June 2007:
Extract
 This time I have an excuse for being late – I was waiting for the first exhibition of  the Australian Mist in the UK. This event has passed, and I have some letters and comments from those involved to share with you later on – but by all accounts it would seem that the Australian Mist attracted a great deal of attention, behaved in their usual confident and loving manner, and had quite a crowd around them on both days of the show.

On the UK front I am also pleased to report that Australian Mist featured on the cover of ‘Cat World’ and had a big spread inside – a copy is coming to go into our archives. Ch Thera Onyx is now a proven stud (and both girls in the UK are aching for his arrival at the start of August), but unfortunately Prunella is quite determined not to grow up, and unless a miracle happens in the next 4 weeks, she will have to finish the process in the UK. I’m sorry that the opportunity to send an seventh blood line is likely to be missed … but getting Onyx there ASAP has to take priority!

September 2008
Extract
EDITORIAL
The year is speeding away, with our End of Year  Award totals growing to astronomical totals! I’m not opening a book on who will be Breeder of the Year!! – Let alone Exhibit of the Year …. However, there are many awards still available for we lesser mortals to win!

Carol wrote of one show: “Not bad on this one – Echo’s first time up into adult and he wins a Best in Show …gotta be happy with that ….” And then to my reply of congratulations: “We had him and young Jaya (our blue marbled girl from Galaxy & Uther) out at the Ekka (Brisbane Royal Show) on Saturday and we are going again tomorrow and they were both fabulous and loved all the attention.   People were standing 5 – 6 deep to see them, pat them and listen to what I was saying about the Breed.   I have already had 3 genuine inquiries and 1 deposit paid for our next litter which is great.   Had 2 bad comments on the lady that had the Breed at the Ekka last year but turned it positive…… she did more harm for the breed than good – also told that she was actually banned by the promoters because of her tactics (ie throwing a cat).   We had lots of pictures taken and hopefully we can get some TV time as well this Wednesday which is the Brisbane ‘day off’ for the EKKA.    The Whiskas people were astounded at how the cats just sat on the podia on their mats and didn’t move with 100’s of people walking past, patting them and learning about them.   It was a great day.  Looking forward to tomorrow.  Next year we will do a few more days.”  And there have been many more instances of both wins and fabulous publicity in Brisbane!

At the CCCA National this Year I had the great pleasure of staying with Mark and Carol , along with 5 exhibits, (including 2 stud cats!!) and going to the Show each day. I must say that all our exhibits behaved in an exemplary manner – they were judged 8 times over the 2 days, and  were just as happy to come out at the 8th ring as at the first! Carol and I had quite a competition with our 2 blue spotted female kittens, ended up with honours equal, and placings in Top 10s in 6 of the rings …. 
Carol’s house full of bevvies of free ranging kittens was also great fun, and she has some very interesting ideas for her outdoor cattery, and such a lot of very plump, happy purry cats – as well as very large dogs both kenneled and free ranging – definitely a home of happy (lucky) animals! Carol also has a ‘ghost’ mist – one of those ones which pops out without any ticking to develop the markings – and he is now a very successful contender in the ‘Household Pet’ section – and a wonderful pet he is too! I’m sure that he would win our Purrsonality competition – pattern or no pattern!

On the overseas front, a new contingent of hopeful young furrys (and a couple of much more mature ones!) is under preparation to go to the UK. Carol has had one of her kittens included in a consignment for the new breeder in Portugal, discovered by Eddie, and I have lost track of which number litter we are up to in the UK -– with two more being born in the last few days.  I’m very pleased to say that Prunella, who got off to such a rocky start has just produced her second litter, 5 this time, and Patricia has just birthed her very own first litter. I am also delighted  that Jane has rejoined the UK breeders, reclaiming Jelly and Irwin, and also has something new  on its way to her. Sadly Jane has suffered the loss of her grandson,  a tragedy made all the more acute because he actually lived with Jane.

At the 2008 CCCA Judges Conference Jennifer and I presented a talk on the gold breeding program – Jennifer and I produced the cats, I found/took the pictures and gave the talk, and Jennifer produced the Power Point Presentation. We thought that some of the judges really had their eyes opened, seeing the cinnamon tabbies and the gold mists side by side, and that it might finally have penetrated that  the difference is only one gene … And talking of cinnamon tabbies – looks as though one of Jennifer’s may be making an appearance as a Household Pet too.

