Incredible GCCF can act in this manner
As newcomers to the world of the cat fancy we were recommended to subscribe to Our Cats which we did, initially taking the internet option as well. We found that we were not making use of the electronic edition much preferring the relaxed reading of our fortnightly newspaper with its chatty but professional style

We find it incredible that a body supposedly representing all in the cat fancy can act in such a manner. In the field of employment an Industrial Tribunal would surely find them at fault for sacking someone without first investigating and discussing perceived problems.

We will not be subscribing to the new publication as a “glossy” magazine (Your Cat) can already be purchased if required and we are not desperate for daily critiques on the internet (only attending six shows a year).

I have been on the websites produced by Mrs Shafto and in my opinion, they do not appear to be very professional. She was very condescending when I queried the fact that many fanciers may not have computer access and would the paper copy be coming out more regularly for them. I was told that people do not like change. I know that as I was involved in change management courses.

It appears to me that if all those who are up in arms and vowing not to subscribe are as good as their word then alarm bells are going to start ringing with advertisers. Publications need good regular advertising revenue to keep the publication going. If the magazine fails who will reimburse those who have subscribed?

Is the GCCF going to contribute financially to this publication? I believe all GCCF notices, etc, were carried with no charge by “Our Cats” will this be the same with “Fancy That”?

Is there a way an extraordinary General Meeting can be called to answer members’ queries?
Sandra Harling

GCCF should remember exhibitors are the Cat Fancy
I HAVE been showing cats for about ten years, and I have enjoyed it. All these years, I have read OUR CATS to find out what is going on in the cat world.

The most important thing is that OUR CATS is neutral.

When I read in OUR CATS that the new people emailed everyone in advance of the announcement, it worried me about their business approach to this matter.

The GCCF should remember that the exhibitors are the Cat Fancy, and that they must be consulted, so a neutral OUR CATS, which is the official journal of the GCCF, is very important.

The GCCF should see that judges send their show critiques in on time. If there is to be another magazine, it must be run like OUR CATS, by people who have no financial, or interest in breeding and showing.

Also, the GCCF must take on board that, without exhibitors and breeders, there is no GCCF.
I, for one, will really miss OUR CATS.
Jennifer Sedgwick

Dismayed at GCCF decision
I am dismayed at the GCCF decision to move away from Our Cats to an unknown and untried publisher. The few dealings I have had with the people behind ‘Fancy That’ have left me unimpressed with their methods.

As others have mentioned, I too am concerned about accuracy and an eye for detail required. I am also concerned that they may not show impartiality, so that some people may not receive publicity due to them. There also appears to be a degree of nepotism with the appointment of the GCCF PR Officer. What are her qualifications? Was she the best person for the job? Was the post advertised? Was anyone else considered?

Our Cats has served us well for many years, and I rely on and trust the publication. Fortunately, I am registered with other governing bodies, so may well leave GCCF altogether. It would be a good idea for exhibitors to boycott the Supreme this year, as this is the only means we have to demonstrate our feelings. It should be remembered that we, the clubs and exhibitors, fund the GCCF and we should have been consulted about this move away from Our Cats.

The GCCF requires modernisation, as some of the rules and regulations are archaic. The cat fancy should be fun, showing is a hobby and exhibitors and club officials should be respected and not treated like criminals when errors are made.

Why don’t judges submit their reports to Show Managers, for posting on to exhibitors, for an additional fee on the entry form. Exhibitors could complete a form listing the critiques they require, and provide a stamped addressed envelope.

This would put more work on the club committees, but maybe each club could have a Show Clerk to handle this. It would be cheaper than subscribing to Fancy That, which would then not be required. Show successes and advertisements could then be sent to Our Cats as we do now.

The best solution of all is to stay with Our Cats, who have experience and the professionalism. I am not confident that we will get the same standard of service once GCCF have dispensed with Our Cats.
Name & Address supplied

Horrified and betrayed
FOLLOWING an accident in late June, followed by a month of hospitalisation, with a full arm plaster cast in situ meant I did virtually no reading, especially of newspapers, also we missed several shows.

