TICA Joins Forces with Merck to Provide Members with
FREE Access to Merck Veterinary Manual
The International Cat Association is pleased to announce a partnership with well-known Merck Veterinary to offer free access to medical manuals.
For more than 60 years, the Merck Veterinary Manual (MVM) has been a trusted source in providing medical information to veterinarians and other animal health professionals. TICA is proud to announce that members will now have the ability to access MVM content and information covering all common diseases and species with thousands of images and videos for
free at tica.org.
This easy-to-use reference will provide TICA members with the ability to search basic health issues as well as those conditions not commonly encountered in the daily routine of most animal health professionals right on tica.org. Straightforward and practical information as well as explicit recommendations for most treatment are accessible.
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Make Your Voice Heard: TICA Breed Committee
Applications
Being Accepted Until July 31
Calling all members looking to make a difference for their breed with judges and others in the Association. TICA Breed Committee elections will be held this fall. Anyone with the desire to be more closely involved with their breed should make plans to submit their letter of application before July 31.
Breed Committee members are responsible for proposed changes to Standards and report to the TICA Board with any issues impacting their Breed. They also are in charge of keeping Breed Seminars for Judges and new breeders up-to-date and current.
Those interested in applying for a Breed Committee should be familiar with their Standard and be ready to work together with others toward the improvement of their breed/s.
Elected by each Breed Section, this position will serve for a 3-year term beginning Jan 1, 2018. Individuals with the most votes in each Breed Section will be named Chairperson. A complete list of rules and qualifications can be found on pages 10-11 of the TICA By-Laws.
The number of Committee Members elected for each Breed is based on total Breed Section Members as of April 30th of the election year. A minimum of three people will represent up to 75 members, five individuals will be elected for 76 - 150 members, and a committee of seven will serve for more than 150 members.
As per the By-Laws, a $10 filing fee per Breed Section will be applied. For example a $10 fee would be applied for the Persian Breed group that includes Persian, Himalayan and Exotic SH breeds.
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TICA Legislative Working Group Seeks Help
in Tracking Legislation
Affecting Animal Ownership
and Breeding in All Regions
For those looking to play a role in helping to protect the rights of breeders and pet ownership, the TICA Legislative Working Group is looking for you.
The group is now seeking volunteer representatives in all TICA regions to keep track of pending legislation and existing laws affecting animal ownership and breeding. L
egal experience is not necessary, however legal and governmental knowledge is helpful.
The Legislative Working Group identifies legislation and coordinates efforts with other animal organizations and interested parties
to help fight regulations which c
ould endanger the continuation of owning, breeding or showing cats. Activities may include corresponding with representatives responsible for passing laws/ordinances
Those interested in applying or for additional information please contact Susan Adler at
[email protected].
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HURRY, Limited Time Offer!
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TICA Members At Work
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WPA-World Pet Association's America's Family Pet Expo April 28-30, Costa Mesa, California.
TICA and Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat Products introduced attendees at the world's largest pet and products expo to TICA's world with a championship cat show, agility demos, educational presentations and ask-the-vet seminars. Pictured are LtoR are WPA Board Member Michael Lasky, TICA Marketing Director Roeann Fulkerson, Dr. Elsey's Marketing Director
Gina Zaro, and WPA Director of Sales and Sponsorship James Keystone.
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TICA Shows in the News:
The Golden Isles News
reported on t
he annual Southern SophisTICAts Cat Show earlier this year. The event drew more than 150 entrants, with people bringing their feline friends from across the Southeast - and some from as far away as California. In this image, Rene Knapp of Brooksville, Fla., judges a Bengal. Watch here.
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Have you worked on a project that helps promote better care and understanding of cats? Or did the media report on your event? If so, we'd love to hear about it and share the news with other TICA members. Please send photos and information about any projects you are working on or media clips to
[email protected]
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| TICA Member Caroline Fralia with Mary Lou Guyton of the ASPCA |
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| Fralia with Penny Nelson Lehew of the City of Burleston |
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TICA Participates in the Largest Regional Animal Care Event in the U.S.
Held April 22-24 at the Renaissance Austin Hotel in Austin, Texas,
TICA members and Fort Worth feline fanciers Caroline Fralia and Joe Edwards of Cowtown Critter Corral and Recycled Love Animal Rescue, and Beth Edwards, also of Recycled Love Animal Rescue, educated more than 500 animal welfare attendees at the TICA booth on the Association's responsible breeding and education programs.
Attendees included animal control officers, shelter and operations managers, rescue volunteers, non-profit board members, and others in the fields of animal sheltering, care and control.
"A leading supporter of animal care, rescue and protection in the U.S., this event was a great opportunity for TICA to lend its expertise and show support for the animal welfare community," said Fralia.
We helped one man in particular from Abilene make his city more cat-friendly by providing supplies and referring him to several rescue and trap-and-release partner programs."
Vickie Fisher, TICA Treasurer and Immediate Past President, also presented a workshop where she discussed the fundamentals of identifying cat colors and patterns and provided attendees an overview of cat genetics 001.
