Vicki Nye, CFA Judging Program Co-chair

Judging Program News from the February 3rd, 2024 Board Meeting

Congratulations to the following individuals on their acceptance into the CFA Judging Program, and the following judges on their advancements.

Applicants: The following individuals were presented to the board

Accepted as Trainee – 1st Specialty:

Kadri Koppel (Murfreesboro, TN – Region 7 Longhair 1st Specialty         

Issariya Rattanaweerawong (Nonthaburi Thailand - ID) Shorthair 1st Specialty

Accepted as Approval Pending Allbreed from Another Association:

Elena Podprugina (Kramatorsk Ukraine – Region 9)

Advancements – Regular Judging Program

Advanced from Trainee to Apprentice:

Yi Chang (Beijing China – ID-China) Longhair 1st Specialty

Advanced from Apprentice to Approval Pending:

Lyn Knight (Mt. Airy, Maryland – Region 7)    Shorthair 2nd Specialty

Pattama Weeranon (Pathumthani, Thailand – ID)  Longhair 1st Specialty 

Effective May 1, 2024: Change to Show Rule 3.13 that lists requirements for number of rings CFA Judges ( does not include Associate Judges) are required to officiate per number of rings at a show. Any combination of Guest Judges and/or Associate judges may officiate the rings that are not required to be officiated by CFA Judges.

Change to Judging Program Rules 8.1, trainees are now permitted at shows with 4, 5, or 6 rings.

Carol Krzanowski, chair CFA clubs

The following clubs were accepted at the February 3, 2024 CFA Board meeting:

1. Asia Glory Cat Fanciers, International Division - China; Shanghai, China

2. China AWL Cat Fanciers Club, International Division - China; Shanghai, China

3. China Yantze River Cat Fanciers Club, International Division - China; Shanghai, China

4. Dolce Vita Cat Club, Europe Region; Obninsk, Russia

CFA Legislative

Kelly Crouch CFA Legislative Information Liaison

Restricting Retail Pet Stores Animal Sales: HI, NH, VT, and IN

Retail pet store legislation prohibiting pet stores from selling cats, dogs, and other animals continues to be proposed, often as all-out bans - but not without some legislators trying a different approach. Hawaii, New Hampshire, and Vermont are considering a slow-death approach to retail pet store animal sales. At the same time, Indiana legislators seek to prevent local governments from passing bans reserving that power for the state. 

In Hawaii's SB 2120, stores not operating before January 1, 2025, would be prohibited from selling cats, dogs, guinea pigs, domesticated pigs, or caged birds. Existing stores selling these animals must retain the same ownership and location and meet new documentation requirements. New Hampshire's Environment and Agriculture Committee deemed a similar approach in HB 1680-FN, "inexpedient to legislate". It would have prohibited pet store sales of dogs and cats unless the store were a licensed pet vendor before July 1, 2024. But no pet store could have transferred more dogs and cats in any calendar year than the store did in 2023. Vermont's HB 567 contains requirements for cats, dogs, and wolf-hybrids sold by pet stores similar to the New Hampshire bill.

However, not all state legislators appreciate the patchwork quilt of local government pet store restrictions or agree with curtailing responsible pet shop sales of legal pets. Instead, these legislators would preempt local governments from adopting ordinances restricting retail pet store animal sales. Indiana's HB 1412 , now in the Senate, includes a preemptive provision with other amendments expanding the Board of Animal Health's responsibilities regarding pet stores, commercial dog breeders, and hobby dog breeders. While the bill would prevent local governments from prohibiting retail pet store sales of dogs acquired from authorized breeders, they can adopt inspections, licenses, or other applicable ordinances. Cats are not included in the bill. 

Preemption legislation may benefit some fanciers as local governments sometimes use retail pet store bans to restrict hobby breeding. Also, redefining rescue to exclude rescues with active breeder involvement, while not added to these bills, continues to be a problem for fanciers.

CFA Breeders' Assistance Program

Ginger Meeker

A Small Investment That Could Save You Thousands

Owners of animals are usually looking for good deals and investments that can save money. Its human nature. There is one very simple resource, to us as pet owners, buyers, and sellers, that can do just that. Perhaps an item available to us has been overlooked for its intrinsic short- and long-term value. A relatively inexpensive tool, commonly known about, but may have not been fully appreciated. Health Certificate!

FOUND: an inexpensive item that can save you thousands if you sell, transfer, buy or rehome animals

• APHIS Form 7001, the common UNITED STATES INTERSTATE AND INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF HEALTH EXAMINATION FOR SMALL ANIMALS (Commonly known as a health cert) The US Interstate and International Certificate of Health Examination for Small Animals (APHIS Form 7001) is an official document issued and signed by a licensed, accredited veterinarian providing verification that an animal, or group of animals, was inspected and found apparently healthy and showing no signs of contagious or communicable disease on the date of inspection.