Although still handicapped to some degree, but with a lighter cast, a couple of days ago I started to catch up with Our Cats and was horrified to discover that the GCCF is to end their contract with them at the end of this year. As usual, the breeders, who are the bedrock of the Cat Fancy have in no way been consulted.

When we were breeding Samoyed dogs in the early 1970s, we bought ‘Our Dogs’ regularly, when we switched to cat breeding, we switched to ‘Fur & Feather’, then we got our own paper ‘Cats’, which later, of course, became ‘Our Cats’. So why the change? Have some of their comments been too close for comfort for you? That happens, thankfully, with an independent and unbiased publication.

The phrase - “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” springs to mind, or is that too simple!!

Perhaps it would be slightly more conceivable, but not much, if you were switching to another well established journal, but NO!! You are going to some tin-pot paper that no-one has heard of, the few that do seem to know of it seem to have very negative thoughts about it. Also a big minus is the fact that no way is it independent, but already connected to a breed, namely Siamese.

We would think much more of the GCCF if they spent more time controlling what happens to some of the judges reports, many of which are non existent.

Older, and hopefully, more experienced breeders, like ourselves, know our own cat’s good and bad points, and if we want a certain report, we know how to obtain it, but how are we supposed to encourage new owners to show, when we know for certain that some of the judges reports will never appear, or at the best, will only be very cursory. The most informative and complete reports tend to be from the probationer judges.

I know these are in the minority, but that is no comfort to a new owner whose cat has done well, they look forward to seeing the report, in print, for which they have paid, only for it never to materialise! If judges are not willing to write and send reports, they shouldn’t be judging, the two go ‘hand in glove’. Earlier in the year at one of the last shows we attended, I approved Vince Hogan regarding a report that had never appeared from the Lancashire Cat Club Show 2006. He showed me his list of all the show reports, and which reports had been sent to them, and this judge had not sent one in. This was not an isolated incident, so we now refuse to show under this judge.

We still feel that the GCCF’s way of judging and awarding certificates is the fairest, but years ago there was no way that ‘mutations’ would be allowed to be shown, but sadly this is no longer the case, and we wonder just where this is all going to end. When are the GCCF going to return to their grass roots and support the breeders, starting with staying with an independent official journal.

In future, we will get our reports straight from the judges, because there is no way that we will buy a journal that is not proven and that is connected with any breed.

Finally, how can we, with a clear conscience encourage new owners to become involved with the Cat Fancy, breeding, showing, etc, when we as seasoned breeders fel so betrayed.
Mrs Cheryl F. & Mr Gerald D. Brazier

PS: The GCCF had always been held in high esteem in the past, but this latest stunt which has been staged with absolutely no contact or concern for all the breeders and exhibitors will no doubt do them severe damage, with many abandoning them. If this happens, they can only blame themselves for being so short-sighted and blinkered.

Or letting themselves be manipulated by the favoured few. Reading between the lines, there appears to have been some fancy footwork going on behind the scenes and at the Executive Committee meeting. Many of us would like to know who put this item on the agenda... have they got the courage to stand up and be counted! We think not.

Shouldn’t this new publication be impartial?
I am not a GCCF member (although I breed and show in ANFI, the Italian FIFe club) so this decision to award Seaview Designs, the contract for the official GCCF journal does not affect me personally but I do not think that this group are the right people to have this contract, based on what happened to me.

I joined a chat group, (Hubbell Bubbell) run by the owners of SD, and in particular Mrs Shafto, about two years ago. Initially I enjoyed the board and was made a moderator. Everything went well as long as we agreed with their opinions, but as soon as I disagreed (strongly, I admit) with a project of hers for the board the atmosphere changed. Therefore, I resigned as a moderator and then, after every post of mine was subjected to nitpicking or deletion, I decided to resign from the board altogether.

Together with other people who, for various reasons, either resigned or in some cases were banned, we set up our own chat board - Purrfectchat.co.uk. We immediately came “under fire” from you know where.

It would appear that they did everything possible to disrupt our board to the extent of setting up a board with a similar name Purrfectchat.com - which eventually “fizzled out” as they were not interested in maintaining it but in our view had set it up solely to disturb and challenge us.

I would also add that I was subjected to quite a lot of online abuse in the form of emails and on board threads, which clearly should have been moderated and deleted, but were not.

