FEATURES: LONGHAIR – CH. FULMER ZAIDA SHORTHAIR – CH. OUIZERO TAITOU PURRSONALITY – RICHARD GEBHARDT THE FELINE ART OF HENRIETTE RONNER-KNIP THE NATIONAL CAT CLUB - AND MORE……
FEBRUARY 2021 Volume 1. No.8
INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE FOR CAT LOVERS - LINECHASERS - & FANCIERS OF FELINE HISTORY
“Today’s achievements are part of tomorrow’s history”
HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION © A-Cat-Emy Concepts
PUBLISHED BY A-CAT-EMY CONCEPTS for THE HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION
FEBRUARY 2021
EDITOR
John G. Smithson
VOLUME 1 NUMBER 8
EDITORIAL The Editor reviews topics covered in Issue 8 of Felis Historica!
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HISTORY PARTNERS The CFA Foundation
CONTRIBUTING TEAM MEMBERS Gallery of our Team of Columnists, Contributors & Correspondents
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COLUMNISTS & CONTRIBUTORS
CHAMPION OUIZERO TAITOU - by John G. Smithson The story of an early Silver Abyssinian Best SH Cat in Show winner!
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ICONS OF THE CAT FANCY FEATURE – by Karen Lawrence The Inimitable Mr. Richard Gebhardt!
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editor@felishistorica.com
Karen Lawrence (St. Catharines, Canada)
Lorraine Shelton (California, USA)
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Dr. Leslie Lyons (Missouri, USA)
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Chloe Chung (Hong Kong)
Laura Vocelle (Muscat, Oman)
Dr. Keith Hammett (QSM) (Auckland, NZ)
Valerie Sheldrake Feline Historian (Suffolk, UK)
Jamie Christian (Ohio, USA)
PHOTOGRAPHY & GRAPHICS
Helmi & Ken Flick (Florida, USA)
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Jack Terry (Florida, USA)
CONTENT All Rights Reserved © A-Cat-Emy Concepts SUBSCRIPTIONS Published Monthly Single Issue $4.00 USD ANNUAL $48.00 USD
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENETICS YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT! PART 8 - by Dr. Leslie Lyons Pigment Inhibitors!
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NOTICEBOARD
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HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!
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THE FELINE ART OF HENRIETTE RONNER-KNIP - by John Smithson The Phenomenal craftsmanship of an Honorary Vice President of the National Cat Club…
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BEHIND EVERY FAMOUS PERSON IS A CAT - Cartoon by Graham Harrop 60 THE MELBOURNE CENTENARY ROYAL CAT SHOW - 1934 The Harrison Weir Collection’s latest history acquisition…
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CHAMPION FULMER ZAIDA (Chinchilla) – by John Smithson The story of the most famous winning Chinchilla of her era.
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CELEBRATING MODERN CATS IN OUR FEATURED HISTORICAL BREEDS Shorthair Breed Type – Ruddy Abyssinian TICA IW, RW KELELA ALOHA HUA OF TAJHARA Longhair Breed Type – Shaded Silver Persian CFA GC, BWR, NW CASTLEGATE’S TOY SOLDIER OF AOL
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THE NATIONAL CAT CLUB – Part One - by John Smithson Birth and teething problems of the world’s first National Registry
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Editorial ’FELIS HISTORICA’ JOHN G. SMITHSON EDITOR
OUR COVER featuring the late Mr. Richard Gebhardt, former President, of the Cat Fanciers’ Association, holding one of our featured cats GC, BWR, NW Castlegate’s Toy Soldier of AOL
COPYRIGHT ISSN: 2744-4430 National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa © A-CAT-EMY CONCEPTS / FELIS HISTORICA THE HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written consent. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of advertisements or information. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED www.felis-historica.com www.harrisonweir.com
It is already the second month of the New Year, and six months since our Second edition, in which we reviewed the dramatic effects of Covid-19 on the Cat Fancy around the world, with reports from our team world-wide team of correspondents. Tragically, the effects on mankind, especially in the United States and in Europe, has been and continues to be, nothing short of devastating. With the arrival and recognition of new variants of Covid-19 from numerous locations around the world, the scale and reach of that devastation is clearly yet to peak and to be truly known. Even though we are all cat lovers and cat fanciers, our first priority other than for the maintenance of the animals under our direct control, is to protect loved ones, and show practical compassion for those in need and especially for those workers on the front line of the battle – the first responders and the overstretched medical staff worldwide, that are the true heroes in what is now clearly a war – a war in which the medics, nurses, hospitals, and all related and attached services are the REAL troops in this battle. PLEASE, please sit back and think about what YOU can do to offer relief to any of them, no matter how insignificant you may think that help might be, to the person on the receiving end, already physically, mentally and emotionally stretched beyond belief; ANY small token of help, that can ease their personal burden in any way, should be our collective goal. Offer to prepare them a meal, to do chores for them, a helping hand at home, to do their grocery shopping, their laundry, to collect children from school or to child or petsit…. but most importantly, ASK them what help they need, make offers and do nothing to impose any further burden upon them. Be there when the need is greatest.
February 2021 Our issue this month is packed with a celebration of life. We delve into the winning way of Silvers from well over a century ago, with ‘Ch. Ouizero Taitou’ a Silver Abyssinian Best in Show winner, and ‘Ch. Fulmer Zaida’, a celebrated Chinchilla of her era, and Supreme exhibit at the National Cat Club’s Crystal Palace show, not once, but twice! Karen Lawrence provides a fascinating insight into the life of iconic cat fancier and judge Richard (Dick) Gebhardt; who is featured on our cover holding a superb modernday Shaded Silver Persian, a cat which is also featured in this issue. We also celebrate the success of a ruddy Abyssinian male who was declared the highest scoring Championship cat from the CFA 2020 Top Cat Challenge, Virtual Cat Competition. Continuing with the Silver theme, Dr Lyons provides readers with an article on the influence of the ‘Inhibitor’ gene, regarding colour and pattern in the Silver Divisions, with excellent graphics of the effect in the hair shafts. Lastly, we offer a new perspective on the founding of the National Cat Club in 1887 and during a period when the world’s first Registry for cats was being established. We also look at the unique cat art of Honorary National Cat Club Vice-President, Madam Henriette Ronner. So, we humbly entreat you to enjoy our latest offerings!
John EDITOR
CONGRATULATES
GC.BWR.NW PINUPCATS SUPA DUPA FLY OF KUORII DM BEST OF THE BEST KITTEN Highest Scoring Kitten -Photo Event CFA TOP CAT CHALLENGE 2020 Bred and Owned by: Cyndee Hill Photo: Tetsu