September 2010show Maine Coon from a well known local breeder in 2003 and showed him to Supreme at...

www.mainecoon.co.za September 2010

of 12

In this Edition

• MCIG Committee Members

• New MCIG Members...pg 2

• Membership Form...pg 4

• Breeder Profile – Shangri-la Cattery....pg 5

• SACC Cat of the Year...pg 6

• Upcoming Shows....pg 10

• Articles

Tooth Decay & Tooth Ache....pg 10

Pets & disaster checklist...pg 11

• Paw Bits...pg 12

��

MCIG COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Charmaine Danziger – Chairwoman

Marianne Kernes – Treasurer

Kim Brodie – Secretary

Annie Conway – Public Relations Officer

Anina Abrie – Co-Editor

Jo-Anne Noble – Awards Secretary

Brenda Souma – Membership Secretary & Editor

��

Cat of the Year took place in Cape Town on the 7th

August with some expected and some

not so expected results! The Maine Coons did us proud! Congratulations to Carol

Middleton (Highlanders MC) Best Maine Coon of the Year; Marianne Kernes (Kernes

MC) Brood Queen of the Year and Petra Smith (The Legends MC) runner up Breeder of

the Year (missed it by one point!!) All the results of the show can be found further on in

the newsletter.

Brenda Souma, Editor

Petra Smith (The Legends)

runner up

Breeder of the Year

Welcome to our

NEW MCIG MEMBERS

BRONWYN FRANKLIN from Ballito

Domino

ROD BOADEN

of 12

NEW MCIG MEMBERS

BRONWYN FRANKLIN from Ballito

Sebastian

ROD BOADEN and BELLA from Durban

of 12

NADIA SCHMIDT and STANLEY from Stellenbosch

DEBORAH COLAM and Merlin from Benoni.

Merlin’s registered name is Valkyrie Blizzard, but due to his nature was renamed!

Merlin at 10 weeks

With his mouse – now 4 months old

Have you ever thought how your Maine Coon takes up most of the space when he shares your bed or couch?

Well how about owning one of these!!! It sort of puts it all in perspective doesn’t it?

of 12

Should you know of anyone who would be interested in joining the Maine Coon Interest Group please give them the

membership form to complete return it to [email protected]

MEMBERSHIP FORM

AFFILIATED TO SACC

Full Name and Surname

Postal Address

Telephone Number Code: (………..)

Fax Number Code: (………..)

Mobile Number

E-mail Address

Number of Maine Coons owned

New Member / Renewal

Are you a Breeder?

Date: Signature:

The Annual Membership is from January to December – Fees: R60.00 per household

BREEDERS ONLY - Please ensure your signed Code of Ethics accompanies your form and proof of payment

Direct Deposits to:

Maine Coon Interest Group (SA)

ABSA Southdale

Branch Code 632005

Account 90 8867 5866

Fax proof to: Brenda Souma – 086 693 3749

RENEWALS

If proof of renewal and/or signed Code of Ethics are not received by the 28th

February, membership will be regarded

as discontinued and Breeder’s details will be removed from the approved breeders list and from our website.

For queries regarding renewals:

Membership Secretary MCIG SA – Brenda Souma

Fax: 086 693 3749

Mobile: 082 921 0166

E-mail: [email protected]

Please visit our website: http://www.mainecoon.co.za

of 12

Latest Arrival! Dixiana

Profile of a Breeder

Shangri-la Cattery

By Vivian Wright, Owner & Breeder

We are a small cattery based in Edenvale, Gauteng, breeding from imported and some

local lines. We were established in 2004 and are registered with the South African Cat

Council and the Cat Federation of South Africa.

My main objective is to raise healthy, well-socialised and adjusted cats with sweet natures. I want

our cats to be confident adults, and for this reason the kittens are raised underfoot with lots of love and attention.

My cats live in my home and to provide them with security I have an enclosed run attached to the house so that they

can enjoy the sun and the garden.

