FEATURES CFA’sCFA’s DistinguishedDistinguished MeritMerit CatsCats by Debbie Kusy he title of “Distinguished Merit” in course, these five breeds are also CFA’s old- and Ralph Helmrich (43); GC Purssynian CFA applies to a male cat that has est breeds, and most popular on the show Jambe Finete, DM, bred and owned by Beth sired a minimum of 15 Grand bench. and Darrell Newkirk (41); and GC, NW Champions, Grand Premiers or The male with the most qualifying off- Badfinger’s Raisin’ Cain, DM, bred and T spring continues to be an Abyssinian, GC, owned by Laura Thompson (38). Three of Distingished Merit cats, or a female that has produced at least 5 Grand Champions, Grand NW Cinna’s Jack Daniels of Chantebise, these boys are ruddys, while “Jambe Finete” Premiers or Distingished Merit cats. There DM, owned by Nella Carnazzola, with 53. is a fawn Abyssinian. are many in the cat fancy that treasure this Second highest-producing male is GC Anz In addition to Nicholas, seven of the top title above all others – including that of Nicholas Nickelby, DM, a blue and white ten DMs are Persians: GC Copacats Marque “National Winner.” Why? Because a DM is a Persian male, bred and owned by Anne W. O’Zorro of Cattrax, DM, owned by Manuel cat that has contributed something long-term Waddington, with 51 qualifying offspring. Fekete (tied at 42); GC, RW Jolee’s Dune of to the history of their respective breed. It is Neither of these cats are still alive; “Jack Boberan, DM, bred by Gerrie Raicevich and truly a most esteemed title. Daniels” was born in 1979 and “Nicholas” owned by Randy Primer (tied at 42); GC As expected, the breed that records the was born in 1986. Lullaby Abracadabra of Midas, DM, owned most litters and kittens, the Persian breed, The top two female spots have not by Marianne Byrne (tied at 36); Softmagic continues to hold the honor of having pro- changed in several years either, highest Big John of Bolo, DM, owned by Lois Bantz duced the most Distinguished Merit cats. female producer of qualifying offspring is (tied at 36); GC, RW Red Sky Wooden Ships, There are a total of 608 Persian DMs, includ- GC Sarouk’s Sundi of Placer, DM, a silver DM, bred by Gary Powell, C. and S. Helmke ing 138 males and 470 females. When you tabby American Shorthair, bred and owned and owned by G. Powell, Bloomquist and consider that there are a total of 2,249 DMs, by Carolyn Lyons. “Sundi” had an amazing Satterlee (tied at 36); and GC Mystichill On that means that 27% of all of the recorded 24 qualifying offspring. There are three The Marque of Marhei, DM owned by Susan DMs are Persians! There are 433 total male females tied in third place – GC, RW Marcus Heitman (tied at 35). DMs, 138 of which are Persians (32%) and a Roxanne of Anz, DM, a calico Persian Finally, four of the top 12 male DMs are total of 1,816 female DMs, 470 of which are female bred and owned by Mark Hannon and Siamese: GC Singa Mikado of Fan-C, DM, Persians (26%). It is quite impressive that Anne Waddington; GC Placer’s Paulette, bred by Jeanne Singer and owned by Barbara almost 1/3 of all male DMs and just over DM, a silver tabby American Shorthair Baylor (39); GC New Moon’s Eclipse of one-quarter of all female DMs are from the female bred and owned by (again!) Carolyn Rogers Hts., DM, owned by Willa K. Rogers same breed group. Lyons; and GC, BW, NW Janvier Nicole, (Hawke) (tied at 36); GC, NW San-Toi’s The second most prolific producer when it DM, a Chartreux bred and owned by Donald Legend of Skan, DM, owned by Ann H. comes to DMs is the Abyssinian. There are a and Mary Ann Sweeters. These three girls all Leaty (tied at 32); and Sandollar Blue Money, total of 238 Abyssinian DMs, 50 males and count 19 Grand Champions/Grand DM, owned by Shannon Ramsey and bred by 188 females. Third highest is the Siamese, Premiers/Distinguished Merit Cats among Shannon Ramsey and J. Drinkwater (tied at with a total of 174 DMs – 40 males and 134 their offspring. 32). Three of four of these boys were very females. In fourth place is the American An interesting note – four of the top seven predominant seal point males, while “Blue Shorthair with 146 total – 35 males and 111 male DMs are Abyssinians. In addition to Money” was a blue point. females, and in fifth place is the Maine Coon Jack Daniels, in third place is GC Pasht-Bast The female DMs are very interesting – with 141 total, 25 males and 116 females. Of Braveheart of Clarion, DM, owned by Karen two of the top five are American Shorthairs GC Purrsynian Jambe Finete, DM, fawn GC, RW Spellbound McGyver, DM, a brown CH, RW Kurisumasu Jitto, a blue and white Dilettante Crystal Singer, DM, a gold-eyed Abyssinian male. The Midwest Region’s mackerel tabby and white Exotic male. The Japanese Bobtail Longhair male. CFA’s 2nd white Devon Rex female. Br: Wendy Renner and 2nd Best of Breed, 1998. Br/Ow: Beth North Atlantic Region’s 14th Best Kitten and Best of Breed and the Northwest Region’s 12th Gerri Logan. Ow: Wendy Renner. and Darrell Newkirk. 