I also organised a presentation which I called ‘Breeders Best Cat’, in which we made a booklet ( printed on that lovely printer) of a number of breeds/breeders best breeding cats. Each person gave a small talk as well as displaying their cat, and the Judges found it very interesting to have some insight into how breeders think, and of the things which are both of concern and importance to them. I am attaching the page on which I present my best Australian Mist cat ….

March 2009
Extract
First of all I would like to thank all our Members, and friends, and many past kitten buyers, for their concern for us and all our cats through the Black Saturday Bushfires. It was extremely scary, John and I moved all the boys into the library and cellar (which are in metal clad buildings with insulated walls) in the heat of the day, when to step outside was like standing in front of a steel furnace with the door open … We also moved all the girls off the verandah (with the welcome assistance of Rod U’Ren) into the house. We were in fact fairly safe because we had bare paddocks between us and the direction of the fire, but the winds were so high that ember attack was a possibility. The studs of course, live in a ‘retired’ hay barn, with their houses built inside, with open mesh ceilings and lots of air circulation – impossible to protect. The verandah of the house faces the direction of the fire, and while defensible against ember attack, I didn’t care for the idea of falling over cats/letting them out by accident as we rushed from room to room ….  As it was, the effort was thankfully not needed – we just had to put everyone back again…

The following day I went to our annual kitten show, and it was on the way there that we began to learn the grim truth, Marysville gone, Kinglake gone --- the death toll started to mount, and by the end of the day we knew that one of our FCCV members had lost her husband, and our popular cat vet, Carole Webb, had also lost hers… Both also lost their houses, and some animals …   The rest you all know about, the horrors went on and on, and the next two weeks brought continued tension… but for us, apart from  the emotional strain and uncertainty, the fires moved further and further away.

The response of the FCCV was to open their building for cat fanciers from all governing bodies as a place of refuge – there the show cages are stored, so plenty of potential temporary housing for cats, and a kitchen and bathroom available …. During the later scares a few people did indeed take advantage of the offer, being very relieved to have somewhere that their cats were welcome! Of course the FCCV opened a fund to assist our cat people, as so many others have done, and we contributed money to aid the Whittlesea vets caring for injured wildlife as well as cats.

On another sad and distressing note, I’m sure that all our members would like to extend their condolences to Eddie and Rose Kitching whose son recently died very suddenly.

On a more cheerful note, one of the events for which I was waiting was the landing in the UK of our fourth consignment of Australian Mists, this time 6, 3 girls and 3 boys. At least two of the girls are pregnant, the third was mated before leaving, but it was too soon to tell whether successfully.  With any luck this means that Jelly will be replaced (I sent her litter brother as a gift), and at least 5 more blood lines added – one boy and two girls were from the same litter, but with them we are also hoping for the correct peach and gold colours to be added to the European population.

Patricia Bristow was the primary recipient of this consignment, and in preparation, turned her back yard upside down building insulated, heated stud houses for the boys – of which they thoroughly approve, as of her first report!

December 2010
Extract
 I have not received a great many contributions to the 25th Anniversary Book, but MUST commend Wendy Wenzel who has produced an almost scholarly account of Mists on the Net … I think that this article will be something on which all will look back in wonder in the years to come …  Jennifer and I have been going through old ‘On the Spot’ issues and starting to select themes for reprinting, our Patron has produced an Introduction for us, and I am thinking about how all this is to be presented. Over the years I have accumulated a very large number of kitten photos from all and sundry – am thinking of using these as a recurrent decorative theme in the layout, without individual names attached, but all donors acknowledged as a group.  I am also thinking of having the final pdf document printed, collated and bound (wire spiral) by a quick printing establishment – the WCC/CCCA catalogue was done this way, and looked most professional …. Once I have established a possible cost for this, an order form will be circulated, with price/copy. All copies are to be ordered beforehand, as there will only be the fixed number printed.

