Canadian Cat Association

A blog of articles relating to the cat fancy

How to Build a Great Kitten Kit

by Teena Staples - Minoos Cattery

 

I have been asked numerous times what I put into my Kitten Care Kits and why.

Some of the items are necessities that every new kitten family should get, and other items are things we have found are helpful in the transition from the cattery to a new home.

So here is what we put in our kits.

The Health Care folder from our Vet outlining each visit and the shots that the kitten has had and when the next set of vaccines is due. Our kittens go home with a one-year rabies shot given at 16 weeks and we use the three-year Nobivac HCP, so it is important for us to communicate these facts to the new vet. A copy of the kitten’s titre test showing good immunity levels is included so that there is no mistake in over vaccinating.

On top of the health folder we add copies of all DNA, x-ray and blood screening tests that we have done on the parents. There are two sets, one for the new family and one for the new vet that will be looking after the kitten.  It has been our experience that not all vets are familiar with Coons so by giving them information it opens a communication channel when they are unsure of that is normal and not with these larger then life cats.  We include pamphlets from Cornell University on topics such as HCM, feeding a picky cat and looking after the Senior cat.

Also, we give each family a booklet that includes but is not limited to how to brush a cat’s teeth, how to trim nails, encouraging drinking, a list of household hazards and a list of veterinary terms.  This information has been given to us over the years by our vet and our families have said they find it helpful.

Printed pedigree – it is NOT the official pedigree from the registering organization.  We use KIntraks to keep track of all our kittens, who adopted them, health records, and of course inbreeding coefficient.  The program has a nice pedigree section and the new families like to see their kitten’s family tree.  We include pictures of the parents as well. 

Royal Canin Kitten Care Kit – this has a sample of the wet and dry food that we have raised the kittens on.  We are part of the Royal Canin family, they give us kits and we in turn provide them to our families.  We usually add in a few extra cans of wet since some kittens enjoy both the pate and the minced varieties. 

Breedsecure/Petsecure six weeks of free pet insurance – We register our families a couple of days before they pick up their new kitten. 

Toys – Our families are glad to get some of the toys that the kittens are familiar with as they are growing up.  Some people might wonder why give toys when the new families have probably bought more then enough.  The answer is simple:  successful integration into a new home.  The kitten will start playing with the toys he/she is familiar with and next thing you know is acting like he/she has always been there.

Toothbrush/Toothpaste – yes, a toothbrush.  We start brushing their teeth at about 10 to 12 weeks of age.  Our thought is that if we teach the kitten to like brushing their teeth now the less dental bills later.  We show each family how to brush their baby’s teeth when they come to visit. 

Harness and Lead – We teach the kittens to walk on a lead when they are introduced to the main house.  The harness (without a bell) and lead is put on for every car ride.  It is easy to carry a carrier and kitten to the car for a vet visit or ride, but an 18 lb coon and carrier is tougher. 

Snuggle blanket – this blanket usually ends up in the carrier and has the smell of the cattery on it, so they have a familiar smell for the car ride to their new home. 

If the kitten is going to a home that already has one of our coons or another cat, we will also include extra toys for sharing and extra food so that the already established cat has something to try out.  We also will include added information on how to integrate the kitten into the cat household.

This is by no means a set-in stone list but rather a guideline that we use, and I hope you have found it helpful.

CCA’s newest partner…. Petsecure/Breedsecure

By Carolyn Campbell

 

Petsecure takes the worry out of vet visits, and for 6 weeks provides your new kitten owners with complimentary accident and illness protection. They cover up to 80% of the unexpected vet bills up to $500 (less a $100 deductible per incident). This includes any diagnostics, x-rays, hospitalization, surgery, medicine, exam fees and even the taxes. Coverage begins 48 hours after the trial is activated.

 The little bit of extra security provides the new family with peace of mind knowing that their kitten is covered, and the program is no cost to breeders or the new owner. For more information on the program you can contact a Breedsecure representative by email at breeders@petsecure.com or contact Brittany directly by phone at 1-800-431-3132 ext 66354 and she will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

 Brittany is one of the representatives for the Breedsecure program at Petsecure Pet Health Insurance. She has been with Petsecure in Winnipeg for almost 3 years, originally as an Insurance Advisor. As the representative of the Breedsecure program, Brittany works closely with breeders by building relationships and educating them on the importance of pet insurance.

 

 

RPNS, LONS, May 15th, Does my cat need a registration # to enter a cat show?

By Janice Fritz

 So, you want to enter your cat in a show.  You have some options. 

1. Register your cat! 

If you purchased your cat from a breeder you should have received a registration slip from some association.  Hopefully, one for the CCA-AFC.  If so, then you simply need to fill in the back of that and send it to the CCA office.  TIP: you can scan in both sides of the slip and email it to the office at office@cca-afc.com and send the payment via paypal or e-transfer to the same address.

