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Klahz Korats & Tonkinese
John Ypma
Dryden, Ontario
klahz@drytel.net
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Tonkinese
The Tonkinese breed, (although originally bred in both the U.S. and Canada) was first accredited by CCA in southern Ontario and as such is generally considered a Canadian breed. The breed was first recognised in Canada in the late 1960's and later also by other registries throughout North America. Tonks are first and foremost "people cats". That is to say, they are very friendly and affectionate and love to be with their people. They are shoulder riders, often climbing or leaping up on people, so as to be in the thick of things. They seldom use their claws when performing this feat however, since they are generally very gentle cats by nature. In this respect they are excellent pet and show cats, since they do not get overly stressed out by new people or situations. This is not to say that the Tonk is a lackadaisical cat, however. Indeed, they are very playful and in a word, fun - fun to watch, fun to be around and fun to snuggle with. They can sometimes be quite mischievous, with little nips and bites, especially as kittens. (A word to the wise - keep your sock drawer locked!!)
Physically, Tonks come in a variety of types and colours. In ACFA and CFA there are four colours; platinum, champagne, natural and blue, and three coat patterns; pointed (most like Siamese), mink (the halfway point) and solid (most like Burmese). Tonkinese cats with a mink patterned coat are especially known for their aquamarine coloured eyes - this exotic colour is one that few other breeds share. Tonks are of moderate size, weighing approximately 7 lbs for females and 9 lbs for males, as adults. Although, some breeders still use the original foundation breeds, (Siamese and Burmese) in their breeding program, here at Klahz cattery we breed a minimum of fifth generation Tonkinese to Tonkinese only, in order to obtain a more consistent look and temperament.
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Bengal
The Bengal is a relatively young breed which has gained immensely in popularity. It originated with a cross mating between the Asian Leopard Cat and the domestic cat. The hybrid was initially developed in the United States by Jean Mill of Millwood. Jean's efforts resulted in a domestic Bengal house pet resembling the physical attributes and beauty of the Asian Leopard Cat. Others who believed in the breed joined in the efforts to further develop this wonderful cat giving us our domestic 'living room leopards' with the ever developing beauty of their wild ancestory.
The name “Bengal” is derived from the Latin name of the Asian Leopard Cat "Felis Bengalensis". While the domestic Bengal cat resembles its wild ancestor in physical beauty and attributes, it is a very loving and dedicated pet.
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The Singapura Cat
"A small, warm, satin-coated heating pad" is the way the Singapura is described by the breed's originator Tommy Meadow.
The breed was based on several small, brown-ticked tabbies reportedly discovered living on the streets of Singapore. Wild Abyssinian and Burmese type cats are to be found in Singapore and it is probably from these cats that the original Singapuras developed.
Singapuras seem to thrive on human company and often become deeply attached to their owners. They are busy cats - if you are looking for an inactive cat that will sit around to be admired, don't choose the Singapura. Most Singapuras are vocally quiet cats and rarely use their voices. They enjoy high places in the house where their large eyes can take in everything that is going on around them. They can often be found "helping" with the cooking of dinner, the folding of laundry, the reading of books and newspapers, and the using of computers. Singapuras usually get along well with other animals and seem to prefer living with some kind of company, not thriving when left alone all day. The kittens mature more slowly than some breeds, and most breeders prefer not to let kittens go to new homes before they are at least 16 weeks old. They come in only one color, sepia agouti.
Household Pet (HHP)
Household pets are seperated into two groups, longhairs and shorthairs. Each cat in each group is judged without regard to sex, age, or color. Each household pet reflecting good health and vitality receives a firtst place ribbon as well as best of color. At the end of the judging the best Household Pets from these two groups are introduced in a final. The finals group consist of both longhair and shorthair cats. There is no written standard for Household Pets, although if they are over eight(8) months of age they must be neutered or spayed. They are judged instead for their uniqueness, pleasing appearance, unusual markings, and sweet dispositions.
If you have a show-stopping, mixed breed charmer at home and are interested in joining the cat lovers who partake in the good fellowship of exhibiting at cat shows, join a local Cat Club or Sociey and learn more about showing.
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Silkenthunder
Connie McIver
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Bengal
The Bengal cat has a short, pelted coat, which is surprisingly soft to the touch and the texture has been likened to that of a mink coat. Another unique feature of the Bengal coat is "glitter" which is a special type of hair shaft, giving the impression of glittering sparkles, that shimmer in the light on all colors except black. Gold or silver glitter is not found on the wild Asian Leopard Cat and was introduced by a domestic cat, so although it is a stunning attribute, it is not a requirement in the official Bengal cat standard. The brown spotted or marble Bengal cats have beautiful large, nocturnal eyes in colours ranging from deep green to green-yellow, yellow-green and amber.