There was some concern amongst us cat breeders recently about the tag line under Mrs Shafto’s username on Hubbell Bubbell. Firstly “3 Days to Cat World Domination” then “Cat World Domination Is Complete”. I now understand what she means, whatever interpretation they choose to put on it!

I do not think her attitude bodes well for the GCCF if she sees the ‘Fancy That’ venture as “domination” of the cat fancy. The fact that she was advertising the “cat world domination” before the meeting held by the GCCF executive tells it all I think!

So, in short, I just wanted to express my consternation at the GCCF awarding this contract to this group, and in the way it was done. Because of my personal experience I don’t consider them to be impartial which is what should be required of a magazine of this type.

How can you be impartial when you are so clearly involved as deeply as they are?
Susan Rawlins Pagnotta, Italy

Disgusted with GCCF
WE are writing to express our disgust with the GCCF.
We are sorry to hear about the decision taken by the GCCF to end its contract with OUR CATS, as we have always found this newspaper and its staff friendly, helpful and efficient.
Doreen & Robert J. Nall

Executive Council has acted in a less than democratic way
WE TOO were appalled at the GCCF decision to offer the contract to ‘Fancy That’ in place of Our Cats. We have had a regular subscription to Our Cats since we started our love affair with Siamese cats in 1990. We have always enjoyed their impartial, professional reporting and their critiques section has gone from strength to strength after the increase in the number of judges sending in reports by e-mail.

As a governing body, representative of the members who are the lifeblood of the Cat Fancy, we feel that the Executive Council has acted in a less than democratic way in taking this action. Club members should at least have been consulted via their club representatives or through their club secretaries before the decision was finalised. Even minor changes of rule are discussed fully, yet this major decision appears to have been made ‘fait accompli’ in a dictatorial way.

The breeders and exhibitors fund the GCCF’s existence and yet the Executive has acted in an arbitrary way. What other commercial concern which acted in such a way would keep the confidence of its shareholders?
Nancy & Peter Webster

Devastated!
WE are devastated that there will be no more Our Cats.
I want to SEE this new ‘Fancy That’ before they get a penny off me.
Thank you for a super cat paper.
What is the GCCF thinking of?
Olive Holt

Devastated and furious!
I HAVE bred Persians in a small way for 25 years and have bought Our Cats since Fur and Feather days. I love this paper, and I have told many a time those people who have worked in advertising how this has always been the only newspaper I buy.

I read all of it and often the critiques for the Shorthaired Section. I can’t wait even for a Wednesday when I receive my Our Cats in the post, and everything has to stop for a while. I scan the pages before reading every word later. I am absolutely devastated and furious tha

t a person or persons at the GCCF have decided to go to another printing company. Although, having said this, the readers of your newspaper do not know really why the GCCF have taken these steps.

I am like 50 per cent of the Cat Fancy, “getting on!” and I am one of those people who have no computer, no ‘online’, etc., so we only hear by Our Cats. This is a very sad personal loss of my newspaper.
Ms Ann Stallings

Underhanded dealings

1. Is there any hope?

2. Laughing stock of overseas registering bodies

3. Horrified re. GCCF

4. What the GCCF have done is very wrong

5. I will not subscribe to the new magazine

6. Concern
Above represents the titles of some of the letters sent in to Our Cats relating to the farce that the GCCF have created, with what appears to be their dirty underhand dealings.

When a tender is up for renewal, it is made public knowledge, and the qualified companies offer their quote and their prospective plans.

The company putting the contract out to tender then consider all options and make a uniformed choice.

I am speaking plainly, as the GCCF obviously do not understand how offering work to tender is actually done.

In the past two weeks, my husband and I, along with many of our fellow exhibitors, have registered as members for The Aristocats Club, this gives us automatic membership to FIFe and Felis Britannica.

We have been given a very warm welcome and noticed the difference immediately.
Members are considered and even more, most consulted about future plans.

I would ask the GCCF to consider this:-

Margaret Thatcher was in power for a long time. The poll tax came and the country turned, and we all know what happened there, she left Downing Street looking more than rather upset.

We British have a very strong sense of fair play, and we do not like being taken for fools.

GCCF members will turn, and the governing body, as we know it, will crumble.