I met my first Maine Coon at the CFSA Cat of the Year in 2002 and fell in love with the

breed instantaneously. Their size and temperament did it for me! I purchased my first

show Maine Coon from a well known local breeder in 2003 and showed him to

Supreme at CFSA. It was early in 2004 that I decided I wanted to breed.

And why breed? Simply “One Maine Coon leads to another” – and I did not see the point

in “collecting” neuters from other breeders and never being able to do anything to promote,

protect and preserve this wonderful breed. And so started the search for my first import. In mid 2004 amid great

excitement, my first import arrived. Versaille gave us 6 beautiful litters and now lives as a retired pet with her son in

Bloemfontein. I have since imported another 3 Maine Coons – one which could not be used for breeding due to

being a Cryptorchid.

I show my cats to ensure that they are as close to the required standard as possible and

to keep myself up to date with any changes. When deciding on relevant matings I do

look closely at the pedigrees as I prefer to outcross the lines. I also look at which

cats phenotype will complement another’s in order to try to improve the overall

look. I do not necessarily agree with the new colour specifications for judging being

brought into the breed as the Maine Coon is a naturally occurring breed. I feel the new

stipulations will result in some of the breeders only working with a certain colour or working

only with cats without white.

As the popularity of the Maine Coon breed has grown over the past few years, I

never have a problem finding suitable homes but do insist on meeting all

potential owners before making a decision on which is the correct home for each

individual kitten. I have and will refuse a sale if I do not believe that the

potential owners are the right owners for one of my kittens.

I have found breeding to be most fulfilling – wonderfully rewarding, heartbreaking and

frustrating. Holding a newborn kitten in your hands makes you appreciate miracles. Having a young kitten die

makes you sadder than you ever thought you could be. But at the end of the day, all my cats give me so much

pleasure that I would not have it any other way.

of 12

Waiting patiently

for a then very ill

Theresa to take

photos

Cat of the Year was held in the picturesque town of Rondebosch in Cape

Town at the Belmont Conference Centre on the 7th

August 2010.

The race to the event started for most on the Friday where at airports cats

had to be taken out of their cages, held in the secure arms of their already

stressed out owners, admired by travellers patiently waiting while cages

are being weighed and cats, seemingly not so stressed as their owners,

eventually were returned to their cages.

We finally arrived to a beautiful sunny day in Tabelview, but alas, so typical of the Cape, this did not last long, as soon the

mist started moving in and by late afternoon you could not see you hand before your eyes!

To Petra Smith and her lovely family – a special thank you. You so graciously opened your home to the Gautengers. We had

a memorable time, sitting in front of a blazing fire, chatting, eating the most wonderful food prepared by Harry.

Emotions ran high on show day. But this could be expected – a whole year of countless hours of grooming, sleepless nights,

hopes and dreams to be one of the finalists for this day. In the hall the walls were covered in lovely masks, the cages were

stacked with gifts from all the exhibitors. Silent prayers that, if only for today, your cat will behave and be the perfect show

cat, even if we know that, it is the standard of the breed that will be the ultimate deciding factor.

The evening was a fancy affair. Staying with the theme beautiful outfits were worn by both men and women. The

atmosphere was electric! As the results were read out a multitude of expressions were playing on their faces – ever hopeful,

absolutely elated and disappointment.

Congratulations to Cat of the Year Gr Pr Cracker Cotton Eye Joe and owner René van Wyk. Our Maine Coons did us proud

though! Brood Queen of the Year – Kernes Miss Tina Turner, owner Marianne Kernes; Best Maine Coon of the Year –

Kondicoon Montgomery of Highlanders, owned by Carol Middleton; runner-up Breeder of the Year – Petra Smith, The

