James II, a silver tabby English Shorthair

'James II' has a rather clouded start. Although he is clearly named after his illustrious sire 'Ch. Jimmy' the first published records of his existence show him as sire and dam unknown. This appears in both the National Cat Club listings published in Our Cats for 12th April, 1902 in which his date of birth is given as 'April 1901'. Likewise, in The Cat Club Register, his transfer of ownership is recorded with sire and dam as unknown. However, this has been amended by hand, (presumably by Mrs. Clinton Locke), to show that his dam was Mrs. Newland's 'Rose'.

In Volume 1 of The Cat Fanciers' Association Stud-Book, under the registration of his son, 'Pretty Correct', we find that 'James II' has by this time been given a National Cat Club registration number (NCC: 4742). We have no official record of his breeder, but if his dam was indeed Mrs. Newlands 'Rose' we can find another male named 'Jim Shelley' (NCC:3321) born in 1895, whose breeder of record is Mr. E. Newland. It seems a little more than coincidence that this male also shares the name 'Jim' and that 'James II' may in fact have been from a repeat breeding. So while our 'James' only may have been bred by Mr. Newland, there is no doubt that his first owner of record was Mrs. Leuty Collins. She appears as his owner in The Cat Club Register, where the transfer of ownership of 'James II' is recorded between Mrs. Leuty Collins and Mrs. Collingwood.

Read all about James II here - http://www.cat-o-pedia.org/james-ii.html

Topsy of Merevale, a tortie Persian, born 1895

Today's post is about a TORTIE PERSIAN "Topsy of Merevale" who was born in 1895. The genetics of both sex-linked red and of low-grade silvers was not understood in these early days of breeding and in fact, Topsy bred as a Tortie Smoke, producing one of the finest smoke females in her day, a kitten which started life as 'Baby Flossie' in England, but became the well known American winner, 'Lockehaven Lucy Claire', owned by Mrs Clinton Locke.

Topsy's complete story can be found at http://www.cat-o-pedia.org/topsy-of-merevale.html

Puma, a "yellow" Abyssinian

Here's PUMA, described as a "Yellow Abyssinian" in this photo from the March 1949 issue of Our Cats magazine. Pedigree records have him listed with color 23 (usual, or ruddy). He was born June 28, 1932, and his pedigree traces back to the well-known RAS DASHAN.

Sylvie, an early silver Persian

Born in 1879, to some extent at least, Sylvie has been largely overlooked as the 'genesis' of the desire to create the erroneously named 'Self-Silver', or a silver cat without tabby marks or barring, which eventually developed into what became the modern day Chinchilla. 

"Amongst these outcasts, was a cat of striking beauty, whose like has not been seen again. This was 'Sylvie,' of unknown pedigree ..."

But in fact, she caused a sensation when shown at the Crystal Palace in 1886, when she came to the attention of the judge, and was assessed by the keen and observant eyes of the ubiquitous Mr. Harrison Weir.

Although entered by her then owner, Mrs. Christopher, into the only class available to her at that time, she was an unlikely candidate for a win, being as she was forced to be entered into a mixed class of what were generally considered to be poor silver tabbies, lacking in barring.

There clearly existed an unrecognised desire amongst breeders to create a silver cat without barring, and the action of Mr. Weir in recognising the obvious qualities of a cat which most closely resembled this desire, no doubt helped to encapsulate and promote the idea amongst fanciers, who from that moment forward seemed to gain the courage to forge ahead with even more determination, in the creation and development of a clear-coated silver Persian. Harrison Weir's courage, in so doing, became the 'wind beneath the wings' to a new generation of breeders of 'chinchillas'.

Read all about Sylvie here - http://www.cat-o-pedia.org/sylvie.html

Gentlemen Exhibitors, circa 1912

Gentlemen exhibitors, dignatories and committee members with their cats...portion of a copyright photo owned by John G Smithson. Photo taken circa 1912/13...

From left, White English/British, Red Tabby Persian, Chinchilla, Brown Tabby Persian, Black Smoke Persian, Blue Persian, top row, Tortie Persian...

Early Exotic Shorthairs?

It's documented history that experimental breedings during the early 1950's were the beginnings of the Exotic Shorthair breed. This interesting tidbit from a 1926 British publication, CAT GOSSIP, mentions a class for "Short-hair Persians" at a cat show in Lille, France.

Tsana, an early Abyssinian

Whilst researching through old newspapers and magazines, we often come across extremely interesting pieces of historical ephemera. In this case, an advertisement to dispose (sell) a prize-winning Abyssinian breeding queen, in kitten to a named stud. The advert mentions four Abyssinians by name.

