Melanie Morgan, Chair

Hello all, here are the Judging Program Committee changes and advancements from the December 6, 2022 CFA Board Meeting:

CFA and the Judging Program mourn the loss of CFA Allbreed judges Edna Field, Vicki Abelson, and Sharon McKeehan-Bounds.   

Change of status: 

Retirement: Ellyn Honey effective May 1, 2023

Resignation: Rod U’ren

Advancements: 

• Mie Takahashi Advance to Apprentice, Shorthair 2nd Specialty
• Pam Delgoyer Advance to Approved Shorthair, Approval Pending Allbreed
• Jennifer Reding Advance to Approved Shorthair, Approval Pending Allbreed
• Teo Vargas-Huesa Advance to Approved Allbreed

Congratulations to all for well-deserved advancements!

Many congratulations to our newest Judge Emeritus:

Donna Fuller!

Charlene Campbell, CFA BAP-BRP VP

Greetings Cat Fanciers,

Our heartfelt thoughts are prayers are sent to all the Hurricane Ian and Ukraine war victims, friends, and family, we are saddened by their unimaginable loss. We hope they quickly get resources needed and they can start to move forward with their lives.  

We have been helping a lot of fanciers affected by mostly "age" and Illness-related issues. It seems every year we have a few heartbreaking cat fancier losses. It is always very sad to unexpectedly lose our longtime friends; we do our best for their kitties to move onto a happy new life in their honor. If you would like to donate in honor of a cat fancier that has passed, please let us know and we make a special tribute for them.

We are also helping fanciers with cattery downsizing, or some who are preparing for semi show retirement, or surgeries, or hospice care this program is going well!  

We want to encourage everyone in the cat fancy to think about and make plans for your kitties should a unforeseen tragedy strike.  Have a plan:

Like our cattery management organizers (inquire-we have them available), it is good to have a file(s) or 3-ring binder with your individual cats info readily available to ID the cat with current medical status (ie: copies of vaccinations, Felv/FIV status, microchip, S-N, special needs- like diet, current medications, allergies, or no dogs, no children, dislikes baths or nail trim etc.) and the current treating veterinarian contact. Pictures are most important to ID the cats in each file. Info if a cat needs to be returned to someone (ie: some contracts stipulate a return to original breeder if no longer in your care). If you need help with your documentation records, please contact me and I will help you.

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CFA Legislative

Kelly Crouch, CFA Legislative Information Liaison

Sharon Coleman, CFA Legislative Legal Analyst

Texas Proposed Inspection Rules Affecting Licensed Breeders  

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) closed comments on proposed rules changes November 2022 to bring the rules into compliance with the 2021 House Bill 1560, the enacted Sunset bill for the Department. What’s Hot has previously covered the 2020 Texas Sunset Commission legislative oversite of the TDLR including its Licensed Breeder Program (see references below). The Commission’s Report originally recommended eliminating the Program for failing to meaningfully protect the public. That did not happen nor were Program specific bills enacted in the 2021 Legislature. 

These rules changes would apply to all licensees, including licensed breeders. The new rules would require inspections to be performed during regular operational hours of the licensee. The inspection could be performed with or without notice and would allow TDLR to use alternative inspections methods such as videoconferencing. Licensees, applicants, and others must cooperate while inspections are conducted. Upon completion of the inspection, TDLR will provide written results of the inspection. Different procedures may be required in individual program rules which the Licensed Breeder Program has. For now, the licensing threshold remains as defined in the Statute: Cat and dog breeder means “a person who possesses 11 or more adult intact female animals and is engaged in the business of breeding those animals for direct or indirect sale or for exchange in return for consideration and who sells or exchanges, or offers to sell or exchange, not fewer than 20 animals in a calendar year.”

What’s Hot Sunset coverage: July 2020 and July 2021

Texas Breeder Rules in the Administrative Code

Please report legislation happenings in your area to the Legislative Group – legislation@cfa.org

Visit the CFALegislativeNews Facebook page and the CFA Legislative Group Blog to see the current legislative news.

EveryCat Health Foundation

submitted by Virginia Rud

A list of our honored donors for the month of November is  available here

2022 Holiday Photo Contest – CATS AND HATS

Voting is underway for the 2022 holiday photo contest! This year’s theme is CATS and HATS! The entries are all posted in an album on our FACEBOOK page.  

Vote for your favorites by “liking” the individual photos. Voting ends at midnight EST on December 23rd and the photo with the most “likes” will be declared the winner. Winner will be announced on December 24th.

This year’s winner will receive a gift basket from Tabby Cat Coffee Company, Coffee with a Purr-pose”. Visit their website at https://tabbycatcoffee.com/

End of Year Giving 2022

We are so grateful for you.

Cat lovers like you have made it possible for EveryCat Health Foundation to fund countless life-saving research studies over our 53-year history. 

This past year, because of you, we were able to fund 22 grants between three grant cycles!