June 2011
Extract
EDITORIAL
In contrast to the rather meagre meal served to you all in March, I anticipate that this newsletter will be a superabundant feast. Of course the major topic will be the 25th Anniversary celebration, celebrated through story, picture and song (well poem, really!!).
Of the 80 copies of the Anniversary Book printed, individually signed and numbered there are less than 15 copies remaining. Should anyone have ordered and paid for a copy and not yet received it, please let me know ASAP!! Once they are gone, that is it!!
There is a little quiz at the end of this Newsletter in which anyone who would like to win a copy/another copy can complete. Return to me by the end of July….the winner will receive a free copy.

Before moving into full celebration mode, I would like to welcome a new member, Silvana Mifsud to our midst. Silvana has been ‘hanging around’ Penny, Jen and I at shows for more than a year – initially she couldn’t make up her mind between British and Mists – eventually she took the plunge with a British. Finally after having shown for a year and bred her first litter, she succumbed to the charms of Mists, particularly marbled ones, and purchased a lovely 6 month old girl from me (and she has already won one R/U to best in Show with her!!) Silvana joined us just in time to attend our celebration, and she has shared her impressions for our newsletter.

I am also delighted to have received a couple of other contributions from Silvana, who it appears might well take some of the pressure from me in producing this Newsletter!

I have, since so many of our members have actually toured my cattery, invited two breeders in Australia, and two in the UK to take us to their catteries, by providing us with a virtual cattery tour. The idea is not only to see how some of us have established ourselves, but also to spread good ideas around between us, and of course, to share any lessons we may have learnt along the way. The first tour appears in this Newsletter, from Sam Atherton-Ryan, who sent it within 2 days of the request!! I have also received another tour for the September Newsletter, and am hoping that I will receive at least one other for that issue. If everyone enjoys these tours, I will commission some further ones for next year.

Well, now on with the 25th Anniversary!
Truda Straede                        EDITOR
 
AUSTRALIAN MIST 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, 17 APRIL 2011
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the birth of the first Full Register Litter to Nintu Freya
 
Planning started over a year ago, with the invitation to our Members to prepare contributions to the Anniversary book. While I would have liked a few more, the ones received were interesting and varied creating a rich tapestry of styles and observations for the book. Of special note were two major contributions. The first was from Wendy Wenzel, who prepared an extensive survey of Mists on the Net, which I believe will provide an important benchmark in the development of our breed in the years to come. The second was from Rod U’Ren, Senior All Breeds Judge and Tutor Judge, who has been extremely supportive of the breed, both through his judging practice and individual advice to breeders.

Once I started to compile the book, I realised that I really had set myself an enormous task … fortunately (or not!) in January I managed to fall and sprain my ankle, and became quite restricted in my physical activity – which meant of course, I had to sit at my computer and work!!

Behind the scenes, we had started work months before, tidying, cleaning up and organising the tool sheds, the garden, the things that needed to be thrown away… After 10 years allowing disorder to grow, this was quite a task. John utterly transformed his workshop, I (and my garden helper Querida) carried out essential renovations in the garden – not forgetting the grass;- which had to be mown every fortnight over the wettest summer since we moved here! My invaluable handy-woman, Crystal, managed lots of overtime, scraping and painting…. Need more be said?? It did look ‘pretty good’ on the day!
Twenty fifth Anniversary awards were decided upon, ordered/created embroidered and engraved. Two Life Memberships were also to be presented, to Dr Valerie Hamilton, and Mrs Jeanette Perkins. (below). Unfortunately Valerie had a family 90th birthday party to attend on the previous evening – in Sydney!

Once into the New Year, Jennifer, as Secretary, prepared and supervised the invitation and book ordering process (and unknown to me, organised with other members some rather pleasant surprises for me, on the day!!)

MOST SUCCESFUL BREEDER
& BREED PUBLICIST
OF THE LAST 5 YEARS
 CAROL HIGGINS
& MARK DART


GREATEST CONTRIBUTORS
TO IMPROVEMENT &  UNDERSTANDING OF
PEACH AND GOLD COLOURS
 IN THE LAST 5 YEARS
JENNIFER GLENISTER
& JUDY ROGET



