Lorraine Shelton.

The November issue will present the first of our articles on feline related crafts – the first being about a group of Cat Judges that have between them over 150 years of judging experience! All of them are also adept at the art of needlepoint! So - watch this space!

John G. Smithson EDITOR – Felis Historica

ANCIENT AND MODERN ICONS OF THE CULT OF THE CAT

OUR TEAM OF COLUMNISTS & CONTRIBUTORS

KAREN LAWRENCE

LORRAINE SHELTON

LESLIE A. LYONS Ph. D

ADVERTISING MANAGER advertising@felis-historica.com Director: CFA Foundation, Inc Manager: Feline Historical Museum Co-Editor: The History Project

AUTHOR/LECTURER ‘Robinson’s Genetics for Cat Breeders & Veterinarians’ Director: CFA Foundation, Inc www.wegies.net www.featherland.net

RESEARCHER/COLUMNIST FELINE GENETICS SPECIALIST Prof. of Comparative Medicine Dept. of Vet. Medicine & Surgery University of Missouri felinegenome@missouri.edu

JAMIE CHRISTIAN

LAURA D. THOMAS

LAURA A. VOCELLE

WRITER/COLUMNIST TICA INTERNATIONAL JUDGE OF THE YEAR 2016

COLUMNIST/AUTHOR Owner/Founder - Formulator at: CASTLEBATHS www.castlebaths.com Owner/Product Developer at: www.purrinlot.com

COLUMNIST/AUTHOR FELINE HISTORY & ART HISTORIAN Creator and Founder The Great Cat www.thegreatcat.org

DR. KEITH HAMMETT

HELMI & KEN FLICK

JACK TERRY

PLANT BREEDER President of the Royal NZ Institute of Horticulture

HELMI FLICK CAT PHOTOGRAPHY www.helmiflick.com

‘THE RESTORIAN’ Photo & Graphics Specialist Photo Humourist

OUR TEAM OF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENTS

DARRELL NEWKIRK

PAM DELABAR

GAVIN CAO

(CFA, USA)

(CFA, EUROPE)

(CFA, CHINA)

NEVADA, UNITED STATES PRESIDENT CFA

TAMPERE, FINLAND CFA DIRECTOR REGION 9

CHENGDU, CHINA CFA CHINA BUSINESS ADVISOR

JOHN HANSSON

CHERYLE U’REN

ANNELIESE HACKMANN

(GCCF, UK)

(CCC of A, AUSTRALIA)

(WCF, EUROPE)

LONDON, ENGLAND CHAIRMAN GCCF

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA PRESIDENT CCC of A VICE-PRESIDENT WCC

ESSEN, GERMANY PRESIDENT WCF

.

JOHAN LAMPRECHT

BOB GLEASON

JANE WEBSTER

(SOUTH AFRICA)

(CCA, CANADA)

(NZCF, NEW ZEALAND)

DURBANVILLE, SOUTH AFRICA PRESIDENT, C.A.S.A. (WCF)

LONDON, CANADA CHAIR - CANADIAN CAT ASSOC. LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE

PALMERSTON NORTH, NZ NZCF HISTORIAN

OUR TEAM OF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENTS OUR TEAM OF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENTS

JUN KOHNO

RUSSELL LAW

CHATE RUENGRUGLIKIT

(CFA, JAPAN)

(CFA, HONG KONG)

(CFA, THAILAND)

TOKYO, JAPAN SEC: MICINA CAT FANCIERS

HONG KONG SEC: UNITED FELINE ODYSSEY

BANGKOK, THAILAND SEC: SIAM BLE-EYED CAT FANCIERS

CHAYAPON PUCHAROENYOS

ROBBIE WALKER

SANDRA ALSUMAIT

(WCF, ASIA)

(ACF, AUSTRALIA)

(CFA, KUWAIT)

BANGKOK, THAILAND CHAIR: WCF DISCIPLINARY COMMISSION

GOLD COAST, QLD, AUSTRALIA PRESIDENT, FCCQ. QLD

KUWAIT CITY, KUWAIT PRESIDENT, FCCQ. QLD

BAMBI J. EDWARDS

IZADDIN SYAH YUSOF

FARAH DIANA

(ANCATS, AUSTRALIA)

(CFA, MALAYSIA)

(CFA, INDONESIA)

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA NAT.SEC: ANCATS AUSTRALIA

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA CFA INT.DIV. CLERK OF THE YEAR 2016

JAKARTA, INDONESIA RICIMACKA CATTERY

OUR TEAM OF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENTS

ELLEN CROCKETT

STEVEN MESERVE

LUIZ PAULO FACCIOLI

(TICA, UNITED STATES)

(TICA, EUROPE SOUTH)

(TICA, SOUTH AMERICA)

PORT TOWNSEND, WA, USA TICA DISTINGUISED JUDGE

VILA DE CUCUJAES, PORTUGAL TICA REGIONAL DIRECTOR

PORT ALEGRE, SOUTH BRAZIL TICA REGIONAL DIRECTOR

LIESBETH VAN MULLEM

EVA PORAT

DONATELLA MASTRANGELO

(TICA, EUROPE NORTH)

(FIFe, SWEDEN)

(FIFe, BELGIUM)

UTRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS TICA REGIONAL DIRECTOR

OREBRO, SWEDEN PRESIDENT SVERAK, (FIFe)

ROME, ITALY CHAIR: JUDGES & STANDARDS COMM.

STEVEN JONES

JINSON CHOI

LISBETH FALLING

(FIFe, NORWAY)

(CFA, SOUTH KOREA)

(NRR, NORWAY)

STAVANGER, NORWAY SEC: JUDGES & STANDARDS COMM.

PAJU-SI, SOUTH KOREA PRES. CAT FANCIERS OF KOREA

OSLO, NORWAY PHOTOGRAPHER/EDITOR - ARISTOKATT

SKYWAY CAT CLUB – AUGUST 8 & 9, 2020 - LARGO, FLORIDA PHOTOS COURTESY OF WANDA BANFIELD

Lorraine Shelton assessing a lively Calico

Rob Seliskar checking conditioning…

Al Walbrun examines jawline and profile

Jamie Christian, examining a docile Persian

Christina Baumer inspecting profile and muzzle

Rene Knapp encourages an exhibit to play…

TICA JUDGES AT WORK - & EXHIBITORS - WEARING FACE MASKS PHOTOS COURTESY OF WANDA BANFIELD

The mask that smiles back!

A masked duo! or The Ring Maskers!

RAKESHA GINGERNUT FULL REGISTER CINNAMON POINT TEMPLECAT BORN OCT 18, 2000 BEST NBC EXHIBIT 2002 BRED BY JUNE MATEER

BREED NAME (CURRENT) BREED NAME (Archaic/Historical/Allegorical) PERIOD (dates) FOUNDATION CAT/S DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS GEOGRAPHIC (Genetic Origin-Country) GEOGRAPHIC (Genetic Origin-State/County) GEOGRAPHIC (Genetic Origin-Locale) GEOGRAPHIC (Developmental Foundation) GEOGRAPHIC (Developmental History) ORIGIN CATEGORY (Historical) ORIGIN MORPHOLOGY ORIGIN PREMISE MANIFESTATION 1.(Coat)

MANIFESTATION 2.(Physical Structure) GENETIC REFERENCE INHERITANCE FIRST RECOGNITION ACCEPTANCE / RECOGNITION BREED GROUPING (Show Grouping) CHAMPIONSHIP (REGISTRY & DATE) PARENT BREED TO: (1st Degree) HISTORICAL HEALTH ISSUES

TEMPLECAT “Birman Shorthair” “Tsuncatz” 28th January 1995.

Delavar Tabitha (Birman) / Noblenook Hershey Short plush coat on a Birman type cat, with same markings.

BURMA Western Burma (Unidentified) The Temple of Lao Tsun (Location Unidentified) New Zealand, North Island Pakuranga, Auckland, New Zealand Domestic -Regional / Hybrid / Selected Semi-Shorthair Shorten coat on Established Breed/Introduce New Colours.

Created / Conforms to Selection Criteria / Preservation White Gloves (Front paws) and Gauntlets (Rear paws) on Semi-Shorthair Pointed coat pattern. Plush coated.

Introduction of Cinnamon & Fawn into point colours.

Moderate physique, but with distinctive Roman profile to nose.

Cheeks full with rounded muzzle.

Not applicable Recessive pointed pattern. Dominant White Spotting.

CATZ Inc. August, 2001 as Provisional Breed with NBC status.

CATZ Inc. SEMI-LONGHAIR BREED GROUP/LONGHAIR Show Division CATZ Inc. 2004.

Not Applicable None known. Birman Blood Group Compatibility & PKD possible.

A CAT BREED FOR THE 21st CENTURY BY

JOHN SMITHSON

ORIGINS AND FOUNDATION

As to what actually constitutes a “breed” is in itself a matter of debate and much conjecture in the world of fancy cats, but less so for a naturalist – who would see the domestic cat as one breed with many sub-varieties or mutations. Then secondary to that, is the debate as to whether coat length of itself justifies classification of a ‘variation’ as a separate breed within the fancy. That debate continues to this day, but history has shown that until now, that coat length has been regarded by fanciers as justification for a new breed or variety name. Let’s briefly take a look at some examples. The Somali, which is of course, the longhaired equivalent of the Abyssinian; - the Balinese, which in most registries, is the longhaired equivalent of the Siamese; - or the Highland Fold, (not in fact from the Highlands!), as the longhaired equivalent of the Scottish Fold; - or the Cymric, as the longhaired equivalent of the Manx.

But as Longhair is a recessive gene, it tends to be more difficult for a breeder to justify their desire to ‘reject’ long hair in favour of a shorthaired version of the same structured cat! The Exotic shorthair is a strong case in point. The challenge was to replicate the Persian type with a short coat – knowing full well that any structural inadequacies could no longer be hidden by a flowing coat, and that they would have their work cut out to make these cats competitive. But succeed they ultimately did, but not without antagonism at first, and when it came to their Longhaired counterparts born in the same litters, a virtual total rejection of the these ‘variant longhairs’ as Persians.

This really comes back to the basic premise, that structure - or type, is what usually determines a breed. Colloquial expressions such as ‘if it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck, and it quacks like a duck, then it IS a duck!’ come to mind. The political issue for registries, is how to allow development of a new breed, or colour variety within an existing breed, without alienating those who are passionate about the purity of the bloodlines they have worked so hard to maintain over multiple generations. The answer is of course, to ensure that in registering such variations, genetic markers, codes, or numbers need to be recorded in both the register and on pedigrees so that the ‘purists’ are protected, while the ‘adventurers’ are allowed to pursue their dream. If there had not been dreamers wishing to pursue the pointed pattern in a Persian cat, it would not have been possible without such allowances.

How well I recall attending a Persian Breed Council meeting at the CFA Annual in Chicago when the debate was raging about what were then termed ‘Longhaired Exotics’, (which at that time could not be shown), knowing that in some parts of the world they were already treated as full Persians. The purist lobby on that occasion was strong, and I could fully understand their feelings on the issue, but the fact was, they had been unwittingly misled by their understanding of the history of their breed, just as earlier Boards had unwittingly not realised that they had created a precedence in accepting a Division of Persians which were already in fact ‘Longhaired Exotics’ in the terminology of the time (1995).

At that meeting, I was an attendee and delegate, and raising my hand to speak, was duly acknowledged and stood to deliver my bombshell. I feigned ignorance, and simply asked if the Himalayan Division was in Championship, and of course, was duly told, ‘of course!’

Chocolate Point Birman female ‘Rakesha Romance’ bred by June Mateer Sire: Ch. Larouge Christine’s Bardot. Dam: Rakesha Jazz Singer. Born: September 25, 1997

I then countered by declaring ‘that if that was the case,’ (which I knew it was) ‘then it was already too late, as the horse had well and truly bolted!’ There was a stunned silence for a moment or two, and then someone asked me to explain. I replied that “as Himalayans were themselves the product of a Persian to Siamese cross, selectively bred to purposefully steal the coat colour from Siamese and then bred back to the parent Persian breed to eventually create Pointed Persians, that they already had tens of thousands of registered Persians in Championship that were under the terms of their own definitions, EXOTIC LONGHAIRS!” I sat down, while this statement was digested by those attending. I am sure that some were thinking, ‘who the heck let him in!’

I can look back at that now and laugh, as we know that since then, the Exotic Longhair has indeed been accepted as a Persian for competitive show purposes, and when I recounted this episode in a conversation on this subject with Lorraine Shelton in 2018, she laughingly declared, ‘I remember that! Was that really you?!’ I raise this now, only to show that it is more difficult for a shorthaired variant of an established longhaired parent breed to gain recognition for its establishment, than it is for a longhaired variant of an established shorthaired parent breed.

What is really needed, is a new attitude by registries towards breed development. Too often we have shunned the champions of new varieties or breeds, until decades have passed and necessity due to breed popularity finally pressures a registry to act. Cases in point here are the Ragdoll, and the Bengal, both of which were controversial in their development and recognition.

Mrs. June Mateer at home with Seal Lynxpoint Birman male ‘Rakesha Woven Threads’ Sire: Dhyana Shilavarga. Dam: Rakesha Nottingham Lace. Born: October 17, 1998

With the Ragdoll there was much controversy over the mixed heritage, with the Bengal there was controversy over the mixture of domestic and wild blood, and certainly in the case of F1 and F2 crosses, the difficulty of fertility which is often the case when two species are mixed.

While some of the early concerns were justified depending on your point of view, the fact remains that the real judge is the court of public opinion!

To the public, the Ragdoll and the Bengal appealed immensely, and the hand of registries was duly forced to recognise that to deny them recognition was financially irresponsible! So, this then begs the question, it is all about revenue? Or survival as a registry? Or is there another answer to this question? – one which should really be about analysing the reasons behind attempting to establish a variety… but I will leave that thought with you.

In the case of the Templecat, this breed or variety is essentially a shorthaired Birman. Its development was more accidental than planned, as originally the first cross was done with the intention of introducing the colour ‘cinnamon’ into a experimental Birman breeding program.

But as it also produced shorthairs, then the prospect of a shorthaired Birman cat was only a secondary fact of practicality, which independently gained an impetus of its own, and over time became the primary focus of a new breeding program.

The champion in this case was Mrs. June Mateer, of Auckland in New Zealand – who was already an established Birman breeder of excellent repute and a sharp follower of genetics. It was her desire and success to introduce Cinnamon into a developmental line of Birmans, which then resulted in the establishment of the Templecat breeding program. In fact, it was her veterinarian) Ian Holmes who, upon regularly examining her shorthaired Birman lookalikes as pets when they came in to be vaccinated prior to going to their new pet homes, suggested that such healthy, charming kittens should be developed into a recognised breed in their own right!

Above: ‘Rakesha Nicodemus’ owned by L. Hepple. Seal Tabbypoint Templecat. DOB: January 4,2008 Sire: Ch. Rakesha Woven Threads Dam: Rakesha Fawn Fantasia (Fawn Point Templecat). Photo: L. Hepple.

Chocolate Point Templecat kittens in 2011. Photo: June Mateer

That which follows, is in the first instance, an article I wrote about the Templecat in 2011, a full 16 years after the first filial cross, ten years after it had been adopted by CATZ Inc as an NBC breed, and 7 years after it had gained recognition as a Championship breed. It should be read with that contextual setting in mind. It shows the early progression of the breed as it was developed, along with a mix of images of breeding cats, the occasional show cat and numerous Templecats that were sold as pets. As the founder of this breed is now retired and as an octogenarian can no longer devote the time to continue development of the breed, her valuable lines have been faithfully conserved by a new generation of breeders who have risen to the challenge of maintaining and enlarging the gene pool. That story follows on from this first one.

THE TEMPLECAT ‘FOUNDATIONS’ - AN EXCERPT FROM ‘THE ALCHEMY OF CAT BREEDS’ Copyright ©John G. Smithson, 2011

The Templecat was the brain-child of June Mateer, a well-known Birman breeder of long standing who had also served on the Genetics Advisory Committee of the New Zealand Cat Fancy and who later served on the Genetics Advisory Board of CATZ Inc, and in due course became Director of Corporate Services and Registrar for CATZ Inc. The main purpose was to create a shorthaired version of the Birman – (The Sacred Temple Cat of Burma), famous for its sparkling white gloves and gauntlets, pointed coat colour and deep blue eye colour. This action was seen as similar to what had been achieved by developing the new Breed known as the Exotic Shorthair, simply by mating full Persians to a variety of different Shorthair cats, and then taking the first shorthair progeny and mating only back to the parent breed, the Persian. The practical application of this process, it would seem could therefore equally be applied the to the Birman breed to produce a Shorthaired Birman.

