VeiwPoint
PKD is in ALL breeds
MUCH as I very much sympathise with Emily L. E. Chapman who is upset at having had her pet British SH diagnosed as PKD positive, I’m afraid I CANNOT understand why she is urging PERSIAN and EXOTIC breeders to make sure our cats are PKD tested.
Her cat is a British, her cat is positive, doesn’t this once again prove that British is another breed that SHOULD be PKD tested? Should she not urge the British breeders to test? Surely British breeders do no longer regularly mix in Persian and Exotic blood in their cats? I think it is fair to say that PKD is in fact in ALL breeds, as there have been several instances of breeds other than Persian testing positive, such as Burmese, Siamese, Oriental and even a Ragdoll - and yes, British.
If anything, I’d say it is a case of PKD in Persian and Exotics being detected simply BECAUSE breeders do test - which is more than can be said for most other breeds.
We regularly hear of cats dying of kidney problems, but only when said cat is a Persian or Exotic is it automatically assumed the cat had PKD. What’s to say it isn’t all PKD? You will never know unless you test...
Marianne Brett, Blondbella Persians & Exotics (only breeding from FAB PKD tested negative cats)
Detriment or enhancement?
I read with interest the letter from ‘A Senior Judge’ (OUR CATS, 4th November) what this judge said is so true it is a shame that they did not use their own name. I know a lot of people in the Cat Fancy feel the same, and attached is an article I sent to the Siamese Cat Club Newsletter Editor.
“Whilst I am sure we do not want to go back to the days of Bonzo and Wankee. Do we really want our cats to look like the last picture of a 2004 Champion? Here the ears look like airplane wings with the dome of the head above the ears is this the correct interpretation of the Standard of Points? How can this head be a triangle? Are we trading this type for colour, you only have to go round a show and see all the black seals with white coats that are on the show bench. Where have our beautiful dark brown warm seal points gone? Are we going to have problems with the airplane wing set ears in the future like the Persians have with their ‘three eyes’? Heads too big that cause birthing problems. To my eye the best picture for type was that of Marcopolo.
I watched a couple of films over the Easter weekend one was ‘The Incredible Journey’ and the other was ‘That Darn Cat’, although the type was missing, what wonderful seal colour these cats showed.
Now what does it say in the Standard of Points? Seal Points - points “Cold black points are incorrect in kittens and adults” body “Cream even shading, if any to be of warm fawn colour to tone with the points. In kittens the body colour may be muddy fawn. A cold white body colour is incorrect in kittens and adults”.
I am not going to go through all the colours and highlight bits as I have done with the seals, as the change in their colour is so noticeable. It seems to me that with the other colours like lilac, a new colour is brought in which was called caramel, when in fact it is a bad lilac. How can you have a blue based caramel and a lilac based one when they are both totally different colours, this is especially noticeable in torties when the two types are side by side in their pens. If to bring in new colours appears to be the ‘norm’ then why have we not got black points?
I would also like to add that as a lover of blue points, it deplores me to see dark blues on the bench, and to see blue points that are the correct colour which is as per the Standard of Points ‘light blue’ with a ‘glacial white’ body turned into caramel points which states ‘off-white (magnolia)’ body.
Whilst this is a personal opinion of what I see happening, I do know that a lot of people who agree with me and I hope that this will open a debate. If we care about what is happening to our colours and type then let us do something about it.”
And finally… soon we could see a cartoon film where we see Siamese cats flying themselves to the shows with ears like a jet plane just like Dumbo in the Disney movies - now there’s an idea!!!!!
G. Icke - © 2005
Reward offered - drapes disaster!
DID anyone find two sets of drapes and double fur fabric bases taken down and folded then inadvertently left behind in our exhaustion by me and my mother in Hall 19 (Burmese Section) after the Supreme Cat Show?
One set was in Pen 1164 - scarlet with small gold design cotton drapes with plain scarlet front lined curtains and pelmet with gold trim accompanied by a plain scarlet fur fabric 2ft x 4ft padded base.
The other set was on Pen 1110 - pale yellow, heavy cotton with woven gold swags and tassels and accompanied by a leopard type spotted 2ft x 4ft fur fabric padded base.