MOST UNSWERVING SUPPORTER
OF THE BREED FOUNDER
& THE BREED
JOHN STRAEDE


GREATEST CONTRIBUTOR
TO BREED IMPROVEMENT
IN LAST 5 YEARS
ROD U’REN

PREMIER DONOR
TO THE AMCFA
AUSTRALIAN MIST DISTRESS FUND
MARY NEAL

As the count down continued the pace grew more frenzied, anxiety was high because the lady who does all our embroidery (and who has offered to embroider an article for free, for a fund raising raffle for us!!) was suddenly very short handed --- when I went to pick up the embroidery, just days before the party not only was everything just as I had wished, she had wrapped each article in clear cellophane for me! One less job to do!! Then there was the cake. Eventually I worked out how to turn two pudding basin shaped cakes into an iced cat shaped cake, and 9 kittens – then I had endless problems because the humidity was so high that the colour from the hundreds and thousands I used to make the spotting and marbling ran ….. but originally  this is what it looked like!
Even in the week before, when the count down to the arrival of four guests from the UK was imminent, the actual numbers for the event weren’t really clear – so of course, I over catered enormously… Then a real disappointment, Sam Atherton-Ryan emailed that she had had a disaster, her beloved stud, Ayudamist Elliott Tambo had somehow managed to tangle with another stud, and was very badly injured with a broken back leg, and not only was it going to cost Sam an arm and a leg to have it repaired, he was going to need careful nursing which she knew that only she could give … so regretfully she cancelled her trip.
Then there were the displays ---and a few cages for a few interesting cats to reside in on the day … it is truly wonderful what one can do with an Ag shed largely full of ‘useful’ items, some tables and decorations, and a library, to create a festive display. I must say even I was amazed at the huge amount of archival material I have accumulated over the years. Book signing also took place (supervised by Geoff Paton, thankyou Geoff!) in the Ag shed. It takes quite a while to sign 80 books, specially when there are just under 30 people to sign! We had in fact, organised some signing before the event, and John even took the two heavy boxes to the U’Ren home for signing.
John had also arranged a showing of all our recorded TV programmes to be viewed in comfort in the library.
On the Friday before the event, Geoff Paton from Queensland, owner of the wondrous Laddie, Supreme Exhibit at the Twentieth Anniversary show arrived in time to share dinner with us, and to do some signing! The UK contingent were already here, but sleeping off the long flight and adjusting themselves to the change in temperature. On Saturday a lively party assembled, Di, Sue, Mary, Geoff and Jeanette all sat round the kitchen table and chopped and sliced cheese, meat, celery etc amidst much laughter and general jollity.
This chopping included Geoff attacking his finger with great force and vigour, and subsequently spending several hours in Warragul Hospital Outpatients where Mary had taken him. Eventually he returned to us and joined us at dinner, which Wendy Wenzel and Ruth Cantrell also attended. I’m afraid that Geoff wasn’t able to live down this happening for the rest of the weekend … and probably never will!

Having now reached the eve of the event, I’m turning over to Silvana Mifsud, our newest member, for her account of the day.

Australian Mist 25th Anniversary Celebration

I wanted to express the absolute enjoyment I experienced at the Australian Mist 25th Anniversary Celebration on the 17th April 2011. There was a substantial number of people who attended and being the latest breeder to join the ranks, I instantly felt welcomed. It was also great to meet the previous and current breeders and owners, as well as Dr Jennifer Glenister and Penny Cervi who with Dr Truda encouraged and informed me of such an eloquent breed. I was quite pleased to meet the breeders and owners who travelled all the way from England; Mary, Sue and Diane, who were good-humoured and great company.

Truda had certainly out done herself with an array of appetising food and beverages, everybody enjoyed. The delicious Celebration Cake Truda had spent time preparing was of an Australian Mist and kittens; I thought was very fitting and clever.

I thoroughly enjoyed the day’s activities which comprised various question games, in two of which I took part. I was pleasantly amused that one of the questions was about me. It made me happy that Truda had included me in such a way, at this very special event and a witty way for people to get to know who I am.

Being the fledgling, I thought it would be ideal to get assistance with one of the question sheets, to which Sue, from England, agreed to work together with me. Though, to my surprise I was able to answer them relatively well. I received second place with it and was given a wonderful prize of a Special Edition, 25th Anniversary cat carrier cover, which I will use at future cat shows with great pride and honour.

Before the presentation was to commence, we each had to sign our signature in the Limited Edition 25th Anniversary books, eighty in total, compiled by Truda. I, of course was the last to sign, as I had been quite distracted viewing the assortment of cats and kittens to my pleasure and lost track of time.

