Vicki Nye, CFA Judging Program co-chair

Mr. Richard Scott Hoskinson was accepted as an Approval Pending Allbreed judge pending completion of conditions set by the board on 6/30/2024.

Rick has successfully completed the conditions, and may accept judging assignments and sign CFA judging Contracts now. His status is Approval Pending Allbreed. 

CONGRATULATIONS RICK!

Vicki Nye, CFA Judging Program co-chair

REMINDER

SIGN UP BY OCTOBER 1, 2024

The CFA Breed Awareness and Orientation School is being held in conjunction with the CFA International Cat Show & Expo in Cleveland, Ohio, October 10-13, 2024. Registration will be open until October 1, 2024 or until 30 Registrations are received. The classroom portion of the school will be held in the Crowne Plaza Hotel and the handling portion will be held in the IX Center (showhall). 

If you have questions, please contact Vicki Nye tvnye@jps.net

More information is available and registration at: https://catalog.cfa.org/fees.shtml#baos The flyer for the school is available here

CFA Legislative

Kelly Crouch, CFA Legislative Information Liaison

Dekalb County, Georgia, Commissioners Consider Litter Permits, Sales Restrictions, and Consumer Protection Provisions

Georgia has a highly restrictive pet dealer statute, yet Dekalb County Commissioners are considering an even stricter ordinance. State regulations require any person that sells, exchanges, or adopts more than one litter or 30 adult animals in any 12-month period or is otherwise required to be licensed to get a pet dealer license. Dekalb County, with the fourth highest population in Georgia and containing the easternmost 10% of Atlanta, is considering regulating all breeders. The proposed ordinance would mandate companion animal litter permits without exception, consumer protection provisions, and restrictions on selling cats and dogs. According to the ordinance recitals, reducing a "serious pet overpopulation problem" is necessary due to uncontrolled breeding. Proponents of these ordinances sometimes argue that the direct and indirect costs of not regulating small breeders are too high. Those costs include unreported income and sales taxes, licensing violations, and support of criminal enterprise (i.e., dog fighting). 

If adopted, the ordinance would require owners of intact female companion animals to obtain a six-month Companion Animal Litter Permit prior to or within one week after the birth of a litter. The animal must have an intact animal permit and be permanently identified before a litter permit will be issued. Only one permit per female will be allowed in a 12-month period. The number of permits a household may obtain in a 12-month period is also limited, but it is currently silent as to the number allowed. It is also silent on the cost of the permits. The ordinance also includes other mandates, including vaccinations, identification of the offspring, advertising requirements, and record-keeping.

Although Dekalb County Animal Services may waive the permit fees for rescues and fosters, they are subject to all the other provisions. On August 27, the Board of Commissioners deferred consideration of the ordinance to the October 8, 2024 meeting.

CFA Breeders' Assistance Program

Charlene Campbell, BAP chair

What is CFA BAP-BRP and How Did It Start?

Our BAP Board of Directors (BOD) recently approved a program name change. We are now CFA Breed Assist & Breed Rescue. Soon we will have a new updated look on the CFA website. I have been with BAP since 2006 when it was started by Linda Berg, Paul Patton, Pam Delabar, Leslie Falteisek, and a few others.

Recently, there has been some confusion and I felt it necessary to clarify how our program began 17 years ago. The original BAP BOD had seen a need and better course forward in order to offer breeders resources, counsel, aid etc. in natural disasters, health events, loss of job, divorce, etc. and/or to help our pedigree registered felines in the event of a breeder's death, and to assure the felines would not overwhelm Animal Control Agency and face the possibility of euthanization. We also wanted to preserve almost extinct breeds when possible in case of hospice care or death of breeder, or to get pedigreed felines into small breed specific rescues to vet and re-home. We wanted to improve our cooperation and understanding within the Animal Control and Rescue Community being part of the solution vs. part of the problem. We have been successful working with these communities over the years, making new alliances and friends.