Although the tan, or varying shades of orange background colors are the most popular, there is also a "snow color” variation in both spotted and marbled patterns. Further to that, there are different of shades of colour in this category, Seal Lynx Point, (the lightest coat colour with blue eyes only), Seal Mink (darker coat colour with blue-green to yellow eyes), and Seal Sepia, (darkest coat colour with gold or gold green eyes). These cats can have a nearly white or cream ground color with varying shades of light brown to darker brown or brown-gray spots or marble swirls.
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Japanese Bobtail Cat
Even though it is known by an English name, the Japanese Neko is really an ancient breed. Manuscripts, paintings, and other art give evidence that it has existed as an identifiable breed in Japan for at least 1,000 years. As with all ancient breeds, there are legends and traditions surrounding the cat and its origin. One that this breed originated when a cat was sleeping near a hearth and a spark flew out, igniting its tail. The cat sped through the streets of the Imperial City, setting all the houses on fire as it ran. The city was destroyed and the emperor was furious. In his anger, he decreed that all cats must have their tails cut short, thus the bobtail came into being.
There are sketches of it in ancient ruins and documents, sitting next to geishas. In the times of Gotokuju, in Tokyo, the walls were decorated with paintings of one of these cats, whose name was Maneki-Neko, which means "Welcoming Cat." They used to say it brought good luck. Many Japanese and Chinese shops in North America display a small statue or "piggybank" of Maneki-Neko next to their cash register. Long popular in Japan as house pets, JBT's made their way to the USA in 1968 when an American breeder, Judy Crawford, sent the first pair to the United States. Later, she brought 38 of these cats with her when she returned home.
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Wouldn’t it be wonderful to own a small, friendly domestic cat that looks like the big cats you see at the zoo? Now you can!
The Bengal is a new breed whose beauty is indescribable. They are alert, alive and incredibly quick. I like to say they are just so darn busy!
Technically, a Bengal is a breed originated by Jean Mill of Southern California. The breed is a cross between an Asian Leopard Cat and a domestic cat. The Asian Leopard Cat is found in southern India eastward through Thailand, Malaysia and China.
Jean Mill first documented hybridization between the Asian Leopard Cat and domestic cat in 1963.
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Himalayan
The Himalayan is known for its great beauty, "people oriented" demeanor and gentle disposition. Developed in the 1930's by crossbreeding Siamese and Persians, the Himalayan evolved into a pointed, longhaired, blue-eyed beauty. In 1958, the then four-year-old ACFA became the first North American registry to accept Himalayans for championship competition. Their large, round eyes and plush coat can only be outdone by their loving personality. They want to be with their people whenever possible and will often "help" with whatever you are doing, from cooking, reading the paper, working on the computer, to watching TV. Although playful by nature, the Himalayan is not known to climb your drapes or jump to the top of your refrigerator. After even a short absence, more often than not, your best friend, the Himalayan, greets you at the door.
Persian
The Persian origin is believed to be Asia Minor, and was once referred to as the Asiatic cats. Persians are bred in a profusion of colors and are an important part of the pedigree cat show scene. They have a long and distinguished history in the cat fancy, appearing regularly in cat show for over 100 years. Royal patronage was given to the breed by Queen Victoria, whom herself owned two blue Persians. And the Prince of Wales, who later became Edward VII, is recorded as having donated and presented a special prize for Persians at a popular cat show of the time. The Persian now has the distinction of being the most popular breed today.
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Bengal
Many people think of tigers when they hear the word "bengal", but in this case the name stems from the latin for the Asian Leopard Cat, Felis Bengalensis, a small forest dwelling cat found throughout Asia.
The fact that the Bengal is still a work in progress, makes it very exciting to be involved in breeding them.
Breeders are always striving to attain that wild look, with ears that are small, rounded and set low on a head. Puffy whisker pads, large nocturnal eyes and a very fit, long, muscular body are also desirable characteristics. Hind legs should be somewhat longer than the front legs, which adds to that wildcat look. Bengals are medium to large in size with females usually around 8 to 12 pounds and males a bit larger from 12 to 16 pounds, although some have been known to get up to 20 pounds. They tend to weigh more than they look like they should because they are very muscular cats.
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Korat
Originally imported from Thailand; because of its unusually fine disposition, it is greatly loved by the Thai people and is considered a “good luck” cat. It has a medium-sized semi-cobby body and a heart-shaped face. With its large ears set high on the head and its large, wide-open luminous green or amber-green eyes, the face has an alert expression. The only acceptable color is Silver Blue, tipped with Silver.
