Vicki Nye, CFA Judging Program Co-Chair

Announcement of CFA’s Judging Panel advancements and changes at the June 22, 2023 CFA Board Meeting and Judging Program Committee

Advanced from LH Trainee to Apprentice LH — Chate Ruengruglikit — Thailand 

Advanced from LH Trainee to Apprentice LH — Pattama Weeranon — Thailand

Advanced from LH Apprentice to Approval Pending LH (also SH Associate Judge) — Oscar Silva Sanchez — Region 9 Spain

Advanced from SH Trainee to SH Apprentice & Approved LH — Lyn Knight — Region 7 Maryland

Retired 5/1/2023 Allbreed Judge Ellyn Honey elevated status to Judge Emeritus

Board approved judging reciprocity agreement with CFF (Cat Fanciers’ Federation)

Congratulations!

June 2023 Judging Program Committee 

Announcing New Guest Judging Administrator and 2 Application Administrators

Executive Committee

Co-Chair and Board Liaison

Russell Webb

201-294-5094

whiteweb00@aol.com

Co-Chair

Vicki Nye

831-320-1896

tvnye@jps.net

A complete list of the Judging Program Committee members is available here

Applicants to the CFA Judging Program 

Applicants for Consideration at the October 2023 Board Meeting:

Information concerning the moral character, temperament and ethics, and the spectrum of experience concerning the breeding and showing (and agenting) of cats would be helpful to the CFA Executive Board in the evaluation of applicants to the Judging Program. The manner in which an applicant's cats are housed and cared for is also pertinent. See Judging Program Rules, Section 6.7. Recommendations: a,b,c,d, as well as the Judges' Code of Ethics for more information on what the Board of Directors will require in an excellent candidate.

Recommendations or concerns are encouraged so that the Judging Program Committee and ultimately the CFA Board of Directors may make an informed decision regarding the acceptance or rejection of any individual making an application to the CFA Judging Program. All letters require a signature. Anonymous letters will not be accepted. Negative letters must be documented and substantiated. All negative letters will be shared with the applicant to offer the opportunity for rebuttal. All letters and responses, if any, will accompany the application.

Please send letters by email or snail mail to the Applications Administrator (see below) by the deadline indicated:

Letters due by August 15, 2023

Letters of recommendation, or copies thereof, must not be sent to the applicant, nor may the applicant ask for any preview of recommendations. Multiple recommendations stemming from one source will be treated as a single recommendation. Please send letters to:

Vicki Nye- CFA Judging Program Co-Chair (until an Application Administrator is named)

16995 Meridian Rd

Salinas, CA. 93907

Email: tvnye@jps.net

Bob Zenda, Suki Lee, and Anne Mathis with Association Judges from Thailand, Hong Kong, China, and Europe at the Judges' Workshop in Tucson.

Barbara Jaeger, BAOS Chair

There will be an In-Person CFA Breed Awareness and Orientation School (BAOS), August 24-27, 2023 in Hong Kong. In order to apply to the CFA Judging Program, you must have taken this class within two years of the time you apply to the Judging Program for it to count. The Thursday and Friday classroom portion will be held at the Harbourview Hotel, 4 Harbour Rd., Wanchai, Hong Kong. Classes will be held both Thursday, August 24 and Friday, August 25, 2023 at the hotel. Saturday and/or Sunday In The Ring Handling will be held in the show hall. The cost for the BAOS is $275 USD. If you are an Associate Judge or someone who took the on-line BAOS between 2020-2023, you may take the In-The Ring Handling for credit. The cost for the In-The Ring Handling will be $100.00 USD. Registration will be open soon, so keep an eye out. The limit for this class is 30 persons.

Flyer for the school is available here

There will also be an In-Person CFA BAOS in conjunction with the CFA International Show, October 12, 13, 14, 2023 in Cleveland, OH. The same things apply as in the class being held in Hong Kong. In order to apply to the CFA Judging Program, you have taken this class within two years of the time you apply to the Judging Program for it to count. More information will be posted soon regarding this opportunity. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

For additional information on these scheduled classes, please contact Barbara Jaeger .

contributed by Wendy Heidt

What do you think of when a person says the word "unnecessary?"

Avoidable? Irrelevant? Extraneous? Idle? Useless?

Show rule 11.10 states A judge should not engage in unnecessary conversations with exhibitors while performing his/her duties. Judges are not required to discuss entries with exhibitors.