Read the entire article here

EveryCat Health Foundation

submitted by Virginia Rud

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

Tax Tips with George Eigenhauser

Income tax filing season unofficially began on January 29, 2024, but do you even need to file a federal income tax return? Most U.S. citizens and permanent residents need to file a tax return if they earn more than a certain amount in a year. Other people may choose to file, even if not required to do so. IRS Fact Sheet 2024-02 serves as a guide to understanding if you must file, or if not, whether you should choose to file. Depending on your filing status (such as single, married, or head of household) and age, you need to check if your gross income exceeds a certain threshold. If you are self-employed and have earnings of $400 or more, you must file a tax return and pay estimated taxes quarterly. Even people claimed as dependents on another tax return may need to file their own tax return. 

 If you earned less than the mandatory filing threshold, you might want to file taxes if: federal income tax was withheld from your pay, you made estimated tax payments, or you qualify for tax credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit.

 For more details please see IRS Fact Sheet 2024-02, which is available here. If you need more help the Interactive Tax Assistant is an online tool that helps answer common tax questions based on your specific situation. It can help you determine if you need to file a tax return, assist with filing status, eligibility for credits, and more. Your information remains anonymous and is only used to answer your questions. If you have questions about your income taxes, please discuss them with your tax advisor or your attorney.

2024 Feline Health Symposium

"Health Breakthroughs for EveryCat: Being PURRfectly Clear on Feline Pain"

EveryCat Health Foundation & the North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine Feline Health Center are excited to partner together on a 1.5-day symposium, April 13th, and 14th, 2024 at North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina.

This year’s theme, feline pain, is particularly meaningful to veterinary professionals as well as cat parents, and we’re holding this event at the institution where many of the top researchers on this topic call home.

The symposium will feature two separate tracks, one for veterinary professionals looking for continuing education credits, and one for non-veterinary cat people.

The symposium will also offer a live stream option for those unable to attend in-person. Both tracks will be recorded and made available to all attendees at the conclusion of the symposium.

For more information and to register, visit https://felinepainsymposium.squarespace.com/

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* 
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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

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Click logo for information

submitted by Teresa Land

The infamous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, had predicted that we will have an early spring. Although we had a sneak preview of some mild weather, more snow blanketed many of areas in the region this week.  

Hold the dates! Plans are being finalized for the region’s annual show and banquet.  The banquet will be held on Friday evening, June 14, 2024 at The Inn at Villanova University in Radnor, PA, which is an historic manor house formerly known as Montrose Mansion.  The regional show will be held on Saturday, June 15 at the LuLu Shiners hall in Plymouth Meeting, PA. More information will be provided once arrangements have been finalized for both the banquet and show.  

submitted by Vicki Jensen

Valley Cat Fancier’s held a lovely show in Longview, Washington last weekend. 

They had a nice kitty dress up contest that was won by a convict, a king and a flamingo. (shown left) Congratulations to the winners!

(below) This show also had the attendance of a whole row of “multigenerational exhibitors” - mothers, daughters and a couple granddaughters all showing their cats together. Catteries represented are Devonology, Sereshka & Panei.

Among the ladies showed are Pat Landers and her daughter, Leann Krainick celebrating earning a Grand Premiership of Distinction on their sweet Birman cat.  Congratulations ladies and Ozzie!

Traci Whittenberg, Regional Secretary

First, Region 3 landed in H-town for the 71st Houston Cat Club Charity Cat Show.

225 of CFA’s finest kitties gathered at the Houston Hilton North for a weekend of fun and fantastic vendors! There was great attendance by spectators and they loved the Costume Contest. The crowd around the ring was huge for this exciting event.

After Houston, Region 3 was Off to See the Wizard for the Wichita Cat Fanciers show in Kansas. The show had a fantastic gate and a fantastic venue, a great time was had by all who attended. Both Houston and Wichita want to thank all of those who supported the clubs and the Region

John Colilla, Regional Director

Cleveland Persian Society – January 6-7, 2024 

submitted by Nancy Mikita

Finally, a New Home !!

Cleveland Persian Society found a new home in the John S Knight Convention Center in Akron, Ohio. This year was our 106th year of putting on shows. Because of scheduling, we needed to take a smaller space and hold the show on the first weekend in January instead of our traditional date. We filled early with 175 entries, there was free parking and spectators were happy to join us making this a successful show.  

We are excited to go back to our traditional date which is the third weekend in January or January 18 & 19, 2025. We will have a larger hall, and hopefully fill it again with 225 entries.

Midwest Pesian Tabby – January 27-28, 2024 

submitted by Sabrina Grisier

The Midwest Persian Tabby Fancier’s held a 7AB, 1SP ring show on January 27-28, 2024 in Bowling Green, OH. The rings were decorated in a Winter Wonderland theme. 124 cats were entered. Exhibitors were very welcoming to two local TV station crews, as well as a reporter from the Toledo Blade newspaper, and many spectators. 