I am more than tempted to put my name to this letter, but do not want to jeopardise other exhibits who are still showing cats and kittens we have bred under the big brother regime of the GCCF. Sadly, I will not be doing so again.

Name & Address supplied

Disgusted with GCCF
I am disgusted that after so many years, the GCCF has ‘ditched’ Our Cats as the official journal of the GCCF. I was always impressed with the publication, and the impartial way that it dealt with matters. Now it appears this is being taken over, in my opinion, by a group less professional than OUR CATS (Editors paraphrase)

I realised long ago that the GCCF doesn’t appear to give a damn about the members. I’ve seen them turn a blind eye to so many things over the years. For example, breed clubs falsifying club accounts - evidence was even provided to GCCF, but they didn’t want to know. Serious breaches in Club and GCCF rules - again, they didn’t want to know. Serious neglect issues which resulted in a rescue group having to take nearly 50 cats from a breeder who was not in a position, through their own fault, to feed, provide litter or even provide the most basic need - water.

Evidence, letters from the welfare group, other breeders, at least one cat club, and veterinary statements were sent to the GCCF (including photos of the deceased cat which was found on the premises), along with requests for this persons prefix to be banned, but again - they did not want to know. The person in question has now obtained more breeding cats.... how long before it happens again?

The GCCF don’t care, it appears, as long as they get their money...
This seems to be the problem with the GCCF.

This makes me wonder if there has been some kind of back-hander going on in this instance, because surely anyone with half a brain could tell that dropping Our Cats in favour of a yet to be published, unproven magazine with no track record is a BAD IDEA! What makes it even more suspicious is the fact that the GCCF will not even give a reason for this decision. What are they trying to hide?

Why won’t they answer to their ‘members’? The GCCF are always saying that if people don’t like the way their club is run to complain to the Committee, but why are they not listening to their ‘membership’?! It seems to be a case of friends in high places within the GCCF, in my opinion.

One thing I also note from the ‘Fancy That’ website is that they claim to be a ‘Website Design Company’. At the bottom of their homepage it states ‘Inspired by Andreas’ (the website address for Andreas is http://andreasviklund.com/templates). If you check the templates on the Andreas website, you will see that the page is not ‘inspired by’, it is the exact same template that is provided for free by Andreas (if you check the HTML code it is the same).... Does it seem strange to you that a ‘Website Design Company’ can’t even design their own website?! How on earth can we expect them to produce a ‘quality publication’?! Will they be copying someone else’s template?

I will not give ‘Fancy That’ a penny of my money. What I would like to see is the judges providing their write-ups to both publications - then we can decide which publication we want. Run both publications in tandem, and if the GCCF really feel the need, let Fancy That be the ‘official’ journal, but give it a few months and I’d put money on it that they would cease to exist. One thing is for sure is that, like many others, I will be registering my cats with FIFe and once the transfers are complete will be saying GOODBYE TO THE GCCF.

The contents of this letter are MY opinions, and as such I am entitled to express them, however, I am not prepared to have my name printed against these opinions. From what I have heard from other exhibitors about the treatment they have received from a few, nameless, individuals , it appears we are not entitled to have, or express, our own opinions!

Wishing you all the best - hopefully common sense will prevail. I will be a supporter of Our Cats for as long as is practical and possible.

Name and Address supplied
OUR CATS COMMENTS: This reader makes a number of valid points. However, we have to be realistic about circulations and the cat business.

The cat game is very small in comparison to other show hobbies such as dogs where there are regularly entries of 10,000 per week; the dog game supports two vibrant weekly titles. We suspect that would not be the case in the world of cats and the viability of operating in such an environment is questionable. We have also been told by the GCCF and their solicitors (in writing) that this decision will NOT be changed and that further communications are a waste of time.

GCCF is biting the hands that feed them!
I HAVE watched with amazement the escalating discussion regarding the GCCF’s arbitrary decision to abandon its long established relationship with your newspaper.

I can only come to the conclusion that the GCCF Executive has lost its collective wits!
Do they not realise that they are reliant on the very people they are alienating with their attitude? After all, where does their income originate? Well, look at the extract from their list of fees as it appears on page 9 of OUR CATS dated September 7th for part of the answer to that.