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/koratworld
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I chose the Bengal cat because of its athleticism, outgoing and curious personality, and of course, its beautiful coat. The goals of some of the early Bengal breeders - to produce a hybrid of a wild species with a wild look in order to decrease the poaching of wild cats for fur or pets - also intrigued me. Having some experience working in zoos with large cats, I was also fascinated by the opportunity to own a hybrid of the Asian Leopard Cat.
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Bengal
Household Pet (HHP)
Our association has a category in which random-bred cats can compete. This is called the Household Pet Category (HHP). The purpose of the category is to promote appreciation of cats that are lovely, personable, and well cared for even if they don't have a piece of paper that tells who their parents are. Every Household Pet recorded with ACFA is eligible to compete for "Titles of Merit." Titles for Household Pets are similar to the Championship titles earned by pedigreed cats. These titles are confirmed on a system of cumulative points based on the final awards received during the cat's ACFA show career.
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Persian
The ideal Persian should be a well proportioned, medium to large cat, giving the impression of elegant robust power. The head is massive with small rounded ears, wide set eyes and a short nose presenting a sweet expression. In profile, the forehead, the nose and the chin appear to form a perpendicular line. The body is short and cobby, well balanced with heavy boning and short legs. Tail is in proportion to the body. It is recognized in a variety of colors and patterns.
Longhair Exotic
The Longhair Exotic cat is a hybrid that is a natural result of an Exotic Shorthair breeding program. The Longhair Exotic is best described as a Persian look-alike.
Birman
The Birman is a color pointed cat with semi long hair and four white feet. Medium to large in size, with heavy boning, well balanced with an elongated body. Some Birmans may not reach full maturity until 3 or 4 years of age. Females are proportionately smaller than males and should not be penalized for the size difference. No single attribute is to be emphasized over the overall impressions of a well-balanced cat.
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Bengal
A typical bengal temperament is affectionate, curious and confident. Bengals are generally very active cats and love to climb and be up in high places. They generally get along well with children, as long as the children know how to handle a cat properly. Any cat can scratch or bite if it doesn't like something, and bengals are no exception, but they only do so if they have to and can't escape from whatever situation they don't like. Most bengals love water and will happily play in the sink, tip over glasses of water left on the coffee table, and may even join you in the shower or bath. Bengals can be very talkative and have a wide range of vocal sounds including yowling, chirping and trilling. If you are looking for a calm, quiet cat this is not the breed for you. Socialization is very important for kittens. Some bengals can be shy and skittish, and socializing them while they are young is the best way to minimize any issues. Kittens should be handled daily so they get used to being held, having their nails clipped (which should be done weekly), and should get used to traveling in a crate. All this should be done while kittens are still at the breeder's house, and should continue in their new homes. The most important thing to look for when buying a kitten is that they are in good health and well socialized. Do not buy a kitten that looks sick or you may have to deal with health problems for its entire life. It's common that a kitten is scared and overwhelmed when first going to its new house, but this should only last for a short time: a few days or a week at the most.
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Korat
The Korat is an ancient cat from Siam (now Thailand) that is described in the "The Cat-Book Poems", written between 1350 and 1767 AD. The Korat is known as the Si-Sawat cat in its native country, however, the name Korat originated when King Rama V of Siam was presented with the cat. He asked what kind of cat it was and was told it came from Korat, a high plateau in northeast Thailand. It is known as the good-luck cat of Thailand and a pair of Korats are often given to brides on their wedding day to ensure a happy marriage. Korats are rarely sold in Thailand, but given to people held in high esteem.
The first Korat to be exhibited was probably in England in the late 19th century. It was entered as a Siamese because the owner obtained it in Siam. It was listed as a solid blue and descriptions of that judging still exist today. The first modern Korats were introduced to the U.S. by Mrs Jean Johnson in 1959. Her husband retired from the foreign service in Thailand and they were presented with a pair of Korats as gifts upon their return to the United States. Since that introduction, many additional Korats have been imported and every Korat can trace its ancestry back to this breed of cat living in Thailand. This why the Korat is often referred to as the Silver-blue cat with the Thai passport.
Shortly after the Korat arrived in the United States the Korat Cat Fanciers Association was formed. It is a non-affiliated international club dedicated to the protection and development of the Korat. This club was instrumental in getting the Korat recognized in all associations and helps to ensure that the standards for the Korat remain virtually the same in all associations.
Learn more: http://www.koratworld.com
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Abyssinian
The actual history of the Abyssinian cat is unknown, but it was first recorded in England in 1871.
It is believed that the Abyssinian is one of the oldest known breeds. The Abyssinian appears to resemble the paintings and sculptures of the ancient Egyptian cat, however there is no proof that it actually is.