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Prairie Winds Cat Club Founder Kyla Herbst
at the Mo-Kan cat show in Kansas City, MO
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TICA Grows into Wyoming and Welcomes the Prairie Winds Cat Club
to The World Of Fabulous Felines
TICA would like to welcome the Prairie Winds Cat Club, based out of Wyoming, as our newest club. The group, started in October 2016 by Ragdoll breeder Kyla Herbst, will serve the North West region and surrounding Wyoming-area, including Colorado.
Kyla started the club to fill the void in gathering opportunities for cat breeders and exhibitors in Wyoming and to make traveling to shows for those who reside in the "Equality State" easier.
"Before I started the club I thought my husband and I were the only active TICA members in the state of Wyoming," said Kyla. "Through showing in the Denver-area for the last three years, I've met so many wonderful people that I started to believe it might actually be possible to have a club here."
The club's first show will be held July 8-9th, 2017 at the Laramie County Fairgrounds in in Cheyenne Wyoming. Kyla expects the event to draw 80 to100 exhibitors and hopes to include some fundraisers in conjunctions with other nearby clubs.
She is especially exited to host her club's first show to help others in the remote area learn and grow their breeding program from the experience. "Going to shows, especially breed congress shows, has helped me better understand the standard of my breed. The feedback from the shows has taught me what to focus on in my breeding and learn from wonderful judges who take the time to explain what they see when they evaluate a cat."
Kyla first became interested in breeding cats after reading the children's encyclopedia of dog and cat breeds. As a teenager, she learned about genetics and breeding by teaching herself how to reproduce mice to feed to her pet snake. She later learned about breeding dogs from her mother-in-law, a Mini Aussie breeder. Kyla started researching cat breeds and attended her first cat show in 2014. It was there that she met her first Ragdoll, Lucky, owned by Jill Adams, who has since then become one of her dearest friends.
Kyla has been a TICA member for almost three years and was drawn to the Association by its strong community and support for breeding and showing cats. "I just really love that camaraderie and friendship of walking into a show hall and seeing familiar faces. It still amazes me just how much support we've gotten with our new club, and I think that reflects the majority of TICA members' spirit of friendship over competition."
Going forward, Kyla would like the Prairie Winds Cat Club to host an annual show in Cheyenne and to support other local clubs and animal shelters by hosting food drives or adoptable-cat booths during their events. Please help us in welcoming the Prairie Winds Cat Club to the TICA family!
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 ASK TICA 
Q.
Can my cat get sunburn?
A. Yes, Cats that are white or light-colored,
have thin hair or are of a hairless variety,
or those with light or white ears, eyelids, or noses have a higher chance of getting sunburn.
Areas that are repeatedly exposed to sunlight, such as delicate ear tips and nose that lack the protective skin pigment melanin, tend to get sunburned more often than furry areas of the body such as the back.
Sunburn may first appear with mild redness of the skin and hair loss along the edges of the ears. Scaly
spots, thickening of the skin (like leather), and itching indicate the sun damage has progressed to a dangerous point. If any of these symptoms occur you should call your vet immediately.
While it's best to keep your feline indoors during sunny days, the following tips can help limit your cat's exposure. Among them:
- Limit your cats' exposure to the sun between 10 am and 4 pm, when the sun is at its strongest. Those who live in low-latitude areas where the sun is very strong, should take extra precautions.
- Use sunscreen with caution. Consult your vet before using any products on your cat and avoid all items containing Octyl Salicylate and/or Zinc Oxide, as they are toxic to cats.
- Since UV light can come through window glass, it is possible for a cat to burn through a window. Protect your cat indoors by adding a reflective film to your windows to filter out harmful UV rays or diffuse the sun by adding shades.
- Resist trimming your cats' hair during the summer.
Consult your vet immediately if you think your cat may have sunburn instead of trying do-it-yourself remedies. Depending on the severity, your vet may treat it with antibiotics if it's infected, a topical or oral steroid, or surgery if the affected area has developed cancerous cells.
Does your cat love the sun? Have your cats ever experienced sunburn? If so, share your experience and how you handled the situation at [email protected].
Do you have a question to ask TICA about breeding, shows or anything about cats in general? No question is too big or small to ask. Just send your question to
[email protected]
and we will answer your question in a future issue of the newsletter.
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WINN Foundation Awards $214,017 in 11 Grants for Feline Health Studies
Winn Feline Foundation recently awarded 11 feline medical research grants that were funded through the generous support of private and corporate donations from around the world.
Winn Board President Glenn Olah, DVM, PhD, DABVP (Feline) stated, "Following a very thorough and rigorous review of 36 competitive proposals, we awarded $214,017 in grants for a diverse group of cat health studies examining the use of stem cells to treat feline diabetes, hepatic lipidosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and the potential role of stem cells in regulating T-cell activation and proliferation. In addition, Winn awarded grants investigating shelter cat adoption in families of children with autism, foraging behavior in confined cats, prolonged use of an antacid in cats, probiotic therapy for Tritrichomonas foetus, cryopreservation of feline red blood cells, biomarkers for FIP diagnosis, and potentially vaccinating against a virus causing lymphoma. Winn's Grant Review Committee was impressed by the total quantity of proposals, the quality of the science proposed and the number of submissions from several countries around the world."