If you only have a slip from another association, then you can 'register via pedigree'.  Email office@cca-afc.com to see if a) your cat's breed is accepted in the CCA , b) the colour is accepted and c) how many generations are required on the pedigree.  You will first have to register your cat with the other association and request a pedigree with the required number of generations.  Be prepared!!!  This usually can take several months to complete.  In the meantime what do you do if you want to enter your cat in a CCA show?  Get a RPN number.

 

2. RPN - Registration Pending Number

RPNs are for cats that are in the process of being registered, but the paperwork just hasn't been completed.  They are not for the case where someone has decided that they want to enter a show and don't have any pedigree information for their cat.  They are for what the name says "REGISTRATION PENDING"!

A Registration Pending number must be obtained before the show by contacting office@cca-afc.com.  The cost is $22 for Members and $44 for Non-Members

RPNS are good for 30 days, but after that 30 days the cat can only be shown with a valid registration # unless there are exceptional reasons.  

National Points and points towards titles will be banked on RPN #s and carried forward when registration #s are provided.

3. LON - Listed Open Number

LONs are good for one weekend only.  Any titles can only be claimed once the cat is registered.  So if you've entered a show with a LON (or a RPN), you can not claim a PR or CH title that weekend!

A Listed Open number must be obtained before the show by contacting office@cca-afc.com.  The cost is $11 for Members and $22 for Non-Members

National Points will be banked on LON #s and carried forward when registration #s are provided.

4. Litter Number

So, you are a breeder and you have this awesome kitten you bred that you want to show.  You can register the litter for $17 ($34 non members) and enter the cat with the litter number.   You can show the kitten until it is 8 months old with just the litter number and then you have until May 15th of that show season to register the kitten in order to be eligible for an award!

 

5. No Number

If you just want to bring your kitten out to a show for the club awards (best of the best), then you can enter it with no registration number, LON, RPN, or Litter number.  However, your kitten will not be awarded any national points for this show nor will  points will be banked should you register your kitten at a later date. Champions and Alters CAN NOT be shown without a number.

May 15th

All champions and premiers must have a registration number in order to get an award.  A RPN is only good for 30 days. It is true that a Champion or Premier could have an RPN or LON and have points, but they wouldn't have enough to get an award.

Kittens however are a different case.  They can only be on the scene for a couple of shows and get a national award.  It is entirely possible that a kitten have only an RPN or a Litter number and have gathered enough points to get a national award.  However, all cats must be registered in order to receive an national award.  So owners have until May 15th (15 days after the end of the show season) to get their cat registered.  Otherwise, they are forfeiting their award.

 

National Points

Just to be clear.... to earn national points, your cat needs to either have:

1. Registration #

2. RPN

3. LON

4. Litter# (for kittens only)

 

My cat's colour changed!

By Janice Fritz

 

There are a couple of scenerios which a colour change can happen, but the most common is at a cat show.  You could be at a show and a judge calls you up to the podium for a chat about your cat's colour or pattern.  You may disagree.  The judge will pull out a form to change the colour.  You do not have to sign this.  Do not feel pressured.  But if you do, you have to follow through with it.

If the cat is in the championship or premiership class and has already received awards or titles in the wrong colour class OR has been incorrectly registered using a colour name from another association that isn't used in the CCA (e.g. Torbie), then the owner can transfer the cat to the correct colour class without losing the previous wins or titles.

It is the OWNER'S responsibility to follow through with the CCA office to complete the colour change.

Each cat is allowed ONE colour transfer without penalty.  

HOWEVER, after that.... hang on...if another colour change is made on the same cat, then the cat is required to compete as a OPEN again in the new colour and re-earn any titles!!  So make sure about that colour early on.

By the way, no wins or titles can be claimed until the colour change has been made officially to the show's Master Clerk and following the show with the CCA office.  And National Point scorers will cease to report the national score of cats with colour changes until they have been given the new registration # for the cat.

So the things to do if your cat's colour has changed:

1. Contact office@cca-afc.com with the change and send the appropriate fee (depending on your membership status).

2. Let the national scorers know of your cat's new registration #.  Please provide your cat's name and registration #.

Catwalk goes INTERNATIONAL!!!!!

Great news in the world of ‘Catwalk: Tales From The Cat Show Circuit’.

The film has landed on iTunes which means people from outside of Canada can finally see it.

There is a pre-sale on right now and it goes "live" Oct. 9, 2019.

If the film sells 400 pre-orders, we’ll make it on the iTunes charts, which is shown on the front page of iTunes. It’s the movie equivalent of the New York Times Best Seller list.

In order to reach this goal we need help, as we only a month-long pre-sale window.

Please share the link with your friends, family and colleagues in the US, Europe and anywhere else outside of Canada.

