CFANewsletter
February 15 | 2021
CFA News
President's Message
The CFA Board of Directors met via Zoom on February 6-7, 2021. The board was updated on the happenings at Central Office. Most employees are working from home, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Judging Program chairs gave their reports. The finalized version of the Accelerated Application process was approved by the CFA Board. Additionally, the board ratified the motion to change the name of the China Associate program. The board approved the new program to be implemented for Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. This will require the applicants to complete an application for review by the chairs of the Judging Program. The process of an associate judge becoming a licensed CFA judge was included in this program and was made retroactive to include the China Associate Judges. All APP and AP CFA judges were relicensed for the next show season. I would like to welcome Nadejda Rumyantseva (Russia) to the CFA Judging panel. The Board ratified her application to the CFA judging panel, as a transfer judge from WCF. Welcome to the CFA family Nadejda! Plans are being made for a BAOS on April 9-10, 2021 taking place on the European time zone (Belgium to be specific).

Our treasurer, Kathy Calhoun, gave a very good report on the financial position of CFA!! Kathy also chairs the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and presented a statement. The board ratified it and it will appear on the CFA website soon.

The International Show Committee is working on plans for a 2022 International show. More on that as plans are reviewed.

The IT committee announced the Genetics Program testing has been completed for all breeds. Great work team!

The Youth Feline Education Program is in contact with Cornell University and plans to establish a youth cat club.

Many other reports will be printed in the minutes, once they are completed by our secretary.

The CFA Club Applications committee reported the resignations of 6 clubs. One club name change was approved. We accepted 5 clubs in China and Taiwan. Additionally, one club was accepted form Italy.

The show rules affecting Grands of Distinction were finalized and adopted by the Board.

The Legal Advisory Committee has been very busy. The CFA Articles of Incorporation have never been updated. There will be a presentation at the April meeting on the final version that will be presented to the delegates to approve. Great work from the LAC! In addition to the articles of incorporation being outdated, our CFA constitution is not in compliance with New York not-for-profit law (NY_NPC). In order for CFA to be in compliance, the LAC is also in the final stages of the presentation for that update. NY-NPC uses the term bylaws and not constitution. I hope everyone will take the time to read this proposal once it is finalized. We don’t really have a choice. If we want to comply with NY-NPC law, then we will have to seriously consider the proposed changes.

Animal Welfare/Breeder Assist/Breed Rescue are in serious need of donations. Not everyone is in financial shape due to the effects of COVID-19, but if you can spare a few dollars, they would be very grateful.

The board approved my request to approve Carol Johnson, DVM to chair the Genetics Advisory Committee, a standing CFA committee. Thank you to Carol for taking on this added responsibility.

The Breeds and Standards committee, chaired by Jacqui Bennett and Teresa Keiger, gave a detailed report. The breed council secretaries for 2021-2023 were announced. The European Burmese secretary vote was tied and tied again on re-balloting. By lot, Allene Keating was declared the winner. Many ballot items were reviewed and several important issues were voted on. The Scottish Fold breed council voted to accept the straight-ear Scottish Folds championship competition in its own color class and the board ratified that ballot item. The Lykoi was advanced to Provisional status.

The board members guidebook is no longer considered “proprietary.” The update is still a work in progress, but should be finished soon.

Finally, the Annual meeting for 2021 will be held virtually. The board made the decision in closed session on Sunday. However, those meeting minutes will be made public so that the member clubs and interested parties have access to the discussion relative to the difficult decision to not meet in person.

Please stay safe and healthy. I know many of you are receiving your COVID-19 vaccines. I am looking forward to when I will be eligible to receive mine. Wear your mask (double masking now recommended), stay socially distanced, and wash your hands!!

Darrell Newkirk
CFA President
Join us on FB at: CFA – The Next Generation
Central Office Report
Allene Tartaglia
CFA Executive Director

The 2021 CFA Annual is Going Virtual
The CFA Executive Board voted unanimously at their February 6-7, 2021 board meeting to conduct the 2021 Annual Meeting completely virtually via Zoom. A Virtual Annual Committee has been formed to address the myriad of issues to be considered such as delegate check-in and voting on amendments and resolutions. The balloting for Directors-At-Large will be handled similar to last year with voting occurring either online or by mailing, emailing or faxing a completed ballot to CO. The counting of the ballots will be done at the Central Office by an outside accounting firm and all matters regarding balloting and counting votes will be supervised by the Credentials Chair, Nancy Dodds. As more info is available, it will be posted through the CFA Newsletter, the CFA website and/or club mailings.
 