Legends Cattery

The Gala Evening

of 12

of 12

SACC CAT of the YEAR

Gr Pr Cracker Cotton Eye Joe Owner René van Wyk

Neuters

Neuter of the Year

Sp Pr Anesla Marie Curie

Yvonne Akersten and

Irene Langford

2nd

Gr Pr Cracker

Cotton Eye Joe

René van Wyk

6th

Sp Pr Kondicoon

Montgomery of

Highlanders

Carol Middleton

13th

Sp Pr Westwood’s

Chocolate Brownie

Athylle Caw

Pets

Pet of the Year

Joker

Vian and Lorindi van Wyk

2nd

Batman

Natasha &

Simon Greaves

of 12

Kittens

Kitten of the Year

Spandau La Paloma Blanca

Wilma Hyman

2nd

Waterlee Moonshine

Natalie Parry

5th

The Legends Hamish

Hellboy

Deborah Zellerhof

6th

Colorkats Drizella

Debbie le Roux

Entires

Entire of the Year

Sp Ch KeezaEnergiser Eddy

of Pearl (imp)

Penny Steyn

2nd

Sp Ch Spandau’s Keanu

Annerie Ferreira

11th

Sp Ch Justcoons Peak Nick

of Colorkats (imp)

Debbie le Roux

14th

Sp Ch Colorkats Cream

Caramel

Debbie le Roux

Best Maine Coon of the Year floating trophy Brood Queen of the Year

Kondicoon Montgomery of Highlanders Kernes Miss Tina Turner

of 12

UPCOMING SHOWS

Southern Africa Cat Council (SACC) www.tsacc.org.za

Gauteng: Gauteng Invitational 4 September Ingrid de Wet 0118494870 pm

KZN : KZN Top Cats (PCS) 11 September Jane Goble 0827843126

Cape : Cape Top Cat 11 September Lance Wiseman 0216892235 pm

: Eastern Province Cat Club 25 September Johan Groenewald 0413682948

Cat Federation of Southern Africa (CFSA) www.cfsa.co.za

2010 Cat of the Year and

Gold & Ruby Show 25 September Daniel Germishuys 0828405578

Contact the above show managers to confirm dates and venues

From Wikpedia website

Tooth Decay and

Toothache in Cats

Do Cats get Tooth Decay?

Cats do get bad teeth but they are not usually the same as cavities in humans. The most common dental problem found in cats is

a condition called Feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions (FORL). Sometimes the FORLs are obvious (see picture above) but

sometimes they are only evident from x-ray images. Decay is usually below the gum line. FORLs are classified from 1 to 5

depending on the severity. It is believed that up to two thirds of all cats over the age of five will suffer from FORLs at some stage.

What are the symptoms of bad teeth in cats?

FORLs cause a great deal of pain. The pain may be so intense that even under general anaesthetic the cat may twitch when the

tooth is probed.

• The first symptom you may notice may be the cat's reluctance to eat. Any pressure on the tooth is extremely painful. The

cat may be very hungry and will attempt to eat but drops the food when he gets it in his mouth. A cat may reach a point

where he no longer attempts to eat and he becomes thin and loses condition. He may also refuse to drink and become

dehydrated.

• The cat may drool excessively.

• You may notice bleeding from your cat's mouth.

• Bad Breath is another indication.

• The cat flinches or cries out in pain when you touch him in the mouth region.

• He may paw at the mouth.

On examination of your cat's teeth you may notice a red line or redness and swelling at the point where the tooth meets the

gum. The picture at the top of the page shows a case of bleeding at the gum line.

What is the Treatment for Toothache in cats?

of 12

Usually extraction of the diseased tooth or teeth instantly restores your cat to his former self. Once the tooth is removed he is

free of pain and can continue a normal life. Even if a cat has all of his teeth extracted he soon adapts and can still eat most foods

including dry food.

Note the redness around the base of the

cat's left canine tooth which suggests FORL

After the extraction

The extracted canine tooth. Decay is

predominantly below the gum line

Other Causes of Mouth Pain in Cats Abscessed tooth

Broken Teeth

Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums)

Periodontal Disease

Periodontitis (inflammation of the tissue surrounding the teeth)

Bone or foreign body stuck between the teeth

Kidney Disease

Feline Leukemia Virus

Feline Stomatitis

Mouth tumours

Check your cat's teeth and gums regularly. The easiest way to do this is run a cotton bud or Q Tip around the gum line. If there

are any sign of blood or pain get your vet to check it out.