Littermates: Rakesha Gingernut (Cinnamon Point male) and Rakesha Golden Girl (Fawn Point female) Born October 18, 2000 Photos: June Mateer

AN ALTERNATIVE BEGINNING However, the Templecat was not the original purpose of the first outcross and the program to develop the Templecat (or Birman Shorthair as it was originally known) was in fact the byproduct of a different experimental breeding program designed originally and solely for the purpose of breeding Cinnamon and Fawn pointed Birmans. The program was approved and conducted under the registration rules of the Provisional Register of the New Zealand Cat Fancy.

The first and only outcross was therefore to a shorthaired cat, namely a Cinnamon Spotted Tabby Oriental Shorthair, by the name of Noblenook Hershey. This mating had been done with colour and the retention of the pointing in mind. The full Birman female he was mated to was Delavar Tabitha, a seal-point, who had herself been sired by a Rakesha Birman male bred by June Mateer, “Ch.Rakesha Zachari”.

The resultant litter, born on January 28, 1995, included a Gen 1 Sealpoint Shorthaired male, “Rakesha A Touch of Spice” and a Chocolate Classic Tabby Shorthair female, “Rakesha A Touch of Class”. So although only one Birman Shorthair resulted as far as colour and pattern were concerned, the female being non-pointed, was still useful to the breeding program.

But in “Rakesha A Touch of Spice” the breeding program for the Birman Shorthair had truly begun. However, at this early stage, the fact that he was shorthair was not the controlling factor, but rather, that he was a Gen 1 Birman carrying Cinnamon!

Over the years I have heard many Birman breeders complain about the use of an Oriental Shorthair to establish the line, but it is important to remember that what is critical here is the introduction of the gene for short hair, (which could have been achieved with almost any type of shorthaired cat) but also the reintroduction and reinforcement of the pointing gene, which must be present on both sides of the pedigree to reappear.

The Oriental of course, carried the Himalayan pointed pattern, a necessary ingredient. The question of type is also irrelevant, since the breeding program was established with the intention of always going back to the parent breed Birman in successive generations, just as Persian breeders had done with the Exotic shorthair, and thereby reintroducing and reinforcing the parent breed type in a very short time.

THE FIRST HISTORICAL TEMPLECATS And for the Birman purists who thought that it was sacrilegious to hybridise their “Sacred Temple Cat”, the Birman as a breed had in fact already been extensively hybridised, since the

Rakesha Whiskey (Lilac Tabby Point) and Rakesha Willy Nilly (Chocolate Tabby Point) Photo: Owner: J. Wakefield

Birman female SITA had given birth to the only pure Birman litter in 1920, in Nice, France, and a female kitten from that litter named “Poupee” was considered at that time to be the perfect example of a Birman. But without a male for “Poupee” to be bred to, she herself had been outcrossed to a Siamese cat, in order that the breed could be re-established.

Much later, after the Second World War, when only a small cache of the Birman breed remained, the breed was re-established a second time with the addition of other longhaired breeds, mostly composed of early Colourpoint (Himalayan) bloodstock.

So, in fact, by using an Oriental, itself a product of a Siamese, June was simply repeating an exercise that had already taken place with one of the foundation Birman cats, “Poupee”.

On consideration therefore, the very first Gen 1 Shorthair Birmans, would have actually been produced by “Poupee” herself as the entire litter from this mating between a Birman (Longhair) and a Siamese (Shorthair) would ALL have been shorthaired! (Shorthair is dominant over longhair). Furthermore, these first-generation hybrid Birman Shorthairs would be in the pedigrees of every Birman cat produced since that mating in the early 1920’s.

THE QUEST FOR CINNAMON By using this particular Oriental shorthair, June Mateer had cunningly introduced a stunning new range of colours and patterns. In one step, she had introduced Cinnamon into a Birman type breeding program and also a new source of the Tabby Pattern. She had now also included, even if unwittingly at this early juncture, the distinct possibility of a new breed, in the form of the Birman Shorthair.

Rakesha A Touch of Spice was subsequently retained as the new core of the breeding program and worked young as a stud. He was duly bred to a full register Chocolate Tabby point Birman,

Rakesha Quasar Blue (Blue Point Neuter) and Rakesha (Blue Tabby Point Spay) Photo: Owners B. & J. Skinner

Rakesha Jazz Singer and on November 5, 1995 was born the second generation of Birman Shorthair kittens. This litter included two cats critical to the ongoing breeding program, “Rakesha Bruno Bear”, a Chocolate point Longhair and “Rakesha Bon Bon”, a Chocolate point shorthair.

June retained both for breeding, “Bruno” being a key cat in the existing program to eventually produce a Cinnamon or Fawn point Birman and “Bon Bon” for the same reason, not because she was shorthaired and could produce shorthairs, as that program had not yet really begun and was in reality, some years away.

Within 18 months these two were bred together in the hope of pulling through the recessive genes for Cinnamon, that were likely to be carried by both parents.

The gamble paid off, and although by breeding brother to sister, June sacrificed advancement by one generation on the NZCF Provisional Register, she succeeded in producing the first Fawn point Birman Shorthair, (Gen 3 from the first outcross) but officially Gen 2. This was “Rakesha Chanterelle”, born on April 15, 1997.

This breeding was repeated, and on September 1, 1997, the first Cinnamon point Birman Shorthair was produced in “Rakesha Café Royale”.

Like his grandfather “A Touch Of Spice “(The first Birman Shorthair), “Café Royale” worked relatively young as a stud and was bred to a full Birman female, a lilac point, Xamela Minkara.

This produced a third generation Chocolate point Birman Shorthair female, “Rakesha Destiny” on October 1, 1998. June saw “Destiny” as a potentially valuable cat, as she was a Gen 3 cat, carrying Longhair and Cinnamon and therefore possibly only one step away from producing a full register Cinnamon-point Birman (Longhair).

Chocolate Tabby Point Templecats ‘Rakesha Willy Nilly’ and Lilac Tabby Point ‘Rakesha Whiskey’ Note the plush coats, described by founder June Mateer as ‘Birmans in Polar Fleece’ Photo: Owner J. Wakefield

In the same month, “Café Royale’s” older fawn-point sister “Chanterelle”, who had been bred to a full register Bluepoint Birman, Dhyana Shilavarga, produced a Blue point Birman Longhair, “Rakesha Double Delight” on October 17, 1998.

As it happens, both Gen 3 females, Chocolate-point “Rakesha Destiny” and Blue-point “Rakesha Double Delight” would play an important part in sealing the final stages of production, especially when their lines were worked together into a pedigree. When “Double Delight’s” dam “Chanterelle was outcrossed to a Seal-point full register Birman “Westview El Morocco” this produced a Gen 3 Seal-point Birman male, “Rakesha Dupontii,”on March 30, 1999.

Double Delight (also known as Dee Dee) was subsequently bred to full Birman Chocolate-point Ch. Larouge Christine’s Bardot of Rakesha, and this produced a chocolate-point full register Birman “Rakesha Emile” on 16th November, 1999. A full register Birman which may carry Cinnamon….

“Dupontii” was subsequently retained and bred to “Destiny” to produce a Gen 3 Cinnamonpoint Birman (Longhair) “Rakesha Fudge Frosting” on 1st March 2000. June’s quest for a full register Cinnamon-point Birman, was now very close to fruition.

A CHANGE OF PLAN However it was during the period between mid-1999 and 2000 that June’s veterinarian sowed the seeds of suggestion as to the development of the Birman Shorthair as a new breed. Over the years that June had been seeking the elusive Cinnamon and Fawn-pointed Birmans, there had been produced, a good number of shorthairs, mostly retained for the furtherance of that

Chocolate Tabby-point “Rakesha Willy Nilly” and Lilac Tabby-point “Rakesha Whiskey.” relaxing at home.

These two are much loved pets owned by Juliette Wakefield of Auckland. Photo: J. Wakefield.

aim of achieving this singular goal of Cinnamon and Fawn-pointed Longhairs. But any shorthairs which were considered as not necessary to the furtherance of that aim, were originally sold as pets.

These “shorthaired Birmans” had become popular with pet owners and over those early years, the vet had seen many fine examples of the shorthaired variety and was enamoured with them.

He suggested to June, that perhaps there was indeed a place for a short-haired Birman breeding programme in the world of pedigreed cats and as an alternative option for lovers of Birman breed who perhaps did not want to own a long-haired cat.

One only has to look at the history of the Birman Cat in New Zealand to note that the Birman had grown from relative obscurity in the mid 1970’s to amazing heights of popularity by the mid 90’s.

A catalogue from the first All Birman Show, hosted by the Birman Cat Club of New Zealand held in Papatoetoe on June 29, 1985, shows no less than 85 exhibits in competition and 4 on exhibition.

This was a phenomenal effort, even on a world scale. And this amazing achievement would soon be super-ceded, with even bigger shows into the 1990’s, several with well over 100 plus Birman exhibits.

With this incredible growth, at one point in the history of the Birman Cat Club of New Zealand, the membership of the club exceeded 300 individuals! It was by far the largest breed specialty club in New Zealand and the quality of New Zealand Birmans was beginning to be recognised worldwide.

Templecat pets, showing their gloves and gauntlets (laces) Photo: J. Wakefield

THE BIRMAN SHORTHAIR So by this time, June had now considered the options and had come to the same conclusion as her vet, that perhaps as well as continuing her quest for a full register Cinnamon-point Birman, why not also benefit from the 5 generations of pedigree building and acknowledge that the option of a Birman Shorthair (perhaps under a new breed name) was a good option, which could possibly also win favour with a New Zealand Birman-friendly public.

The Year 2000 was a critical one for both sides of the breeding program. A breeding between the Gen 3 Chocolate-point Birman “Rakesha Dupontii” and Gen 3 Birman Shorthair “Rakesha Destiny” (who was very appropriately named), produced a Gen 3 Cinnamon-point Birman “Rakesha Fudge Frosting”, who has since left a lasting legacy in the subsequent development of the Templecat. Then toward the end of the year, when “Emile” (a full Register Birman), was also bred to the same “Rakesha Destiny”, this produced the first full register Birman Shorthair, who just also happened to be a Cinnamon-point! A new century and a new breed with a full 5 generation register status had been achieved!

The cat in question was “Rakesha Gingernut” who is featured in the lead photograph of this chapter. “Gingernut” was a superbly built cat, and in the six generations it took from the original outcross to produce him, you can see from the photograph that he is a comparably typed Birman of substance. No faults can be hidden behind long hair, this is essentially a Birman cat of excellent type and for those of us who have had the privilege of handling him and judging him he had a better Roman profile, as described in the Birman standard than many a full Birman longhair, and his colour was both unique and superb. This cat, whose overall excellent type and rich colour won me over to the cause of the Templecat, also had the excellent temperament of all the “Rakesha” Birmans.

Templecat pets at rest, the perfect short-haired cat for the home or apartment.

Photo: J. Wakefield.

And amazingly, in this same litter (born October 18, 2000) was produced the first full register Fawn-point Birman Shorthair, “Rakesha Golden Girl”. Truly a golden result from an amazing breeding queen.

A NEW MAJOR DEVELOPMENT Then in March 2001, CATZ Inc, a new New Zealand National Registry was formed. June Mateer was one of its early supporters and she saw this as an opportunity to seek recognition for the new Birman Shorthair breed, under its own breed name.

The hard yards had already been done, and she could produce a full six generations of New Zealand Cat Fancy registrations, with “Gingernut” and “Golden Girl” already registered as 4th generation full register Birman Shorthairs with the NZCF. So June also registered her breeding stock with CATZ Inc, and in fact the first cat to be registered on the CATZ Inc Experimental Register was her Gen 3 female “Rakesha Destiny”, the dam of both “Gingernut” and “Golden Girl”.

In due course, application was made to CATZ Inc. for breed recognition, along with full pedigrees showing the entire process of breed development from the initial outcross to full register status with the NZCF. For several months there had been discussion on possible breed names, one of which was “Tsuncatz”, taken from the name of the legendary temple from where the Birman history is said to have begun. But June settled on the name “Templecat” and this was included in her final submission to the Board of Directors.

The Board of CATZ Inc. ultimately granted recognition to the breed under the breed name “Templecat” in August 2001, granting the Templecat Provisional Breed Status with the ability to be shown in the New Breed and Colour (NBC) Show Category only.

TICA Judge Pascale Portelas explaining to exhibitors, what she looks for in a Birman, at a CATZ Inc. show held in 2009.

The Chocolate Point Birman is ‘Rakesha Fine N Dandy’ who won Best All-Breed Championship Cat. His sire, was the Templecat ‘Rakesha Gingernut’

THE TEMPLECAT AT SHOWS In 2002, “Rakesha Gingernut” (Cinnamon Point Shorthair) was shown in this non-championship show category and was the first Templecat ever be exhibited under the breed name. At one show, he was subsequently placed Best NBC exhibit by Australian Judge Bambi Joy Edwards.

Now the quest for continued improvement and consistency in type of the Templecat, took on new meaning. June Mateer also began producing good quality Seal Tabby-point Templecats with breedings between her Templecat females and her excellent Tabby-point “Ch. Rakesha Woven Threads” an impressive Seal Tabby-point male, carrying chocolate and dilute.

By late 2003, a lilac-point Birman Granddaughter of “Rakesha Fudge Frosting”, “Rakesha Tudor Rose”, was bred to “Gingernut” and this produced another Cinnamon-point male Templecat, “Rakesha Zenith of Trelliams” on January 23, 2004. (Co-owned by Lee Williams).

Also in 2004, three years after the breed had been granted Provisional Breed Status, the Templecat was upgraded to Championship status with CATZ Inc. and the first Templecats could now compete on a level playing field with other qualifying Championship breeds.

“Rakesha Zenith of Trelliams” went on to become a CATZ Inc. Templecat Champion. A repeat breeding then subsequently produced “Rakesha Fawn Fantasia”, a Fawn-point Templecat female on November 21, 2005.

In the same litter was produced the Chocolate-point Birman “Rakesha Fine N Dandy” who went on to win many Best in Shows and the title of CATZ Inc. Supreme Double Grand Champion.

Among his many BIS wins were Best in Shows under TICA Judges, Karen McInchak in 2007, Pascal Remi in 2008 and Pascale Portelas in 2009.

Much-loved and renown Birman breeder of ‘Trelliams’ cattery fame, National Chairman of CATZ Inc. & Judge the late Lee Williams, presents the Himalayan male GC Helenca Seal With A Kiss, her selection for Best Cat in Show.

By now, June had passed “Zenith”, to long-time friend, Birman breeder, CATZ Inc. Chairwoman and Longhair Specialty Judge, Lee Williams, so that she too could further the Templecat breeding program.

Lee already had long proven credentials and considerable renown through New Zealand as a breeder of top Birmans. Her speciality was in Seals, Reds and Tortie-point Birmans and she had already garnered wins at NZCF National Shows with two of her famous Tortie-points, one of which took Best Cat at a National Show under the TICA Judge, Phillipe Noel.

Lee bred “Rakesha Zenith of Trelliams” (the Templecat male) to her own “Iddibiddi Tuscany Sky”, a full register Blue Tortiepoint Birman and this produced both a Sealpoint Templecat that she named “Trelliams Practically Perfect” and a Blue-point named “Trelliams Shorter N Sweeter”.

“Trelliams Practically Perfect” was an extraordinarily well-marked example of the Birman Shorthair, and as we can tell from her kitten photograph on the opposite page, her gloves and gauntlets (laces) were indeed, practically perfect.

Having handled this cat myself, I can personally vouch for the fact that her gloves met the standard and her gauntlets were perfectly spearhead to half way up the hocks, so that in her markings were indeed as her name suggests, practically perfect!

As a kitten she was the first entire Templecat to gain a Best in Show Kitten award from TICA Judge Yuki Hattori of Japan.

HEALTH ISSUES? June and Lee have reported no health issues of any significance, and it should be noted that the foundation stock has shown no propensity for any major health issues, and this is supported by the vets own personal support for the breed over a sixteen year period (Ed: now 25 years!). Nevertheless, as the foundation stock will continue to be bred back to the parent

Ch. Trelliams Practically Perfect, a Seal-point Templecat, shown here as a kitten. The first entire Templecat to win a Best In Show, on this occasion under TICA AB Judge Yuki Hattori (Japan).

Birman breed, then care must be taken to recognise that in Birmans themselves, there have historically been issues surrounding blood compatibility (with breeding stock), and this needs to be recognised and tested for in possible introductions of new Birman lines into any future Templecat breeding program.

