JANUARY 2022
Volume 2 No.7
FEATURES: FEATURE BREED – THE MAINE COON “Today’s achievements,
SHORTHAIR – HIRAJA (SIAMESE)
are part of
LONGHAIR – THE MARQUIS OF DINGLEY
tomorrow’s
TRUE STORY – TUNDRA’S WEEK FROM HELL
history”
…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 EDITOR
John G. Smithson editor@felishistorica.com HISTORY PARTNERS The CFA Foundation COLUMNISTS/CONTRIBUTORS
Karen Lawrence (St. Catharines, Canada)
Lorraine Shelton (California, USA)
5
Dr. Leslie Lyons (Missouri, USA)
5
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)
5
Jack Terry (Florida, USA)
CONTENT All Rights Reserved © A-Cat-Emy Concepts SUBSCRIPTIONS Published Monthly Single Issue $4.00 USD ANNUAL $48.00 USD
JANUARY 2022
VOLUME 2 NUMBER 7
EDITORIAL The Editor outlines the contents of Felis Historica – Volume 2 No.7!
6
CONTRIBUTING TEAM MEMBERS Gallery of our Team of Columnists, Contributors & Correspondents
8
‘HIRAJA’ – by John Smithson The story of an early Seal-point Siamese, born in 1907.
12
‘TEA AND TEAPOTS’ - by Karen Lawrence Historic Cat Fancy treasures held in the Feline Historical Museum
22
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENETICS YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT! PART 19 - by Dr. Leslie Lyons Cats – telomere to telomere and nose to tail! New trends in genetics… 34 A GALLERY OF MAINE COON CATS!
42
‘THE MARQUIS OF DINGLEY’ – by John Smithson The story of an early Silver Tabby Longhair, born in 1901.
66
THE DESCENDANTS OF BASTET – by Karen Lawrence. New Book release information…
82
A PERSIAN RHAPSODY IN BLUE – by John Smithson. New Book release information…
84
‘TUNDRA’S WEEK FROM HELL’ - by Judy Formby A Maine Coon’s tale of survival under extraordinary circumstances…
86
GRAHAM HARROP - Cartoonist - Ten Cats
95
CELEBRATING MODERN DAY LEADING CATS – (Cameo) Red Silver Tabby Maine Coon CFA GC, BW, NW. VENIZIA REDSILVER SURFER OF TIGGERLAND
96
‘THE MAINE ANGORA’ – by John Smithson Transitions of the European Angora, to Maine Angora, to Maine Coon 112
Editorial ’FELIS HISTORICA’ JOHN G. SMITHSON EDITOR
OUR COVER PHOTO LA BW SGC Coonamor We Will Rock You Brown Classic Tabby Maine Coon male, bred and owned by Janet Horlick Sire: LA SGC Shonancats Telegram Sam of Coonamor Dam: RW SGC Coonamor Seven Seasof Rhye
TICA International Kitten of the Year 2019 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
Wow! Our present to our readers, the first edition of 2022, and begin our third year involved in e-magazine publishing! And we start this New Year with a special focus on the Maine Coon cat, that hugely popular Longhair developed largely in the State of Maine, and on farmyards around Boston, in Massachusetts. One of our history articles will show how the European Angora, which emigrated to the United States, was largely the genetic root stock from which sprang the Maine Angora, and then from those beginnings, was eventually produced the modern day Maine Coon cat. Our feature Gallery is a celebration of just a few of these modern day Maine Coons, and we express our sincere gratitude to the breeders and photographers who allowed their cats and their images to appear in this edition! A very special thanks in particular, to Helmi & Ken Flick, whose work recording Maine Coon cats and kittens around the world has provided us with an extraordinary opportunity to showcase this much-loved breed around the world. Also with the New Year, Dr. Leslie Lyons provide us with an exciting article on the latest trends in feline genetics, and how the studies in this specific field are now contributing to our understanding of both mammalian and human genetics through our discoveries within the feline genome. This is a ‘must read’ – and shows how important this work is both for the health and welfare of our beloved cats, but in better understanding the relationship between the study of feline genetics and the tangental advances being made towards a better understanding of ‘human’ genetics and of other felids, and what this may yet offer. Karen Lawrence shows us examples of the strong historic link between our passion for ‘tea’ drinking and the social mores developed around the production and enjoyment of tea, and
Helmi Flick Cat Photography
JANUARY 2022
Helmi Flick Cat Photography
IN CELEBRATION OF
MAINE COON CATS
our taste for all things ‘cat-related’, including tea-wares which are themed on our relationship to the world of cats! She shares images of just a selection of teapots, teacups and related art, including Harrison Weir’s iconic image of a Victorian cat’s tea party! Other historic breeds covered, include a Siamese named ‘Hiraja’ born in 1907, as well as a Silver Tabby longhair, named ‘The Marquis of Dingley’, born in 1901 – just one cat in a long and successful lineage of cats descended from Miss Anderson Leake’s ‘Dingley’ strain, based on her world famous ‘Topso of Dingley’ born in May 1886. New Zealand breeder of Maine Coons, Judy Formby, whose blue male cat GC. Flurmonz Leejay recently was awarded highest scoring longhair cat nationally, also puts pen to paper to describe her ordeal in surviving a horrific accident involving her show van, fully loaded with her beloved cats and kittens on their way home from a major show. This is an exciting if not nervewracking read! We also celebrate the Maine Coon GC, BW, NW Venizia RedSilver Surfer of Tiggerland; co-owned by Fion Cheng of Hong Kong, Chuleeporn Narvisiriwat of Thailand and Jimmy Lee of Malaysia; who in 2015 took out CFA’s Cat of the Year. Although our year begins with another round of Covid-19 threats with the new Omicron strain taking hold, we will all continue to support our clubs, national and international bodies who are valiantly trying to provide us with the services and opportunities to rgeister and exhibit our truly beautiful cats.
John EDITOR FELIS HISTORICA
Above: Maine Coon Family Mkoonary cattery kitten, pictured with both sire and dam. Christy & Steven Montgomery (USA) Below: Sl.GC Tabula Ras Owen (Imp. Neth)
bred by Nayomi Franken owners Jo Woodrow & Vicki Walls (NZ)