Pets and Disaster Safety Checklist

Our pets enrich our lives in more ways than we can count. In turn, they depend on us for their safety and

well-being. The best way to ensure the safety of your family is to be prepared with a disaster plan. If you

are a pet owner, that plan includes your pets. Being prepared can help save lives.

How can I prepare? What should I do? After a disaster...

Plan to take your pets with you in

an evacuation. If it is not safe for

you to stay, it is not safe for them

either

• Know which hotels and motels along

your evacuation route will accept you

and your pets in an emergency. Call

ahead for reservations if you know

you may need to evacuate. Ask if no-

pet policies could be waived in an

emergency.

• Most Red Cross shelters cannot accept

pets because of health and safety

Assemble a portable kit with

emergency supplies for your pets

• Keep items in an accessible place and

store them in sturdy containers so that

they can be carried easily. Your kit

should include—

Sturdy leashes, harnesses and/or

carriers to transport pets safely and

ensure that they can’t escape.

Food, drinking water, bowls, cat

litter/pan and a manual can opener.

Medications and copies of medical

records stored in a waterproof

Be aware of behavioural changes

and hazards

• The behaviour of pets may change

dramatically after a disaster,

becoming aggressive or defensive, so

be aware of their well-being and

protect them from hazards to ensure

the safety of other people and

animals.

• Watch your animals closely and keep

them under your direct control as

fences and gates may have been

damaged.

of 12

concerns and other considerations.

Service animals that assist people with

disabilities are allowed in Red Cross

shelters.

• Know which friends, relatives,

boarding facilities, animal shelters or

veterinarians can care for your

animals in an emergency. Prepare a

list with phone numbers.

• Although your animals may be more

comfortable together, be prepared to

house them separately.

• Include your pets in evacuation drills

so that they become used to entering

and travelling in their carriers calmly.

• Make sure that your pet’s vaccinations

are current and that all dogs and cats

are wearing collars with securely

fastened, up to-date identification.

Many pet shelters require proof of

current vaccinations to reduce the

spread of disease.

• Consider having your pet "micro

chipped” by your veterinarian.

container.

A first aid kit.

Current photos of you with your

pet(s) in case they get lost. Since

many pets look alike, this will help to

eliminate mistaken identity and

confusion.

Information on feeding schedules,

medical conditions, behaviour

problems, and the name and

number of your veterinarian in case

you have to foster or board your

pets.

Pet beds and toys, if easily

transportable.

Know what to do as the disaster

approaches • Often, warnings are issued hours, even

days, in advance. At the first hint of

disaster, act to protect your pet.

• Call ahead to confirm emergency

shelter arrangements for you and your

pets.

• Ensure that all pets are wearing collars

with securely fastened, up-to-date

identification.

• Check that your pet disaster supplies

are ready to take at a moment's notice.

• Bring pets inside so you won’t have to

search for them if you need to leave

quickly.

• Pets may become disoriented,

particularly if the disaster has

affected scent markers that normally

allow them to find their home.

• Be aware of hazards at nose and paw

or hoof level, particularly debris,

spilled chemicals, fertilizers and other

substances that might not seem to be

dangerous to humans. Consult your

veterinarian if any behaviour

problems persist.

***************************

Emergency action plans for your

family should include your

animals—all of your animals

PAW BITS

This is what happens when you brake to fast

Note from the Editor:

The above was an Extract from

Wikipedia – Be Red Cross Ready and is

published by the American National

Red Cross.

Although America is more disaster

prone than South Africa, we should

always remember that disaster can

strike at any time and that our animals

are just as important as our human

family.

September 2010show Maine Coon from a well known local breeder in 2003 and showed him to Supreme at...

Documents

Transcript of September 2010show Maine Coon from a well known local breeder in 2003 and showed him to Supreme at...