COAT STANDARD, & THE FUTURE The only difference between the Standard of Excellence (Standard of Points) for the Templecat and the Birman, is in the description of the coat. In all other respects it is exactly the same.

The description for the coat is as follows: Short and thick, although slightly longer than most other shorthair breeds, with no undercoat.

All Traditional Himalayan pointed colours are accepted, including Cinnamon & Fawn. The only allowable outcross for a Templecat is a Birman.

At the time of writing, it is now more than 16 years and 7, 8 and 9 generations to the current breeding lines. Although the Templecat is still in its infancy as a breed on the world stage, the hard groundwork has clearly been done and the initial standard set, has been very high. It’s now only a matter of time before the breed is taken up by other open-minded Birman breeders who truly love the Birman and are willing to share in this dream of the Templecat and the unique colours and warmth of this wonderful breed, which truly had its first genesis with one of the best and earliest Birman cats, “Poupee”.

Having seen more Templecats than most, I firmly believe that they have the potential to become extremely popular as a breed for the new millennium and very worthy ambassadors of the “Temple of Lao Tsun”.

(ED: Note, that in the interim period, the Templecat has now been recognised by the New Zealand Cat Fancy and adjustments made to the original standard, around coat texture.)

Photos: Karen Lawrence

BY KAREN LAWRENCE

ABOVE: THE RAGDOLL GP. NW. BORDEAUX LTD ENZO PURRARI (more commonly known as ‘Enzo’) LAYS COMFORTABLY UPON THE CABINETRY OF THE CFA FOUNDATION’S FELINE HISTORICAL MUSEUM LIBRARY, DURING A VISITORS DAY. THE LIBRARY CONTAINS A TREASURE-TROVE OF CRITICAL CAT FANCY HISTORY. THE MUSEUM IS MANAGED BY KAREN LAWRENCE, WHO IS ALSO A DIRECTOR OF THE CFA FOUNDATION AND THE AUTHOR OF THIS ARTICLE

Photos by Karen Lawrence

The Building of a Library The creation and establishment of the CFA Foundation’s Library at the Feline Historical Museum, in Alliance, Ohio.

When the CFA Foundation began in 1990, I doubt expectations were that the book collection would one day number over 8,500 volumes. But, today, the library consists of that impressive number of books -- all related to the topic of cats.

The first donation to the Foundation’s library came from Mr. & Mrs. Don Thompson, with 100 books being sent to give the library a start. Don Thompson, a longtime CFA Judge who began his judging career in 1964, and his wife Joanne were avid collectors of books.

The Thompsons bred both Burmese and Persians under the cattery name Jo-Don. Over the years, and from their estate, the Foundation eventually was the recipient of their entire library of over 1,000 cat books. These books were on display for years in the library at CFA’s Central Office in Manasquan, NJ. BUILDING A LIBRARY When CFA first considered moving to Alliance, Ohio and offered the ground floor of their historical bank building to the CFA Foundation as a site for a possible museum, the considerations to do so, were numerous. When the idea of the Feline Historical Museum was first considered in the fall of 2010, we knew that we would want to include a substantial library area. Two former smallish offices were considered and could be used as adjoining rooms, but were they to be combined, they would provide a much larger and more open area. Doing so would require removal of a wall, and all the electrical and duct work inside it, plus the closing up of several door openings, but our architect thought it doable, so we moved ahead with this plan.

Our interior decorator, Doug Myers, found us a great deal on cabinetry for the library – on our own, we would never have considered a combination of kitchen cabinets for this purpose, but he certainly knew what he was doing! While the installation of the cabinets was overly challenging (who expected walls in a 60-year-old building to be square!), our woodworker, Dan, did a masterful job of the installation. The resulting library is the perfect room for our needs, although additional room would certainly be a bonus at this point in time.

BEFORE & AFTER: Above - the Cabinetry during construction; Below – the finished version of the early Library.

Once the Feline Historical Museum was opened in 2011, and word about our library spread, other donations were readily offered.

In 2012, Caroline Kuhl visited the museum from the Cleveland area, and brought her grandmother’s precious collection of 14 cat books, published in the late 1800s to early 1900s. She said that her grandmother would be thrilled to know that they were to be preserved for others to enjoy.

In 2014, Dr. Danny Crew of Florida offered his entire cat book collection, and over several weeks shipped us 30 boxes of books. It took numerous weeks to catalogue these into our inventory and we merely put them on shelves once catalogued, not even considering an order for them. Thankfully, at the time, I had Amber Goodright as an intern in the museum and she went through all the shelves putting the books into alphabetical order by title.

One of several significant deliveries! – The 30 boxes containing the book collection donated by Dr. Danny Crew of Florida.

During 2013, the Glendale Library in Glendale, California made the difficult decision to close its Special Collection Room that housed its cat memorabilia collection to make room for works linked to the city’s history.

Originally, the collection of Sidney Roberta Billig had been donated to the Glendale Library as the foundation for their cat collection and it contained invaluable memorabilia re the Cat Fancy in California. Thankfully, the library was thrilled when we made an offer to take the entire collection off their hands, and it was donated to the CFA Foundation. Shipping costs from California to Ohio were donated by Reggie Perry, a daughter of Mrs. Billig, who was thrilled that the collection would remain intact. Thus, another 96 boxes of books arrived on our doorstep in the fall of 2014.

To say that all of these books are on display in the library would be a lie – there simply isn’t the shelf space. But, those not on our shelves are safely in storage and perhaps one day we can take down another wall and expand the library into enough space to house the entire collection.

THE LIBRARY COLLECTION By far, the most valuable books in the library are the collections of Stud Books from various registering bodies. The oldest would be four volumes of the Stud Book of the Beresford Cat Club which covers US registrations dated 1900 through 1904. Early editions of studbooks from other associations are also in the collection - the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF), American Cat Association (ACA), and Cat Fanciers’ Federation (CFF). In addition, the museum has PDF files of earlier British stud books, such as those of the National Cat Club (beginning in 1890) and the Cat Club Register (1898). Six volumes of the Siamese Cat Register, compiled by Major Edwin Sydney Woodiwiss, cover all British Siamese registrations through 1935 and are invaluable for early information on that breed.

Left: A delightful and very appropo figurine donated to the Museum by Pat Jacobberger in memory of her husband Fred.

Right: An array of bound Volumes of period Show Catalogues.

Studbooks are an amazing research resource and help to trace the early development years and lineage of many breeds. In 1906, the US Department of Agriculture compiled and printed the US Register and Studbook for Cats. An unprinted addendum covering registration numbers 503-806 was recently located adding to the number of cats that are included. The studbook’s introduction explains its purpose: “A record of pure bred breeding cats of recognized breeds, and a record of breeding cats of recognized breeds but not pure bred in the meaning of U. S. Laws; to which is appended a list of nonbreeding and other cats which are either not pure bred or not of recognized breeds.”

This amazing book was compiled over five years by Mabel Cornish-Bond (1867-1955) who was a physician and also bred cats. From 1903-1907, Mrs. Bond published The Cattarian, a magazine devoted to domestic cats. We are still searching for copies of this magazine, although we do own postcards advertising it.

The library houses a complete set of CFA Yearbooks (1958-current). In addition, there are copies of TICA yearbooks and ACFA Parade of Royalty books. Many breed specific articles are contained in the yearbooks, tracing development of the various colors and breeds.

The balance of the books cover the general topic of cats – from breed specific books, to books that cover all breeds, to health related concerns, and even novels. Many of the older books contain a great deal of historical information about the beginnings of individual breeds, such as Cats: Their Points and Characteristics (1872 by W. Gordon Stables), Our Cats (1889, by Harrison Weir), and The Book of the Cat (1903, by Frances Simpson).

MAGAZINE RESEARCH We have established a separate magazine research room on our mezzanine level, which contains magazines dating back to the early 1900's, as well as numerous breed histories, all of which are available for on-site research. A complete set of Cats Magazine and Cat Fanciers’ Almanac, and a nearly complete set of Cat Fancy magazines take up one entire wall of this room.

Other publications range from general interest cat publications (I Love Cats, Popular Cats) to early cat fancy specific magazines (The Cat Gazette, The Cat Review, Cat Gossip, AllPets, Cat World), to CFA publications (The CFA Quarterly, CFA News), foreign publications, veterinary journals and other cat-related titles.

Left: Inside the dedicated Research Room. Right: A view of some of the Breed Research materials held in the Collection.

This room is located on the Mezzanine Floor of the Museum, directly above the Library.

The research room also houses breed specific information, such as copies of The Abyssinian Cat News Letter which was printed in England and served as a conduit between breeders.

A complete set of Cat Tracks magazines, dedicated to the Himalayan-Persian, is included.

Other Persians colors are covered through sets of Persian News, Persian Quarterly and United Silver Fanciers. The American Shorthair is covered in the 1978-2017 issues of The American Connection, donated by Gayle Hand.

In 2006, Jessie McClelland donated a 15-binder collection containing a very comprehensive history of the development of the Chartreux breed. The history of the Korat is covered in a donation by Ann Segrest of all the research work done by Daphne Negus on that breed’s foundation. Various other breeds have smaller historical collections – Burmese, American Curl, American Shorthair, Cornish Rex, Manx, Siamese, etc. Numerous catteries have donated their cattery records, pedigrees, photographs and registration papers, e.g.

Simbelair (Persian), Prim-Pet (Persian), Mary Platt (Siamese), Sylvia Fitzgerald (Abyssinian), Tigerflower (Abyssinian), etc.

The most extensive collection of pedigrees is of Birman cats. A 39-binder collection, plus various Birman-related magazines, was donated by Alywn Hill of England, with shipping costs generously donated by the CFA Birman Breed Council members.

In the past, print magazines usually contained an article about a specific breed or two. A filing cabinet in the research room contains copies of all articles we could lay our hands on, many of which have been scanned to PDF files for ease of research.

Show catalogs also provide an abundance of historical cat information. Besides sire and dam information of entered cats, the older catalogs often contain cat photos and advertisements that can only add to a breed’s history. Our show catalogs range from 1875 through the present day.

The dedicated CHILDREN’S LIBRARY, located on the Mezzanine Floor of the Museum

The CFA Foundation’s Library, as it looks today.

CHILDREN’S LIBRARY A separate donation from Dr. Crew included his library of children’s books about cats, over 1500 volumes in total. The mere quantity of this donation was reason enough to establish a separate Children’s Library within the museum.

Located on the museum’s mezzanine level, this separate room is a fun place for children to be. Colorful prints taken from drawings by Louis Wain in 1895 “Fairy Tales” books adorn the walls, along with the delightful artwork of Jamie S. Perry. The books range in age from those for the very young pre-school children through those for young adults, including numerous volumes in other languages such as Spanish and French. A 50” TV is available to watch the multitude of cat videos that were also included in Dr. Crew’s donation. Cat games and puzzles have been added to enhance the hand-on activities available in the room.

SHARING THE KNOWLEDGE As the library continues its growth through additional donations, and newly printed books, it can only be enhanced as a research option for authors and writers, and for breeders interested in the deep history of their breed. The library and research room are available for on-site research by anyone who chooses to visit us in Alliance, Ohio.

A great deal of information from our library and research room has been used in the individual cat articles contained in The History Project web site (cat-o-pedia.org) so that we may share the knowledge collected with breeders worldwide.

Everything you need to know about Genetics…

You can learn from your Cat! BY

PART THREE

DR. LESLIE LYONS Ph.D

THE GENETIC UNIQUENESS OF BIRMANS AND HOW THEY GOT THEIR GLOVES!

College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri

The Birman, also called ‘The Sacred Cat of Burma,’ is said to have origins from Burma, the current day Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Although Burma was a British colony during much of the 1800’s up to post- World War II, which is during the time in which many cat breeds were developed, the term “Birman” is derived from the French word for Burma – “Birmanie”¹.

GENETIC &/OR DEVELOPMENTAL ORIGINS Several genetic studies have indicated cats from the Birman breed, consistently, genetically cluster with cats from Southeast Asia, including, Siamese, Korats, Burmese and random bred cats from the region (Figure 1)2-4.

The Birman breed history suggests their development was prominent in France with cross – breeding to Persians to obtain the long hair, particularly after the World Wars, which decimated the breed in Europe.

However the genetic crosses were accomplished, the Birman has retained an overall genetic signature from Southeast Asia (Figure 1).

Some breeds, with obvious Southeast Asian traits liked the bobbed tail, specifically the Japanese Bobtail, have not retained their genetic Southeast Asian origins 2-5.

COAT LENGTH For Birmans, the Siamese points, are clearly a Southeast Asia trait, however, Birmans have the same genetic variant for longhair in the gene fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF5) as Persians, the c.475A>C variant, which is the oldest and most common variant for longhair in all cat breeds6,7.

Other long-haired breeds, such as Ragdolls, Maine Coons and Norwegian Forest cats have the common variant, but also, each of these breeds have different longhair variants that many have been part of their early breed development.

Thus, although the Birman has an influence of a Near eastern trait, the longhair variant in Persians, their overall genetic make-up is mostly Southeast Asian.

The breed history also suggests the Birman breed had to be re-developed from only a few cats that survived the World Wars. Genetic studies also support this history as the Birman has low genetic diversity, only the well-established breeds of Burmese, Singapura and Havana Brown have lower genetic diversity.

Figure 1. Genetic groupings of cat breeds. Breeds from the Southeastern Asian group together as do Mediterranean and Western European breeds. A number on the line gives some indication of the strength of the grouping. If no number is present, the support for the group is weak, such as with Japanese Bobtail with Southeast Asian cats. Birmans group without Southeast Asian breeds.

LINKAGE DISEQUILIBRIUM Birmans also have extended “linkage disequilibrium” – more so than any other cat breed4,8. Linkage disequilibrium implies large sections of the Birman genome are the same across the different individuals of the breed, implying, development of the breed is recent (in evolutionary times), or founder effects have been strong, or population bottlenecks have been severe, and or selection for specific traits has been intense.

Since, all Birmans must have points9,10, longhair6,7 and gloves11 – these are three traits that are under strong selection in the breed and together with the breed history, helped to explain the extended linkage disequilibrium in the breed.

Besides the long hair and the points, what makes a Birman a Birman is their white feet – their gloves. The white feet pattern was first suggested as an autosomal recessive

FIGURE 2.

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

THE GENETIC UNIQUENESS OF BIRMANS AND HOW THEY GOT THEIR GLOVES! Figure 2. Cat breed genetic diversity. The white bars represent genetic diversity, the dark bars, inbreeding coefficient. A low white bar and a high black bar are indications of poor genetic health. The wild felid species, Felis silvestris silvestris, caffra and tristrami, had only a few specimens for comparison.

EDITOR: This is the third in a series of articles

trait in 199112. More recently, genetic analyses of a gene called KIT (a.k.a. KIT ProtoOncogene, Receptor Tyrosine Kinase or V-Kit Hardy-Zuckerman 4 Feline Sarcoma Viral Oncogene) has suggested two side-by-side amino acid changes in the protein are responsible for the gloves in Birmans, as an autosomal recessive allele11 Several other species (horse, cattle, dog) have KIT mutations that influence white spotting as well13-15. Most all Birmans are “fixed’ or homozygous for this variant, which is very rare to absent in other cat breeds.

Even the Ragdolls do not commonly have this DNA variation and this DNA variation does not predict mittens in Ragdolls. Thus, the Ragdoll breed did not “steal” the glove mutation from Birmans to produce their mitted varieties.

Since the variant is recessive, and because the variant may have been in the random bred population of cats from whence Birmans originated, the DNA variant can be found, but rarely, in other breeds and cat populations.

However, the KIT variant, c.1035_1036delinsCA, is defining for the Birman breed11.

Individuals of the breed that are not homozygous for the mutation are usually shown to have recent outcrossing in their ancestry.

BLOOD TYPE ISSUES Interestingly, the B blood type is more common, but still rare, in different parts of the world, such as Turkey, California, and Australia and more common in British - derived breeds, such as British Shorthairs, Devon and Cornish rex16-18. Positive selection for the B blood type in itself is unlikely within a cat breeding program.

Cats have naturally occurring antibodies (alloantibodies). In type B cats, the anti-A antibodies are strong agglutinins and hemolysins that lead to the destruction of red blood cells. In contrast, anti-B antibodies in type A cats are weaker agglutinins and hemolysins, leading to less severe destruction of the red blood cells.