2021 Yearbooks Being Shipped
If you are an advertiser in the 2021 Yearbook or pre-ordered a copy, the books are in the mail and you should be receiving your copy soon. Missed out on ordering a copy? Use this link to order the 2021 Yearbook.
CFA Judging Program
Ellyn Honey,
Applicants and Trainees
The CFA Judging Program is proud to announce the acceptance of Nadejda Rumyantseva as a CFA Approval Pending All Breed judge.

We wish her great success in the program and know she will be a great asset to CFA.

Vicky Nye
CFA Approved and Guest Judges

All active CFA Judges were relicensed at the February 6, 2021 Board meeting.
CFA Show Rules
SHOW RULE CHANGES FROM FEBRUARY 2021 BOARD MEETING
Monte Phillips, CFA Show Rules Chair
At its February 6-7, 2021 board meeting, the CFA Board approved two changes to show rules, both immediately effective.  Both of these changes involve the requirements to obtain a grand of distinction title. In addition, the Board approved three changes to breed color classes that will also affect that section of the show rules.

Specifically, both show rules 28.08 (championship or premiership grands of distinction) and 29.04 (household pet grands of distinction) were revised to address how COVID-19 has significantly impacted shows in CFA. Both rules were revised to halve the requirement on number of rings required for a qualifying season from 30 to 15 everywhere but Hawaii. For Hawaii, rule 28.08 was revised to lower the number of qualifying rings from ten to five. Also, the maximum number of specialty rings that could be used was dropped. These revisions only apply to the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 show seasons at this time. For all other show seasons, the cat is still required to have 30 finals, with a maximum of 10 specialty finals to count that show season. Of course, the specialty ring part doesn't apply at all to household pets, as there are no household pet specialty ring requirements. Conversely, household pets have a point minimum requirement for a qualifying season. That minimum was lowered to 100 points for the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 show seasons only. The Hawaii requirement for grand household pet of distinction were not revised.

The Board also extended the exception to show rule 3.13 to allow as many as 50% guest judges (judges from other cat associations) to be used at shows outside of Regions 1-7.

Breed changes coming from the February meeting affecting show rules for the 2020-2021 season involve the Abyssinian, Exotic Shorthair, Scottish Fold, and Lykoi breeds.

Abyssinians changed the red color class name to now be referred to as Cinnamon. The class number was unchanged, so the Abyssinian color class 0382/0383 is now the Cinnamon color class.

For the Exotic Shorthairs, the Division Title was changed from Himalayan division to Pointed Division. This makes sense, since all of the associated color classes are pointed color classes.

The Scottish Folds added a color class for both the longhair and shorthair divisions to allow straight-eared folds to be shown for championship awards, titles, etc. As such, the Scottish Fold AOV classes were both eliminated.

Finally, the Lykois were advanced from Miscellaneous to Provisional.

As you know, the deadline to submit new proposals for the 2021 annual meeting is April 15th (US tax day). If anyone would like assistance in working on a show rules proposal please feel free to contact me at jouvencebleu1@gmail.com.

New CFA Clubs
Carol Krzanowski - CFA Club Membership Chair

The following clubs were accepted at the October 3, 2020 CFA Board meeting:

1. China Caesar Cat Club, International Division - China; Shanghai, China
2. China Free Heart Cat Club, International Division - China; Nan’an, Chongqing, China
3. China Star Shiny Exotic Fanciers Alliance, International Division - China; Chengdu, Sichuan, China
4. Kingpower Cat Lover Club, International Division - China; Chengdu, Sichuan, China
5. Soochow Riverside Cat Fanciers’ Club, International Division - Taiwan, Republic of China
6. Universal Cats Club, Region 9; Caserta, Italy
CFA White Pages Goes Completely Digital
The CFA White Pages are part of the Cat Talk/Online Almanac subscription package. The 2021 edition of the CFA White Pages will be available as digital only, and is moving over to eCats. It will be a secure download as it's available only to those with a paid subscription. The digital version of the White Pages is updated throughout the year.
2020-2021 Show Season - RW Point Minimums Reminder
A reminder that as the 2020-2021 CFA show season began exceptionally late, and with some areas of the country still unable to host shows due to state and local COVID-19 prevention guidelines, the CFA board of directions voted to have NO national awards this season. There will be regional awards, with point minimums in each competitive class. A list of those point minimums is available here.