3rd Best of Breed, 2000. Br/Ow: Bob and Diane Best Cat and 2nd Best of Breed/Division, 2002. E. Deibert. Br: Marianne Clark and Carey Holm. Ow: Marianne Clark and Debbie DeLong. Cat Fanciers’ Almanac 23 December 2005/January 2006 and two others are Chartreux. While American leaves a legacy of three generations of female Shorthairs are often seen on the show bench, Grand Champions. Cadeauje was bred by Colin Chartreux are considered to be a “minority” breed. and Jo Cornwall, who DM’d another British As mentioned previously, GC Sarouk’s Sundi of Shorthair on the same weekend. Way to go Brits! Placer, DM, still places the highest among the Ragdolls have only been able to be shown in female DMs; GC Placer’s Paulette, DM and GC, championship in CFA since 2000, and they claimed BW, RW Janvier Nicole, DM, a Chartreux, are tied their third female DM in this past show season at second with 19 qualifying offspring; in fifth (there still are no Ragdoll male DMs). Liz place is GC Katoklix Isabelle of Janvier, DM, bred Thurman (Bordeaux) reports that her CH Solemate by Marcus and Gena Click and owned by Donald Wish Upon a Star, DM (known at home as and Mary Ann Sweeters (tied at 15 with two other “Chrissy”) produced her five grand offspring all cats). with GC Dollhowse Designer Blue Genes. Chrissy CH Kanab Luanne Rachel of Telecoons, Although they’ve not been breeding for a num- is a blue point and white female, who decided that DM, a brown patched tabby and white Maine Coon female. Br: Susan Blevins and ber of years, Greg and Judy Brocato (South Paw she didn’t care for the show ring and thought that if Trisha Swisher. Ow: Mary J. Sietsema and Persians), continue to lead the way with 27 DMs; she kept her eyes shut during the judging, no one Britt Bardell. second is Bob and Janet Bassetti (Bassetti’s could see her. Liz decided to pull her and breed Japanese Bobtails) with 18 DMs; and two breeders her; Chrissy proved herself far more adept as a tied at third – Wain Harding (Bastis Abyssinians breeder than as a show cat. Liz reports that unlike and Persians) and Marianne Clark (Kurisumasu their mother, her offspring all love the shows. One Japanese Bobtails), each having 16 DMs. Tied in of her sons, GP, RW Bordeaux Ltd’s Kitt ‘N Boots fourth place are Mary Jo Mersol-Barg (Sol-Mer was a RW last season and is the highest-scoring American Shorthairs) and Karen and Ralph Ragdoll premiership cat to date. Helmrich (Clarion Abyssinians) with 14 each, and In another first, Marianne Clark (Kurisumasu) in fifth place is Margot Mellies (Miribu – several DM’d a mi-ke Japanese Bobtail female of different breeds) with 13. unknown parentage. GC Key of Kurisumasu was a Enough of statistics and trivia – my favorite part beautifully colored mi-ke “street” cat in Japan, of this article is the personal stories of achievement, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Kojima of Tokyo. Wain including “firsts” for their breed. Some are small Harding saw her in a kitten class in Japan and put stories, some are bigger, but all are important. Marianne in contact with her owners. The cat then For “firsts” of color – Nikki Crandall-Seibert moved to the US, granded and became a DM – GC, NW Truluck Almost Famous of Bastis, DM, a ruddy Abyssinian male. CFA’s 13th (Rockinashi Japanese Bobtails) reports that her surely a rags to riches story! Marianne DM’d three Best Kitten and the Southern Region’s 3rd blue-eyed white female, CH Rockinashi other cats this year, including GC, RW Kurisumasu Best Kitten, 2002. Br: Gina Wiley and Wain Harding. Ow: Wain Harding and Gina Yukimatsuri, DM is the first solid white Japanese Jitto, DM, a blue and white blue-eyed longhair Wiley. Bobtail to DM and only the second solid Japanese male. “Jitto” was Second Best of Breed nationally Bobtail to do so (there is a solid black male). In a in 2001-2002. He also sired two Best of Breed breed that is dominated by bi-colors and mi-kes, Longhair Japanese Bobtails and is the fifth in a line this is quite unusual.