Add that all Breed Clubs pay an affiliation fee which, I believe, is based on the number of members (and a proportion of our subscriptions to such Club or Clubs therefore reaches the GCCF). Add that Shows, whether Breed specific or All Breeds, whether at Exemption or Championship level, must pay for their Show Licences (again, presumably, taking a proportion of our entry fees) and one wonders why they are biting the hands that feed them!

Even worse - although it is our money which funds the GCCF, they do not publish any accounts of what they are doing with it. The only section of the GCCF which is legally obliged to publish any accounts is the Cat Welfare Trust, which has to do so to meet with the requirements of the Charity Commissioner, the remainder of the GCCF it seems prefers not to do so.

We can only hope that the GCCF Council has the right to countermand decisions taken by the Executive Committee, otherwise I forecast a mass exodus to TICA.

I look forward to better news in the near future.
Name & Address supplied

This says it all!
AFTER the recent decision made by the GCCF regarding OUR CATS and the publishing of show critiques, I doubt anyone is left wondering where I stand on this issue. I researched other Governing Bodies and attended a TICA show, and was more than happy with what I saw.

So... ten days ago I sent my final registration document off to the GCCF, and on the same day applied for membership of TICA, registration of my Prefix and registration of five cats - which I would add was also a darn sight cheaper than the GCCF charges.

I have today, by Royal Mail, had my paperwork arrive from TICA, Texas, USA, welcoming me to their organisation, and a letter which contains the following...

“...The strength of TICA lies in its members. Breeders, exhibitors and cat lovers are invited to join TICA and participate in the most progressive registry in the world. Our members are entitled to vote on all issues which shape the Association...”

Has the GCCF even heard the words “progressive, members, participation?” I think not!!
On a final note - have I received my registration form from the GCCF back yet? NO!!!! but my cheque has been cashed - but then Somerset is a fair distance away!
Sharon Homer Wheeler, Withajay Siamese

So glad we went to Bingley
Last year when new to the “show scene” we read about the struggle that the show organisers were having to retain their licence and did not really understand the background. We then read that the licence had been retained and decided to go to support and see what it was all about. We found that the date clashed with our holiday and did not enter.

The holiday was cancelled and that week a notice appeared in “Our Cats” stating that the closing date had been extended. The phone number was local, and a quick call to Pat Bamford, the Show Manager, meant that we collected the schedule the next day. She patiently went through our queries and we were in.

The heavens opened just before we were due to leave for the judging, and the cats were all staring fascinated at the roof listening to the rain drumming down. It soon abated and we were able to leave, confident that the weather was due to improve because Daphne Butters, that well known judge and weather lady, assured us that the sun was due to arrive around noon. It did.
How wonderful to have something interesting to see and do while the judging was on.

Time to admire the “fur and feathers” in the next marquee where there were some of the biggest hens and cockerels we have ever seen, alongside pigeons, rabbits, guinea pigs and mice. On then to watch the runners finishing their cross-country race, show jumping, classic cars, craft and produce displays in other competition marquees. Then the opportunity to buy exotic cheeses (strawberry & champagne), meat pies, home made jams and cakes all from Yorkshire housed in yet another marquee.

Having had a good spend and a tasty lunch, back to the cats, and our turn to be exhibits as well, as we were seated behind the pens answering queries about various breeds.

Best in Show was Ch & Gr Premier Ruskita Titan Moon, a great ambassador for the show and Maine Coons. A beautiful cat with a great personality who had many admirers fascinated by his size and temperament. We were in the next pen and basked in the reflected glory.

We were made welcome by the organising committee, who made time to speak to all exhibitors, and particularly by Pat and by the judges who spent time going to exhibitors giving feedback.

We will go back next year and recommend that others go as well. OK no certificates but a great chance just to show off your cat and perhaps convert others to your particular breed and spend a relaxing but interesting day.
Sandra Harling & Neil Richardson

Coach to the National
I AM running a coach to the National Cat Show on Saturday, 8th December at Olympia in London. Starting from just outside Spalding in Lincolnshire and picking up en-route to Peterborough and various points on the A1.

If interested, please phone Wendy on 01780 410877.
W. H. McSloy-Cargill