When breeding cats, neonatal isoerythrolysis can occur in kittens bearing the A or AB blood group antigen from a mating of B queens to an A or AB tom. Thus, Birman breeders must be vigilant of their cats’ blood groups and prevent breedings that lead to neonatal isoerythrolysis and be prepared to intervene with the kitten’s ingestion of colostrum within the first few days of life.

SUMMARY Overall, Birmans have interesting origins and interesting genetics. Birman breeders are encouraged to share cats from around the world to diversify the breed, perhaps obtain some new imports from Southeast Asia if possible.

The blood type has to be closely managed. The available genetic tests allow Birman breeders to select cats with the long hair variants, gloves, points and blood type to assist the production of health, genetically diverse and beautiful cats.

based on feline genetics

by Dr Leslie Lyons that will be published in FELIS HISTORICA in the ensuing months

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENETICS – YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT! References 1. Hill A. The Secrets of the Sacred Cat of Burma. 2006 Trafford Publishing, UK. English translation of Poirier S, Barney G. Les Secrets du Chat Sacre de Birmanie.

2. Kurushima JD, et al. Variation of cats under domestication: genetic assignment of domestic cats to breeds and worldwide random-bred populations. Anim Genet. 2013 Jun;44(3):311-24. doi: 10.1111/age.12008. Epub 2012 Nov 22.

3. Lipinski MJ, et al. The ascent of cat breeds: genetic evaluations of breeds and worldwide random-bred populations. Genomics. 2008 Jan;91(1):12-21. doi: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2007.10.009. Epub 2007 Dec 3.

4. Gandolfi B, et al. Applications and efficiencies of the first cat 63K DNA array. Sci Rep. 2018 May 4;8(1):7024. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-25438-0. Erratum in: Sci Rep. 2018 Jun 4;8(1):8746.

5. Lyons LA, et al. Whole genome sequencing in cats, identifies new models for blindness in AIPL1 and somite segmentation in HES7. BMC Genomics. 2016 Mar 31;17:265. doi: 10.1186/s12864-016-2595-4.

6. Drögemüller C, et al. Mutations within the FGF5 gene are associated with hair length in cats. Anim Genet. 2007 Jun;38(3):218-21. doi: 10.1111/j.13652052.2007.01590.x. Epub 2007 Apr 13.

7. Kehler JS, et al. Four independent mutations in the feline fibroblast growth factor 5 gene determine the long-haired phenotype in domestic cats. J Hered.

2007 Sep-Oct;98(6):555-66. doi: 10.1093/jhered/esm072. Epub 2007 Sep 1.

8. Alhaddad H, et al. PLoS One. 2013;8(1):e53537. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053537. Epub 2013 Jan 7.

9. Schmidt-Küntzel A, et al. Tyrosinase and tyrosinase related protein 1 alleles specify domestic cat coat color phenotypes of the albino and brown loci. J Hered. 2005 Jul-Aug;96(4):289-301. doi: 10.1093/jhered/esi066. Epub 2005 Apr 27.

10. Lyons LA, et al. Tyrosinase mutations associated with Siamese and Burmese patterns in the domestic cat (Felis catus). Anim Genet. 2005 Apr;36(2):119-26. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2005.01253.x.

11. Montague MJ, et al. Comparative analysis of the domestic cat genome reveals genetic signatures underlying feline biology and domestication. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014 Dec 2;111(48):17230-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1410083111. Epub 2014 Nov 10.

12. Robinson R. Genetics for Cat Breeders 3rd Ed. 1991, Pergamon Press, UK. 13. Haase B, et al. Seven novel KIT mutations in horses with white coat colour phenotypes. Anim Genet. 2009 Oct;40(5):623-9. doi: 10.1111/j.13652052.2009.01893.x. Epub 2009 May 6.

14. Küttel L, et al. A complex structural variant at the KIT locus in cattle with the Pinzgauer spotting pattern. Anim Genet. 2019 Oct;50(5):423-429. doi: 10.1111/age.12821. Epub 2019 Jul 11.

15. Wong AK, et al. A de novo mutation in KIT causes white spotting in a subpopulation of German Shepherd dogs. Anim Genet. 2013 Jun;44(3):305-10. doi: 10.1111/age.12006. Epub 2012 Nov 8.

16. Bighignoli B, et al. Cytidine monophospho-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH) mutations associated with the domestic cat AB blood group. BMC Genet. 2007 Jun 6;8:27. doi: 10.1186/1471-2156-8-27.

17. Giger U, Bucheler J, Patterson DF. Frequency and inheritance of A and B blood types in feline breeds of the United States. J Hered. 1991 Jan- Feb;82(1):15-20. doi: 10.1093/jhered/82.1.15.

18. https://eclinpath.com/hemostasis/transfusion-medicine/blood-types/

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

A BIRMAN BLAST FROM THE PAST!

MRS. WALLER, MRS. HACKMANN, AND MRS. LOHR - WITH THEIR BIRMANS. Mrs. Anneliese Hackmann is holding her Int. Ch. Nadine de Khlaramour.

MODERN DAY BIRMAN KITTENS

Photo: Helmi Flick Cat Photography

INTRODUCTIONS, PROMOTIONS & OCCASIONAL REVIEWS BY

MS. ROSABELLA PURRNETT Photo: Helmi Flick Cat Photography

IN OUR LIBRARY - (Books featured in previous issues)

Hello fellow bibliophiles!

The latest additions into our Felis Historica library of recommended Cat Books for the Feline Fancier, are a critically acclaimed textbook by Dr. Susan Little, ‘The Cat’ which is an in depth foray into world of Clinical Medicine for those who wish to see it from a Veterinary perspective!

The second book is the work of our own columnist, Laura A. Vocelle, who draws on her wide knowledge of art history to present an e-book entitled ‘7 Women Artists and their Cat Subjects’ – now what cat fancier would not want to know more about that subject! I hope that you enjoy these reviews! And books!!

THE CAT – Clinical Medicine and Management: by Susan Little, DVM, DABVP (Feline); Comprehensive in scope and exclusively devoted to feline medical care Dr. Susan Little's The Cat: Clinical Medicine and Management is an essential resource for anyone who provides complete state-of-the-art care to cats. In one convenient volume you'll find authoritative clinically-focused information enhanced by full-color illustrations tables boxes algorithms key points and much more — all in a format designed for quick access. Dr. Little and her expert contributors address the unique concerns and challenges facing the feline practitioner including the latest advances in feline medical diagnosis and management and their clinical applications to everyday practice. User-friendly and complete The Cat is also available as an e-book giving you easy access to the complete fully searchable contents online. - Elsevier Reviews: "This book aims to be different; rather than focusing on cat problems, this more comprehensive book immerses the reader in cat medicine-diagnosing and treating the problems along the way...This book brings together the experience of nearly 60 experts, distilling their knowledge into essential essence of cat! It is accessible enough to address the problem-based inquiry yet delivers depth where it is needed. It may just turn you into a cat clinician."

- Vet Record

Available from Elsevier, and Amazon.com as well as in e-Book format.

7 WOMEN ARTISTS and the Cat Subjects: – by Laura A. Vocelle, Have you ever wondered why women and cats have been linked throughout history in art? Have you asked yourself why cats are included in some of the world's most famous paintings? If so, 7 Women Artists and their Cat Subjects will open the door to understanding the symbolism of the cat in art and give you a chance to learn about a few of the earliest female artists and their reasons for painting cats.

- Goodreads Reviews: “I really enjoy this book. I'm amazed at the author's understanding of the artists' paintings. In many of the paintings, I didn't even see the cats until reading the author's descriptions. I liked the way she describes light and color. She seems to have a great imagination or she's an artist herself.”

– Amazon customer “This is a charming e-book, profusely illustrated, of biographies and examples of four centuries of cat paintings. My favorite was Marguerite Gérard and JeanHonoré Fragonard, Le Chat Angora, 1780 Oil on canvas. In this painting, a cat is playing with a crystal ball. In addition to the interesting reflection of the cat on the sphere, the sphere also reflects the artist.

– Omega Cat Press

Laura A. Vocelle is one of our columnists and has contributed a feature article for this issue on feline artist Theophile Alexandre Steinlen e-Book AVAILABLE at: Amazon.com, and Kindle.

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

KASARIO HANDEL’S MESSIAH, bred by Cheryl Davies-Crook.

Already sporting a highly desirable and distinctively clear roman profile.

A ‘Templecat’ male kitten, retained as a future stud. Photo: by Helmi Flick, July 2019

A CAT BREED FOR THE 21st CENTURY PASSING THE TORCH John Smithson interviews Cheryl Davies-Crook It is almost a decade now since I wrote the first article on the Templecat, a breed which at that time had already gone through 16 years of generational development and had gone from initial recognition as a NBC (New Breed/Colour), through to Championship with CATZ Inc. Now seemed to be the most appropriate time to revisit that development, as it is a full 25 years now since June Mateer produced shorthairs from her first cross-breeding.

One of the difficulties when establishing a new breed or variety, is for the founding breeder to find a suitable candidate or candidates, into whose hands they can entrust the years of labour spent in nurturing the development of that breed or variety from inception to fruition.

In the case of the Templecat, June Mateer had always been guarded about whom she would trust with her singularly unique cats, and had worked for a time with fellow Birman breeder Lee Williams, whose credentials in Birman terms were unassailable.

Lee had success with a homebred Templecat female, named ‘Trelliams Practically Perfect’ who won Best Exhibit in Show as a kitten; but sadly, Lee passed away unexpectedly. One or two of Lee’s Templecats were subsequently returned to June.

Ever patient, nineteen years after work on the breed had been initiated, June finally entrusted her shorthair lines to another Birman stalwart, Cheryl Davies-Crook, of ‘Kasario’ cattery; who although she had only begun breeding in the year 2000, had by 2014 established herself a fine reputation for breeding Birmans of significant quality from a combination of some of the best bloodlines available.

The following are notes based on an interview and questions posed to Cheryl on her career as a breeder of Birmans, and then her foray into Templecats and how they ultimately stole her heart. To this day, Cheryl remains committed to both breeds, keeping the Birmans purely Birman, from Birman only lines, and the Templecats from the allowable outcross to Birmans.

This is her story.

Question:

When and how did you get your start in breeding Birmans?

Answer: I never had any intention of breeding when I bought my first two birmans, one of which was a female Sil Db Gr Ch. Westvue Karsavina in 2000. Her breeder told me she was a beautiful cat and why didn’t I become a breeder? The rest is history….

In 2001 I mated Karsavina to Sycamore Voodoo Bloo. My first litter gave me a beautiful chocolatepoint girl Gold Db Gr Ch. Westvue La Belle Fille. My prefix had not come through at the time of the birth, so she was registered under the Westvue cattery prefix.

Chocolate-point Birman Gold Db. Gr. Ch. Westvue La Belle Fille Supreme Entire Cat at the National Birman Show in 2006.

La Belle Fille went on to be a highly successful show cat, winning dozens of Best in Shows, Breeders Awards, and was Supreme Entire Cat 2006 at the National Birman Show. She was the top birman in New Zealand for three consecutive years from 2005-2007.

From a repeat breeding in 2002 Karsavina produced a beautiful male lilacpoint, Gold Db. Gr. Pr. Kasario Mozart’s whom I gave him to my sister as a pet. He won dozens of Best in Shows and Breeders Awards, three Supreme Awards, including being Supreme Birman two years running.

Question:

Did ‘La Belle Fille’ breed for you? And if so, what did she produce?

Answer: She is the matriarch of all my Kasario cats. Bred to Gold. Db. Gr. Ch. Leegrgo Lord Apollo, she was also the dam of our Bluepoint Birman queen, NZCF Gr.Ch. Kasario Sacre Bleu; who appears in the pedigrees of both my purebred Birmans, (Sup. Db. Gr.Ch. Kasario Chiumbo) and behind my Templecats (Kasario Handels Messiah).

Question: You seem to have had tremendous success with your Birman cats. What other purebred Birman winners have you produced of note?

Answer: The following decade saw many show winning cats, Gold Db Gr Pr Kasario Prelude in Love, Silv. Db. Gr. Ch. Kasario Our Jazz Bellezza, Sup. Db. Gr. Pr. Kasario Dream Weaver, Sup. Db. Gr. Ch. Kasario Chiumbo to name a few. I was very privileged to have the support of knowledgeable, established breeders whose cats were from reputable lines with excellent type and temperament.

Question:

So how and when did you get involved in the Templecat breeding program?

Answer: My journey with the Templecat started in 2012 after I saw June Mateer’s cinnamonpoint Short-hair Birman (as they were known then) Rakesha Zenith. My initial reaction was probably the same as many Birman breeders now - I wasn’t so sure about them… I could see the type was the same, but where was the fluff??? Can’t be a birman!!!

Cheryl’s first homebred Templecat female Silv. Ko. Db. Gr. Ch. Kasario Beethoven’s Fur Elise ‘aka’ Elsa.

Born March 15, 2014.

In 2014 I needed an outcross for my birman programme and the only stud that was suitable was Rakesha Zenith. (a Cinnamonpoint Templecat son of Rakesha Gingernut) I mated my seal tabbypoint Birman to him and she presented me with two sealpoint Templecats and a seal tabbypoint Birman. The female Templecat was the most outgoing, confident girl and I immediately fell in love with her - enter Kasario Beethoven’s Fur Elise, aka ‘Elsa’ - my first Templecat breeding cat.

At that time Catz inc NZ was the only organisation to recognise templecats so I started showing with them in 2015. Elsa won many Breeders Awards and Best in Show awards, but the crowning glory was in 2018 when she won Supreme Entire Cat at the Karnak National show. The three judges were international judges from France and America. It is fair to say that Templecats have been a hit with judges from around the world.

A matured Silv. Ko. Db. Gr. Ch. Kasario Beethoven’s Fur Elise, pictured with her Longhair son, ‘Dream Weaver’

Question: Such early and grand success must have been quite a thrill!! When did you retain your first Templecat (Shorthaired male) ?

Answer: From Elsa’s second litter. In 2015, Silv. Db.Gr Ch. Kasario Beethoven’s Fur Elise and Ch. Nirvana Commander in Chief, a Bluepoint Birman, had two male kittens, Kasario Dream Weaver and Kasario Danny Boy, both Birmans (or Templecat Variants).

Then in 2016 Kasario Beethoven’s Fur Elise and Supreme Gr. Ch. Kasario Chiumbo, a seal tabbypoint Birman had 6 kittens, 4 Templecats and 2 Birmans. We kept a male from this breeding, which was Kasario Encore who was destined to be my first templecat stud.

Sup. Db. Gr. Ch. Kasario Chiumbo – Seal Tabbypoint purebred Birman Bred by Cheryl Davies-Crook and owned by S. Steward & P. Van Der Hoorn

Kasario Encore, as a four month old kitten, winning Best Specialty and Best All-Breed Kitten in Show.

Sired by the above Seal Tabbypoint Birman male, and out of the Templecat female Kasario Beethoven’s Fur Elise.

Breeder/Owner: Cheryl Davies-Crook.

Cheryl Davies-Crook with a young Kasario Encore, sealpoint male kitten at a CATZ Inc. Show.

Question:

An amazing success! Did you do other alternative breedings with ‘Fur Elise’?

Answer: Yes, but first we repeated the breeding to ‘Chiumbo’ in 2017. This resulted in 7 kittens, 3 of which were Templecats. We kept a sealpoint female, Kasario Fantasia. She also went on to win many Best in Shows and Breeders Awards. Then in 2018 I decided to breed her to our beautiful Bluepoint purebred Birman male Gr. Ch. Chalfont Nirvana Yoyo Superstar, who was himself out of Db. Gr. Ch. Chalfont Uptown Girl, (both bred by Lyall Payne). She had 4 kittens, one, a lovely sealpoint Templecat female whom we kept - Kasario Giocoso.

Silv. Db. Gr. Ch. Kasario Fantasia at 18 months of age, at the Catz Inc. Kumeu Show, June 2019.

Sire: Sup. Db. Gr. Ch. Kasario Chiumbo (Birman) ex Silv. Ko. Db.Gr. Ch. Kasario Beethoven’ Fur Elise (Templecat) Photo: © Helmi Flick

Left: Our Editor John Smithson, holding Kasario Fantasia as a kitten at the Hamilton Cat Club Show, July 2018.

Right: Kasario Giocoso, a sealpoint Templecat female, sired by Gr. Ch. Chalfont Nirvana Yoyo Superstar (Birman), which was retained for the Templecat breeding program.

The strikingly handsome purebred bluepoint Birman male, Gr. Ch. Chalfont Nirvana Yoyo Superstar Co-owned by Lyall Payne and Sandy Steward. A key contributor in Templecat breeding program Sire: Ch. Nirvana Commander In Chief Dam: Db. Gr. Ch. Chalfont Uptown Girl

Question: I remember Fantasia well. And her half sister Giocoso by Chalfont Nirvana Yoyo Superstar, has a great head on her. So, what was your next move?

