In the year 2000, I was a complete newbie to the world of feline showing, and my first show was an eye-opener: I had no idea how many cat breeds there were, many of them totally new to me. As an educator and life-long learner, I had a great deal of research ahead of me if I planned to stay in this hobby.
One of the first breeds I met was the Somali. Jan Pitelka, owner of TheCatGarden Somali Cattery in New Lenox, Illinois, introduced her breed to me. Her show cat fascinated me; it had gorgeous, shiny, fluffy red fur with incredible black markings, including mascara. On being told that these cats are known as the “little foxes of the cat world,” I could see the resemblance clearly. Now, twenty years later, I remember Jan’s story well. Living rurally in Illinois, she and her son looked out the front door one afternoon to find a fox in their front yard. Her son quickly reminded her that “the ear set isn’t right.” That is when Jan realized she had been showing too long!
A very intelligent cat, the Somali is vibrantly colored, and its pride is that bushy plume of a tail. “The combination of ticked, dramatically colored fur, striking facial marks, large ears, full bushy tail and britches gives the Somali a ‘little fox’ look which immediately captivates.” (CFA Breeds) Recognized for championship by CFA in 1979, the Somali is a close relative to the Abyssinian and like the Aby, is shown in four colors: ruddy, red, blue and fawn. A very friendly cat, the Somali looks its best with daily grooming, and is highly active and energetic. (Purina)
A Little History
Denne historien er fra February 2021-utgaven av Cat Talk.
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Denne historien er fra February 2021-utgaven av Cat Talk.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Checklist For What to Look For in Your Club's Next Show Venue
Show Manager To Ring One, Please
Tonkinese
When You're Well and Truly Tonked
AVOIDING The Kitten Fear Period
Young kittens seem fearless.4 As soon as those eyes open and they can get their legs under them, they are off to see the world if their mama and humans let them.
No Milk For You!
Milk Issues and Kittens
Fostering Kittens
When asked if I would be interested in fostering a queen and her eight newborn kittens, I volunteered without question.
Do You present ? Polish! OR DO YOU
IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS!
No Kitten! Cats Are Part of the Military!
Felines have graced the decks of boats and ships back nearly to the beginning of time, roaming freely on passenger ships, war vessels, and merchant schooners, keeping vermin at bay.
Feline Summer Movie Fun!
School is almost OUT! Huzzah! But raindrops are plunking against the window, the amusement and water parks haven’t opened yet, camping is out, and roasted hot dogs and S’mores are another month away.
Kittens Are Special...
...and so are some of the show rules for them:
Genetic Pleiotropy and the Risks in Breeding Recessive Mutations
Nearly everyone loves what’s rare and unique. A slight defect in the minting process of a coin can create a demand and a value well beyond the face value of the coin. The coin is functionally no different than its perfectly minted counterpart, but its scarcity and uniqueness alone make it more desirable than the rest.