I wanted to be a volunteer in SW Florida as I saw we had needs in Region 7. I also showed and loved Persians! I had rescue experience to bring to the table. I was a volunteer and past president of and also ran a no-kill shelter for 5 years, using an all-volunteer staff with 300+ various animals at any given time, plus managing our TNR program, all the while working full time at Lee County. I wanted to bring my rescue affiliations to our program. 

In 2006 our group participated in by-law discussions and the writing of our CFA BAP-BRP by-laws, program forms, etc., required to apply for incorporation and 501-C-3 status. With the guidance of attorney Fred Jaccoberger, in Minnesota, Linda Berg and Leslie Falteisek applied for our stand-alone, not-for-profit 501-C-3 status. During the past 17 years the program has progressed. I grew along with our program taking on more volunteer responsibility.

We started out on a shoestring and mostly used our own credit cards to pay for vetting as we raised funds along the way for rescue operations. Right out the gate we had a couple big animal control seizures to work out in Region 7. We rolled up our sleeves and went right to work, calling on breeders to help us transport, foster, spay/neuter and adopt-out. That was a bit difficult and not a good fit for many breeders. We changed course and went to enlisting rescues to be our fosters, vetting needs, spay/neuter, adopt-out managers and rescue coordinators and that seemed to work smoother! It was also instrumental in keeping things CONFIDENTIAL.

story continues here

Discover how to donate to CFA's Breeders Assistance Program via this link.

EveryCat Health Foundation

submitted by Virginia Rud

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

CURES4CATS 2024 Fundraising Campaign

The 2024 CURES4CATS Fundraising Campaign, which runs until September 30th, 2024 supports the BRIA FUND for FIP Research. 

While there is a lot to celebrate in the work already accomplished, there is still so much left to learn about Feline Infectious Peritonitis. There remains a need for more knowledge and reliable, accessible testing for the disease as well as additional treatment options. Also – in this past year, reports of an increase in the number of cats dying from FIP in Cyprus prompted EveryCat Health Foundation to collaboratively focus efforts and resources on the root of the outbreak. For these reasons and so many more, EveryCat Health Foundation has chosen FIP as the sole focus of our Cures4Cat 2024 campaign.

Make your contribution to the campaign at 

http://weblink.donorperfect.com/cures4catsfip2024

Tax Tips with George Eigenhauser

Effective estate planning involves more than just writing a Will or setting up a Trust. Some of your assets may be held in a way to automatically pass to a designated beneficiary when you die, regardless of the terms of your Will or Trust. This means those assets do not have to go through probate, the legal process of distributing your assets according to your Will or, if you don’t have one, according to state law. 

For example, life insurance usually goes to the beneficiary named in the insurance policy, not according to your Will or Trust. Similarly, with certain pensions or retirement accounts, like an IRA, you can name a beneficiary, such as a family member, friend, or even a charity like Everycat. Upon your death, the funds in these accounts go directly to that beneficiary, bypassing probate. This can speed up the transfer of assets, keep your affairs private (as probate records are public), and reduce costs.

Another way to pass on assets outside of probate is through joint ownership. If you own property, such as a house or car, in “joint tenancy with right of survivorship,” the property automatically passes to the surviving joint owner(s) when you die. For example, if you and your spouse own a house together in joint tenancy, on your death your spouse would own your share of the home without it going through probate. Even everyday financial accounts, like bank, credit union, or investment accounts, may let you name a “payable on death” (POD) beneficiary. When you die, the money in these accounts goes directly to the person you've named, without probate. 

While these methods can make transferring assets after your death easier, they need to be part of a well-thought-out estate plan. If your Will contradicts your beneficiary designations, it can cause confusion or legal disputes. Most importantly, your estate may not be distributed as you intended. To avoid these issues, it’s essential to discuss all your assets with your attorney when planning your estate to ensure everything works smoothly and according to your wishes.

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* 
3. Click on Checkout to complete enrollment

Click here

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

Discount Code # #U28593

Discount Code # Z926291

Click logo for information

John Colilla, Regional Director

GLR Fundraiser/Monroe Shorthair Club August 17 & 18, 2024 

submitted by Carmen Marie Johnson-Lawrence 

It was a great weekend in the GREAT Lakes Region for a picnic - AND NO ANTS!