However, we received 70 proposals, many more of which could have been funded.

Please help us help cats live longer, healthier lives by considering a donation to EveryCat Health Foundation. Together we can make 2023 a banner year for feline health research. 

https://everycat.salsalabs.org/main-donation-form/index.html

Thank you.

Tax Tips with George Eigenhauser

As this year comes to a close, there is still time to take a few last-minute actions to help reduce your tax liability. For tax year 2022, the standard deduction for married couples will be $25,900 and $12,950 for single filers. If you itemize deductions, you still have time to make last-minute changes to defer income into next year or accelerate deductions into this year to reduce taxes in 2022. The deadline for deductible charitable contributions in 2022 is December 31. You may also be able to reduce your 2022 income by contributing to certain tax-advantaged accounts. For example, traditional and SEP IRAs, allow you to deduct contributions on your 2022 return if made by April 18, 2023. If your income increased in 2022 you may have underpaid your taxes, especially if the income was from “gig” sources. You can make 2022 estimated tax payments by January 17, 2023, to reduce or eliminate underpayment penalties. If estate taxes are a concern, gifting assets now may reduce the size of your estate when you die. For 2022 you can make tax-free annual gifts of up to $16,000 per recipient. Married couples each have a $16,000 gift-tax exclusion, for a combined total of $32,000 to each recipient. However, the annual exclusion doesn’t carry over from year to year, you must use it by the end of each year or lose it. You should review your tax situation with a qualified professional and make any necessary changes while there is still time.

Receive 30 days of initial Felix Cat Insurance 

protection with no credit card or payment commitment required!

Activation of 30-day coverage is exclusively for kittens newly registered with CFA.* 

This special offer rolls out soon.

Watch the CFA website and your inbox for details and enrollment link! 

Click here

to learn more about Felix or call 1-866-FELIX-09 (1-866-335-4909).

*30-day coverage offer is for cats residing in the 50 U.S. states or Washington, D.C.;

not yet available in all states. 

Corporate Affiliates

Code: 1000026977

or call 877-999-3223 and ask for the discount code CFA CAT FANCIERS ASSOCIATION

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Click logo for information

Chris Willingham and Little Black Book

Terri and Mike Cassidy with Over the Moon

 Gail Bercher and Glory Be

Beth and Doug Field with their friends Dclass Bowen and Dark Diamond

Robert & Leann Guillory with John & Rip

Wishing a very Merry Christmas to all our friends and family out there.

John Colilla, Regional Director

Pittsburgh Pet Expo – November 19-20, 2022

written by Patti DeBiasse

It was a cold and sunny weekend in Pittsburgh, Pa but inside the David L Lawrence Convention Center it was raining cats and dogs as CFA held a show as part of the Pittsburgh Pet Expo. The dogs were very enthusiastic to say the least but the cats tolerated the barking with their usual aplomb. The show saw a lot of visitors that were attending the expo ( however dogs were not permitted inside our area), and the Pet Me cats organized by Dawn Strosko were a huge success.

.

Although most of the vendors were dog oriented there were amazing catnip toys creatively displayed and they sold out of many of their toys.

Patti's Pastries had wonderful cupcakes!

A 37 year old tortoise was determined to get to the Patti's Pastries truck and snag a cupcake and headed in the truck's direction no matter how hard his owner tried to divert him.

All in all it was a very enjoyable show!

Mike Shelton, Regional Director

Plans are continuing for the 2023 Annual Meeting at the beautiful Marriott Starr Pass resort in Tucson, AZ next June. Details are available on the CFA website, along with links for making hotel reservations and purchasing banquet tickets. More information will be added as events are finalized. We look forward to welcoming our CFA family to the desert southwest!

The Southwest Region has also been continuing the return to a normal show schedule, with the Poinsettia City Cat Club and Phoenix Feline Fanciers shows in Glendale, CA and Mesa, AZ. Both shows were well attended by both exhibitors and spectators taking advantage of the warm southwest weather.

Region 5 wishes everyone in the CFA community a happy and healthy holiday season!

Candilee Jackson, Regional Secretary

Frontier Feline Fanciers presented a terrific Thanksgiving weekend show on November 26th. Appropriately titled, “Count Your Blessings,” the show was held at the Johnson County Fairgrounds in Gardner, Kansas. Thanks to social media advertising by Mike Altschul, “there was a steady flow of spectators throughout the day,” reported Allene Keating. Also, in attendance were several “newbees” and show management made sure each had a mentor for the show. While the show did not quite fill, there were few absentees, and a lot of fun was to be had. The advertised annual costume contest garnered a huge audience. Plans are already underway for the Thanksgiving show in 2023 by this very enthusiastic club.

Show-Me Cat Fanciers held their third show at the Newton County Fairgrounds in Neosho, Missouri, on December 10, 2022. This was the first show in the MWR to have the experimental COP (open/champion/premier) format, along with a Super Specialty ring.