Answer: To marry the lines of two Birman studs, who were half-brothers by Ch. Nirvana Commander in Chief, doubling on Nirvana, Highbeech and Preference lines - to my shorthaired lines which in Fantasia, were doubling on my own Birman Gr.Ch. Kasario Sacre Bleu, the daughter of my foundation matriarch Birman, the chocolatepoint Gr.Ch. Westvue La Belle Fille. This was achieved by mating Db. Gr. Ch. Kasario Fantasia to Gr. Ch. Chalfont Nirvana Yoyo Superstar in 2019, resulting in 6 kittens – two of which were Templecats. We kept the sealpoint Templecat male Kasario Handel’s Messiah, (Gen 8). ‘Leo’ as he was nicknamed, is therefore the melding of all these great Birman bloodlines down through the generations. I exhibited both him and his mother with success, Leo winning many Best In Shows, Breeders Awards and Judge’s Choice Awards.

Question:

And what was your next step?

Answer: In 2019, I registered another prefix, Nzuri (meaning beautiful) which is now to be used for all our Templecat offspring, long or short hair. I also planned to infuse the lines behind the Chalfont Birman male with those of our other short-haired Templecat queens. In November 2019, Silv. Db. Gr. Ch. Kasario Beethoven’s Fur Elise produced 4 kittens to Gr. Ch. Chalfont Nirvana Yoyo Superstar, including one sealpoint Templecat female whom we kept Nzuri Intermezzo.( Gen 8)

Kasario Handel’s Messiah, at 5 months, showing his near perfect symmetrical gloves and gauntlets.

Photo: © Helmi Flick At right: An impressive array of combined show awards from one outing for mother and son, Kasario Fantasia and Kasario Handel’s Messiah.

Below: Kasario Handel’s Messiah at one year old.

Ch. Catzago Amadeus – Bluepoint purebred Birman owned by Sandy Steward & Pauline Van der Hoorn One of the three key Birman males in both the Birman and Templecat breeding programs.

Then in early 2020 I repeated the mating of Silv. Db. Gr. Ch. Kasario Fantasia to Gr Ch. Chalfont Nirvana Yoyo Superstar, which produced 5 kittens, 2 of which were Templecats.

We have kept a sealpoint female Nzuri I Love You, (another Gen 8) who is in fact, a full younger sister to Kasario Handel’s Messiah.

Question: Now I understand that you have other highly reputable and successful Birman breeders involved in the program, with whom you work. Who are they?

Answer: Yes. Sandy Steward and Pauline Van der Hoorn (Catzago) and (Fancypawz) started helping me with the programme in 2016 and together we now have four templecat breeding girls - Kasario Giocoso, Kasario Fantasia, Nzuri I Love You , Nzuri Intermezzo, and one Templecat stud, Kasario Handel’s Messiah.

Question: I remember attending an NZCF Executive meeting with you when you made one of several submissions for the recognition of the breed and to answer questions. Where does the breed stand currently?

Answer: In 2018 I started my submission to the NZCF to have the Templecat recognised as a breed and for the longhair offspring to be recognised as Birman. (as it the case with CATZ Inc.) Part of the process required, was to exhibit Templecats at four NZCF shows and have eight NZ All Breeds judges handle and assess them.

In 2019 we were finally successful in gaining recognition for Templecats as a breed with the New Zealand Cat Fancy. This was a significant achievement. The only drawback was that recognition of their longhair offspring as Birmans, was not granted. This will be pursued in the future as the term ‘templecat variant’ is simply not acceptable to us.

Intermateability, was also denied for the longhaired offspring. Again we will pursue this. Just as Persians from Exotics are known as Persians we believe the same should be said for Birmans from Templecats. In the meantime, we are thrilled to have Templecats recognised!

Siblings from different litters. Left: Sealpoint Templecat male, Kasario Handel’s Messiah, born January 14, 2019.

At right: Sealpoint Templecat female, Nzuri I Love You, born November 5, 2019.

These are the latest leading Templecats, retained to further advancement of the breed world-wide.

Cheryl adds: We always breed our Templecats back to Birmans, as the parent breed. This is to ensure that type is consistent, and the coat is not compromised. The standard for the Templecat is exactly the same as that for the Birman, with the exception of coat length.

Our present studs are Chalfont Gr. Ch. Nirvana Yoyo Superstar, Ch. Catzago Amadeus and Supreme Db. Gr. Ch. Ch. Kasario Chiumbo.

Question:

And what of the future?

Answer: With Covid 19, we have not had the chance to show our cats and kittens this year, but we look forward to getting them back on the bench in 2021.

The next step is to promote them worldwide – to have other registries recognise them would be a major step for me, but one I must take, if the Templecat is to become a world-renowned breed in the future.

Editors note: The breed now has a 25 year history, and the consistency of type and markings observed in the latest show specimens bears witness to the fact that they are not only worthy ambassadors for the breed, but are indeed excellent examples of a Birman in a short coat!

Sincere thanks to Cheryl, Sandy and Pauline for assistance with photographs.

SEAL-POINT BIRMAN - DIEU D’ARAKAN - AS A KITTEN IN 1930 Bred and owned by Marcel Baudoin Crevoisier Photo: Wild World. ‘Nos Amis Les Chats’ (1947) by Marcel Reney.

AN HISTORICAL PORTRAIT OF

SEAL POINT BIRMAN BY

JOHN G. SMITHSON

Preamble & Article adapted from authors text for ‘The History Project’

PREAMBLE – AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BIRMAN The Sacred Cat of Burma or ‘Chat de Birmanie’ remains one of the most alluring of all the semilonghair breeds. With their sapphire-blue eyes, pointed coat pattern and distinctly unique white gloves and spearheaded gauntlets; they assume a mystical, almost transcendental air; which has won them the admiration of millions of cat lovers worldwide.

THE TEMPLE OF LAO-TSUN In his early writings about the breed, Dr Jumaud, a French Veterinarian and Birman fancier reports that the first recorded observation of these sacred temple cats, was by British Army Major, Russell Gordon, who had been charged with protecting the priests of the Khmer (known as Kittahs) in 1898.

Major Gordon’s account of the Temple was that it was situated to the east of Lake Incaougji, between Magaoug and Sembo, in what was basically a desert region, surrounded by barriers and almost insurmountable walls. It was here, where he was permitted to observe the last of the Kittahs with their sacred animals.

THE LEGEND The Legend of the Birman Cat ‘Sinh’, who sat on the bowed head of his deceased holy master ‘Mun-Ha’ before the Goddess Tsun Kyan-Kse, and was duly transformed from a yellow eyed white cat to the golden hued, dark pointed, blue-eyed beauty with white feet, (where the feet came into contact with the body of his dead master); was related to Major Gordon by the Kittah-Lama, Yotag Rooh-Oughi and later published in ‘Minerva’ by Dr. Fernand Mery. The story relates that on the seventh day ‘Sinh’ died, carrying to Tsun Kyan-Kse, the transmigrated soul of his holy master, ‘Mun-Ha’.

In an article published in ‘La Vie A la Compagne’ in 1927, Dr Jumaud describes the Birman cat in the following terms: “…the sacred Birman is very sociable, intelligent, happy to be stroked, obedient to commands, following his master in the same manner as a dog.

He plays with composure, without the presence of his master he becomes nostalgic. He is a quiet animal and lacks the quickness and fire of the Siamese. He seems to be aware of his sacred origin.”

ARRIVAL IN FRANCE As to sequence of events leading to the arrival of the first Birman cats in the West, although not a legend, is still shrouded in a degree of mystery, mostly due to a lack of documentary records, confusion over the names of the actual importers, and confusion over the possible outcrosses.

Writing in 1926, Jumaud advises that the American millionaire, Vanderbilt, whilst cruising his yacht in the Far East, obtained two cats, a male and a female, from an unfaithful servant who came from the temple of Lao-Tsun. It is assumed that the cats had been stolen.

Mr Vanderbilt is then reputed to have given the cats to a Mme Thadde Hadisch (Vienna). What is not clear, is whether this woman was behind the original purchase, or perhaps a guest of the Vanderbilts. But she soon disappears without a trace from the story.

The two cats appear to have been a male named ‘MADALPOUR’ and a female named ‘SITA’.

The male apparently died accidentally while at sea, although no details of his demise appear to be recorded, but it was subsequently discovered that the female, who did survive the journey, was already in kitten to him. The boat returned to France, and the female kittened her original litter in Nice, in 1920.

‘Chat de Birmanie’. The thesis of Philippe Jumaud (1925), was later published as ‘Les Races de Chat’, which included this grand photograph of a striking Birman cat in the 1930 edition, which means that this cat must have predated 1930.

Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection.

From this litter one of the kittens (a female), was considered to be a perfect specimen and was named ‘POUPEE’. This ‘Poupee’ was therefore the only recorded fully Birman offspring for which there is an oral record. Well we might wonder, happened to any of the other kittens that may have survived from this very precious litter!

FIRST OUTCROSSING In an article by Mr Baudoin-Crevoisier in 1933, we are informed that: “Poupee could not be bred by a male of that breed, but was bred to a Laotian Lynx cat belonging to a Doctor in Nice. This type of cat resembles the Siamese, with very blue eyes, and this breeding produced young mongrels of Birmans and Laotians.

Through successive cross-breedings was born the perfect result – MANOU de MADALPOUR.” No further mention is made of the original queen, ‘SITA’ or any further progeny from her, nor of alternative breedings or progeny from her daughter the original ‘POUPEE’.

By using the words ‘successive cross-breedings’ opens the statement to a much wider interpretation, as it could also mean both repeat breedings, OR alternative breedings, as well as over several more generations.

However, in 1933, the Swiss Abbot and breeder and author Marcel Chamonin (who wrote under the pseudonym of Marcel Reney), attempted to uncover

the truth about this initial outcrossing of ‘POUPEE’ by writing directly to the famous doctor in Nice; who replied saying: “We have had indeed several Siamese cats but know nothing of the origins. I know nothing of Mme Hadisch from Vienna.” This would appear to affirm that the ‘Laotian Lynx’ was in fact a Siamese cat of “unknown pedigree”.

If we assume that the outcross was in fact an unregistered Siamese of unknown origin, we must also assume that this litter would have been comprised of all shorthaired kittens, unless the Siamese was already carrying the gene for long hair!

It is in fact unclear as to whether ‘MANOU de MADALPOUR’ was from this breeding, or from a successive breeding but it is generally accepted that his dam was a ‘POUPEE’. He is also listed in Birman databases today, as from the ‘Laotian Siamese’ and ‘POUPEE’.

Madame Marcelle Adams, who owned MANOU de MADALPOUR, affirmed to Marcel Reney that a certain Madame Leotardi, had related the Birman story as Jumaud and Baudoin had recorded it.

It appears that she had obtained Manou from Madame Leotardi and photographs of this male and his mother ‘Poupee’ appeared in the October 1, 1926 issue of ‘Vie A La Compagne’ after they were successfully exhibited at a show in Paris in 1926 with the owners name recorded in the captions.

Another image of the ‘Chat de Birmanie’ from Jumaud’s ‘Les Races de Chat’ (1930) This cat’s birth therefore must also predate 1930 and is captioned as owned by Madame Brassart.

Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection.

From this litter one of the kittens (a female), was considered to be a perfect specimen and was named ‘POUPEE’. This ‘Poupee’ was therefore the only recorded fully Birman offspring for which there is an oral record. Well we might wonder, happened to any of the other kittens that may have survived from this very precious litter!

he believes it could date from as early as 1921. He also correctly qualifies the claim by observing: -

RECENT HISTORICAL RESEARCH

Birman breeder, author, and former Chairman of the Birman Cat Club (GCCF), Vivienne Smith gives us what is probably the best overview of the breeds development from those early years in her book ‘The Birman Cat’.

However, more recent research has been done on the origins of the Birman cat, the work of Professor Alain Lescart (France) who is currently in the process of publishing a new book, the French version of which is due out soon. Professor Lescart informs the writer, that his research shows that Madame Leotardi’s reliability is seriously in doubt, in that she was taken to court in France over a number of scams. It would appear the ‘Vanderbilt’ story is part and parcel of that, and his research suggests that the first Birmans were likely ‘created’ by her, much earlier. He has published documentary evidence dating from 1922 linking her with the Birman cat, so

“This of course doesn’t change anything about the creation of the Birman (a victim of history here) and all the efforts made to create this wonderful breed.”

ESTABLISHMENT AS A RECOGNISED BREED

“It is now up to the reader to draw their own conclusions from the above information and thus decide which gentleman/gentlemen actually acquired the original pair of Birman cats.

“As can be seen, many articles and indeed, even a book by Marcel Reney – ‘Los Amis Les Chats’ have tried to investigate the true history of the Sacred Cat of Burma, but unfortunately much of the history is still shrouded with a seemingly impenetrable veil,

‘MANOU DE MADALPOUR’ This photograph and others, were taken after his dam’s notable win at the International Cat Show in Paris in May 1926.Both cats were exhibited, ‘Poupee’ owned by Mme Leotardi, and ‘Manou’ owned by Mme Marcelle Adams.

Photo: ‘Vie A La Compagne’ October 1, 1926. Image courtesy of The CFA Foundation.

particularly those years 1916-1935, and although undoubtedly, someone, somewhere in France knows the true story, we lesser mortals will have to use our imagination. All we can be certain of is that a considerable amount of inbreeding and the use of other breeds of cats must have occurred, as the Birmans as we know them today originated from this original pair of cats imported to France.

“The Breed known as ‘Sacre de Birmanie’ was first recognized in France in 1925 by the Federation Feline Francaise’ (the equivalent of England’s G.C.C.F.) and in 1935 Monsieur Baudoin-Crevoisier, who was recognized as a top Birman breeder and who owned the well-known male ‘Dieu d’Arakan’ and a female ‘Poupee,’ whose photographs still exist in France today, decided to sell Dieu d’Arakan with six males and females to Princess Ratibor Hohenhole for the huge sum of 30,000 French francs, and these were subsequently bequeathed to the Duke d’Aosta. After a time these cats were then taken over by the Countess Giriode Panissera and the ownership trans-

ferred to her.

“In the autumn of 1936 in the Castle of Francanvilla Bisio, near Noir Ligure, the result of all the Contessa’s hard work was rewarded. Dieu d’Arakan and another male Reine de Rangoon sired seventeen Birmans in fourteen litters, and they became known as the most beautiful cats in the world at that time.”

EU. CH. DIEU D’ARAKAN In the history of the Birman as a breed, ‘Dieu d’Arakan’ (aka ‘Dieu D’arakhan’) stands as probably the most significant pre-war Birman cat of recognisable quality, especially when you consider that his foundation forebears were reported to have arrived in France only a few years before his birth, and the breed, by necessity had been subjected to outcrossing to Siamese, and possibly other breeds in order to ensure its survival.

‘Dieu d’Arakan’s’ overall type was so demonstrably ahead of his time, that he was, almost by default, the

An impressive full body view of ‘INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION DIEU D’ARAKAN’, bred and owned by Marcel Baudoin-Crevoisier.

Photo: ‘Vie A La Campagne’, April 15, 1935 Image courtesy of The CFA Foundation

hallmark standard-bearer for the future of the breed.

His appearance simply raised the bar for ‘type’ to new levels; and once seen, every Birman breeder of note wished to emulate his looks within their own breeding programs. He had the shape, the coat, the markings and the eye colour. In short, they didn’t come any better than this. Here was a Birman cat, that could proudly stand beside all-comers in other breeds and be recognised as distinctly unique, with an air of quality that was unparalleled within the breed up until that point in time.

PARENTAGE & OWNERSHIP ‘Dieu d’Arakan’ was born in 1930.¹ His breeder was Marcel Baudoin-Crevoisier, who had a short but meteoric rise to fame as one of the most prominent breeders of Birmans between 1929 and 1933. He had purchased two early high-fliers in 1929. Gisele Barnay refers: “If one continues the tour of the cat shows of the era, one sees the arrival of other stars. There were two

more ‘show’ cats in 1929 in Paris: one at the Cat Club show on the 8th-9th February and the other at the Central Feline Society show on 24th-26th May. “They were a couple of Birman cats unique in the world on account of their perfection. This referred to ‘Ijadi Tsun’, a female cat and the male ‘Lon Saito’, born in 1927, when Marcel Baudoin became their owner.”