Others believe the Aby was brought from Ethiopia formerly Abyssinia, back to Great Britain in about 1868 by sailors. You can also find a cat fitting the description of an Abyssinian in a book by Gordon Stables published in 1874. In the book he says that this cat was brought from Ethiopia. There is no other written record. And others think it is just as possible that the breed was developed in England.
Recent genetic studies show that the most probable origin is the coast of the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia. Some zoologists have pointed out a strong resemblance to the small African wild cat (F.caffra), a small ticked cat with the facial patterns of the Abyssinian.
Bengal
Today's Bengal may be similar in appearance to the Asian Leopard Cat, and its genetic makeup may contain contributions from that wild cat species, but the temperament is that of an affectionate and loving cat that will be a pleasant and trustworthy family companion. Bengals are self-assured, affectionate, and playful, with the stunning looks of their wild ancestor.
The Asian Leopard Cat is not restricted to Asia as its name may lead you to think. It can be found across India, throughout China, Korea and the Soviet Far East. It is found on many islands such as Sumatra, Philippines, Taiwan, Borneo, Bali and Java. As a result of this wide range in its habitat it is known by many different names. A few you may see or hear are:
- the Java cat
- Wagati cat
- Chinese cat
- money cat (the spots resemble Chinese coins)
Household Pet (HHP)
At a cat show, have you ever noticed that in spite of the gorgeous, exotic, and sometimes rare breeds being shown, the largest crowds are watching the judging of the household pets? These beautiful, healthy, and much-loved animals are everyone's favorite. Your own special cat can be part of this too. Don't be afraid to give it a try. If your cat is friendly , not easily frightened, and likes attention, chances are it will do well and you will have a good time showing it off.
To be shown, all household pets (HHP) must be at least 4 months old, not declawed, and in good health with no evidence of fleas, ear mites, etc. Cats 8 months of age or older must be spayed or neutered. Nails should be clipped on all four paws before leaving for the show. If you are unsure about this, ask your vet.
HHP's are judged on condition (general good health), uniqueness, temperament, and grooming. Of course you will want your cat to look its best, so most people bathe their pet one or two days before a show. This makes sure the coat is clean and allows time for the natural oils to return.
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Savannah
The Savannahs is an hybrid between the wild Serval cat and the domestic cat. This beautiful breed was started in 1994 by Joyce Sroufe, a breeder of Serval cats. She had enjoyed the temperament of the Servals she owned and decided to see if she could breed a 30 pound Serval to a 10 pound domestic cat.
The cat would have the elegance of the Serval in a smaller
and gentler cat, more suited for family living. As a domestic cat, the Savannah does not require special permits and is easier to manage than a full size Serval.
The cats she produces turned out to be even more sweet and outgoing that she first expected. By the 2nd generation the Savannahs are among the most outgoing and friendly of domestic cat breeds.
Savannahs are gorgeous spotted cats with the elegant look of a Serval yet small enough (12-20 pounds) and gentle enough to be a wonderful pet. Color ranges from light gold, tan to silver with Black spots.
Most have black "tear drops" under the eyes similar to the face of a Cheetah. From their large, rounded tip ears to their short thick tails, Savannahs are beautiful miniature Servals.
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Abyssinian
The Abyssinian is a colorful cat with a distinctly ticked coat, medium in size and regal in appearance. It is important that the Abyssinian be balanced in proportion.
The head is a modified, slightly rounded wedge without flat planes and should flow into the arched neck without a break. The ears are alert, large and moderately pointed; broad, and cupped at the base and set as through listening. The eyes are almond shaped, large and expressive, being neither round nor oriental. A fine dark line, encircled by a light colored area should accentuate the eyes. The color of the eyes can be either gold or green.
The body is medium long, lithe, graceful with well developed musculature that is not coarse. It is medium in conformation and should not be either cobby or too svelte. Most importantly, an abyssinian is a balanced cat. The Abyssinian is fine boned and stands well off the ground, giving the appearance of being on tip toe.
The tail is fairly long, thick at the base, and tapering. The coat is soft, silky, fine in texture, but dense and resilient to the touch. It is medium length but must be long enough to accommodate two or three dark bands of ticking.
Color on an Abyssinian is important and must be warm and glowing. The ticking, distinct and even, shows dark colored bands contrasting with lighter colored bands on the hair shafts. Undercoat color is clear to the skin. Preference is given in the showhall to cats that are free of tabby markings on the chest and legs. The tabby markings should only appear on the face and tail. The facial markings should be dark and distinct.
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Lexie Allen
Estevan, Sk.
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Household Pet (HHP)
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