FEATURES: LONGHAIR – CH. BACKWELL JOGRAM (SMOKE PERSIAN)
SHORTHAIR – NILGIRIS BURU KAIHOU (SABLE BURMESE) PURRSONALITY – LADY DOROTHY NEVILL IDOLS OF THE CAT FANCY – JANE CATHCART ART – LILIAN CHEVIOT
and much more!
OCTOBER 2021 Volume 2 No.4
INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE FOR CAT LOVERS, LINECHASERS & FANCIERS OF FELINE HISTORY
“Today’s achievements are part of tomorrow’s history”
The first Virtual Museum of the Cat! – online now at: www.cat-o-pedia.org
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)
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Dr. Leslie Lyons (Missouri, USA)
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Chloe Chung (Hong Kong)
Laura Vocelle (Muscat, Oman)
Florent Fissot (Monsegur, France)
Dr. Victor Zaalov (Acre, Israel)
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
OCTOBER 2021 VOLUME 2 NUMBER 4 EDITORIAL The Editor outlines the contents of Felis Historica – Volume 2 No.3!
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CONTRIBUTING TEAM MEMBERS Gallery of our Team of Columnists, Contributors & Correspondents
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Contents
CHAMPION BACKWELL JOGRAM - by John Smithson The first Smoke Persian Champion…
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IDOLS OF THE CAT FANCY - by Karen Lawrence Jane Cathcart – and the Black Shorthaired Cattery
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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENETICS YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT! - by Dr. Leslie Lyons Genetic Testing and the Distinction of Cat Breeds
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A CELEBRATION GALLERY OF EXOTIC SHORTHAIRS
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CHAMPION NILGIRIS BURU KAIHOU The first Sable Burmese Champion in New Zealand
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THE DESCENDANTS OF BASTET – by Karen Lawrence. New Book release information…
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A PERSIAN RHAPSODY IN BLUE – by John Smithson. New Book release information…
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THE ANIMAL ART OF LILIAN CHEVIOT (c1876-1936) - by John Smithson. A peek at the life and little known art of Lilian Cheviot
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THE HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION - RECENT ADDITIONS The latest Cat Fancy history related acquisitions…
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CELEBRATING MODERN DAY LEADING CATS – Our Feature Cat: Brown Patched Tabby Exotic Shorthair CFA NW. CHUN LAP LITTLE BROWN JUG
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TEN CATS and related cartoon humour – by Graham Harrop
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LADY DOROTHY NEVILL’S CONNECTION TO CATS & CAT SHOWS 82
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FELIS HISTORICA
Editorial Editorial ’FELIS HISTORICA’ JOHN G. SMITHSON EDITOR with GC, Taniver Hows That at the NZCF NI National Show July 4, 2021. (See Gallery of Exotics)
OUR COVER PHOTO Blue Classic Tabby Exotic Shorthair male CHUN LAP BLESS MY SOUL Bred and photographed by Alex Luk Chun Lap (Hong Kong)
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 publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, screen capture, or otherwise, without prior written permission. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of advertisements or information. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED www.felis-historica.com www.harrisonweir.com
This month, our featured breed is the Exotic Shorthair, and this is reflected in our choice of a cover photo. It is a breed that was developed within my own living memory, from the days of initial outcrosses to shorthairs, and its rise from an experimental breeding program, to attaining Championship status, and then ultimately National Wins. Who could forget a cat like GC NW Jovan The Legend, a superb Brown Classic tabby male who became CFA’s Cat of the Year (1990-1991); or a kitten like NW. Becton’s Little Brown Jug, CFA’s Kitten of the Year (1997-1998). But much work went into creating what was fundamentally a Persian cat with a short coat, and unlike their parent breed the Persian, they could not hide any body type, boning or leg length deficiences under a wealth of coat! What you see as the saying goes, is what you get! These Teddy-Bears of the cat world won the hearts of many Persian breeders all over the globe, and this kick-started the long road of development. There were many famous catteries involved, and I can personally recall seeing the early cats coming out of the New Dawn cattery, and then later top lines from the Becton cattery, with their wonderful distinctve eye shape, and then a new array of colours from the Callyn and Jovan catteries and many more. Now the Exotic Shorthair is found in virtually every colour and pattern seen in its parent breed, the Persian. Readers will note that our Cover Cat is also an Exotic shorthair, in this case bred in Hong Kong by Alex Luk Chun Lap. Felis Historica takes this opportunity to thank the breeders we contacted to provide images of their Exotics to feature in the breed gallery. These include Alex Luk Chun Lap; Lynn Cooke, of ‘Callyn’; Munira Murrey, of ‘Missionhill’; Annamaria Martin of ‘Paddington’; Cheryle St.Clair-Newman of ‘Taniver’; Barbara Beatson of ‘Windeacres’ and Shirley Stephenson; and Jan Jewson of the ‘Willangi’ cattery.
IN CELEBRATION OF
OCTOBER 2021
EXOTIC SHORTHAIRS
‘Stephenson; and Jan Jewson of the ‘Willangi’ cattery. With these achievements in mind, our key article this month comes from the pen of Karen Lawrence, in a piece from her ‘Idols of the Cat Fancy’ series. This presents the phenomenal story of the pioneering Jane Cathcart of the Black Short Hair cattery; an American fancier who almost singlehandedly worked to ground the pedigreed Shorthair cat in the United States. From this amazing foundation, has sprung the heritage of the ‘American Shorthair’. Although her imports came from England and France and other sources, their descendants bred in America, were the forebears of this utterly modern Championship breed, now so popular world-wide. Dr. Lyons provides an insightful article on Genetic testing for specific breed health issues, outlining how important it is to test familially related new breeds and colours, selectively bred from both domestic and wild cat parent breed outcrosses. Ancient breeds such as the Persian, the Siamese, the Abyssinian, the Manx; and also other wild felids, such as the Asian Leopard Cat behind the Bengal, for example; means that it is imperative to test for negative impacts from forebears when selecting to retain breeding stock. What we have today for stock, is the sum of decisions made by breeders of the past, and likewise we today have a responsibility as breeders to ensure that the livestock heritage we leave for future generations of breeders has the best chance for a healthy, happy and long life. Of course, there is much more in this issue, but you will just have to read it to find out!
John EDITOR
Our Feature Cat: Brown Patched Tabby Exotic Shorthair CFA DW CHUN LAP LITTLE BROWN JUG (Photos: Alex Luk Chun Lap)