Truda carefully arranged a presentation with gifts for this special event, to thank all who had a role in the success of this outstanding breed. And I am sure she was very surprised, when she was given well deserved gifts by the members of the Australian Mist Cat Fanciers Association Inc. The presentation had certainly made most of us emotional from witnessing these memorable moments. 

Concluding the day’s festivities we enjoyed a meal at the local Bunyip pub. Without a doubt, speaking on behalf of all who attended, we appreciated the amount of work Truda had put into this very Significant and Special Celebration.
Silvana Mifsud

December 2012
Extract
EDITORIAL
As you will have undoubtedly noted, this is the ONE HUNDREDTH issue of On The Spot!! It is also the occasion on which we celebrate the publication of the very first issue of ‘Mistings’, the newsletter of the Australian Mist cat Club of America, and ‘The Bush Telegraph’  the official newsletter of the AMCCUK, supreme edition for November 2012. The content of both these Newsletters is very interesting, keeping a record of progress of the Mists in both places, as well as offering comment, stories, useful information – and even a pattern to make a stuffed hamster toy! I have included some snippets from each Newsletter for your entertainment.

The real significance of these Newsletters is that they signal the dedication of both groups of breeders to the Australian Mist, and demonstrate willingness to pull together to promote the breed, and to share the pleasure of being an owner, breeder and/or exhibitor.

The next piece of really interesting information is that AMCCUK is in the thick of organising the show at which Australian Mist will be recognised as eligible for Championship status. This has involved the club in growing to a most significant membership, with a large number of breeders, cats bred and regular exhibitors, and is a major landmark in the recognition of the breed in the UK. It will no longer be other ‘New Breeds’ against which the Mists compete – as they have done very successfully, it must be recorded, but against all the recognised breeds! It is to be hoped that they will also shine in this arena. In the middle of June this event will take place, with one of our members present to witness such a momentous event.

Congratulations must be offered to Carol and Mark Higgins and Zion their beautiful brown marble male  that won Best Shorthair Exhibit in QFA & QICC, Runner Up Best SH Kitten QFA, Best Shorthair Kitten QICC (the 2 councils he was showed at). Zion also won the prestigious "Liz Haimes" memorial trophy which they were very honoured to receive. Utah won best SH Entire Adult & Best Overall Entire Adult at QICC. So it was a very good year for the two Mists that Mark & Carol campaigned in 2012.


June 2013
Extract
EDITORIAL
As predicted in the March Editorial, we are off to a late start this month. The trip to the UK and Italy, in a nutshell, was wonderful, exhausting, and never to be repeated…..
But you want to know the details of course, about the people I met, the cats I saw, and the show….

Mary met me in the middle of the night at Heathrow, looking  decidedly anxious, as I hadn’t turned up on the scheduled flight – we were too late arriving at Dubai because our plane had had to join a long take off queue at Kuala Lumpur . Fortunately Juliette, Mary’s friend, had accompanied her on the 3 hour drive from home.
Mitch was still up waiting for us when we finally, after roadworks detours, arrived home – and after carrying bags upstairs, and a cuppa, we all fell into bed.  I woke with a start at 5am – full daylight, I must have overslept – but no, only the incredibly long days of midsummer – took a bit of getting used to!

After a quiet day of gossiping and catching up, inspecting cats and catteries, and meeting again some of the cats that I had sent to Mary – including the FIRST, Linny, (who I am sure remembered me) we sampled a good English Pub dinner, and watched Mitch performing with his Morrismen. Mary has a very nice setup in her very long narrow backyard – the gentlemen well housed down the back, and the girls with their own cat garden just outside the back door. Very high fence with a netting turnover at the top.. Everyone stays in, and sleep in a variety of comfy beds in sheds, or preferably, sneak inside to sleep in a heap on top of the gas powered slow combustion stove.

Next day we were into preparation for the trip in the afternoon to stay with Mary’s
 Mum, Pat, complete with 8 cats, and four of us in all – Sue and Di, who visited here with Mary for the 25th Anniversary celebration, Mary and I, for three very much appreciated days of hospitality – thankyou Pat.

