FEBRUARY 2022 Volume 2 No.8
“Today’s achievements, are part of tomorrow’s history”
FEATURES: FEATURE BREED – THE BURMILLA
LONGHAIR – FULMER ROY (BLUE PERSIAN)
CFAF – COOKIES OR BISCUITS?
TRUE LIFE STORY – OUR BLUE-EYED GIRL …and much more!
INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE FOR CAT LOVERS - LINECHASERS & FANCIERS OF FELINE HISTORY
HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION © A-Cat-Emy Concepts
PUBLISHED BY A-CAT-EMY CONCEPTS for THE HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION
FEBRUARY 2022
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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CONTRIBUTING TEAM MEMBERS Gallery of our Team of Columnists, Contributors & Correspondents
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AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BURMILLA – by Keith Kimberlin Early beginnings and recognition by CFA… (see also Page 104)
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‘FULMER ROY’ – (Blue Persian) - by John Smithson A true story ownership drama that was settled in court!
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‘COOKIES, OR BISCUITS ANYONE?’ - by Karen Lawrence Historic Cat Fancy treasures held in the Feline Historical Museum
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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENETICS YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT! PART 20 - by Dr. Leslie Lyons Cat Genetics 2021 – The Year in Review…
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A GALLERY OF BURMILLA CATS!
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CELEBRATING MODERN DAY BURMILLA CATS – GC, BWR, RW MIAMBER IM IT AND A BIT (Imp. Aust.) GC, KITZN’S HYACINTH SIL.DB.GR.CH. CHERJON RICARDO GD.DB.GR.CH. CHERJON SWEET PARIS INT. GR.CH. HEADLINE AOTEAROA SOUVENIR (Imp. NZ.) PL.DB.GR.CH. BAHATI WHEN DOVES CRY
82 92 98 106 112 118
OUR FEATURE BURMILLA CAT – CFA GC, BWR, NW. KASANOVAKATZ REYNAH DM
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OUR BLUE-EYED GIRL The true story of a Blue-Eyed Burmilla named ‘LUNA”
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INFO MISCELLANY – THE AMERICAN SHORTHAIR – Book Release THE DESCENDANTS OF BASTET - Book Release BURMILLA REGISTERING BODIES WORLDWIDE A PERSIAN RHAPSODY IN BLUE – Book Release GRAHAM HARROP - Cartoonist - Ten Cats
90 96 104 110 123
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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)
EDITORIAL The Editor outlines the contents of Felis Historica – Volume 2 No.8!
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Dr. Leslie Lyons (Missouri, USA)
VOLUME 2 NUMBER 8
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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
Editorial ’FELIS HISTORICA’ JOHN G. SMITHSON EDITOR
OUR COVER PHOTO GC, BWR, RW Miamber Im It and a Bit (Imp.Aust) Seal Sepia Shaded Silver Burmilla SH male, Bred by Michele Ristuccia (Aust) Owned by Stephanie Mohr (USA)
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What a treat we have in store for our readers this month! The feature breed is the Burmilla, one of the smaller breeds in numbers around the world, but which from a show standpoint, punches well above its weight on the show circuit, no matter on which continent. The Burmilla is clearly a favourite with members of the public, and its greatest attraction is a combination of just sheer beauty in its colouring and luminous green eyes, but also the amazing temperaments of the show cats, so fully demonstrated in the show ring. The breed is widely recognised by most of the main-stream registries, and even those who do not recognise it under this breed name, will usually find a home for it, as part of the Asian group of breed and/or colour varieties. We have many renown breeders of Burmilla’s to thank for providing data, images and the stories of their cats, not only for the individual articles about their cats, but also a parade of images of the breed featured in our long Gallery. Special thanks to Keith Kimberlin (of Kitzn) for allowing us to reprint his early article on the Burmilla as our introduction to the breed. Keith in many respects has long been a champion of the breed and a mentor to other breeders across the USA in promoting and working towards recognition in both CFA and TICA on that continent. Special thanks also to Stephanie Mohr (Kasanovakatz) whose Burmilla Longhair ‘Reynah’ is our primary feature cat, and has the distinction of being the first and only Burmilla cat to date to take out the honour of being CFA’s Cat of the Year! In the South Pacific region, we must thank both Michele Ristuccia (Miamber) and John and Cheryl Stringfellow (Cherjon), whose cats are behind so many excellent examples of the breed throughout the world, and to otheralong withKaren Lawrence shows us examples of the
‘Miamber Silver Belle’ Photo courtesy Michele Ristuccia’
FEBRUARY 2022
‘Cherjon Gucci ‘Photo: J.& C. Stringfellow
IN CELEBRATION OF
BURMILLA CATS
the other regional breeders, among them Carissa Dyett, (Bahati), Dianne Head (Headline), Carole Galli (Mesmereyes). Cats bred by these folk have taken numerous top National Awards in a number of Registries. In Europe, we must thank Alain and Valerie Halter (Cherry Silver) based in France. Other breeders both in Europe, including the UK, Denmark, the Czech Republic and another in the USA is Bob and Lise Clark. Although some of these may not have articles about their cats in this isuue, some have provided images for the Gallery and they form part of a world-wide network of admirers of this breed. The result is an unprecented issue of 152 pages! The largest we have published to date, and bigger than even our Annual Bumper Christmas editions! Our popular and regular columnists are not forgotten, with Dr. Leslie Lyons providing an article overview of the most recent developments and trends in feline genetics, which just happens to feed directly into our Gallery of the Burmilla. Karen Lawrence once again gives us a peek at an unusual collection of feline artefacts from the Feline Historical Museum, and announces separately in this edition the impending arrival of a new book about the American Shorthair, co-authored with Valerie Anne Edwards and Gayle Hand. There is much to enjoy, including the Valentine’s Day feline cartoons of Graham Harrop. So, take the time to sit down and enjoy your latest issue of Felis Historica!
John EDITOR FELIS HISTORICA
Above: - OUR LEADING GALLERY CAT INT.CH.CHERRY SILVER OTTAWA Bred & owned by Alain & Valerie Halter Below: - OUR FEATURE CAT GC, BWR, NW KASANOVAKATZ REYNAH CFA CAT OF THE YEAR 2018 Bred by Stephanie Mohr