JANUARY 2021 Volume 1 No. 7
FEATURES: LONGHAIR – SPANGLE SPANGLE SHORTHAIR – ASHBRITTLE PETER THE GREAT CATITURE – A NEW SPECIES OF CAT DWELLING BREED FEATURE – THE BRITISH LONGHAIR PURRSONALITY – MRS. W. E. COLBURN
and much more! INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE FOR CAT LOVERS - LINECHASERS - & FANCIERS OF FELINE HISTORY
“Today’s achievements are part of tomorrow’s history”
FELIS HISTORICA HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION © A-Cat-Emy Concepts
PUBLISHED BY A-CAT-EMY CONCEPTS for THE HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION EDITOR
John G. Smithson editor@felishistorica.com HISTORY PARTNERS
The CFA Foundation COLUMNISTS & CONTRIBUTORS
Karen Lawrence (St. Catharines, Canada)
Lorraine Shelton (California, USA)
JANUARY 2021
VOLUME 1 NUMBER 7
EDITORIAL The Editor outlines issues covered in Issue 5 of Felis Historica!
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CONTRIBUTING TEAM MEMBERS Gallery of our Team of Columnists, Contributors & Correspondents
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IN THIS ISSUE!
A TOAST TO 2021 - by retired CFA Judge Karen Lawrence A look at the CFAF’s unique Collection of Cat-themed ‘Liquor artefacts’!
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‘SPANGLE SPANGLE’ (Early Calico Persian) Born c.1900 – Imported from Aleppo Our Longhaired Cat History Feature – by John Smithson 22
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Dr. Leslie Lyons (Missouri, USA)
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Laura Dilley Thomas (Virginia, USA)
Laura Vocelle (Muscat, Oman)
Dr. Keith Hammett (QSM) (Auckland, NZ)
Valerie Sheldrake Feline Historian (Suffolk, UK)
Jamie Christian (Ohio, USA) PHOTOGRAPHY & GRAPHICS
Helmi & Ken Flick (Florida, USA)
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Jack Terry (Florida, USA) CONTENT All Rights Reserved © A-Cat-Emy Concepts
SUBSCRIPTIONS Published Monthly Single Issue $4.00 USD ANNUALLY $48.00 USD
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENETICS YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT! PART 7 - by Dr. Leslie Lyons White Spotting! - One Gene, Separate Alleles! The effects on pigment Melanocyte migration! BREED FEATURE: THE BRITISH LONG-HAIR - by Lorraine Shelton A very old ‘new’ breed!
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CATITURE – ‘A New Species of Cat Dwelling.’ - by Russell Law The latest architectural developments in ‘Feline Furniture or Dwellings’
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THE TEN CATS STORY Three initial storylines from the pen of cartoonist - Graham Harrop
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‘ASHBRITTLE PETER THE GREAT’ (Russian Blue) Born 1902 The story of a key early 20th century Russian Blue - by John Smithson
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CELEBRATING MODERN CATS – IN OUR FEATURED HISTORICAL BREEDS Longhair Breed Type – Brown Patched Tabby and White CFA GC, BWI, NW PINKPAWPAL CASSIOPEIA
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Shorthair Breed Type – Russian Blue CFA GC, BW, NW TSAR BLU’S ZINATRA DM MRS. W. E. COLBURN - by John Smithson A leading early Chicago Cattery owner and importer of Longhaired cats
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Editorial ’FELIS HISTORICA’ JOHN G. SMITHSON EDITOR
OUR COVER GRC RACHAEL DIONIS OF CWYTCHYCATS British Longhair Breeder: E. Lapina Owner: Carolyn Littlejohns
COPYRIGHT © A-CAT-EMY CONCEPTS / FELIS HISTORICA THE HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written consent. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of advertisements or information. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED www.felis-historica.com www.harrisonweir.com
It would be fair to say that 2020 has been a year like no other. In the realm of cat fancying and as pet owners, it has certainly thrown up many unexpected challenges. Those of you who were privy to reading our opening issue in July and its Covid-19 related articles from around the world, would have recognised just how drastically a pandemic of this nature affects almost every aspect of our lives – including employment and income, housing, the supply of necessary goods, medications for both humans and animals, and all the essentials for our beloved pets, and our hobby! Even access to critical veterinary care became a logistical nightmare in many instances. But this is where FAMILY counts, not only our blood family, but our family of friends, both local and international. The Cat Fancy as such, has never in its roughly 150-year history, been so affected. Shows world-wide were cancelled, and show seasons and scoring interrupted indefinitely. It was pleasing to see breeders and exhibitors alike, pull together to support one another during this time, and the creation of virtual cat shows, once considered an anathema to many, has provided a measure of relief to those who love the social interaction with other exhibitors and judges. We are now largely more comfortable wearing face masks for the protection of self and others. We have learned, albeit in some cases reluctantly, to be a little more patient in respect to getting access to services, knowing full well that others are in exactly the same position as ourselves. We are perhaps, I would hope, more thankful for what we DID have before the pandemic came into our lives, a realisation that only comes when things we take for granted, are suddenly no longer possible!
January 2021 CONGRATULATES But now, with the arrival of 2021, we have several vaccines against this disease within our grasp, and the very real possibility that in-person shows will soon become a reality once more. Some countries are more fortunate in this regard than others. My own local club is hosting a 5-Ring show in March, and as it will be the 70th anniversary year since our first Championship show, and the first live show here since the interruption to shows in this country. We are certainly looking forward to participating in it. Our congratulations go to all the Student Judges who have completed training and are eager to gain experience on the show floor. With international restrictions on travel still very much in force, clubs everywhere will struggle to even find available judges in a position and/or willing to travel. Hence local judges will now be in very great demand worldwide! Importantly I want to encourage all cat lovers, to make a real effort to connect with your local cat rescue organisations. They too have been seriously affected by the pandemic and their resources stretched beyond capacity. Those of you who can, please take time to ask them what you can do to relieve their burdens in any way possible, and remember, that above all else, it is about the CATS first!!! May 2021 bring us all together as never before, and may the New Year be as promising as we all hope it will be! Enjoy!
John EDITOR
KELELA ALOHA HUA OF TAJHARA BEST OF THE BEST Highest Scoring Championship Cat Photo Event CFA TOP CAT CHALLENGE 2020 Owner: Mary Franz. Breeder: Cheryl Davern Photo: Starrlight Photography