When we picked up Sue, we met her absolutely superb neuter,  a brown spotted lad with lovely soft  markings and  beautiful rufism – in fact, one of the best coats I saw on my whole stay. Now everyone is looking round to see whether they can replicate this coat!
I was very sorry that he wasn’t entered in the show – but I don’t know where we would have put him  in the van that Mary had hired – it was full!!
Di’s two Mists were very happy, and very well fed – indeed feeding everything and everyone appears to be Di’s major concern in life, the barbecue that she threw in my honour was very well catered. I also enjoyed  her long narrow backyard, full of plants, vegies, velvet lawn, greenhouses .. and talking to her husband, very knowledgeable about plants…

Show Day. I must say that rising at ‘sparrow fart’ was absolutely no different , though it was refreshing that it was daylight.  The journey to the show at Lutterworth was quite a short one from Pat’s place, and we arrived at about 7.30am – talk about déjà vu, there was the sports centre, huge indoor basketball court full of benches and cages (‘pens’ according to UK speech), the same vetting queue,  and unfortunately, the same muddle and confusion ….
Anyway, finally everyone was set up, and what a wonderful display of Mists there was, 31 exhibits, only 4 absent, and one kitten On Exhibition only – only adults were eligible to compete in the Australian Mist Presentation Show. The competitors were Mary Stuart, Val & Rosie King, Sam Atherton–Ryan, Rachel and Tim Burgess and Joy Lancaster. The latter three had generously brought their  desexed pets to help make up the numbers, though Joy was the exhibitor of the kitten – her future first brood queen.

Then the waiting started – the judging started late,  then we were asked to come and speak with Ole Amstrup from Denmark, the Chair of the FIFe Breeding and Registration Commission, who solemnly informed us that we couldn’t call the breed Australian Mist, because ‘mist’ is very rude in German … we could call them Australian Shorthairs… This brought a pretty swift response from us ( specially me!!) that the name certainly wouldn’t be changed.  I have been aware of this rude meaning for a very long time, since John Greenway, a German speaker, was a member of the AMCFA.

Then we waited, and waited… so I took the opportunity to talk to each of the owners, and examine and make notes on their cats, and to choose my '‘Breed Founder's Choice'’ I was very impressed by the beautiful condition of the cats as a whole, and especially admired the wonderful coat texture of the desexed cats, though many of the entire cats were suffering from the midsummer moult …The temperaments were also outstanding, wonderfully easy to handle, many sat on their owners laps for hours at a time, or walked on leads, ‘enduring’ endless patting from the public. This wonderful show trained behaviour was outstanding on the judge’s bench – after having been minutely inspected, they would sit down, no-one holding them, while the judge wrote notes ….In one case, the cat got up, walked around the judge’s notebook, and sat down right up against his chest, where it received  the ‘natural’ response from the judge – a pat and a stroke, as he continued writing his report.
But to return to the general day, we waited and waited, finally being informed that all the other judging would be completed before the Australian Mist were judged … because some judges were booked on early flights (sound familiar??) 
In the meantime, Donatella Mastrangelo, who was the other judge assessing the Australian Mist came and told us that  we ‘couldn’t have the standard as submitted, we will rewrite it.’ To say the least we were stunned by this full frontal attack, as the AMCCUK has been very careful to follow all the procedures requested of them, and were left wondering what they had overlooked – not a happy bunch!

Finally, after almost everyone had left the hall, amidst the crash of folding pens, at 5.30pm we were to have our turn. First Steve explained to us that because FIFe has a very multilingual and diverse range of national affiliates, the standard would need to be simplified and cast in a manner that is easily translatable, which of course we all understood, specially as he made it quite clear that the AMCCUK would be fully consulted and have adequate opportunity to input their views.  The judging then went along smoothly, despite the long wait it really was most satisfactory. At the end of handling their half of the exhibits, each judge chose their best, then an overall Best Exhibit, by consultation.  It was almost Rumtumtugger Henry Chaplin, the best male, owned by Val & Rosie King, and bred by Mary. But he had had enough of being handlled, and lost his chance to Rumtumtugger Amelia, best female, owned by Sam Atherton-Ryan, also bred by Mary. My Breed Founders Choice was ‘Golden Balls’ Rosevalleymists Sharp Dressed Man, a stunning young stud from Koa x Tom Foolery who arrived  in utero at Val and Rosie King’s cattery in 2011.