Winn's Ricky Fund is devoted to the funding of feline HCM and related heart disease research. Special recognition is due the sponsor, Ms. Holly Aglialoro, of this year's Ricky Fund study in memory of her cat, Augustus. Winn also awards periodic support for cancer research through the Speckles Abdominal Cancer Fund. Kitty Kollar™ and owner Donna Garrou, in memory of her cat, Quasimodo, have provided key sponsorship for this year's Speckles lymphoma study.
A complete list of grants awarded, totaling $214,017 can be found here.
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New Business' Join TICA's World of ...
Fabulous felines, fun and friendship
This month, help us welcome CleanHealthy Pet Products and Catastrophic Creations to TICA's growing family of advertisers.
"Please help me welcome two out-of-the-box companies that provide safe and healthy alternatives for all of our cats," said TICA Marketing Director Roeann Fulkerson. "From safe feeding and care solutions to unconventional feline furniture, our newest advertisers are doing their part to keep felines fabulous and owning a cat fun."
Research shows that up to 45% of pet bowls have E. Coli, Salmonella, and/or Yeast/Mold. Even scarier, 75% of pet bowls still had Salmonella after scrubbing with soap and water and 67% of pet bowls still had Salmonella after being washed by a dishwasher!
To help pet owners protect their animals from unhealthy bacteria,
CleanHealthy Pet Products provides disposable feeding bowls and litter boxes made from wheat straw that is eco-friendly and recyclable.
Convenient, inexpensive and eco-friendly,
each l
itter box can be used for one week or longer and comes in sizes small, medium and large.
Feeding bowls are microwave and freezer safe and can handle hot liquids up to 200° Fahrenheit.
They can be used separately or as a liner for your pets favorite dish
and are available in a 12 pack or case of 12 packs of 12 bowls.
CleanHealthy Pet Products is also a recipient of the TICA Endorsement of Excellence.
Catastrophic Creations isn't your average climbing tree or scratching post. From the 'Indian Jones Cat Bridge' to the 'Thunderdome' themed cat climber, their unconventional customized cat furniture will stop your cats from scratching your furniture by keeping them physically and mentally challenged.
Each piece is beautifully handcrafted, space conscious, and designed to enrich your cats' environment with limitless configurations.
In addition to climbing trees and scratching posts, Catastrophic Creations also features many other popular items like mazes, a sky track, cat forts and a biplane that fixes to a wall to create a physically complex e
nvironment that encourages any cat to engage in species-typical behavior.
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Casting Call: Amazon Prime Looking for
Your Incredible Cat Stories
to Feature in New Documentary
Does your cat have an exceptional skill or talent? Did your feline help in a rescue operation or emergency service? Was your cat the inspiration a new business or charity? If so, filmmaker Richard Ash wants to hear from you.
Ash is working on a new documentary for Amazon Prime about exceptional cats and the unique and powerful bond they share with their owners. The documentary will reach a global audience and feature a range of incredible cats - from charity, business, adventure, sport, fashion, art, emergency service, and entertainment from around the world.
If you think you have a great story to tell, contact Ash at
[email protected]
for additional information or to submit your cat.
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Image source: Instagram user gregbird33
Greg Bird with his favorite feline, Mr. Delicious
Meet New York Yankees First Baseman
Greg Bird's Hairless Cat Mr. Delicious
What does a bird, a hairless cat and the New York Yankees all have in common?
After missing all of last season while recovering from labrum surgery on his right shoulder, Yankees first baseman Greg Bird adopted the 8 year-old Sphynx cat, Mr. Delicious, from a family friend and breeder.
Bird joins a growing number of baseball cat owners, including Toronto pitcher Mat Latos' cat named Cat Latos and Tampa Bay infielder Matt Duffy's 30-pound cat Skeeter.
In a recent New York Times interview, Bird acknowledged that petting Mr. Delicious, who had his name before Bird got him, is an odd sensation. "It's like a warm peach that kind of gives a little bit, that has extra skin. But he's hilarious. He's like a puppy, he hangs out, he'll come to you."
Bird acknowledges that it took some time for most of his friends and teammates to get used to Mr. Delicious
, including Yankees shortstop Tyler Wade, who does not like touching the cat. But Wade conceded that Mr. Delicious had a winning - and amusing - personality.
"At first, everyone's kind of super-standoffish. But I tell everyone, 'you hang out with that cat for a day, you'll want one,'" Bird said. "You won't get one like him, but you'll want one."
"It fits him," Wade said. "I don't know why, I just feel like, when you see Bird now, you just picture Mr. Delicious with him. Their personalities are the same, as weird as that sounds."
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