When a judge is thinking in preparation for their final, evaluating a cat on the judge’s table, or reviewing the cats in the cages, it is important to allow them to direct their full attention to what they are doing.

The judging program receives regular complaints from exhibitors about judges who have conversations with others while they are performing their duties. What if the cat in front of the judge was your cat, would you want them distracted? Is it necessary to tell the judge that your cat, now on the table, only likes sparkle toys? Would you think a judge who ignores comments from the spectator area to be acting rude?

If you have important information to give, please leave a note with the clerk for the judge before the information is needed. If you need to have a conversation with a judge please ask when a good time would be.

It is a balancing act to impart information about our beloved cats and give each cat an equal chance to shine and be evaluated. 

Annette Wilson, chair

Remember, Breed Council dues for the current term (May 1, 2023 through April 30, 2024) are due before August 1 if you wish to be able to vote on your Breed Council’s proposals. Here’s the page with the link to check your membership status.

From this page, you can also find the application form and, if you have rapid renewal, a link to pay your dues.

Carol Krzanowski, chair

The following clubs were accepted at the June 22, 2023 CFA Board meeting:

1. China Meow’s Secret Club, International Division - China; Changsha, Hunan, China

2. Diamond State Cat Fanciers, Gulf Shore Region; Little Rock, Arkansas, USA

3. Felidae Beyond Infinity, International Division - Asia; Yuen Long, N.T., Hong Kong

4. Galaxy Cat Club, International Division - Asia; Yuen Leng Village, Tai Po, Hong Kong

5. Garnet State Feline Fanciers, North Atlantic Region; Old Lyme, Connecticut, USA

6. Hong Kong Bengal Cat Association, International Division - Asia; Yuen Long, N.T., Hong Kong

7. Mahameru Cat Club, International Division - Asia; Bekasi, Jawa Barat, Indonesia

8. Oyster Bay Cat Club (formerly Sandcastle Cat Fanciers), North Atlantic Region; Oyster Bay, New York, USA

Please note the club name change on club #8 above. The Board would not approve the club with the original name because it was too similar to an existing club name. I worked with the applicant during the meeting to choose a new name, and the Board accepted the club with the new name.

Jenny Wickle, chair

Pop up banners and mini-flags to promote showing HHPs in CFA are making their way into Regions 1-7 and Hawaii. Each region should have one pop up banner. At bigger shows, sometimes all three of the banner designs might be displayed together. The mini-flags are being distributed to HHP exhibitors for display in their benching areas. Each flag has a QR code that interested spectators can scan on their phones, which will take them to a link about showing HHPs.  

The Triple Crown Cat Fanciers show in Lexington, Kentucky recently had 31 HHPs competing. There were HHPs competing from regions 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7 and three new exhibitors. Several exhibitors came together for this photo (below).

If you are able to take HHP group photos, please feel free to email them to jwteacher02@gmail.com. The Marketing Team will also be bringing a photographer to shows across the United States to take photos of exhibitors with their cats. Don't be shy. Please sign up.

CFA Breeder Assistance/Breeder Rescue Programs

Charlene Campbell, chair

Breeders Assistance and Breed Rescue Update Yearly Report

We appreciate CFA’s donations for emergencies and disasters. We ran a loss again this year due to smaller donations during our inflationary period that is squeezing many cat fanciers. 

We are always sad when a cat fancier unexpectedly goes to hospice care or passes and we will continue to help those felines in need. We encourage everyone to have a emergency plan, we have a cattery management workbook that can be a aid for emergency planning in these situations.

We are very grateful for our CFA exhibitors and members donations helping the cats this year who were in need of food, vet care or rescue rehoming. We have given aid to over 400 cats. BRP has treated very serious feline medical issues, our rescues have pitched in helping pay for many special treatments, we had a lot of cats who never seen a veterinarian.

I encourage CFA breeders to watch for online cattery identity theft. We have “look-a-like” fake catteries steal our breeder's web photos, pose on line, and take consumer’s deposits. Report any stolen pictures to the website purveyor.

A special “Thank you” for the CFA BOD's Hurricane Ian funding aid for the SWFL, Florida, and Southern Region breeders.