Also due to the inability for all regions to produce shows, the board had laid aside the requirement that a cat must show in its own region (as their own region may not be producing shows).
Cat Marketing
The CFA Marketing Team
Desiree Bobby, Director of Marketing

COMPANION CAT WORLD: BUILDING THE BRIDGE BETWEEN BREEDERS & THE RESCUE WORLD

This month, we’ve partnered up rapper-turned-trapper Sterling “TrapKing” Davis, 10 well-known internet purrsonalities and 10 lively cat brands to produce ​TrapKing’s ​From Feral to Fancy​ ​Cat Photo Contest Hosted by CCW​. Accepting all fun class entries now through February 20, cats of all kinds have a chance to participate in a CFA event to compete for over 100 prizes. Top winners in each of the 10 fun class categories will enjoy a photo appearance in New York City’s Times Square.
Davis is an African-American cat rescuer dedicated to Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), widely considered the only humane way to stop cat overpopulation. It’s endorsed by the Humane Society of the United States, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the American Humane Association, and many other progressive animal welfare organizations.

CFA is partnering with Davis because of his exemplary work in bringing diversity to the animal world. Sterling brings a message of acceptance and compassion and aims to bridge the rescue/pedigree divide and the racial divide between the cat world and the black community. Davis is known for his motto, “You don’t lose cool points for compassion.”

Learn more and join the fun at: ​ ​https://vcc.cfa.org/trapking2021/​.
MONTHLY FREE WORKSHOP WEBINARS CONTINUE
TO BE OFFERED

As you have seen in 2020 and now spilling over into 2021, CFA has been offering free workshop webinars. These webinars are presented by The National Kitten Coalition (NKC) and are open to the public.

NKC has tailored the CFA webinars specific to the needs of breeders of all levels and frontline feline rescue heroes. The workshops present information gathered from the best practices of various veterinary schools, research programs, practicing veterinarians, responsible breeders, shelter programs and tried-and-true foster parents. The curriculum is thoroughly researched and taught in a way that is accessible, clear, and practical for attendees.

This month, Speaker Susan Spaulding, Director of Neonatal Programs for NKC, will present a workshop webinar on “Pregnancy and Birth.” She will discuss how to help your queen stay healthy and happy during pregnancy and how to care for both her and her kittens after birth. This topic has been presented before but in this webinar, she will dive deeper and discuss birthing emergencies, such as lack of milk and fragile kittens.
This workshop webinar takes place on Thursday, February 25, 2021 from 6:00 PM (EST) to 7:30 PM (EST.) Advance registration is required and all registrants will also receive a link to a recording of the webinar so they can review it later if needed.

Cat Talk
Teresa Keiger - Editor
The February issue of Cat Talk should be arriving in mailboxes (and Kindle and Magzter) any day now. It's our annual "Breeding" issue and we look at factors impacting breeding and feline reproduction. Can advances in technology help with breeding plans? And what should new breeders know when beginning to breed?

Our featured breed this issue is the Somali and our readers shared memories of their special cats (see below).

Cat Talk begins a new series this issue. Titled "Up Close and Purr-sonal" we take a look fanciers and what they do/have done OUTSIDE of the show hall. We think that you'll like it. Do you have suggestions for fanciers to profile in upcoming issues? Let me know!
My Special Cat
All of us have had "that" special cat - a heart cat that we had a deep connection with. It may have been a cat that you exhibited and formed a lasting bond with. Or convinced you that he/she should stay - and you are thankful it did. Or maybe a non-pedigeed cat who knew that you needed him/her and consoled you like no other cat ever did.
Laurie Coughlan is taking her series to the next level with "My Special Cat" and she would love to include your story. Think of this as a love letter to that special cat in your life. Please send her your story and a photo if you wish.
ADVERTISE IN
Did you know you can advertise your cattery and its accomplishments in Cat Talk?