Each cat entered, was given a snowflake to hang on their cage. Spectators were given silver dot stickers to place on the snowflake of their favorite cats at the show. Visitor's Choice rosettes were awarded to the two cats with the most stickers. Janet Moyer’s Seal Lynx Point Himalayan received 1st place, and Gary Martin’s Exotic was second. Spectators really enjoyed the interaction with the exhibitors. 

The club awarded two other special rosettes. The Highest Scoring Kitten rosette went to Elaine Magee’s 4 month old Bengal; and the Highest Scoring Tabby in Championship rosette went to Patti DeBiasse’s Brown Mac Tabby. 

The BIGGBY coffee and bakery fresh donuts, and the pre-ordered box lunches, were once again a big hit with all. 

Mike Shelton, Regional Director

The San Diego Cat Fanciers held their annual Food and Water Bowl show in Del Mar at the end of January. This is an Event show that everyone should experience at least once. In addition to the usual fierce competition, the club goes all out in their efforts to engage their visitors. The judges were given high quality microphones and speakers, which allowed spectators to hear what the judges were saying without interfering with other rings. This led to large crowds around the rings, as can be seen here (below) with Kathy Black. They got young spectators involved with the ever-popular Stuffed Animal contest, judged by club member Karen Wilkins, which attracted dozens of entries each day. The Education presentations held throughout the show garnered similar crowds.

Candilee Jackson - Regional Secretary

Saintly City Cat Club welcomed a lively group of exhibitors to their 47th Cat Show on January 27-28, 2024, in conjunction with the St Paul Winter Carnival. The show was held at the Roy Wilkins Exhibition Hall, St Paul, Minnesota. Supervised by show manager Linda Mae Baker, the show experienced a fun and healthy-sized gate due to the carnival.

Hawkeye State Cat Club and Wild Rose Club joined together on February 10-11, 2024, to present “In the Mew’d For Love?” show at the Paul R Knapp Animal Learning Center at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in DesMoines, Iowa. The show featured cat agility which is always a crowd favorite. Also, for their spectators’ pleasure, a cat costume contest was held both days. 

Kenny Currle - Regional Director

Star City and Central Carolina Cat Fanciers - January 27-28

Star City and Central Carolina Cat Fanciers held their annual show January 27-28 in Roanoke, VA. Due to a circumstances with their traditional hotel, the clubs held the show at a different hotel across town. However, renovations there had not been completed as planned, making navigating around the venue a little "interesting" at times.  Show manager Charlotte Shelburne quickly smoothed over any issues, and everyone remained in good spirits and enjoyed the show and hospitality. The clubs were also pleased with the record number of vendors, all with unique items. Plans are already underway for next year's show, back at it's regular location.

Pawprints in the Sand and Chamberlin on the Bay Cat Clubs - February 10, 2024

submitted by Mark Hannon

Pawprints in the Sand and Chamberlin on the Bay Cat Clubs held their annual show on February 10, 2024 in Newport News, Virginia. Show managers Beth & Pete Deal and the rest of the club members produced a fun, well-managed show that attracted a large gate who got to experience CFA and learn about many of our breeds

Spectators were excited about the cat costume contest and were enthralled by Kathy Pritchard and one of her Fashionista Cats. Congratulations to the clubs.

Our region's New Year's show was held in Asakusa on January 20th with 150 exhibitors.

There is a famous temple in Asakusa and is crowded with people visiting New Year's shrines.

We all prayed for the recovery of those affected by the earthquake disaster.

Hong Kong

Suki Wong - ID coordinator- Hong Kong

On January 27-28, 2024 we had a fabulous Pet Expo 2024 in Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Centre , the gate of the event was about 300,000. 

Congratulations to the hard working members of Hong Kong Black Cat Club & Universal Feline Fancies Club for putting on a 6x6 ring show. Thank you Phebe Low, Leona Wong, Rain Fung, Alex Chan and the entire show committee for all the hours of work that went into putting on a terrific CFA show. Hong Kong Black Cat Club, Judges were Wendy Heidt (AB),Suki Lee (SSP), Edward Maeda (AB), Nancy Dodds(AB),Diana Rothermel (AB), Sarah Ng(SP-SH), & Patrick Au (SP-LH). Universal Feline Fancies Club. Judges were John Colilla (AB), Allan Raymond(AB), Etusko Hamayasu (AB), Satu Hamalainen (AB), Bethany Colilla (AB) & Kit Fung (SSP). 

Thank you to the Exhibition Group and also to all the sponsors, your support served as the back-bone for this big event, and for that, thank you very to the following sponsors: 

Astkatta 

Kakato 

Nulo

Nutrience SUBZERO

OPEN FARM

RAWZ

Thank you to Amyworks photography for providing your professional service to the cat owners and the whole event.

Great entry, incredible competition, and enthusiastic participation.

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