In mid-August the Great Lakes Region teamed up with the Monroe Shorthair Club in Brockport, NY to host a 6x6 show. Both days also included Feline Agility.

The Great Lakes Region Fundraiser Show was pleased to welcome Rick Hoskinson as trainee judge on Saturday.

On Sunday, the Monroe Shorthair Club awarded the Top 3 Best HHP in show.  

Best HHP in show went to Tera and Lily Domaradzki and their cat Tobias. Lily is also a new member of the CFA Junior Fanciers!

2nd Best HHP in show went to Mindy Bloom and her cat Briscoe.

3rd Best HHP in show went to Mindy Bloom and her cat Skyler.

Thank you to everyone who came out to support our shows!

Sacred Cat of Burma - August 24 & 25, 2024

submitted by Carmen Marie Johnson-Lawrence

I’ve never been to Sacred Cat of Burma. But this year, I made a point in going. This year’s show was held in memory of Kent Thompson. There aren’t enough lines here for me to write everything that made Kent so special to the Sacred Cat of Burma club, or the Great Lakes Region. I can tell you he lit up a room, he was a positive force in CFA. Ask anyone in GLR and you will learn a different reason from each person as to why he was special. But I’m supposed to write about the show…the weekend was lovely and well run. But what made this weekend special was EVERYONE coming together to honor Kent’s memory. If you knew Kent, you know he was (and I’m sure still is) a DIE HARD Ohio State Buckeyes fan. The show committee requested that all exhibitors in attendance wear either scarlet (red) or Ohio State apparel on Saturday of the show. It was a sea of scarlet in the show hall. Many sporting OSU tee shirts and jerseys. Even fans of The Team Up North (lovingly known as University of Michigan by its fan base) wore scarlet and OSU.

The Sacred Cat of Burma show would not be complete however until the Best of the Best Birman awards are presented. There were TWENTY-EIGHT (yes, you read that right, 28!) Birmans entered in the show!

The Boysie Award for Best Birman Kitten was awarded to Marali’s Valentina of Luvs2Purr, lovingly owned by Debra Weiner.

The Jason Award for Best Birman in Premiership was awarded to Sugarmitts Test Pilot, lovingly owned by Cynthia Butcher.

The Founders Award for Best Birman in Championship was awarded to Sun-Silk Uncle Rico, lovingly owned by Mary Myers.

Congrats to all the winners from the weekend - thank you to all the exhibitors for supporting the show!

Howard Webster, Regional Director

The Southwest Region had its second show this season in Glendale, CA with the Opposites Attract Cat Club show.

It was the largest we have seen this year with 171 entries! The club had a challenge that they would give one dollar per cat entered for 125 entries, two dollars per cat entered for 150 entries, and three dollars per cat for 175 entries as a donation to the region for the regional banquet.

But when we reached 171 they generously gave us three dollars per cat to the region!

Chuck Ober awarded the region the check at the show.  

A big thank you to all who entered, and a HUGE THANK YOU to OACC for that generous gift!

Here are some pictures of the show:

Allene Keating, Regional Secretary

On September 6&7 American Gothic Cat Club put on a stellar show in Peoria, Illinois.

Walking around the show hall I met new exhibitors, new kittens, and cats working toward their titles. One new exhibitor reported they were having more fun than they had expected! That told me she felt welcomed and enjoying showing off her cat! 

Both days the spectators had fun participating and deciding which cat would win the cat costume contest. Expressions on faces of judges, clerks, exhibitors and spectators shows the FUN everyone had!

See you at the show soon !

Kenny Currle, Regional Director

The Rebel Rousers CC held their show August 17-18th in Lawrenceville, GA. It was a bittersweet show as the club remembered longtime exhibitor Donna Andrews who recently passed. The club set up a photo board celebrating Donna's life and cats, and exhibitors were encouraged to share memories on it.

Persian breeder Terry Hyde achieved his cattery's 100th grand at the show!

Spectators were excited to see all the wonderful cats! (all photos courtesy Melody Boyd)

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