Blue Persian - Wooloomooloo

THE NAMING OF CATS!!

Many cat fanciers who have been breeders or who are currently breeders sometimes struggle to find names for their cats, especially if they are looking for something to promote a specific theme, or which they would like to be unique. When the magnificent blue Persian male bred by Mrs. A. Smith and shown by Mr. W.R. Hawkins appeared at, and won top honours at, the first Crufts Cat Show in 1894, his name was singularly unique, appearing as he did in the catalogue as ‘WOOLOOMOOLOO’.

In Our Cats Magazine, in an article entitled ‘Pillars of the Stud Book’ published in 1901, Miss Frances Simpson explains how he came by that name: 

“In the blue Persian world, perhaps Wooloomooloo and Beauty Boy can claim more descendants than any other stud cats of this breed (variety). Wooloomooloo first made his debut at Crufts Show. Curiously enough this was the year in which I was sojourning in the suburb of Sydney, N.S.W., after which this noted cat was named.”

You can read all about the fabulous Wooloomooloo on The History Project at cat-o-pedia.org/wooloomooloo.html

 

Fashionista Cats

Occasionally, the Feline Historical Museum has guest cats in attendance for a day.  During 2018, they hosted a "Fashion Day" with the Fashionista Cats, which drew a lot of attention from visitors.  These delightful - and exceptionally well-behaved - Cornish Rex took the opportunity to show off some of their more extravagant costumes.

Cleveland Persian Society - 1912 First Prize Ribbon

CLEVELAND, OHIO FANCIERS SHOW
1912 FIRST PRIZE - CAT SHOW RIBBON

Having attended the CFA International Show in Cleveland in October, 2018 and spent some time talking to members of the Cleveland Persian Society in their booth there, it was a thrill to be able to very recently add the below historic cat show ribbon to The Harrison Weir Collection.

Legends of the Cat Fancy - Royal Patronage

ROYAL AND ARISTOCRATIC PATRONAGE

The Cat Fancy profited much from aristocratic patronage virtually from the beginning, with socialites like Lady Dorothy Nevill, Lady Mildred Beresford-Hope, Lady Cust and the Duchess of Sutherland all lending support. But by the late 1890’s members of the Royal Family were also adding their social weight behind the Fancy, none more-so than Queen Victoria’s grand-daughter HRH Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein, who became Patron of the National Cat Club.

 

The young Princess was supported in her hobby by both her parents, each of whom also owned a Persian cat. This one, is a fine specimen of a Red Tabby & White, named ‘Ladybird’, who was the personal favourite and pet cat of the Princess’s father, Prince Christian. 

The family occupied Cumberland Lodge, a royal residence situated at the southern end of Great Windsor Park, for which Prince Christian held the honorary position of Ranger, from 1861 to his death in 1917.  This position had previously been held by Prince Albert, the Prince Consort, and is today held by Prince Philip, current Prince Consort. Princess Victoria built a fine cattery at Cumberland Lodge, and from there also exported some fine pedigreed Persian cats.

Legends of the Cat Fancy - Mr. H.C. Brooke

WOLF MAN & CAT FANCIER EXTRA-ORDINAIRE

Our photo dates from 1902, and shows cat fancier and judge Mr. H.C. Brooke, well-known for his love of Manx and foreign shorthairs, especially Abyssinians. Many years after this photo was taken, he served as President of the Abyssinian Cat Club. He was a remarkable naturalist with specialist veterinary knowledge, and immense respect for wildlife. His love of foreign animals included many rare dog breeds, but his most remarkable ability was to take in young wolves and domesticate them.

From the pages of Our Cats Magazine, in an issue dated November 15^th, 1899 we read the following announcement: 

Mrs H.C. Brooke writes: - “We have another Wolf now, she is a monster for her age, not six months. She already stands twenty-one inches at the shoulder. She is in the house all day, and goes out for miles every day. When I am writing she generally lies beside me on the sofa. Seven weeks ago today she came over, and was then quite wild.”

Early UK Exports!! Blue Robin, born 1896

This photo, by Witcomb & Son, Salisbury, is of ‘BLUE ROBIN’, (USR: 235) who was in fact a Blue Tabby Persian and therefore competed in the AOC (Any Other Colour) class at Shows. He was winner of a First and a Challenge Cup at Westminster in 1899. He was bred by Mrs Bluhm in 1896, first becoming the property of Miss Hester Cochran and then later owned Mr. C.W. Witt; who, in 1904 exported him to Mr. J. Kerr, of Dunedin, in New Zealand.

In The Book of The Cat(1903), Miss Frances Simpson observed: 

“A cat that has done some winning and has sired some lovely kittens, but must, strictly speaking, be considered an ‘any other colour’ cat, is ‘Blue Robin,’ formerly the property of Miss H. Cochran, and now in the possession of Mr.C.W. Witt. This is a blue cat with a tabby-marked head. He was bred from blues and silvers, and his chin, ear tufts, and eyebrows are silver, and his nose pink. As will be seen by his picture, he has a grand head and a beautiful expression.”

Samuel C. Perkins - Scrapbook About Cats

Samuel C. Perkins (1828-1903) was responsible for the building of the Philadelphia City Hall. He also loved cats, and spent his evenings clipping newspaper articles about cats and compiling them in a scrapbook. 

Read The History Project's article about how his scrapbook, compiled between 1880 and 1897, was found in Eria, PA, and the historical stories that are contained in it. In addition, learn how Perkins immortalized his own cats on the walls of the Philadelphia City Hall.

http://cat-o-pedia.org/ephemera-Perkins-scrapbook.html