If anyone kindly retrieved these for us and can get in touch (Tel. 01491 681051) to discuss how I can collect them, I would be so grateful and would be delighted to offer a large luxury ‘Halcyon’ cat nest and a 2ft x 4ft double fur fabric base to order in your chosen colours in very grateful exchange!
Heather Simpson & Patsy Yardley
Lost ring
A VALUABLE ring was lost as the Supreme Show on Saturday, 19 November.
It has great sentimental value. A reward is offered for its return.
Please contact Christine Stalker at Our Cats.
Lift to shows, please!
PLEASE can anyone in the Shipley, Bradford, Guiesley or Otley areas of West Yorkshire give me a lift to the Shropshire Show and the Coventry & Leicester Show.
I will gladly contribute to the ‘petrol fund’. So if anyone can help, please phone me on 01274 599866 (Baildon, near Bradford).
Sarah E. M. Helm (Mrs), Velvetena Siamese & Orientals
obituary
Gwynedd Lait
AS WILL be remembered by people who have been connected with the Govering Council and Cat Fancy in general for a very long time, Gwynedd Lait was a lady of great quality and sincerity, and it was with much sadness that I heard of her passing.
In recent years she was unable to take a physical part because of her ill health, but her support and never failing interest prevailed.
Gwynedd Lait was known mainly for her role as Secretary of the Blue Pointed Siamese Cat Club, a post she had held for many years, and along with her husband, who was Treasurer, when he died she could no longer take an active part and became the Vice-President, and remained so until her death. Over the latter years, she maintained her support for the Club.
In earlier times, when she attended shows, it was with her very famous Blue Point Siamese neuter, a large, very impressive male, Bronndreys Chicabu, who, at that time, was virtually unbeatable in his Open class, which could contain as many as a dozen exhibits of the same colour and breed.
Gwynedd Lait is to be remembered for her great contribution to the Cat Fancy, and I would like to give my sincere sympathy to her family and friends at this time.
Elizabeth Biggie
Barbara Scruton
October 12th saw the passing of my very dear friend Barbara. A serene lady of great integrity with a terrific sense of humour. She was a thoroughly warm and kind human being. I have no doubt that anyone who knew her would agree with me.
Barbara and her husband Keith purchased their first pedigree cat in 1975. She was a Tortoiseshell Persian carrying Colourpoint, bred by Cynthia Henderson. It was their intention to breed Chocolate and Lilac Points, however in 1977 a Lilac Cream was born who was called Omicron Opal. She was the first of this colour to be born in this country. The following year the mating was repeated and Omicron Ophelia became the first Chocolate Tortie.
Archsue Pickle, Deebank Blackjack and Red Angus who were very well bred and famous Self coloured studs of their day were used to improve on eye colour, and enable them to produce Colourpoint - free lines. Their Colourpoints can be found in the pedigrees of very successful cats and prefixes. They bred Omicron Pansy who was the first Grand Champion Chocolate Tortie Point. My own Blue Colourpoint Gr Pr Omicron Prima Donna had a wonderful full and shade free glacial white body coat with pale blue points.
Barbara became a probationer judge of Colourpoints in 1984. She was to become a full judge on all of the Semi LH lists, full judge on five LH lists, probationer on one, full judge on four lists in the foreign section and probationer on three. She was due to be one of three judging the Best in Show at this year’s Supreme. Keith was asked to replace her. I know Barbara would be been pleased that he had been asked and proud of him doing so.
Barbara had been a Delegate to the GCCF, on the Executive Committee for a number of years, the first Secretary of the Self LH BAC, past Secretary and currently Vice President of the Blue Persian Cat Society and together with Keith she helped the Maine Coon breeders get their standard of points together and accepted by Council. They were both founder members of the Chocolate Series Cat Club.
Seven years ago Barbara spent some time in intensive care in hospital where she had to be resuscitated on two occasions. She told me afterwards that this experience gave her a different perspective on life.
She may have been on “borrowed” time but she never showed it, always managing to smile whilst at cat shows and events.
Keith has his son Simon for support and many friends in the Cat Fancy who will help him through these difficult times.
Eileen Fryer
