Scenes from the Show - 2008

Lovely calico Selkirk Rex.

A gorgeous Ragdoll.

Show Manager Gene Baturin with Russian Blue "Buck."

In Memorium

Grand Champion Galidorn's Marilyn Monrex of Woodsprite

May 5, 1991 - March 5, 2008

After almost seventeen years, my favorite traveling companion and best bed buddy left me for the final journey she had to do on her own, and crossed the Rainbow Bridge. I've been through a lot of changes in 17 years. The Divine Miss Marilyn has been my only constant.

She wasn't the kitten I was supposed to get. Good friend Deborah Kane of Galidorn Devon Rex offered me a lovely calico kitten to use as a foundation for my own breeding program. (CH) Galidorn's Barbara Gordon of Woodsprite ("Babs") was cute, spunky and personable... BUT... when I laid eyes on her litter sister, The Divine Miss Marilyn, I was completely, truly, hopelessly smitten.

Yes, I took both girls home. Marilyn, however, was the only cat or kitten I ever promised would never leave my home.

Equal parts ditziness and intense concentration, one minute she'd look at you like she'd never seen you before, and the next she'd be on your chest, patting at your face trying to get your attention. No matter how many times you could set her down, she'd pop right back up and persistently push her way into your attention. Then, when she'd had enough, she'd wander off, but toss questions and comments over her shoulder as she ambled from room to room.

Like all true divas, the Divine Miss Marilyn had a full actress's range of volume, tone, and vibrato -- everything from whispered "meffs" to sweet-voiced queries to full-throated, Marlena Dietrich moans, to outboard motor purrs that could be heard across the room.

I kept my promise.

I miss her terribly already. I wish I could do this tribute better. Maybe later, when it doesn't hurt this much.
_____

If any of you are in the memorial spirit, I would request that donations go the Morris Animal Foundation.

Morris Animal Foundation

PAIN MANAGEMENT FOR YOUR PETS, KEY INFORMATION EVERY PET OWNER SHOULD KNOW –LIVE WEBCAST TO PET OWNERS, MARCH 13, 8:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. (EST) VIA MORRIS ANIMAL FOUNDATION

World-Renowned Pain Management Expert Robin Downing, DVM, Will Conduct Webcast For Pet Owners, Covering All Aspects Related to Pets and Pain

DENVER, March 3, 2008: Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) will sponsor a live webcast for pet owners on pain management for their pets on March 13, 2008, from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time). The live webcast will cover all aspects of pain management, including common causes of pain, overlooked hidden causes of pain, anticipating and avoiding pain in your pets, communicating with your veterinarian and how to ask the right questions. Participate in the webcast at: www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org/livechat. In addition, a webcast on pet pain directed to veterinarians takes place from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST. Both webcasts will be available indefinitely for global audiences on a non-live basis at the webcast address.

Leading this webcast will be Robin Downing, DVM, a MAF Trustee and one of the world's leading experts on pain in animals. In 2005, Dr. Downing became the third veterinarian in the world to acquire diplomate credential from the American Academy of Pain Management. As of today, fewer than a dozen veterinarians worldwide hold this credential. Dr. Downing is founder and past president of the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management and was co-chair of the task force that authored the "2007 AAHA/AAFP Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats." In 2006 she opened The Downing Center for Animal Pain Management, LLC, the only comprehensive pain management and pain prevention practice for pets in Northern Colorado. Contributing to the discussion will be Patricia Olson, DVM, Ph.D., president and CEO of Morris Animal Foundation. For more information, contact: Michael Burke, mburke@morrisanimalfoundation.org.

About Morris Animal Foundation: Morris Animal Foundation, established in 1948, is dedicated to funding research that protects, treats and cures companion animals and wildlife. MAF has been at the forefront of funding breakthrough research studies benefiting animals in some 100 countries, spanning all seven continents on Earth. MAF has its headquarters in Denver, Colorado. The Foundation has funded nearly 1,400 humane animal health studies with funds totaling more than $51 million. One hundred percent of annual donations go to fund health study programs. For more information, call (800) 243-2345, or visit www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org.