Many THANK YOU’s to our generous CFA folks for their donations and support!! Many thanks to our wonderful rescues for their work and donations.

complete report available here

EveryCat Health Foundation

submitted by Virginia Rud

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

Tax Tips with George Eigenhauser

Many people work full or part-time in the “gig economy”. This may be app-based providers such as Uber, DoorDash, and Airbnb; or you may be renting property, or selling goods or services; at home or online. IRS Tax Tip 2023-85 can help taxpayers understand their tax responsibilities for gig income. The IRS reminds us that “Gig work is taxable” and you are responsible for paying income taxes whether the company provides you with any tax documents. It is also important that your services are properly classified. The IRS has guidelines to help determine whether you are an employee or an independent contractor. You should determine what taxes you will owe and make the necessary payments throughout the year. For more information about “gig” income visit the website.

Press Release - EveryCat Renames their New Investigator Grant Award

EveryCat Health Foundation announces the renaming of their New Investigator Grant Award in honor of Joan Miller, who passed away on May 16, 2023.

Joan Miller served on the Board of Directors of EveryCat Health Foundation (formerly Winn Feline Foundation) for 20 years, serving as Board President for 16 years. A life-long advocate for cat health and welfare, Ms. Miller supported funding research studies that no other granting bodies would fund, often with groundbreaking results. Her commitment to promoting up-and-coming young researchers was crucial in encouraging new investigators in the field of cat health.

Dr. Brian Holub, EveryCat Health Foundation Board member and chair of the Scientific Review Committee, served alongside Joan on the Board for many years. He recalls, “Joan Miller was a trailblazer for scientific feline research! As president for the Winn Feline Health Foundation in the 1980’s, she forever changed the standard for feline health studies. Her passion for feline specific heath studies and her encouraging of new feline investigators has forever changed the landscape for feline health research.”

The New Investigator Grant Award was created by EveryCat Health Foundation in 2017 to encourage new and innovative research with an interest in feline health and medicine to submit grant proposals.

The Grant provides up to $25,000 for Primary Investigators who are recently appointed (< 2 years) university research associates or assistant professors (or equivalent positions outside of the United States), post-doctoral fellows, or veterinary students in a DVM/VMD/PhD (or equivalent outside the US) program at a college or school of veterinary medicine. $2000 of the grant must be set aside to cover travel and expenses for the investigator to present their study results at a major veterinary conference.

Beginning with the 2023 Miller Trust Grant cycle, which is currently open for proposal submissions, the grant will be named the Joan Miller New Investigator Grant Award.

Breeding Cat Coverage

Now Available!

Protect your breeding cat with Felix:

1. Enter breeding cat’s info to Get a Quote
2. Select the optional add-on for Breeding Coverage* 
3. Click on Checkout to complete enrollment

Click here

to get started or call 1-866-FELIX-09 (1-866-335-4909).

*Coverage for accidents, illnesses and complications relating to or caused by breeding, pregnancy, whelping or nursing. Conditions and limitations apply. 

Felix Cat Insurance is underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company.

Corporate Affiliates

Code: 1000026977

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

Discount Code # 526223

Discount Code # #U28593

Discount Code # Z926291

Click logo for information

submitted by Gayle Hand

It’s been too quiet here in the Pacific NW without shows over the summer, so attending the CFA Annual in Tucson AZ was a welcome opportunity to socialize with “cat people”!  Kudos to our neighbors in the SW Region for hosting such a wonderful event. It was fun seeing the dessert in summer with those giant cacti in bloom! But most of all it was great to make new friends with common interest. I especially liked the well attended panel presentation by the Breeder Education Committee as well as to learn at the Every Cat Health symposium that FIP can now be successfully treated! It is heartwarming to know that the health and well being of our cats is held in high regard by our organization and its participants. The Show Production seminar was also very enlightening with specific guidance about how to harness the power of social media to meaningfully extend our reach to the public.

As always the Awards Banquet was fantastically beautiful. We congratulate the Region 2 cats who achieved CFA’s highest honors in the 22-23 season: 

In Championship -GC, BWR, NW PANDORA’S FAIRYTALE MISTRAL; GC, BWR, NW DELICATESSEN VIBRATO OF BELLA MIA; and GC, BWR, NW TX-ELFKATZ EDEN OF JOBARA. 

Kittens - GC, NW HIGHLANDER JUST MARK OF PURRCASSO and GC, NW BALASHAH SYLVETTE OF PURRCASSO. 

Premeirship - GP, NW 2-CHE’S ARIAT OF PHANTOMANGEL. 

