One of the most interesting things I have noticed about CFA folks, especially breeders, is that nearly all have “heart kitties,” a special cat that communes with the owner’s soul. I was first introduced to the Tonkinese in 2000 when I adopted Purrtek’s Fur Elise, a blue solid female. I became enamored with the natural mink and natural solid colors because they reminded me of the wonderful traditional “applehead” Siamese who was my baby for twenty-four years.
Because I was part of a partnership, I could not always have things my way, so I waited ten years before I finally got my natural solid, RW GC GP Kiwendo’s Lady Bronwyn of Pawdancer. She came to me at three months of age from Karen Willis, who later became my mentor. I knew from the moment she came into our lives that she was something very special. There were no “getting to know you” hisses or growls … she just assimilated naturally, as if she had lived in our house since birth.
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Teacher's Pet, Classroom Assistant Lady Bronwyn
Most of us have had that special cat—a heart cat with whom we had a deep connection. It may have been the cat we had as a child, or the one that saw us through a troubled time, or one with whom we bonded as we exhibited at cat shows. Whether the cat found us or we sought it out, those connections cannot be denied. These are the stories of some of those special cats and what they mean or meant to us.
Gromit The Rockstar
There are very few cats, no matter how long they are shown, or what they achieve, that belong in the “rock star” category. In pedigreed cats, we have a few that have become legendary.
Conducting Cat Shows During the COVID-19 Pandemic
It was just over a year ago that we were all enjoying our hobby of showing cats. Some traveled extensively seeking high titles, and some just supported local shows. In all cases, there was social interaction with everyone, and we generally did not worry about spreading infections.
Major Tom
My first pet was a cat named “Major Tom,” or “Tommy.” He was a domestic shorthair silver tabby and white. From what I was told, my parents purchased Tommy for $1.98 from the 5 & 10 cent-store in Trenton, NJ as a young kitten after they moved into their first place.
Crosby the Blind Cat
My name is Crosby. I was born blind in a litter of barn cats in 2011 near Webster, KY. My first humans (friends of my mom-to-be) realized I was blind early on, so they took me into their home.
SO You Want to Be in Pictures?
Have you ever caught yourself wandering through a pet store and noticing all the pictures of the cats, dogs, and other assorted furry and feathered critters, and wonder, “How did they get there? My Fluffy is cuter than that. How can I get a piece of that action?”
What You Don't Know About Balinese & Javanese
Overheard at a cat show: “Oh Mylanta! Would you look at that!!!! It’s a longhaired Siamese! Oooh! And would ya look at its tail!!!!”
Up Close and Purr-sonal
Just about everyone who knows CFA knows Kathy Calhoun, CFA treasurer and Allbreed judge. She’s also a breeder of national winning Maine Coon cats, national winning American Wirehairs, Tonkinese and American Shorthairs, a former Regional Director, and one of the founders of the Basic Black Cat Club. But as busy as Kathy Calhoun’s CFA life has been and is, cats are just one part of her story.
That Kitty Mess Could Mean More Than You Think
Living with cats pretty much means living with a fair amount of kitty barf. For most of us, hearing the unmistakable sound of a cat upchucking means you drop everything and run for the paper towels. But it could also mean there’s more to worry about than the risk of stepping in goo barefooted. Determining whether your vomiting cat needs more than a cleanup depends on a number of factors. It’s best to gather as much information as possible about what’s going on before you get your vet involved. So, before you call, try to have the answers to the following questions handy.
“Take Two Kittens and Call Me In the Morning”
Can Cats Help Humans Be Healthier?
How we know
TOBIN HART is a humanistic transpersonal psychologist, professor in the University of West Georgia’s Humanistic, Transpersonal and Critical Psychology program, and co-founder of the ChildSpirit Institute. In the final part of this series, in which he is interviewed by VICTOR KANNAN, Director of the Heartfulness Institute USA, Tobin speaks about the intersection of western psychology and spirituality, in particular the importance of presence, imagination, wisdom, love, compassion, purity, and overcoming spiritual bypassing.
Love marriage
One of my closest friends in my hometown had a love marriage, which many considered to be a rebellious act against our small society.
Altered traits
DR. RICHARD DAVIDSON is a prolific and well-known neuroscientist, speaker, meditator and author. In March 2021, Richie was interviewed by THANGAM VENKATESAN, professor of medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin and ANAGHA MATAPURKAR, Ph.D. MBA, about his life’s journey and latest initiatives to bring well-being to humanity.
Contentment - THE ART OF REMOVING AND CREATING HABITS
DAAJI continues his series on refining habits, in the light of Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga and current scientific and yogic principles and practices. Last month, he explored the first Niyama of purity, shaucha. This month he shares his insights on that pivotal human quality – contentment, which is known in Yoga as santosh.
Communication: Bridging the Gap
In this 3-part series, LIZ KINGSNORTH introduces the basic principles of Heartful Communication, and how it can guide our understanding of our personal feelings and the feelings of others, ultimately leading to a more consistent state of harmony. In part 1, she focuses on the importance of the quality of our communication.
If You Disagree, You Are Not Listening
DR. ICHAK ADIZES explores the art of diffusing a disagreement, especially when the other party claims that you have not understood them because you are not listening. He uses the technique of mirroring to ensure better understanding and communication.
Our Shared Humanity
“Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It’s a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.” —Pema Chödrön
The Pandemic of the Separate Self
DAN SIEGEL is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine and executive director of the Mindsight Institute. In part 2 of his interview with UDAY KUMAR, he speaks about intraconnectedness, alloparenting, presence, connection, open awareness, and love.
THE CAB RIDE
I sat in the cab on my way to the airport as the driver zoomed over Delhi’s wide roads. The sun was rising over the horizon as a new day dawned – quite literally, as election day approached the city of Delhi.
Turn It Around
AMRUTA PATEL is a student at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. She has been studying Marshall Rosenberg’s Nonviolent Communication and Heartful Communication for the last several months.