It should be noted that there are no firm records for the parentage of ‘Dieu d’Arakan’. But given that Monsieur Baudoin-Crevoisier owned ‘Lon Saito of Madalpour’ and ‘Ijadi Tsun’ at the time, one cannot but wonder if these two were not involved in the production of such a fine specimen.

Simone Poirier and Gisele Barnay both allude to Baudoin possibly introducing Persians into the mix as they felt that the style had changed from what was a distinctly ‘siamese’ cross appearance with long hair, to a more rounded, heavier bult look, more consistent with outcrossing to longhairs.

The astonishing ‘INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION DIEU D’ARAKAN’ bred by Marcel Baudoin.

Photo: ‘Vie A La Campagne’, April 15, 1935. Image courtesy of The CFA Foundation

Gisele Barnay also noted that the coats had improved considerably. Poirier commented:“1929 was the year when Baudoin began to work seriously on the breed. He mever made any secrets of avoiding ‘too many incestuous unions’ he made ‘lucky outcrosses with some Siamese females with white gloves and some stud-cats of Madalpour’s line’ but never admitted that he had called in some Persians.” to which Giselle Barnay then adds:“Upon seeing the results in the following years, it is undeniable! In the photos, the cats of Marcel Baudoin-Crevoisier have a head distinctly more rounded and fur much longer than found with other breeders.”

She then asks Poirier: “have you never had the chance to meet him and ask that question?”

In her response she reveals: “When I asked him the question: ‘What did you use use for your breeding?’ he replied ‘a Siamese, gloved and with long fur’. Then she added later: “..he responded to all my explicit questions in an evasive manner, clouding the trail. He was bizarre; he stuck to the history, always gliding over any doubts of their origin. I could not get any clear answers.”

But regardless, Poirier did not question the value of the results of Baudoin’s efforts. In fact, she concluded:-

Close-up head-shot of ‘INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION DIEU D’ARAKAN’ bred and owned by Marcel Baudoin-Crevoisier.

Photo: ‘Vie A La Campagne’, April 15, 1935. Image courtesy of The CFA Foundation

“There is no doubt that Baudoin had done a good tween themselves, produced kittens with at least 80job, with an intelligent breeding program that he Birman characteristics.’ Perhaps he was lucky.”

‘MISS TOODLES’ by ‘JAMES90% II’ out of ‘NANIE’ Photo: Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia (1909) continued to use. The original Madalpour line from CHANGES IN OWNERSHIP which his stud ‘Lon Saito’ came was good. The Despite his considerable successes on the show descendants of ‘Poupee’ had been produced using bench before and during 1932, and whilst French cat regular blood relations with the intervention of breeding continued to improve, gained status; Siamese cats, certainly gloved and probably with Baudoin appears to have become discouraged. long coats. It was a prudent and controlled Barnay tells us that in June 1932 he wrote that his intervention, since the gloves were inherited by the financial affairs were difficult and that cat food was new generations. Baudoin continued to ‘frequently expensive etc. renew the blood of the breeding cats’. He wrote that, but he certainly did not tell how!”

In 1933, he decided to sell the whole of his breeding stock. Two cats were purchased by the Swiss Siamese Giselle Barnay added:breeder, Abbott Marcel Chamonin, who wrote “Baudoin also specified that the Siamese and the passionately about the Birman cat under the Birman cats share their origins and he added ‘a pseudonym of ‘Marcel Reney’. These were ‘Rose de crossed Birman and a gloved Siamese produced, in Mogock’, the daughter of Bijou de Madalpour, and the second generation, a stong proportion of Birman ‘Poupee de Rangoon’, the daughter of ‘Rose de characteristics. And these cats, from new crosses beMagock’.

Spectators observing the cats at the Show run by the Cat Club de Paris, at the Salle Wagram, in December 1930.

This was the year in which ‘Dieu d’Arakan’ was born.

Drawing from ‘L’Illustration’, December 20, 1930. Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

This same Marcel Chamonin had organised the first cat shows in Switzerland at the beginning on 1933, with the permission of the Cat Club of Paris and the Cat Club of Champagne. At the time of the purchase, he was the general secretary of the Cat Club of Geneva, which considerably later in 1952, became independent.

He was also a judge of the International Federation of Cats in Switzerland and loved his cats enormously.

Barnay informs us that two other Champions bred by Baudoin were sold in Belgium, to Mlle Rouselle, the general scretary of the Cat Club of Liege. These were ‘Lon Saito de Madalpour’ born in 1927, and ‘Zaquelle de Mandalay’ born in 1931.

According to Marcel Chamonin (Reney), Baudoin sold the remainder of the cats to the Italian Princess Ratibor Honenlohe in 1933 for the sum of 30,000 francs. At that time, she was living at Satirana castle, at Lomellina-Pavie.¹ She in turn had given them to the Duke of Aoste. Finally they ended up at the Francecavilla-Bisio Castle, the home of a couisn of the Duke, the Countess Elisabetta Giriodi-Panissero, who appears to have loved the animals a great deal.

Barnay gives further illumination:“When she (the Countess) died in January 1985, she did not own a single cat, but always had about thirty dogs. Mme Norma Bagnasco, still responsible for the bursar’s office at the Francavilla castle in 1987, was a little girl just before the Second World War. She did not remember ‘Dieu d’Arakan’, maybe he had died, because he had been very ill but she recalled perfectly Regina de Rangoon and she had seen the medals won at shows in times past, by the two champions of beauty. The servants and gardeners had been responsible for looking after the cats.”

SIBLINGS & SHOWS Although it is likely that Monsieur Baudoin would have bred full and/or half siblings to ‘Dieu d’Arakan’, there are no records which can be tapped to confirm this. We do know that he bred from related lines, but to affirm that any of these were in fact siblings could only be based on conjecture.

‘Dieu d’Arakan’ appears to have first been shown in a class of young males on April 11 and 12, 1931 at the Second International Cat Show, in Rheims, where he

Bronze Medal of the CAT CLUB DE PARIS (1929) by Gallo Medal from the Harrison Weir Collection.

Carried off his first prize. This show was run by Cat Club of Champagne.

Success followed success. Poirier reported: “In the cat shows of 1932, the cats of Marcel Baudoin-Crevoisier took away all the prizes.”¹ and Gisele Barnay added:- “I checked all this in the papers for that year! At the Cat Club of Paris show in January and the Cat Club of Champagne show at Reims in February, they were all ecstatic! ‘The Birman cats were splendid, the international champions Dieu d’Arakan, Lon Saito de Madalpour and the amusing Reine de Rangoon, all from M. Baudoin.’ The second prize went to Zaquelle de Mandalay, also from Baudoin’s breeding and owned by Mlle Rouselle. For him 1932 was a glorious year. Birman cats were even celebrated in the columns of a specialist magazine, the ‘Kathimerini’ in Athens.”

Among Baudoin’s winners were the males ‘Soleil d’Arakan’, ‘Bouli d’Arakan’, ‘Roult d’Arakan, ‘Prince de Rangoon’ and ‘Dieu d’Arakan’. In the females were ‘Rose de Magock’, ‘Poupee de Rangoon’, her daughter ‘Reine de Rangoon’ and ‘Zaquelle de Mandalay’. These notable wins and the beauty of the cats brought more breeders into the fold. Madame Chaumont-Doisy, a breeder of Siamese became interested in the Birman cat from around 1930 onwards. And Mademoiselle Boyer of the famous ‘Kaabaa’ cattery began her interest in Birmans around this time and did some excellent work with the breed.

Exhibitor and observer at the Salle Wagram Paris Show 1930.

Drawing from ‘L’Illustration’, December 20, 1930.

Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

BREEDING & PROGENY Madame Simone Poirier of the famous ‘de Crespieres’ cattery line had the following to say about ‘Dieu d’Arakan’ in a book co-authored with Gisel Barney, and later translated into English by Alwyn Hill.“Dieu d’Arakan was superb. He showed off some magnificent eyes, which the black and white photos do not even give an inkling of. The quality of his fur was perfect and quite close to the actual standard. He was more squat, and more rounded than the first Birman cats, as you have already remarked.”

In a later conversation about the post-war cats of the 1950’s she reiterated: “Perhaps, although ‘Dieu d’Arakan’, in 1930, already had a very ‘round’ look. He was rather an exception for the period. ‘Orloff’ and ‘Aria de Kaabaa’ were like him. Their eyes were of a profound blue, magnificent and have become very rare today.”

‘Dieu d’Arakan’ is likely to have sired successfully for Marcel Baudoin-Crevoisier, but again, there is no documentary evidence extant of his progeny.

It was not until the end of 1933, that the Central Feline Society of France and the reunited Cat Clubs of Paris and Champagne got together to form the French Feline Federation (FFF) which was presided over by M.

Described as ‘A Sacred Burmese Cat’ this photo of ‘Dieu d’Arakan’ – was published in ‘Fur and Feather’ in 1932.

Image: The Harrison Weir Collection.

Maurice Guingand. There was only one book of origins (stud-book) and this was the responsibility of the Cat Club de Paris. It was at this time that the registration of suffixes became more widespread.

The best and only references for progeny from ‘Dieu d’Arakan’ are those gleaned from details of his later years when he very fortunately came under the careful stewardship of the Countess Elisabetta Giriodi-Panissero.

In the book by Marcel Reney, ‘Nos Amis Les Chats’ (Our Cat Friends) published in 1947, Chamonin claims to have visited the Francecavilla-Bisio castle, near Novi-Ligure, in 1936. There he apparently saw ‘Dieu d’Arakan’ and ‘Reine de Rangoon’, surrounded by seventeen cats and their fourteen kittens! Poirier then sadly advises: “Since then, no one has heard any more about them.”

Even sadder, is that Marcel Chamonin’s own cats were also eventually lost. These included those he had bought from Baudoin and ‘Sinh de Saint-Hubert’ whom he had purchased from Mlle Rouselle in Belgium. Those that remained were tragically lost in a fire at his home. So unless some of the kittens held by the Countess were used for breeding and or passed into new ownership, it seems likely that there are no verifiable offspring of record for the magnifcent ‘Dieu d’Arakan’.

IN SUMMARY Over many decades, new colours of Birmans have been introduced. Firstly ‘Blues’, then later ‘Chocolate and Lilac’. Later again, the ‘Red’ and ‘Tortie’ series, and then in the last 30 plus years or so, the ‘Tabbypoints’.

Monsieur Baudoin-Crevoissier’s reactions to all these

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION DIEU D’ARAKAN, bred and owned by Marcel Baudoin-Crevoisier.

Photo: ‘Vie A La Campagne’, April 15, 1935. Image courtesy of The CFA Foundation

developments would have been immense and extremely negative. He was most apprehensive about what was the vogue of introducing even ‘blue’ into what were purely ‘seal’ bloodlines, when he spoke to Madame Poirier in 1967. She elaborates: -

Perhaps Monsieur Baudoin was right for the times. In his view it was important to set the conformation and to be seen striving to breed consistently good sealpoints before attempting to branch off on a new colour tangent. And he had proven to all-comers, that he knew what he was talking about.

“Without being reactionary, perhaps he was not completely wrong. He feared the worst! He thought that the sacred cat of Burma, the one the first breeders had shown, especially his ‘Dieu d’Arakan’, was the most beautiful cat in the world.”

His ‘Dieu d’Arakan’ was the new standard, and in him, the cat world got a surprising glimpse of what could be achieved. He was simply a cat that once seen, could never be forgotten.

References: •

Then she quoted Marcel directly: “The harmony of his colours, the beauty of his coat and marvellous collar create an almost supernatural animal.”

He said, “To want to change these characteristics is a crime of treason.”

• • • •

‘The Secrets of the Sacred Cat of Burma’ (English Edition) (2006) by Alwyn Hill, translated from the French. Original Authors: Simone Poirier & Gisele Barnay.

‘Vie A La Campagne’, 15th April, 1935.

‘Les Races De Chats’ (1930) by Dr V. Phillipe Jumaud.

‘L’Illustration’ 30th December, 1930 ‘L’Extraordinaire Adventure du Chat sacre de Birmanie’ by Prof. Alain Lescart (2020) and emails.

FELIS HISTORICA - COVER CAT

NZCF. BRONZE DOUBLE GRAND CHAMPION CHALFONT WILLIAM TELL – Born September 23, 2016 NATIONAL BEST OF BREED BIRMAN - Bred by Mr. Lyall Payne.

Photo © Helmi Flick Cat Photography

NZCF BR. DB. GR. CH. CHALFONT WILLIAM TELL I had never seriously intended to keep Bronze Double Grand Champion Chalfont William Tell, as at the time I had his older full older brother Silver Double Grand Champion Chalfont Uncle Sam, who from the kitten classes won Supreme Best in Show at New Zealand’s National Cat Show in 2016.

In fact, I have had three successful litters from this breeding, all of which have produced winners. I first combined Double Grand Champion Tajomeer High ‘N Mighty (owned and bred by Mrs Val Richards) with Chalfont Paint The Town Red (Paris) bred and owned by myself in January 2014. Paris was sired by Ch Chalfont Holyman out of Kiwizone Sweet Karma (bred by Maxine Jorgensen).

That first litter produced Aust. Double Grand Champion Chalfont Rattle ‘N Hum. I took this young kitten to a Birman Specialty show (and still had his brother at home so took him for the ride also). When I benched the kitten, I realised I had left the intended entry back at the motel. With the show manager’s permission, I was able to swap them over at the last minute and not cause more than a five minute delay to the start of judging.

Lyall Payne with Chalfont William Tell as a kitten

So, with Rattle ‘N Hum now benched – and not enjoying a day’s sleep in the motel room, he came to the fore and went Supreme Best in Show!

From here he travelled to Australia and under the ownership and great guidance of long-time breed stalwart, Marie Mahoney he enjoyed an incredibly successful show career. At one of his first outings he topped a huge entry for Best Kitten at the Brisbane Royal.

Twenty months later (in September 2015) the Chalfont U litter arrived that included Silver Double Grand Champion Chalfont Uncle Sam, a Sealpoint male born September 25, 2015 and whose wins were legendary. At the height of his career he won Supreme Best in Show at the NZ National Cat Show in 2016 (under Pam Delabar – USA).

From the third litter, came another Sealpoint male, Bronze Double Grand Champion Chalfont William Tell, born almost exactly a year later on September 23, 2016.

There were four kittens. Two brothers, a sealpoint and a bluepoint named Wild Card and Wild Fire, that went together to a wonderful home and I initially ran on both William Tell and Wind In The Willows, a bluepoint female.

Chalfont William Tell on the day he won Supreme Exhibit at the NZCF National Cat Show 2017

The bluepoint female went on to be a successful breeding queen for a couple I gave her to for looking after Uncle Sam and Harley (High ‘N Mighty) during my house moves.

As William Tell matured, I knew I had something special again, a suspicion which was duly confirmed by the following notable wins: At William Tell’s first National Cat Show (2017) he went Best Entire Longhair Kitten in Show – judge Jan Walker Rogers (USA) -the fabulous US Birman breed specialist judge.

Then in July, John Smithson awarded William Tell, Kitten of the Year 2017 at the Pedigree Persian Cat Fanciers Show.

At the following National Cat Shows of 2018 and 2019 William Tell won Best Entire Birman Adult.

FELIS HISTORICA - COVER CAT

Australian Double Grand Champion Chalfont Rattle ‘N Hum – Best Kitten at the Brisbane Royal, 2014 Photo: Pawsnap (Australia)

At the 2018 National Cat Show Judge Vicki Nye (USA) placed him Best Birman and 3rd Best Longhair Entire Cat and at the 2019 National Cat Show Judge Lynne Sherer (USA) placed him Best Birman and 5th Best Longhair Cat in Show.

William Tell is very gentle and kind young male.

I can pick him up and turn him upside down, cradling him like a baby and even pass him like that to complete strangers.

I get all potential kitten buyers to meet him.

Once anyone meets WT this way, they are sold. Any thoughts of owning another breed of cat disappears!! He is a very smooching cat.

As a stud, he is impeccably clean, efficient yet kind and companionable to his ladies! After a show bath, I can trust him to wander in the house – though I keep a vigilant eye!

His stud run is about forty feet and in direct line of sight from my other Birman stud and while they occasionally chat to each other, William Tell is a very quiet cat.

NZCF Silver Double Grand Champion Chalfont Uncle Sam Supreme Cat, NZCF National Cat Show, 2016

He is a complete pleasure and delight to live with and although he is just on four years old, continues to display kitten-like and endearing

NZCF BR. DB. GR. CH. CHALFONT WILLIAM TELL

Mr. Lyall Payne of Chalfont Cattery, at home holding Bronze Double Grand Champion Chalfont Willian Tell Photo: Frank Neill

behaviours, such as fetching a ball or almost rolling himself in half and toppling over with joy as he rubs against my feet or legs.