Club member Janet Moyer reported that the show “had a great entry (142) for the one-day six-ring show, and approximately 300 spectators came to partake in the excitement. There was a Meow Vendors Mall, and a rescue group, Nine Lives, was on hand. Drawings were held hourly to give away stuffed Christmas Bears to spectator children. Everyone had a fabulous time,” stated Janet. 

This busy new club recruited and mentored ELEVEN new exhibitors, and CONGRATULATIONS are definitely the order of the day! The well-run show featured an exhibitors’ breakfast of free donuts and coffee, and followed up a yummy lunch of bacon cheeseburgers from the You Bacon Me Crazy Food Truck with a Bavarian crème-filled chocolate cake. The day was also highlighted by a cat costume contest with twelve entries, and an ugly Christmas sweater contest for exhibitors.

Kenny Currle - Regional Director

On December 4, Nishinihon Cat Club had their annual Christmas show.

It was allbreed 6 ring show and the entry was pretty good.

There were many various breeds, including a ToyBob. The club accepted visitors this time since situation of Covid is not serious now.

Many exhibitors were happy with good points for GC or RW award. There was one cute ToyBob ! It’s very small.

I attached picture of beautiful purple flower named “Murasaki Shikibu,” in English, “Purple Lady.“ She was one of the women in the inner palace in old age. She was so clever and very famous writer. Her most famous novel is “ Genji Story,” and she has also published her diary “Murasaki Sikibu Dairy” She wrote a great novel at the Ishiyama temple nearby my house.

Pam DelaBar, Regional Director

Hola!!! Alianza Felina led its first show and debuted in “grand” fashion in Madrid, Spain. The club attracted 184 entries, many from first time CFA exhibitors who were thrilled to be part of the show and vowed to return for future shows. A handling ring was conducted to introduce the experience of what it feels like to be a judge……..this proved to be quite popular. Kate Sain from Arkansas traveled to the show and has decided this will be a trend for her to attend R9 shows in Spain (her second such experience). Congratulations to Maria Angeles Vilches Cabezas and Antonio Crespo Moreno for their hard work in presenting this show. Pictured below are many happy club members at the end of the very successful exhibition.

Hong Kong

Suki Lee- Coordinator ID-Hong Kong

Russian Blue and Cantopop

Russian Blue breeder Thomas Yiu was delighted to know that his lovely cat GP DW FEI WU PRINCETON & FEI WU ALADDIN OF FAIRYTIARA was selected to be the poster cat for Hong Kong Cantopop singer MC Cheung. Princeton appears on the poster and billboard; Aladdin appears in ads and social media spots promoting the tour.

The poster is for MC Cheung concert at the Hong Kong Stadium in January 2023. The bill board is very eye catching and "name" is famous! Everyone recognizes the breed as the poster cat in show hall!

Hong Kong Pirates Meow Club

submitted by Virginia Liu

Hong Kong Pirates Meow Club hosted our first show of the season on 11/27/2022, namely, Hong Kong Pirates Meow White Championship Cat Show.

The show was held in Lok Fu Plaza, a busy shopping mall in the city center of Hong Kong. We had 86 cats of 25 breeds, HHP included, entered into this show. To our delight, the show drew attention from newbie exhibitors who showed their furry babies for their very first time, even in Championship class! The show also attracted numerous spectators of all ages, plenty of whom were first-timers in a CFA cat show!! 

As usual, there was a lucky draw session as our show was generously sponsored by Royal Canin and a couple of cat supplies distributors. As for show results, as far as we know, quite some Grand Champions and Grand Premiers were produced upon the tough competition, and excitedly, at least one stud male was crowned the Distinguished Merit title thereafter!  

What made our show special this time was that our club had published our first issue of “CAT FANCIER” magazine to be distributed freely to the spectators as well as the exhibitors in the show venue. 500 copies were made and we had expected to have some copies left for our next show, but to our surprise, all 500 copies had been given away by the end of the day! In this magazine, we introduce CFA briefly (as we tried to avoid “long essays”) and present some CFA catteries, cat supplies and cat service providers etc in Hong Kong.  We are looking forward to publishing our second issue, and hopefully, we will be able to lure more catteries and cat supplies stores to place adverts in it! Overseas CFA catteries are also welcome to advertise in our magazine! 

At last, we would like to express our greatest gratitude to the two judges, Suki Lee and Kit Fung. As always, they tried their utmost to present various breeds to the crowds and explain what a judge looks for in a pedigreed cat while avoiding using jargon. As a CFA affiliated club, Hong Kong Pirates Meow Club will continue to host fabulous CFA shows to spread our love of pedigreed cats across the territory! 

Have a question or a comment about the CFA Newsletter? 

Feel free to contact me at  tkeiger@cfa.org

Thank you for being a subscriber! 

Teresa Keiger

CFA Newsletter Editor