TICA Celebrates New Year of Exciting Opportunities

TICA News

January 2018 Issue

www.tica.org

From the President's Desk:

A Message from TICA President Vickie Fisher

Welcome TICA Friends!

Happy New Year to all in TICA's world! Again, my sincere thanks to you all for allowing me to represent you as President, once again.

We have lots of work to do to move forward in supporting TICA's growth around the world. Computerization and electronic business opportunities seem to be the highest things on everyone's "wish list" and we are moving ahead on that.

First up, your work and inquires to the Executive Office will be organized into a system so that you and the Office know where your work is at all times. I am also hopeful that this "ticketing" system will provide opportunities to improve our services to those who are not English language speakers.

At the same time, we will begin a makeover of our website, starting with a fresh new look and one that functions on those phones we now can't be without. We need to consider how to make our website easier for everyone to find information and do business with us, including more translations.

TICA has many opportunities, all over the world, to bring our Members and their love of cats together. I look forward to working with all of you for "Fabulous Felines, Fun and Friendship!"

Four New Clubs Join TICA's World

Please help us welcome the following clubs into our growing TICA family:

China Western Cat Club, located in Shanghai, China
Korean Cat Union located in South Korea,
Malta Feline Knights located in Naxxar Malta,
The Beloved Cat Club located in Wuhan, China

Calling All Cat Owners!!

TICA Needs Your Help in Educating the Public About Your Amazing Breed

For the sixth year, TICA will participate in AKC's Meet the Breeds, the largest showcase of pedigreed dog and cat breeds in the world with the general public as the audience. But we can't do it without the help of our members!

AKC's Meet the Breeds is held during AKC and Westminster Kennel Club's Meet & Compete event on Feb. 10, 2018 at Piers 92 & 94 in New York City. The event is a great opportunity for TICA to educate animal lovers about pedigreed cats and reinforce their value in the lives of people from all backgrounds.

The event showcases dog and cat breeds in individual booths decorated to depict each breed's country of origin and attributes as a family pet that allow the public to meet, play and learn about the unique qualities of each breed straight from the TICA member. Last year's event attracted more than 15,000 visitors who had the opportunity to meet and play with 39 of TICA's breeds.

"People know a lot about dog breeds, but aren't as familiar with cat breeds," said TICA President Vickie Fisher. "Since there isn't as much literature available about cat breeds, we need our members to help us as breed ambassadors at AKC Meet the Breeds to help people understand the value of cats as companion animals."

But TICA can't do it without YOU! To date we only have 21 of TICA's 71 breeds confirmed to attend (see list below). Please help by joining us with your cats next month and help TICA show off your breed and educate the public and national media about the unique qualities of pedigreed cats.

As a breed ambassador, you will receive a booth that includes two larger than life cat cut-outs of your breed, a breed poster, a $50 entry fee to any participating 2018 Mid-Atlantic club region show, free education conference admission, with registration, to 2018 Mid-Atlantic Education Show (July 14-15, 2018) and a $100 booth stipend provided by TICA. All you need to do is bring your cats and your vast knowledge and enthusiasm for your breed. Those interested in participating or finding out more about AKC's Meet the Breeds should contact Cheryl Hogan at [email protected].

In addition to breed booths, this year TICA will host a variety of family-friendly feline activities, including agility demonstrations and competitions with cash prizes for the top five fastest agility cats, a Kitty-CATure Fashion show, Cat Care 101 seminars a PurrFect Feline Photo Booth and tattoos for kids.

Date: Feb. 10, 2018 10 AM - 5 PM

Set-up: Feb. 9, 2018 12 - 5 PM

Location: Piers 92 & 94, New York, New York

Hotel: Red Roof Inn, Secaucus, NJ

Airport: Newark, LaGuardia, JFK

Breed Stipend: $100 per breed booth

TICA Breeds Confirmed to Participate in AKC Meet the Breeds:

Abyssinian

Am Curl

Am Wirehair

Bengal

Bengal LH

Donskoy

Egyptian Mau

Maine Coon

Oriental SH

Persian

Pixie Bob

Ragdoll

Scottish Fold SH

Sc Fold LH

Siamese

Singapura

Somali

Thai

Toyger

HHP


Mid Atlantic Regional Director Anthony Hutcherson introduces the public to the Lykoi during a press conference at AKC Headquarters.Click image to see footage from the New Breed Press Conference.	More than a dozen press attended the press conference where TICA announced new breeds for competition this year.

TICA Joins Forces with AKC to Officially Welcome The Lykoi and LH Bengal Breeds

Earlier this month, TICA participated in a joint press conference with the American Kennel Club to announce new cat and dog breeds to the public at AKC headquarters in NYC.

TICA expanded its litter of registered breeds during the event by welcoming the unique-looking Lykoi breed (also known as the "Wolf Cat") and the LH Bengal into our family of pedigreed cats, making the total number of TICA recognized breeds 71.

The event attracted more than a dozen members of the media including The Fox News Channel, WNBC, WCBS 2, Reuters, AP, UPI, AM New York, Jezebel, NY Daily News, and the New York Post among them.

Catitude Lucious Leeloo bred and owned by Lykoi breed co-founder Patti Thomas served as Spokescat for TICA's new championship breeds and was accompanied by Mid Atlantic Regional Director, Anthony Hutcherson.