William Tell carries a rare pedigree in that he and all the sealpoint and bluepoint Birmans in his pedigree, are themselves only bred from sealpoint and bluepoint coloured Birmans.

He has given me some lovely kittens who themselves have gone on to be great show cats and producers. I sold a son of his ‘Chalfont I’m a Believer’ as a stud cat and at his first show for his new owner he claimed a Best Kitten In Show award, giving the new owners their most successful show win to date. What more could I ask of my lovely boy?

Lyall Payne

The Duchess of Bedford (Mary Russell) at home in Woburn Abbey with ‘Bogie’

Photo by Alice Hughes. Published in ‘The Tatler’ in 1901.

Image from The Harrison Weir Collection

THE DUCHESS OF BEDFORD’S

A SEAL (SABLE) BROWN CAT FROM SIAM? BY

JOHN G. SMITHSON

Adapted from extracts from ‘Bogie’ @ The History Project

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ‘Bogie’ could truthfully be described as either the ‘missing’ or ‘mystery’ solid brown Siamese cat, or, in the measured opinion of the writer, as possibly the first and earliest Seal Burmese or Tonkinese cat to arrive in the United Kingdom.

That opinion, is based almost entirely upon her amazing phenotypical traits, which include a glossy dark- brown, close-lying coat, with head and body type that would rival foundation Burmese cats bred in the USA and the UK, half a century later. Her type in fact, rivals even cats bred much later than that, possibly giving us a true glimpse into what the original Seal Sepia Burmese cats may have really looked like.

That we know anything about her at all, is nothing short of miraculous.

It is never wise to deal in absolutes because history sooner or later usually proves them to be wrong. A prime example of this, was when a medium brown coloured ‘Wong Mau’ was assumed to be a fully pure Burmese) when naval officer Dr. Joseph C. Thompson, of San Francisco, imported her into the ‘West’ from Burma in 1930. But she was later proved (by the resultant litter she produced to a full Siamese) to be a hybrid, (genetically a mink) and therefore, probably the earliest true Tonkinese cat of record.

And it was only due to the hard work of American breeder/geneticists, that the true pure Sepia (which would breed true for that density of pattern and regarded as a genetically genuine Burmese) cat, was produced from her lines.

Even so, was she the first of her kind to come to the ‘West’? There are many records of so-called Black and Blue Siamese cats in the original registers, some

have ‘Royal Siamese’ parentage, at least recorded as that in the official register. Very few, are described as ‘pointed’ although one or two certainly are!

The one thing of which we can be certain…is that we cannot be certain! And ‘Bogie’, who looks so unique for the era, will serve to challenge our beliefs yet again.

PARENTAGE & OWNERSHIP This little dark-brown cat was not registered. Nor do we have any indication, even in the two articles extant which speak of her, any indication of her age or date of birth and there are no known records of her parentage or how she was obtained. She was of course, called a Siamese, but as we have pointed out on other occasions, any cat, regardless of colour or pattern that came out of ‘Siam’ (Thailand), was described as a Siamese.

If indeed she was a Burmese, it is possible that she lived to a considerable age, as many Burmese cats are prone to do! The only thing we can be sure of, is that she was owned by Mary Russell, the then Duchess of Bedford, who just also happened to be the President of the National Cat Club.

How do we know this? The Duke and Duchess of Bedford (Herbrand and Mary Russell), both had a considerable public profile in the cause of Animal Welfare, both being passionately devoted to natural history, the outdoors and sport.

It was at their original estate of Cairnsmore, Palnure, Galloway, that they began their collection of rare animals. But neither had expected to be catapulted into the responsibilities that went hand in hand with a ducal coronet, when Lord Herbrand’s elder brother, the tenth Duke of Bedford, died suddenly after having held the title for only two years. Their former lifestyle was now to be subjected to considerable change.

Their Graces, the Duke and Duchess of Bedford (Herbrand Arthur Russell and Mary Russell) His Grace; photo by F. Thomson, Grosvenor St West. ‘The Lady’s Realm’ (1901) Her Grace; photo by Bullingham. ‘The Sketch’ (1901) Images courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

Woburn Abbey from the South West Photo by Eyre and Spottewoode. ‘The Lady’s Realm’ (1901) Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

The vast and elaborate estate at Woburn was over time transformed into a virtual private zoological garden, and the Duke and Duchess became inextricably linked to a good number of charitable organisations, whose chief work was to protect various classes of animals from cruelty and neglect.

From an article in ‘The Lady’s Realm’ published in 1901, we gain the following valuable insight: “The Duke, takes a personal interest in the animals he has collected and being an informed and practical zoologist, superintends their treatment himself. His Grace believes, that the best cure for savagery in

animals is freedom, and in pursuance of this method he has made large enclosures in the park, where the animals not usually domesticated can roam at will.”

“The Duke devotes a good deal of time to local affairs, being Chairman of the Bedfordshire County Council, Lieutenant - Colonel of 3rd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, and is the Hon. Colonel of the Bedfordshire Volunteers.

His Grace is also holds the important office of LordLieutenant of the County of Middlesex, and is President of the Zoological Society of London.”

Just a few examples of the animals in Woburn Park. Above left: Zebra; Above right, Eland; Below left: His Grace with a Barking Deer; Below right: Her Grace feeding Halpha, her Arab Horse.

Photos: Her Grace, the Duchess of Bedford; except for the last, which is by C. Reid, of Wishaw.

Images courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection.

The Duchess was known to be an expert horsewoman, and an exceptional shot, often to be seen walking for miles about the Woburn estate with her gun and dogs. She devoted considerable time to the care of the sick, promoting and assisting in the establishment of hospitals, even engaging in ambulance work, and by virtue of this, became a lady of Grace of St. John.

One of her hobbies was amateur photography and a number of her studies appear in this article. But it is in her love of the cat that we have come to know her best, both as joint Patron with His Grace, of the Society for the Protection of Cats, and in her active role as President of The National Cat Club.

THE CATS

Amongst the Woburn menagerie, which include wild animals such as those shown in photographs above;

could be found the domestic varieties, being horses, dogs, and a small but select collection of cats.

These included over time, the Royal Siamese cats named ‘Satu’, ‘Bigit’, ‘Chowfa’, ‘Saiwan’, and ‘Goblin’, and not forgetting the little solid dark brown cat, ‘Bogie’, the subject of this missive.

Longhaired cats included ‘Tommy’ (aka Thomas Puss), a half-breed Brown Tabby of Persian type; ‘Billy’ (aka ‘Bill Beresford’, so named for the famous person from whom he had been received as a gift); ‘Fritz’, a Silver Tabby Persian, rescued as a kitten from the streets of London; and a black and white domestic cat named ‘Napoleon’; whom, after his adoption showed that he preferred the outdoors, and could generally be found on the terraces near the stables, which he invariably jealously guarded from any other feline would-be intruders!

The Cats sitting room at Woburn Abbey Photo: The Duchess of Bedford. ‘Windsor’ Magazine, 1895.

The Chinese Dairy Pond at Woburn Abbey, from the lead page of an article written by Louis Wain published in 1895.

Photo: The Duchess of Bedford. ‘Windsor’ Magazine.

BREED VARIETY & COLOUR That ‘Bogie’ should be called a Siamese, simply denotes that she was either a direct import from Siam, or from cats that were direct imports. It seems likely that she may have been a direct import herself, but regardless of whether she was or not, she was clearly not a Siamese of the ‘Royal’ or pointed variety, and her descriptions belie the fact that she was considerably dark in colour.

If we remember that many of the semi-pointed cats from this era, (those most resembling a mink tonkinese in intensity of colouration), were described as ‘Chocolates’ and even officially recognized by the Siamese Cat Club as a variety within the breed; then it is unique that she is generally described as a darkbrown cat.

Our first introduction to this cat is in an article written

by Louis Wain, when as Chairman of the Committee of the National Cat Club, he had paid a visit to Woburn Abbey to write about the many beloved pets of the Duke and Duchess.

Published in 1895, the writing of this article can be dated fairly accurately to a period near the end of 1894 or as late as January 1895. In it, Wain describes a Longhaired half Persian cat which was a favourite of the Duke, named ‘Tommy’ (also affectionately known as ‘Tom Catapuss’ or ‘Thomas Puss’), who is known to have died in February of 1895.

In it, Louis Wain gives us the following enlightening description of madam ‘Bogie’: “‘Bogie’, a whole-colour very dark-brown cat, is likewise a Siamese, and a vixen into the bargain. She has a philosophy of her own in regard to the treatment of furniture, and will play sad havoc with silk, damask, and even ‘down’ cushions when she gets the chance. Consequently, she is usually banished to an upper storey, or the grass lawn, whereon to work her wicked wiles.”

It is indeed noteworthy that he describes her firstly as a ‘whole-colour’ cat, and as ‘very dark-brown’. Mr. Wain was an experienced observer of cats, and therefore familiar in assessing colour. But we must also remember that at the time, there was absolutely no understanding of the concept of ‘degrees’ of pointing, so it should come as no surprise to us, that the lighter-to mid-brown cats that were in fact semipointed, were most often described as Chocolates, when they were in all likelihood, seal mink.

Describing ‘Bogie’ as dark-brown, and as ‘wholecoloured’ suggests that he considered her to be a selfcoloured cat, or what we would call a self-seal, much closer to the description in alignment with the term seal sepia.

It is unlikely that the fact that this cat may still have been modestly darkest on the tips of the ears, face, bottom of the feet and tip of tail, was even noticed.

‘BOGIE’ – THE DUCHESS OF BEDFORD’S SIAMESE CAT Photo: C. Reid, Wishaw, N.B. ‘The Tatler’ (1901)

Author Grace Burgess, in her classic work ‘Burmese Cats’, published in 1970, had this to say about the type and colouration of the Burmese cat: “The Burmese is the only natural breed of brown cat, although It is not truly self-coloured as the coat is a deeper shade of brown on top of the back and comes paler underneath. The eyes are large and expressive, and usually chartreuse-yellow in colour, although clear yellow is the desired colour.”

She went on to describe the difficulties experienced by Dr Joseph Thompson, the importer/owner of ‘Wong Mau’: “At first the Cat Fancy did not recognize this brown cat as being a new variety and it was thought she was a poor type of Siamese. Dr Thompson was intrigued with a cat, the like of which had never before been seen in the United States or in Europe.* He was supported in his view that this was a totally new variety, quite distinct from the Siamese, by Dr Clyde Keeler, Mrs. Virginia Cobb, and Madeleine Dmytryk.”

But how true was Dr. Thompson’s assumption that that the colour had not been seen before in Europe? This we can assess for ourselves shortly on the last page of this article.

Grace Burgess further, shares with us, a description of ‘Wong Mau’ garnered from Mrs. Billie Gerst: “From photographs and descriptions supplied by Mrs. Billie Gerst it would seem that Wong Mau was a rather small cat, fine boned, but with a more compact body than that of a Siamese, with a shorter tail, a rounded, short-muzzled head, and with greater width, between rounded eyes. Her ears were large and erect and she showed no muzzle pinch. There is some doubt about the colour of her eyes - some say golden, and some say turquoise.”

Given that we know today, that ‘Wong Mau’ was in fact a hybrid, and that despite this, she was more compact in the body, with a shorter tail, and with a rounder short-muzzled head than a Siamese, then

The Duchess of Bedford’s favourite Siamese, ‘Goblin’.(1892-1900) Photo: The Duchess of Bedford. ‘Our Cats’ Magazine, March 1, 1900 Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection.

we are led to wonder what a non-hybridised cat, that was already a pure-bred Burmese must have looked like! Surely, more like the cat we see in the amazing photograph by Charles Reid, of ‘Bogie’ on the lawn at Woburn Abbey, taken in 1901!

Sadly, there is no evidence that ‘Bogie’ was ever bred, or had progeny or any known siblings. The Duchess is also known never to have shown any of her cats, even though her Siamese neuter, ‘Goblin’, was considered to be an exceptional example of the breed. Louis Wain wrote of ‘Goblin’: “It would be difficult to find ‘Goblin’s’ match at a show or else-where in this country; small wonder he is a popular sprite.”

IN SUMMARY

When we compare the two supposedly Siamese cats against each other, both from Woburn Abbey, and both taken approximately during the same time period, it is clear to the observer that one is a fully pointed cat, a ‘Royal’ Siamese in the terminology of the day, while the other is a seal or sable brown cat a with considerably foreshortened head of profoundly different phenotype!

The existence of ‘Bogie’ currently challenges what has formerly been claimed, that ‘Wong Mau’ was the

first Sable or Seal Brown cat to arrive into the West, including Europe*. She is clearly a candidate for being the first Seal Brown cat of record in Europe, but, could possibly lay claim to being the first full ‘Burmese’ cat, known to have lived in the United Kingdom. She may aptly demonstrate that the original Burmese cat was a short-bodied compact cat of moderate size, with a shorter tail, a shorter, blunter, more rounded wedge than the Siamese, and with rounder eyes.

Her dark colour is confirmed in both photographs, dating from 1901 and it is clear from the excellent photograph taken by C. Reid, that her glossy coat and phenotype is unique, even when compared to the rare images we can find of ‘Wong Mau’ taken in the 1930’s. It is up to the reader to decide for themselves just where she fits into the incredible array of natural breeds to have come out of South East Asia. Of one thing we can be sure, the cats of the Orient have left an indelible mark on the Cat Fancy and these images of ‘Bogie’ can only serve to remind us that we have much more yet to learn.

Overleaf, the author shows another possible example of a seal sepia or judging by phenotype, a seal mink (brown) cat having been exhibited in Europe in Belgium, as early as 1891, which is very possibly around the same time as ‘Bogie’ may have been born.

Illustrations of Exhibits at the Premier Show of the Brussels Cat Club in 1891. Published in ‘Chasse et Peche’.

Inset at right: Enlargement from top left corner, of Siamese and what looks to be either a Seal Burmese or the equivalent of Seal Mink Tonkinese.

The first Virtual Museum of the Cat! – online now at: www.cat-o-pedia.org

BY

LAURA D. THOMAS This month I hope to share some interesting tidbits for achieving a healthy, shiny, and soft coat.

In order to achieve the lustre look and feel of a healthy coat, you must start on the inside—meaning proper nutrients and a balanced diet.

It’s what everyone wants! Or is it?

In my very early days of breeding, I purchased a proven 3-year-old boy as my foundation male; he arrived not titled and shaved. I wanted him titled if he was to become my foundation male. So I researched all sorts of supplements to help grow his coat. I researched the best foods and spoke with many, many, many breeders. It seemed every breeder had an opinion and theirs was the newest best kept secret.

First the secret mix I ended up with a wall-shelf packed full of every known supplement and vitamin one could stock. My wall looked like a pharmacy, and I prided myself in my knowledge of what I had gathered. I began with increasing certain supplement mixtures and vitamins, while adding things to the water and to the food. From a nutritional standpoint, I knew it could take up to six months to see complete results and that something added into the diet needs time to work itself outward into the cat’s skin.

Now unto the bath I then began a bath routine, for I was told bathing helped grow the coat as well. So three times a week I washed this boy’s coat. I tried various shampoos and conditioners and used various methods I had picked out of the brains of experienced breeders who had proven themselves with their grooming practices and wins.

Then the big day came; he was entered into a show to achieve Championship status… He only took one ring. The judges shared with me that the cat was structured better than his competitors, but he was in his pj’s. I had no idea what being in his pj’s meant. I finally championed him, and then went on trying to Grand him. I learned much that year, and now I hope I can share some insight with you.

Images courtesy of

Distributors of ANNA Products in INDONESIA

Was it genetics – or just me as a newbie?

I had concluded that my boy’s coat factor was shorter and not as full as the other Persians and that he would never be able to achieve a thicker, longer coat! So I pulled this boy and concluded that I’d be happy with his champion status, and I’d Grand his offspring and work from there. Then something amazing happened!

THE IMPORTANCE OF A HIGHLY NUTRITIOUS AND BALANCED DIET

Stage 2 - Drying

After a few months of no added supplements and only a once-a-month maintenance bath routine, his coat came in like the wind during a thunderstorm. Suddenly, I wanted him shaved—he had too much coat.

I re-evaluated what had changed, and I came to two very well-researched and proven theories.

When you are adding supplements to a highly nutritious and balanced diet, you suddenly have an unbalanced diet.