This is taken from the breeders listings in Our Cats from an issue dating in 1903. Photo courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection.

Simon, a Military cat

Simon, a black and white cat,w as the most decorated cat in Military history.

Read all about Simon here - https://priceonomics.com/the-most-decorated-cat-in-military-history/?fbclid=IwAR0gaJn2r6Jp4su1dUa1Jbe1OXUxh16vUeLyywUhdCXGm5jZFkBC_EBeovk

Fibber McGee and Molly Cup

The "Fibber McGee and Molly Cup" was awarded to the Best Exhibit at the 1937 Beresford Cat Club Show, held in the Chicago area.

Learn a little bit more about this cup on THE HISTORY PROJECT site at http://cat-o-pedia.org/trophy-BeresfordCatClub.html

Donated to the CFA Foundation by Gary Powell, 2001.

Famous Siamese Cats, 1945

The March, 1945 edition of Cats Magazine included a list of famous Siamese cats that they recommended be in a pedigree.

You can read the article here: http://cat-o-pedia.org/docs/1945Mar_CatsMagazine_Siamese.pdf

Scottish Cat Club Medal, 1895

The Scottish Cat Club, based in Edinburgh, Scotland, was started in 1894. The club remains active to this day, affiliated with the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF). This silver medal was awarded at what may have been their first show in May, 1895. The winner of the medal was a cat of unknown breed, named 'Tim Jim' with the owner most likely 'Miss Mary'. No information for this cat has been found in any registration data, pedigree database or stud book.

Research (thank you, Amanda Bright) has found a report in the Edinburgh Evening News, May 29, 1895 that lists the placements awarded at the Edinburgh Kennel Club Show which was held at the Waverly Market and included dogs, cats, rabbits, and cavies. One cat winner in the "Males, short-haired, other than foreign" category is owned by Miss Mary Hunter of Corstophine (an area within Edinburgh). There is a distinct possibility that this may be the winner of this medal.

Mr. Samuel Woodiwiss, SEDGEMERE Cattery

SAMUEL WOODIWISS (1867-1952)

“This gentleman (who may be just styled one of the Kings of the Dog World), is possessed of the pride of the fancy …”

Samuel (Sam) was born in Derby in September of 1867. As a young adult, he lived at Sedgemere House between 1888 and 1900, and was known to own and show cats such as Sedgemere Peaty and Sedgemere Bottle, both early Abyssinians, and Xenophon, a brown tabby English Shorthair. 

Along with being a breeder, exhibitor and judge, Sam Woodiwiss was also involved in clubs and committees that organized the cat fancy, as well as the fancy for dogs, mice, etc. 

For the complete story on Mr. Woodiwiss, please visit:
http://cat-o-pedia.org/docs/SamWoodiwiss.pdf

Valley of the Moon Trophy, 1920s era

Not much is known about this 3-handled trophy, recently donated to the CFA Foundation. The pewter and copper trophy is engraved "VALLEY OF THE MOON TROPHY", which may well mean that the trophy was donated by Valley of the Moon Cattery. Trophies donated by individuals and catteries was a fairly common occurrence at shows held in the early 20th century.

Linechaser records show 30+ Persians registered in the early-mid 1920's with the Valley of the Moon cattery name, which enables us to approximately date the trophy.

Registration records found in Volume XIII of the Studbook of the American Cat Association show Mrs. M.G. Simmons of Sonoma, CA to be the breeder of cats with the "Valley of the Moon" cattery prefix. 

Volume X of The Studbook and Register of the Cat Fanciers' Association lists several cats with the "Valley of the Moon" prefix; all listed with Mrs. Simmons as the owner, but not the breeder. One listing has Mrs. Lina Mooney as the breeder, and another has the breeder as Mrs. Fred Rippel. Note that it was not uncommon to add your cattery prefix, in this case "Valley of the Moon", to the name of cats when ownership was transferred.

The 5" high trophy is also engraved "Best Cream or Fawn Female. 4 Wins to Hold". As the majority of Valley of the Moon Persians were registered with the American Cat Association(ACA), this is most likely a trophy awarded at ACA shows.

For the Love of Cats

This is one of the exquisite photos that is published on a series of rack cards for The History Project.  It shows an obvious love of cats!

LORD ROBERTS, shaded silver Persian, b 1917

These photos are of LORD ROBERTS, a shaded silver Persian male born May 31, 1917.  His sire was Kampeska Tango, a shaded silver, born Apr 23 1914, and his dam was Lady Cotama, described in CFA's Studbook, Volume VI, as a smoke gray Persian. 

Photos courtesy of The CFA Foundation.