June 2014
Extract
EDITORIAL
As has undoubtedly come to your attention, this newsletter is either verrry late, or right on time! Not to make too many excuses, I plead preparation for conforming with the new Code of Practice for Breeding Cats – and a complete knee replacement.

In regard to the New Code of Practice,  I assiduously prepared all the necessary paperwork, did the on line training course, and beavered away at reducing my number of entire cats…. One  stud winged his way to NSW, Penny took a couple of lads who have always lived together, and I am hoping that she will use them with her girl, and existing stud to found a little line of her own.  Instead of one girl (Odette) in kitten, and one stud (Bandit), Kay in the US bought a brilliant second stud (Neelix) to whom Odette had already had a stunning litter for me (I kept a truly magnificent boy, Valiant), and another girl, Bell.  I desexed my Blood group b boy, and after a rather unfortunate adventure with a new owner in NSW, he ended up with Trish Beech, to find him a new home -– the new home is actually her – he is such a big sook, and will make a wonderful show neuter! Thankyou Trish!!

The Maine Coons have also reduced in number, with just 2 desexed girls currently awaiting homes. One is however, very timid, so I wonder whether I will ever find one for her.

But in the end, despite all this effort and  after attending the Education Day provided by the Department of Environment and Primary Industry, I came to the conclusion that my only recourse was to reduce the number of my entire female cats to 9 or less, and claim the exemption extended by the Domestic Animals Act to me as a member of an ‘Applicable Organisation’, of which there are 5 in Victoria – 1 for dogs, and 4 for cats (typical!!). 
The crunch is that the Code talks about ‘entire cats’ – that is all boys and girls over 16 weeks of age that are not desexed, plus various formulae covering litters of various ages under 16 weeks which are entire cat equivalents: there must be 1 full time 7 days a week 8 hours a day person for every 25 of them. Now I would have interpreted this as meaning that if you have another 5 ‘equivalents’ you would need to employ a second person, 7 days a week for  approximately 2 hours a day … but this is not so. As soon as you have 26 entire cat equivalents its up to the full 8 hours a day 7 days a week.  Quite obviously I couldn’t afford this, particularly as amongst my entire cats there are a lot of boys, kept as a ‘gene bank’, a resource, in fact for the whole breed.  So more desexing and re-homing.  Fortunately my Cardinia Council Officer has been very helpful and co-operative, and the transition has taken place with a minimum of fuss.  I certainly am not sorry for the effort I put into my preparation, it has resulted in a great deal of sprucing up of the cattery, and  some interesting ideas for record keeping which are worth pursuing. I can’t say that I am sorry either, about the reduced number of queens, I really don’t want to have so many litters, and I am happy to turn over the girls – its not as though there is any problem finding homes for them – even when they are quite mature.

The knee replacement appears to have been a real success, unlike the problems I had with nerve damage after the hip replacement. I was the gold star girl, ready to leave hospital on the fourth day after the operation!! However, it is very true that it is MUCH more painful than a hip replacement, and you do have to keep working at it despite the pain. But folks, I no longer limp, and 3 weeks out from the op I am walking much more confidently than I have for years … so I am hoping that I will recover to a state better than I have been for years!

The other major news is on the recognition front. Kay is continuing to beaver away, and compile statistics, and attend shows to create some of her own  towards TICA recognition.  I have included a progress report further on.

September 2014
Extract
Having finally recovered from the exhaustion of attending a 3 day show, with ANCATS, my new association, it is time to share a bundle of news with you.

I actually judged all breeds on the Friday, and found that the quality was high, even if the quantity was small. Of course many people can’t have a day off to attend during the week, so more exhibits were present only over the weekend. This was a Retirement Expo event, with interesting age relevant lectures in the same space as the cats – and also two concerts of Beatles look/sound alikes, which while they were excellent were very loud, and caused pause in judging. I took one Maine Coon, and 4 Mists, all behaved very nicely, though a couple were quite shy, not ever having attended a show before. We ended with one Best Entire and Supreme Exhibit – Nintu Lauded Guide, and he also became a Champion. My big Coon lad also became a Champion.