1. The diet is the number one most important piece of a healthy coat for all animals—long and short! The health of the animal is seen in the shine, felt in the softness, and noticed in the bounce / texture of the coat.

You can over groom, and you can destroy a coat just by grooming and with what you are using.

Images courtesy of

Distributors of ANNA Products in INDONESIA

2. In my case, I not only had been over grooming, but my technique was also destroying the coat. As quick as it grew in, I was breaking it… and no one could have convinced me this was happening until I concluded it for myself. For I felt I was doing an incredible, perfect job. However, the way I combed, the way I shampooed, the way I dried, and what I was using all affected the end result.

Now that I’ve shared my early days, let me share some of my later-day tips. I hope I can help if you have run into some conditioning issues yourself. However, first and foremost, make certain the diet is nutritious and well-balanced. Be careful of adding to the diet if it is already balanced.

EIGHT INVALUABLE TIPS FROM EXPERIENCE Stage 3 - Finished

It doesn’t matter if your coat is long, short, thick, or even curly Eight ways to address conditioning of the skin and the coat (be certain to pay attention to if the tip is for the skin or for the coat) 1. Always condition the skin. You think you need to condition the fur, but the truth is the skin is your best defence. If it is oily or dried from a combination of genetics and diet, then this is where you need to start.

2. If your coat is dry, try an egg mask. The protein of the egg mask will help the coat and skin to restore moisture. It can also help with loose knots and tangles. Use one egg yolk to an equal amount of water. Beat thoroughly, and then whip in the egg white. Make certain to gently massage this mix all the way down to the skin. This can be used instead of a conditioner at the conditioner stage of the bath. Rinse well and groom as normal.

3. Use an aloe rinse. Aloe vera will help assist in signalling the coat to grow. It consists of enzymes that encourage growth, and it has a similar composition to keratin, the proteins’ main building block of the fur. This allows an easier penetration into the hair shafts. Cat fur doesn’t grow at the same rate as human hair. Human hair grows at a continuous rate—some faster than others. Cat fur, on the other hand, grows in spurts. It may not grow a single inch for six months and then suddenly—as in the case of a Persian—grow 5 inches in a few weeks. Have you ever noticed that your kitties’ coats can suddenly, almost overnight, go from manageable to "Where

Improved lustre and condition on a shorter coat, the result of balanced nutritious diet.

Images courtesy of

Distributors of ANNA Products in INDONESIA

the case of a Persian—grow 5 inches in a few weeks. Have you ever noticed that your kitties’ coats can suddenly, almost overnight, go from manageable to "Where did all this growth come from?" To make an aloe vera rinse, dilute a small piece of aloe vera into a cup of warm water. Pour or spray over the coat, allowing it to sit for about 20–30 minutes, then rinse. You can use this as a final rinse, a spray conditioner, or as a conditioner in itself during the bath routine.

4. If your coat is oily, let’s oil the skin. I know this sounds nuts, right? But it is all about balance. Just as a note, the oil you choose will make a difference in results.

Using hazelnut oil will help absorb and rebalance any excess sebum oil while simultaneously rehydrating the dry skin that is the root cause of the imbalance. If you are doing a lot of degreasing due to all the extra show baths, you may need to oil your cat to help not destroy the coat. The excessive grease is trying to compensate for the dryness you’ve created. So as crazy as this sounds, try pouring some hazelnut oil into the areas of extreme oiliness and allow it to sit on those areas for a few minutes or so (up to 20). And then continue your bath as normal.

5. To touch up acne areas found on the face, such as in the ear area or chin, apply a little sunflower oil. Cold-pressed sunflower oil is one of the best natural oils for acne. It is rich in vitamins A, C, and D, as well as carotenoids and waxes that form a protective barrier for the skin, making sunflower oil a particularly effective topical for acne. It is also non-comedogenic (meaning it can be rubbed into the skin without clogging pores and triggering an acne breakout). In fact, it will trick the skin into thinking it already has enough oil (which it will with the added sunflower oil) and shutting off the oil slick. Sunflower Oil regenerates skin, getting rid of acne causing bacteria.

6. Speaking of comedogenic, coconut oil is indeed a comedogenic, which means if used, it will clog the pores. Therefore, since many breeders believe coconut oil can solve many grooming issues, we suggest you add a little bit to the diet, not the coat. However, keep in mind why are you adding it to the diet and what result are you actually trying to achieve. It has been considered, along with red palm oil, that when added to the diet, it helps with the brain and nervous system… but this is something you should ask your vet about and not me. (smile)

7. Apple cider vinegar—this precious baby can’t be ignored. This vinegar is great for balancing the skin’s pH. I have always loved using vinegar in my final rinse as a way to make certain that all the bath products I had used would not affect the skin’s pH and create more issues. I used ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar to a pitcher of cool tap water. Mix and pour over kitty. Then rinse with a little more cool water, and you’re done. Hot water will open pores; cool water will close them and help assist in keeping our conditioning efforts lustrous and shiny. So always finish your bath with a cool water rinse.

8. And last in our tips, I offer a leave-in spray that can be used when you feel the need. Grab yourself a few sprigs of fresh rosemary and add to a spray bottle of water. I’d say about 2 or 3 tablespoons worth per 4 cups of water. You can create this quickly by boiling the water and allowing the rosemary to stew in it for approx. 10 minutes. Rosemary helps soften fur while soothing skin. You can also add a little aloe juice to this as well. If you wish to create your own serum, add a half teaspoon of vegetable glycerin to the mix to add a little more shelf life time to this homemade leave-in spray. The glycerin will help attract moisture into the coat. Please note—you may also see curls in your coat from the moisture being drawn in from the glycerin. Curls are a healthy sign—frizz is not.

In the old days, we oiled a coat by combing a conditioner into the coat and allowing it to sit on the cat overnight. We also used products created to fix the issues of the human hair on our cats’ coats. Today, with the wealth of knowledge I’ve obtained in this field, I do not recommend using human products on our cats for the simple reason of balance— just like what I’ve been sharing here in this article with you. Products are created with a pH in mind when formulated and packaged for either the human or the animal audience in mind. Just like the balance of a good diet is important, so is the balance of using the right products for the correct purpose. And as for oiling the coat overnight… seriously, not a healthy solution; not to mention how it must make that cat feel mentally and emotionally.

Next month, I’m still debating on a subject that may actually catch your heart in my findings. Until then… signing out. Paws up- high five, Laura☺

CFA GC. BWR. RW. TORIELLE’S PRETTY BOY FACTFILE Pet Name: ‘Petey’ DOB: August 10, 2018

CFA’S 14TH BEST CAT CHAMPIONSHIP North Atlantic Region CFA’S BEST BIRMAN Nationally 2019-2020

BLUE POINT BIRMAN MALE Torielle’s Pretty Boy (Petey) was one of two kittens in his mother’s last litter. He was born via a planned c-section. His mother was 8 years old at the time. She had never had a problem birthing any of her litters previously - but had a problem with her second to last litter and I lost the kittens.

I was going to spay her, but because I had never kept anything out of her and Petey’s sire for breeding, I thought I would give it one more chance. Because this was to be her last litter I talked to my vet and we decided to do a planned c-section/spay to prevent anything from going wrong.

CFA’S BEST BLUEPT BIRMAN Nationally 2019-2020

Petey’s father, Glamour Guy (Guy) was second Best Birman Nationally in 2010 and I always dreamed of having a cat achieve Best. I was hoping that maybe a kitten in this, his mother’s last litter, might make my dream come true.

BEST BIRMAN North Atlantic Region 2019-2020

Well much to my delight, my surprise and amazement, it did! Right from the get-go I noticed that Petey and his sister were special. They were typey and perfectly marked. When Petey was just 8 weeks old he took my breath away.

Sire: GC RW Torielle’s Glamour Guy

I was always telling him “you’re such a pretty boy” and that is how he got his name.

It worked out that coincidentally it was also the “P” year for naming Birmans.

Dam: GC RW Torielle’s Hailey DM Breeder/Owner:

Ellen Weber

Petey’s sister went to another breeder and achieved the title of Grand Champion.

Petey achieved the title of Grand Champion in two shows, so I decided to show him as a Grand Champion. Highlights of his show career included Best Birman in Championship at the International World Show, and Best Birman in Championship at the Sacred Cat of Burma Fanciers Show.

I am happy and grateful for the titles and awards he achieved and I’m hoping that someday he will produce a kitten to carry on his legacy.

CFA GC. GP. RW. CARICATURE’S SARAYA OF TIGERWINGS FACTFILE Pet Name: ‘Ya-Ya’ DOB: January 2, 2009

CFA’S 5TH BEST CAT PREMIERSHIP Southern Region 2018-2019 3RD BEST BURMESE PREMIERSHIP Southern Region 2018-2019 9TH BEST BURMESE PREMIERSHIP CFA Regions 1-9 NABB 2019-2020 Sire: GC Bastian’s Rama of Caricature

Dam: GC RW Caricature’s Shakira DM Breeder: Sharyn-Sig Hauck Owners: Kathy Rutledge / S-S Hauck

SABLE BURMESE SPAY Saraya is a sable Burmese, a breed which is known for its intelligence, its affection for and devotion to its owners, and its executive abilities to rule the house. Its is this talent which is the special province of the female Burmese. Named after Queen Soraya, the first wife of the Shah of Iran, Saraya carries the legacy of her namesake well. She is selfassured and independent, as anyone spending time in the company of a female Burmese will understand.

Saraya, who is called Ya-Ya, came to me at a difficult time in my life. I welcomed her self-confidence and her tendency to order me around. She gave me purpose; I was at her beck and call. She told me when to feed her or change her litterpans or give her fresh water. She gave her approval or disapproval to new beds or new toys. I could swear I saw her stamping her little foot when she was displeased with my offerings, which thankfully was not often.

Saraya and I have lived together for over 10 years, and we have become best friends.

Over the years, our household has grown to include a young Burmese male (her newest subject) and six older Burmillas. Until the last year, Saraya was a show cat, and she made the most of the attention the judges gave her. She was still sassy, and she had a reputation as a compact bundle of will. She scooted up the rope-covered pole in the judging ring at the slightest encouragement. She loved being in a hotel with me and couldn’t wait to get on the road.

Saraya has slowed down a little, accepting one Burmilla female as her handmaiden. She is battling chronic kidney disease, and I am at her service with special food and nursing routines. Nonetheless, she remains in charge and will be running the house for as long as I am fortunate enough to be her caretaker.

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen (1859-1923) Théophile Alexandre Steinlen, From Cats-Pictures without Words, 1898, Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY

Photo: 1913, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Agence Meurisse

THE FELINE ART OF

Theophile Alexandre Steinlen BY

LAURA VOCELLE

(1859-1923) PAINTER, SCULPTOR & ILLUSTRATOR

Theophile-Alexandre Steinlen (1859-1923, Swiss) was a prolific artist who had a deep-seated love of cats. At an early age he attended art school in his native Lausanne where he would sketch cats in the margins of his school books.

After moving to Paris in 1881, his home on the Rue Caulincourt in Montmartre became well known to the neighborhood cats, undoubtedly owing to his kindness to them. During these early years as an artist, it is said that he drew cats and sold the sketches for food. A caricature published in 1898 of Steinlen shows a gathering of animals threatening to completely engulf the artist, with a giant cat at his left shoulder.

Through his pencil, brush and ink strokes, Steinlen is known for his ability to adeptly capture the true essence of feline moods and temperaments. Steinlen’s cats are elegant and sophisticated, not just cute and mischievous as they are depicted by most 19th century artists. Instead, his cats are active and fluid.

A quote by Doris Lessing aptly fits here. “If a fish is the movement of water embodied, given shape, then a cat is a diagram and pattern of subtle air.”

As Steinlen’s works are both real and dramatic, they never seem to age or grow stale.

Steinlen depicted cats in sketches, prints, illustrations, posters and even sculptures.

Many of his works were of his two Siamese cats Masseida and Steinlen.

Steinlen even created a cat design ink stamp and logo for his works and studio, which can be seen in the lower right corner of the lithograph at left, and on many of his other cat paintings.

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen, L’Hiver, chat sur un coussin, lithograph, 1909, Swann Galleries

ThĂŠophile Alexandre Steinlen, The Black Cat and Milk Can, Fine Arts Museums San Francisco, Acquisition 1963.30.19962 Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts

ThĂŠophile Alexandre Steinlen, Two Sleeping Cats. Drawing, conte crayon on wove paper Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Estate of Emily Winthrop Miles

ThĂŠophile-Alexandre Steinlen, Winter Cat on a Cushion, 1909, Color lithograph, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1950 (50.616.9)

Living in Montmartre allowed him to meet the leading artists and writers of the day who often frequented the club Chat Noir. Through these relationships he began to find work as an illustrator for various magazines and books written by famous writers such as Guy de Maupassant (18501893) and Anatole France (1844-1924).

Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen,Lait pur stérilisé de la Vingeanne, Indianapolis Museum of Art, 1894, Gift of Howard H. and Marian J. Krapf

By the 1890’s, Steinlen became well known for his lithographic posters. His first advertising poster Lait pur stérilisé de la Vingeanne featured his own daughter Colette and their cats. In 1894, sterilized, or what we call pasteurized milk today, was quite new and Steinlen was able to convey the message of its healthfulness through his daughter and cats.

Throughout his artistic career, Steinlen experimented with a range of styles, such as Realism, Japonisme, Art Nouveau, and Post-Impressionism. His early posters are in the Art Nouveau style.

Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen, Compagnie Française des Chocolats et des Thès, 1895, Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY

In a poster advertising chocolate ’Compagnie française des chocolats et des thés’ ca. 1895, Steinlen once again used his family and cats as subjects.

Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen, Tournée du Chat Noir de Rodolphe Salis, 1896.

Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University (77.050.003). Image via Wikimedia Commons

Perhaps his most famous poster of this period is that of Tournée du Chat Noir de Rodolphe Salis, 1896. Introduced to Rudolphe Salis (1851-1897), the owner of the Montmartre cabaret Le Chat Noir (The Black Cat) in 1883, Steinlen proceeded to create many advertising posters for the establishment. This adverting poster for Le Chat Noir café in Montmartre features a somewhat sleek almost oriental black cat as representative of the café’s name. Parisians of all social classes could be found enjoying the shows at Le Chat Noir, many of which were political in nature and would make fun of the bourgeois clientele in the audience.

Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen, Old Cat, 1902, via Wikiart.org

Steinlen’s focus on cats can, of course, be attributed to his love of the animal. However, cats were also symbolic of the 19th century Bohemian lifestyle. Cats were seen as intelligent, freedom loving, independent creatures just as Bohemians were. Symbolic of women as well, cats were a metaphor for modern Bohemia and the growing independence of women.

Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen, Two Cats on a Cushion, 1914, Art Institute of Chicago

Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen, Apotheosis of Cats, 1890, via Wikiart.org

In his 1905 allegorical painting, The Apotheosis of Cats of Montmartre, Steinlen, always socially critical, wished to bring attention to the plight of the working class and the dictatorial nature of society. In the painting a huge gathering of seemingly enthralled street cats looks toward a single large black cat silhouetted by a setting sun.

Steinlen was also known as a war artist. His World War I depictions, primarily sketches, reflect his ability to capture the inner emotions of his subjects. Just as he was able to see and understand the inner workings of his cats, he was able to bring his human subjects’ sufferings vividly to life as well.

Steinlen’s works during WWI focused on leftist social commentary owing to the devastation that he witnessed. Steinlen was a socialist and fought for the rights of the working class throughout his entire life. Often without compensation, he contributed to leftist periodicals and papers.

His goal was to communicate the plight of the working class, soldiers and those affected by the war. Between 1883 and 1920, under a pseudonym, Steinlen created hundreds of illustrations that held harsh criticisms of the social problems of the day. During the early 20th century Steinlen turned his talents toward sculpting, and of course used cats as his subjects.

These small bronze sculptures are characterized as some of his best work.

During his lifetime, Steinlen created more than 2,000 works published in more than fifty publications. He also created some 600 lithographs, etchings and monotypes, as well as oil paintings and sculptures.

Both Pablo Picasso (1891-1973) and Edward Hopper (1882-1967) were influenced by his artistic talent. Steinlen, also known as “the Millet of the Streets”, shall be forever famous for his line and design as well as for his fine imagery and stylistic elegance. Steinlen died on December 13, 1923 in Paris. Today, his works can be found in the collections of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Steinlen is buried in Cimetière SaintVincent, Montmartre.

Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen, Chat allongé, 1923 Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, The Maxine Hornung Collection, Gift of Frank Raysor

Theophile-Alexandre Steinlen, Petit Chat Siamois, 1914 Image: The Great Cat.org

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