Exhibitors extraordinaire - Noelle Giddings, Bobby Irie and Victoria Hutchins-Pitcher - deserve special accolades for their accomplishments. Our region was represented magnificently well by these cats and their breeder/owners! 

Traci Whittenberg, Regional Secretary

Lights! Camera! Show Cats! 



Region 3 gathered to celebrate our regional awards and show in Temple, Texas. The show was a great success and Saturday evening gave the Region a chance to celebrate our accomplishments together. Congratulations to all of our winners and to their beautiful cats!

John Colilla, Regional Director

Great Lakes Regional Show & Banquet June 10-11, 2023

Carmen Johnson-Lawrence

The Great Lakes Region celebrated their 2022-2023 regional awards with a celebration show on Saturday and Sunday, June 10 & 11 in Columbus, OH. Friends within and outside the region came to celebrate! Exhibitors and judges alike worked diligently to make sure everyone was done in a timely fashion on Saturday to get ready for the party!  

Our banquet, held at the Hilton Garden Inn Columbus was attended by many. The theme this year was Ice Cream Social and the decorations by Sabrina Grisier did not disappoint! Chris Makl was awarded Clerk of the Year and Staci Taylor was awarded our Spirit of the Great Lakes. Despite some technical difficulties, the GREAT family of our Great Lakes Region pulled together to make the night memorable. Our presentations are available for viewing here.

Sunday was a rainy day in Columbus but it didn’t stop spectators from coming to the show! Many were greeted by regional treasurer Teresa Sweeney along with Pet Me Cat Dugan. Smudge the Mustache Cat was also on hand as a Pet Me Cat during the show.

It was a lovely weekend filled with fun, friendship and celebration!

Triple Crown Cat Fanciers July 8-9, 2023

By Wendy Goldman

Triple Crown Cat Fanciers sure do bring their “A” game! The weekend was packed with activities and excitement for both exhibitors and spectators alike.  Numerous vendors, a large raffle, a stuffed animal contest, a cat costume contest, a rescue group with cats for adoption, and a face painter were part of the weekend festivities.  Local news coverage brought in a steady gate. Those who were interested were given a tour and had questions about the cats and the show answered. The show was brought to an end by awarding best in show for championship, kitten, premiership, and household pet with beautiful rosettes and trophies

Michael Shelton, Regional Director



The Southwest Region wants to thank everyone who made our recent Annual Meeting such a success. I'm not going to try to thank everyone, because someone will undoubtedly be left out, but there are a few that merit special thanks - our regional Annual chair, Bob Zenda, Rhonda Avery and Carolyn Osier who kept track of so many details, and all of those who turned out to help with the delegate bags. A big thanks to the CFA Central Office staff, particularly Allene Tartaglia, Amber Goodright, and Shelly Borawski, who did most of the heavy lifting in getting everything done. And also thank you to all of the delegates who made the trek to the Arizona desert - without you, we wouldn't have had such a great event. Good luck to all in the upcoming season, whatever your goals may be.

Cathy Dunham, Regional Director

The Midwest Region held our regional show and awards banquet June 17, 2023 in Springfield, IL. We had great attendance at the show with 161 entered, which was hosted by the Havana Brown Fanciers. The highlight of the show was three OCP rings held on Sunday. The exhibitors and judges had great fun with the rings and several cats granded. We also had an educational ring in the morning where we discussed the structure of CFA which helped new and experienced exhibitors understand CFA even more.

Kenny Currle - Regional Director

The Southern Region would like to congratulate the Southwest Region for hosting such a fantastic Annual! The Starr Pass Resort was even more wonderful that anyone could imagine, and lent itself to so many activities. And of course, congratulations to all of our winners! The awards banquet was great, and kudos to all for making it run so smoothly.

For now, it is quiet (but warm and humid!) in the region, so much like our beloved cats, we are staying in a cool spot. 

55 years ago, I and my husband visited this temple. The master of this temple Mr. and Mrs. Asahina, showed me how they love cats. Off course their cats were all non-pedigreed cats. Some street female delivered babies in her bed in winter. For almost two month she slept with the mother cat and babies in the same bed ! Her great and unique love for cats made me cat lovers. Before, I did prefer dog to cat. I am very grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Asahina because I have been a cat lovers for a long time. 

We will have regional award banquet very soon. I will be able to report you next time. 

ID delegates and chairs meeting with the CFA Board at the Annual

Shows from throughout the ID, including Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

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