Exclamations of "Werewolf" were quickly replaced by "oohs and awws" as Leelo charmed photographers with her loud purrs and sweet disposition.

TICA Celebrates "Feline Fix by Five Month" This February

Please join TICA celebrate Feline Fix by Five month this February to help promote consistency among veterinarians as they educate the public about the optimum time to spay and neuter cats.

Last year Joan Miller and Esther Mechler both partnered to recruit various volunteer experts to participate in a task force to consider recommendations for the best age to spay or neuter cats. As a result, the group recommended to spay and neuter cats and kittens prior to five months of age or by first heat, also known as Feline Fix by Five . Last June, TICA along with the AVMA, AAFP, AAHA, Association of Shelter Vets, the Winn Foundation, CFA and the Catalyst Council all endorsed this recommendation.

A growing number of respected veterinarians have joined the Fix Felines by Five movement for a number of reasons which include the prevention of mammary gland cancer; avoiding problem behaviors such as howling and fighting, spraying and roaming; and the reduction in numbers of cats and kittens relinquished to shelters. Veterinarians have explained that performing the surgery on younger animals reduces the length of the procedure and shortens the recovery time for cats post surgery. Please help FelineFixByFive get the message out.

During the month of February, members are encouraged to speak with their veterinarian about joining the growing list of veterinary practices that have signed up and speak with friends, family and colleagues about the importance of not waiting until six months or later to spay or neuter cats. A special contest will also be set up to find the Cutest Cat Fixed by Five. Details on the contest and other events that will take place during the month of February can be found online at www.FelineFixByFive.com.

Members At Work

Telegraph writer Nick Harding takes readers through the process of preparing his family cat Bengal to compete in the UK's biggest cat show, LondonCats. Read the story and follow their witty journey here .

TICA Judge Angela Sherzer and Speakeasy Whatever Shes Got at Christmas City Cat Club show in Lebanon, PA Dec. 2, 2017.

Have you worked on a project that helps promote better care and understanding of cats? Or did your media report on your event? We'd love to hear about it and share with other TICA members. Please send photos and information about any projects you are working on or media clips to [email protected].

Sweden Sees Amazing Growth in Cat and Dog-Related Industries

The Swedish have seen the amount of money spent on the care and wellbeing of their pets rise from Swedish Krona (SEK) 4.5 billion in 2001 to a whopping SEK 16 billion in 2015.

It's safe to say the Swedish love their cats and dogs and are willing to spend more on them than ever before. But just how much?

Proving cats and dogs are big business in Sweden, six researchers at the University of Agricultural Sciences recently undertook a comprehensive look at how many jobs cats and dogs create in Sweden.

They found cats and dogs to have contributed an astronomical SEK 7 billion of gross domestic product to the Swedish national economy.

Research estimated that eight thousand full-time jobs are a result of cats and dogs, more than the number of people employed in air transport or rental and leasing operations in Norway, and about the same number of people who work in Norwegian libraries, museums or cultural activities, according to Norway statistic figures.

The majority of those employed in cat and dog related industries were found to work in veterinary services, while Swedish pet masseurs, naprapaths and animal psychologists more than doubled in 2011. And promising even more future growth, breeding cats was estimated to have generated up to SEK 70 million in sales during 2015.

An Update from the WINN Foundation

The Future of Cat Health: Winn Feline Foundation will hold their 2018 Winn grant review in Portland, OR on March 16th. They have 46 research proposals to evaluate for funding, including proposals for awards to New Feline Investigators in the area of feline genetics specifically and for other health issues such as research into feline shelter medicine.

Visit WINN: Winn will have a booth at both the TNCC International Cat Show in Portland, OR from January 26-28th and Meet the Breeds at Pier 92 in NYC on February 10th. Stop by and learn more about Winn.

2017 Best Holiday Cat Photo Contest Results: Last month, Winn asked followers to enter their Best Holiday Cat Photo Contest by sending in a photo of their cat in a holiday setting and//or holiday attire. Winners received a $50 Amazon gift card. Out of 40 submissions, Winn is excited to announce the following winners in each category:

Best in Holiday Attire - "Dong Dong" (individual) and the Gingerbread group, Norman, Baldar, & Walter (multiple cats)
Most Humorous - "Diesel" in B&W
Runner-up - Sheldon O' Cooper
Special recognition was given to "Anastasia" who at 21 years of age recently crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Her loving human will receive a $10 Amazon gift card.

January Planned Giving Tip: Tax changes are coming in 2018, yet most people are not done with their 2017 returns, due April 17, 2018. Winn offers the following tips to help make preparing your taxes easier. Among them:

Watch your mail and inbox and make sure not to miss any tax documents sent by third parties.
Make a list of documents you need to complete your return, such as W-2s, 1099s, mortgage interest statements, ACA documentation among others.
Gather your financial records, receipts, or other tax information accumulated during the year so they are together.
Be sure to have documentation for any sales of stocks, bonds or other assets during the year, including your purchase price or other tax basis.

If any documentation is missing, try to get copies now. Don't wait until your return is due. Starting your homework early may help make things less stressful when preparing your return later.