© 2008 Morris Animal Foundation, 10200 E. Girard Ave., Ste. B430, Denver, CO 80231
All Rights Reserved.

Scenes from the Show - 2008

What's got these kids so rapt?

Funny looking cats that they can actually pet...

... and cuddle with!

Breed booths -- the Cornish Rex one was particularly popular.
_____

Don't forget The Friday Ark is up over at The Modulator. In addition:

• Carnival of the Cats which goes up every Sunday
  • the 206th edition, 2/24, is up at House of (Mostly) Black Cats
  • The 207th edition, 3/2, will be hosted at Momma Grace & Company
• Weekend Cat Blogging which goes up every weekend
• The 142nd edition, 2/23-2/24, is up at Bad Kitty Cats
• The 143rd edition, 3/1-2, will be hosted by Mind of Mog
• Bad Kitty Cats Festival of Chaos which goes up every weekend
• The 33rd edition, 2/24, is up at Mind of Mog
• The 34th edition, 3/2, will be hosted by Tusedo Gang Hideout

Vendors

I just added links to all our marvelous vendors to the blogroll, and will feature photos of all of them throughout the year.

These cool beds come from Teri's Catz & More. They practically flew out the door!

See what you missed?

Carnival Time!

The Friday Ark is up at the Modulator. Loads and loads of critter goodness.

Also don't forget:

• Carnival of the Cats which goes up every Sunday
  • the 205th edition, 2/17, is up at Mind of Mog
  • The 206th edition, 2/24, will be hosted at House of (Mostly) Black Cats
• Weekend Cat Blogging which goes up every weekend
• The 141st edition, 2/16-2/17, is up at Life From A Cat's Perpective
• The 142nd edition, 2/23-24, will be hosted by Bad Kitty Cats
• Bad Kitty Cats Festival of Chaos which goes up every weekend
• The 32nd edition, 2/17, is up at Bad Kitty Cats Journal
• The 33rd edition, 2/24, will be hosted by Mind of Mog

From the Daily Southtown

Cat lovers pack Oak Lawn Pavilion

February 21, 2008

By Nathaniel Zimmer, Staff Writer

Nearly 1,700 feline fanciers walked through the doors of the Oak Lawn Pavilion over the weekend to contemplate the kitties gathered for the Lincoln State Cat Club's 48th annual All Breed Cat Show.

More than 160 cats representing 21 breeds were entered in the show, which has been held at the pavilion the past three years running. Visitors got a look at long-tailed Maine coons, the nearly tailless Japanese Bobtail, the curly-coated Selkirk Rex and the big-eared Abyssinian, familiar from Egyptian art.

» Click to enlarge image

» Click to enlarge image

Hairless Sphynxs, wild-looking but thoroughly domesticated spotted Ocicats and ultra-fluffy Persians were among the most popular cats with the crowds.

Not every cat on hand was a purebred: one competition category is reserved for ordinary mixed-breed house cats, so long as they're neutered if over eight months old, have their claws and are "well-groomed, healthy and don't eat the judge," said Dayle Marsh, vice president of the club and a breeder of Russian Blues.

Veterinarians were present to answer questions. Breeders advertised their work from booths. A raffle and silent auction raised money.

"We're more than just a cat show," Marsh said. "Our bylaws basically state that we are to promote the purebred cat and to educate the public on proper cat care and welfare. Basically our cat show is a means of doing that."

Proceeds from past shows have helped to fund studies of feline respiratory diseases, asthma, heart ailments and, most recently, the mapping of the feline genome, according to Marsh.

Unlike in a dog show, there is no single best-in-show winner at cat shows like Lincoln's, which is licensed by the national Cat Fanciers' Association. Instead, each judge picks their own top kitty. A female Russian Blue and a chocolate-spotted Ocicat were among those that took a top prize.

And while canine shows feature a trot around the ring, less amenable felines are simply lifted from their cages and evaluated by a judge on a range of qualities, with points being allotted for everything from eye-shape to paw-pad color.

Marsh said one thing unites cat lovers. "We're all crazy," she laughed. "Not all the cats are in cages."

Nathaniel Zimmer can be reached at (708) 633-5994 or nzimmer@southtownstar.com.