Itunes pre-sale link: https://apple.co/2M7ecnV

Thank you for all of your support!

Markham Street Films

Annual Breed Seminar

You are all invited to attend the annual Breed Seminar held in conjunction with the Awards Weekend this year.

Did you want to learn about different Breeds? 

Do you have any thoughts about maybe one day joining the Judges program?

Do you just want to sit, have a snack with your friends and learn about kitties?

Then come on out to our Breed Seminar.

There is a small $10 fee for non-Judges to be paid to Kim Monkhouse upon your arrival.

All are welcome.

June 23,2018 Quinte Curling Club, 246 Bridge St. West Belleville, ON

Breed Seminar 1:30pm-4pm

$10/person to attend

Breeds being presented: Norwegian Forest Cat Burmese Russian Blue 

Quinte Cat Club Show - June 24th

In conjunction with the National Awards weekend, Quinte Cat Club is hosting a one day show.

There will be 4 all breed pedigreed rings, 2 bonus rings and 1 specialty ring. Pedigreed cats have a chance of 7 finals!

Household pets will be judged in the all breed rings as well as by each Specialty judge!  That's a possible 6 finals!

Don't miss out - enter today!  Flyer is available here.

Quinte is also lucky to have Julie Tames on their side!  She will be offering freshly baked goods to take home or devour at the show.  Her apple pies are what dreams of made of and her banana bread is a wonderful way to start any day.  Order now using this form.

 

Catwalk: Tales From the Cat Show Circuit Feature DVD ***Limited Time Only!

You asked for it – now here’s your VERY LIMITED TIME chance to get it. The DVD of Catwalk is available for purchase until June 21st for the price of $25 (plus HST).

Please Note: DVD's are only available for pick up (in person) for those attending the CCA Banquet in Belleville, Ontario on June 23rd. There is NO SHIPPING available.

Place your order at…. Catwalk DVDs

Catwalk: Tales From the Cat Show Circuit follows a competitive season in the lives of two top cat fanciers, Shirley and Kim, and their prize-winning felines: OhLaLa - the regal Red Persian, and Bobby, the rambunctious white Turkish Angora.

For the first time ever, the theatrical, feature length version (75 minutes) is available on DVD.

Featuring: Bob and Elaine Gleason, Sabrina Rehman, Sharon Soules, Kim Langille, Shirley McCollow and other CCA members. Join them in this raucous journey to the heart of one of the animal world’s most colourful (and fun) sub-cultures – competitive cat showing.

2018 Catfest

Come Visit The Museum of Natural History in Halifax for

EVERYTHING CAT!!! UNDER ONE ROOF!!!

This is the 4th annual CatFest at the museum. Anyone who has attended will tell you it’s a great time with vendors, veterinarians, food companies, rescues and an 8 ring CCA show as well!!

The First CatFest in 2015 was a mock cat show judging.

2016 saw a 1 day 3 ring show and in 2017 we grew to 2 days with 8 rings

In 2018 Fundy Fanciers in conjunction with Markham Streets Films are proudly bringing CatWalk: Tales from the Cat Show Circuit to CatFest! The full length theatre release will air in the museum’s theatre. Tickets are available at www.tickettailor.com/events/fundyfanciers

 

EVERYTHING NATIONAL AWARDS!!!!

The CCA National Awards Weekend Extravaganza will be held June 23 & 24 in Belleville, Ontario.

Please click the link for Banquet Invitation and Banquet Menu

2018 National Awards Banquet Invitation

2018 National Awards Banquet Menu

Sunday will be a one day show from Quinte Cat Club (click for flyer) and you can pre-order delicious baked goods as well!!!  Please send this completed form to Julie Tames, chef extraordinaire!!!

Duplicate or additional awards will be available at your local Regional Awards.

Please note the following deadlines for photo submissions

Please consider this when submitting photos:

  • Photos for regional awards will be edited to a round head shot where possible.
  • Photos for Optional Wall Plaques or Cage Plates will be edited to a square.
  • Photos will be sized up to 4 inches square. Please ensure that your submission will be suitable for this size. Most smart phones can take photos that will print well at this size.
  • All photos must be submitted in JPEG format and not have watermarks across the photo

Photos will be used for your award as well as the CCA website that will begin to highlight National AND Regional winners this year!  If you wish to order duplicate or alternate awards, please use this form.  And there are a lot of honorary awards available as well - is your cat eligible?  Check here.  Photos of the trophies and plaques you can order are here.

Each region has chosen to hold their regional awards in conjunction with a cat show so please note the following

  • Region 1: CNE, August 25 & 26 weekend
  • Region 2: Brossard, September 8 & 9 weekend
  • Region 3: CatFest, July 8 at 8:30am – Museum of Natural History Auditorium, Halifax, NS