Did you know readers from all over the world can subscribe to Cat Talk online via Magzter and the Kindle Newsstand ?

Did you know vendors and small cat-related businesses can take advantage of special advertising pricing?

Check out our pricing, or contact Teresa Keiger for more details.
CFA Program News
Legislation – What’s Hot . . . . . . .
 Kelly S. Crouch, CFA Legislative Information Liaison
Sharon Coleman, CFA Legislative Legal Analyst

2021’s Early Bill Issues Range from Breeders to Microchips in These States: CT, HI, NH, NY, OK, and TX

State lawmakers are already getting busy introducing legislation to be considered this session. Several states have already proposed bills that are pet related and some that affect fanciers. The proposed legislation includes breeder and dealer licensing, mandatory microchipping, and pet store restrictions. Connecticut, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New York, and Texas have introduced bills that would affect pet breeders and dealers. Hawaii is promoting mandatory microchipping, while Oklahoma is looking at pet store restrictions.

Click here to read more
Please report legislation happening 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
A list of our honored donors for the month of January is available here

Winn Feline Foundation is now
EveryCat Health Foundation!
submitted by Virginia Rud
We’re excited to announce we’re taking Winn Feline Foundation to the next level!

Originally named after the Cat Fanciers’ Association's counselor, Robert H. Winn, to fund studies on diseases of pedigreed cats, we’ve long since broadened our mandate to include the health and well-being of pet cats, homeless cats, shelter cats…in other words, every cat! After 53 years, it makes sense that we affirm this commitment.

As of February 2nd, 2021, our name is EveryCat Health Foundation!

Our new name enables us to reach a much broader audience and fund greater levels of the groundbreaking research we're known for, improving the lives of all 80 million cats in the United States, and hundreds of millions of cats the world over.

We’ve also updated our website, now www.everycat.org. It’s clean, contemporary, informative, and simple to navigate so that you can easily find the information you’re looking for.

EveryCat Health Foundation, formerly known as Winn Feline Foundation, has funded over 7.6 million in cutting edge feline health research, and our commitment is stronger than ever. Please join the evolution of our foundation as we further our mission to improve the lives of all cats.
Every cat, every day.
Along with the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), EveryCat Health Foundation announces two scholarships for 3rd and 4th-year veterinary students with an interest in pursuing feline specific medicine or research. Each scholarship award is $2500 USD. Applications are due March 19, 2021, and the winners will be announced in April. Complete information and applications can be found here .
EveryCat Health Foundation, in a special funding opportunity co-sponsored by Nestle Purina Pet Care and Mars Petcare, has issued a second request for proposals (RFP) that address the effect that dietary phosphorus, and dietary calcium to phosphorous ratio have on the renal health of cats.

"Kidney disease is the number one cause of death in older cats, but its cause is unknown. Winn Feline Foundation has teamed up with two giants of the pet food industry, Nestlé Purina Petcare and Mars Petcare, to fund health studies investigating these critical areas that improve the quality and longevity of every cat’s life.” states Drew Weigner, DVM, EveryCat Health Foundation’s President.

Complete information about this funding opportunity can be found here
Planned Giving Tips from George Eigenhauser - DON’T PANIC. 
Some people have been asking how the name change from Winn Feline Foundation to EveryCAT Health Foundation affects their estate planning. In general it doesn’t. EveryCAT is the same organization, with the same tax ID number, and the same IRC 501(c)(3) nonprofit tax determination we have always been. In addition, the name Winn Feline Foundation has not been discontinued. It is being registered as a “dba” (doing business as) so that we may continue doing business under both names. You don’t need to do anything today, a donation under either name will be graciously accepted. It is preferable to use EveryCAT Health Foundation as our name in the future when you update your estate planning documents or make future donations. But whether you call us the Winn Feline Foundation or EveryCAT Health Foundation your donation will still go toward the same high-quality feline health research it always has.
Corporate Affliates
Our friends at Motel 6 would like CFA to continue to receive the 10% discount at participating locations by using the new updated reservation code of CPOAPHHT. There is a dedicated reservation site for CFA at www.motel6.com/en/cp/cfa.html or you may call 800-466-8356.
Discount Code # CPOAPHHT
Code: 1000026977
or call 877-999-3223 and ask for the discount code CFA CAT FANCIERS ASSOCIATION
Discount Code # 526223
Discount Code # #U285933
Link to Avis
Discount Code # Z926291
Regional News
Region 1
Sharon Roy - Regional Director
Due to many state regulations, Region 1 is still unable to host shows in the near future.
Sign of the Cat has cancelled their traditional end of the year show, April 24&25 2021. They hope all will be well to return next year.