At this show I was very impressed by a Cinnamon Burmese. This is the colour which underlies our Gold Australian Mist, and I have previously produced such from experimental litters. I was interested to see that this glowing light golden brown true Burmese was very much more intensely coloured that the spin off kittens I have produced, confirming that as in our other colours, the gold Australian Mist is derived from a delicately coloured phase of the Burmese colour.

Talking of experimental lines, Carol Higgins is progressing wonderfully with her new blood line from Cupid, with a superb litter, all Burmese dilute (cbcb), and of excellent type from Zuki. With one of those strokes of luck, the very nicest kitten, which she wants to keep, turned out to be the one which doesn’t carry blood group b,  the frequency of which we are trying to reduce in the population.
Carol  had some fun with the litter.

“I took them to their first show and they were shown in the pedigree section and two kittens placed in 2 rings in the top 15 and 1 in the 3rd ring - not one Judge knew or picked that they were only Gen 1 or 2. They were assessed by QFA on Wednesday 27th so I am waiting to hear whether they will accept my recommendation that these kittens be registered as Gen 2 and not Gen 1”. They are certainly worthy to be Generation 2.

The breed is advancing on other fronts, as well, with Kay and Val working very hard to fulfil all the requirements for advancement to Championship status with TICA. We are all very grateful for this effort, and anticipate that with any luck this status will be achieved in time for the 2015 show year. A couple of reports from Kay appear further on. Val has been very assiduous in exhibiting to fulfil requirements for the number of (different) cats exhibited, and in recruiting new breeders, while Kay has co-ordinated and compiled all the data, producing the paper reports, as well as exhibiting, rearing babies, and recruiting new breeders and exhibitors.

This latter is particularly difficult with a new breed, and at this time. The reduction in the number of pedigree breeders and exhibitors is not confined to Australia, in fact it is a worldwide phenomenon, with huge organisations such as TICA looking at their shrinking member base and wondering about future cash flow. Increased costs in keeping cats, and the development of many more cat control measures in many countries are not the only contributing factors. The presentation of competitions and exhibitions has become much more costly, with venue hire often quadrupling in a year, and many more compliance costs to do with Occupational Health and Safety, and Public Liability Insurance adding to the up front costs. Then of course, the Fancy is ageing, so finding volunteer workers is difficult, with many willing but no longer able (or too old or too young to be covered by insurance …. ).  The irony is, of course, that pet cats are really becoming much more important as companions, and as a contact with something natural, as more and more people live in highly urbanised situations. I know that I sell a lot of kittens to inner metropolitan families to fulfil these vital functions.

March  2015
Extract
I am very pleased to be able to welcome Joan and Ken Quinn as our newest members – from WA, too! It is some years since we had an active breeder ‘over there’! Joan and Ken have been breeding Mists for some years under their Silverado prefix – and they do have a very handsome website, too. Joan sent me some pictures of her latest litter, and I have put one here for you to enjoy.
My second item is sad – Buffy has passed, after a valiant year coping with failing kidneys. Lynden wrote “A lovely vet from Agnes Banks came and she (Buffy) was as happy as is possible when your body has pretty much given up. She has done so well since her diagnosis close maybe ten months ago but recently went off her food and despite rallying briefly for a couple of days, it was clear we had to make the hard decision. Been really tough but that is why we are here, to look after their best interests. Rest in peace dearest girl who loved everyone from babies up and equally was loved by everyone.
She was born on 24/2/2000, part of the last Elmridge Australian Mist litter as active breeders, so her passing on 17/3/2015 is the end of an era for my three generation nuclear family unit.”
End of an era, indeed.
VALE BUFFY

AND official confirmation from TICA - The TICA Board approved the Mist for championship beginning May 1st with a one-sentence change to the standard. In the pattern descriptions under marbled, the following sentence was added at the very beginning. “This is a modified marbled pattern.”
Hooray!
Nancy (Parkinson)
Thankyou to all the crew for their effort in achieving this much desired outcome. Here’s hoping that it opens up a bright future for the Mists worldwide.

Now that I don’t have so many furry feet upon the ground, I have started collating my 36 years of kitten/litter records. Those of you who own either of my ‘Breeding Cats… a practical guide’  books will recall some summarised data from these publications, but now I have used my entire set of records, from 1979-2014, and I will share some of the results with you.