Garden State Cat Club is hosting a virtual competition in March called Fur-ward March! It will be the first 3 weekends of March and will feature conformation and fun judging. Please support this virtual competition!
Region 2
Terri Zittel - Regional Secretary 
No report received
Region 3
Paula Noble - Regional Secretary

As you all know by now the Annual in Houston has been cancelled and the Annual meeting will be virtual only this year. While I know more information for this is yet to come, let me say how sad Region 3 is that we will not be hosting it this year. On behalf of the Regional Officers, let me extend a VERY BIG THANK YOU to all of the people in the region who have worked on this for over a year. Many of you have shopped for the merchandise we’ve had available as a fund-raising project for this Annual and all of what we have left will still be available until it’s gone. With our updated web site we have an easier way for you to shop. Just go to cfagulfshore.org and scroll down until you begin to see the merchandise available. You can shop via credit card or PayPal. The site keeps track of our inventory so it won’t let you buy something if it’s out of stock.
Stars & Stripes Show
Stars & Stripes/Wildcatters Cat Clubs just held the region’s second show of the season in a new facility in Huntsville, Texas. It was good to see old and new friends in the fancy.

Thanks to Cotton States and Houston Cat Clubs for showing us what worked best to help make this a safe environment for showing our cats

Everyone stay safe and healthy!!
Region 4
John Colilla - Regional Director


No report received
Region 5
Howard Webster - Regional Director
Everyone please stay healthy and stay safe!
Remember Valentine's Day and hope that day comes soon we will all be together again.
Region 6
Candilee Jackson - Regional Secretary
No report this month
Region 7
Kenny Currle - Regional Director
Star City CF and Central Carolina CF had a successful show in Roanoke, VA the weekend of January 23-24. Over 200 cats entered and very few absentees. The exhibitors took great care to keep socially distanced and we heard no reports of illness after the show. AND there were lots of smiling faces behind those masks!

In other show news, the Cat Club of the Palm Beaches show in Sanford, FL filled early! We're looking forward to hearing news from them next month.

Beth Feininger holding her new Grand of Distinction, GC, BWR, NW Jaspurrcats Gimme Three Steps with judge Tracy Petty. "Stepper" was the region's best cat in 2019-2020.
Region 8
Yukiko Hayata - Regional Director
We had three shows, Nihshinihon Cat Club show on December 6, Yokohama Bay Cat Fanciers show on December 13, and Japan shaded Fanciers show on December 27 last year.

We had regional show as a New Year show on January 16-17,2021 at Tokyo Sangyo Boeki Center. This show hall was new and location was very nice! It takes 7~8 minutes by walk from the JR station to the show hall.

As usual, we prepared face sealed, mask, thermometer and rubbing alcohol spray at the gate.
We were able to have lunch at the show hall as we had enough space for each exhibitor. Entry was 109 and this was pretty good under the Covid-19 abnormal situation. Just before the show, Japanese government announced “Emergency Alert”.
Exhibitor and show staff worried about if we could have show as planned or not. Fortunately we had show smoothly and had no infected person.  I appreciate all exhibitors, judges, clerks, stewards, and show staffs of their great support for regional show.
Region 9
Pam DelaBar - Regional Director
Region 9 Europe is thrilled to welcome Nadejda Rumyantseva as an approval pending allbreed judge. Nadejda is no stranger to the exhibitors in Region 9, either as a judge or an exhibitor.

COVID19 restrictions are keeping our clubs from conducting shows these last 2.5 months of the show season. But, that does not mean that we are not planning activities to keep the Region engaged . A Breed Awareness and Orientation School is planned for 9-11 April, Brussels time zone, with Vicki Nye, Anne Mathis, Barbara Jaeger, Peter Vanwonterghem, and Pam DelaBar.
We are continuing our regional Zoom monthly meetings as it is a great way to share ideas and communication.
International Division
No reports this month



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