2011 TCA photo show

The Traditional Cat Association posted their annual photo show results. I won!

co 1st place - Traditional Tonkinese, Best Cat in Premiership

1st place - Traditional Tonkinese, Best of Color (Natural Mink/Seal)

co 1st place - Fun Classes, Most Beautiful Eyes (tie with Linus)

co 1st place - Best Alter in Show

You can see the results HERE.

ACFA award

Mom and I got a surprise in the mail the other day. A large envelope arrived from ACFA (American Cat Fanciers Association). Mom thought it was Linus' registration papers, as ACFA recently recognized his breed and Mom had registered him and was waiting for his papers (he was registered with CFA when he was a kitten). Nope. Mom opened the envelope and it was a regional award for Lovintonks Midnight Rider. Even though I only went to a few ACFA shows last season, I finished out the show season as ACFA Northcentral Region's 3rd Best Tonkinese Alter. Mom and my breeder were happy about that. Mom is only planning to take me to a few shows this show season. Mom is planning to focus mostly on Linus and Vada for now, and might try showing me more next year.

Uh oh...

Mom heard from the breeder. My new little sister will be ready to move in with us VERY soon. So, Mom made travel arrangements to go get her on May 21. Not sure how I feel about having a little sister...

This weekend's cat show

I went to a local ACFA cat show this weekend. I did okay... but not as well as Mom had hoped. It's the end of the show season. The show season ends in April and begins in May. Anyway, that meant a LOT of cats were out there trying to get last minute points for major awards. Someone even traveled from FL to WI with their cat for this show in hopes of getting some last minute points. The competition was fierce. I did get my winner's ribbons and am now an ACFA Quadruple Champion. However, I was not able to make any of the judges finals. Fortunately, none of the judges seemed to notice the spots in my left eye. Mom talked to one judge, and she was encouraged to keep showing me. The judge told Mom that I was her Best Champion, but in a specialty ring, she can only pick top 5 for her final (top 10 in an all breed ring). She said I had beautiful eyes, good weight, and a nice coat and color quality. Mom asked, and the judge said she felt it would be worth Mom continuing to show me. Mom will give me a few more shows to see if I can make any finals. She's looking at a couple ACFA shows in June and July. That's early in the show season, likely to have a lower count, and not as likely to attract such fierce competition, so I may have a better chance there. Mom knew that might happen at the end of the show season, but since this show was local, only 2 and a half miles down the road, we thought we'd try. Mom did get me a new bed from one of the vendors at the show, and will post some pictures.

Daily Diary Pick!

I'm a Catster Daily Diary Pick today! Thank you to every cat who read my diary, and left messages of congratulations and good luck at the cat show I'm entered in this weekend! Will let you know how it goes...

Another cat show?

Mom's probably going to enter me in another cat show. From what my breeder found out, the brown spots in my eyes should NOT disqualify me from showing... but, depending on the judge, they may (or may not) "fault" me and take points. There's a local ACFA cat show coming up April 30 - May 1. Mom's decided to enter me and try. Mom's not expecting anything, but we'll see what happens...

Ophthalmologist appointment

My ophthalmology appointment went very well. The doctor checked both my eyes, but spent a little more time on my left eye with the spots. They checked the pressure in my eyes and looked at them with multiple equipment that a general practice vet would not have.

All good news. My brown spots are just that - brown spots. The doctor said this is sometimes referred to as iris freckling and it's not very well understood exactly why this happens. He saw nothing concerning in my eyes. However, as this can sometimes transition into iris melanoma cancer or glaucoma, he does want to see me for follow ups. So, I'm scheduled for a follow up appointment in July (3 months). If all still looks well and no changes, then I'll be seen again in 6 months. If all continues to go well, I will then be put on yearly follow up appointments. So, nothing to worry about right now, only monitor. There is some chance of problems in the future, but hopefully it will never progress that far. The doctor said he's seen young and old cats with this, and seems to just randomly affect cats. No strong genetic link he's aware of, but not many good studies are done on animals.

I got a lot of attention too. The receptionist thought I was just GORGEOUS, and had to tell some other staff members to come see the beautiful cat in the waiting room while we were waiting for our appointment. The tech and doctor also thought I was gorgeous. Mom showed them some pictures and gave them the link to my web page. I was very well behaved for my eye exam too. The doctor did like the pictures Mom took of my eyes, and thought that was a great idea and good reference for monitoring. He suggested Mom start a small photo album and date the pictures for future reference.

My eyes

I've developed another brown spot in my left eye. My regular vet had wanted Mom to call if she noticed any changes, so she called the other day and tentatively scheduled me for a Friday morning appointment. However, Mom get a message on her machine from my vet when she got home from work tonight. After getting Mom's message, she feels I should be referred to a veterinary ophthalmologist for evaluation. Mom had been thinking that wouldn't be a bad idea anyway. So, Mom is supposed to call my vet back tomorrow to let them know how she wants to proceed. Not sure when my ophthalmology appointment will be yet. It will be the same place Mom took Linus to for dermatology... and it was somewhat difficult to get in. Will let you know how it goes... Oh, and if you are curious, the last picture in my photo album shows the original spot in my eye.

My eye and retirement

Mom took me to the vet on Thursday 03/31/2011 to have a strange brown spot on my left eye evaluated. My vet feels it is feline iris hyperpigmentation or Melanosis. The brown spot is most likely nothing to worry about... but will be monitored as it can occasionally lead to glaucoma or iris melanoma (cancer). My vet found NO evidence of a tumor. So, we will just watch it. If the spot get bigger, if I get more spots, or if it ever seems to bother me - they my vet would want to see me and probably refer me to a veterinary ophthalmologist. For now, it's nothing to worry much about at this time. Here's a link about it: melanosis

However, from a show perspective, my vet feels the spot is most likely permanent although there is a small chance it might fade. Show cats have to look perfect (it is a beauty contest after all)... and Mom says I probably won't be able to go to shows anymore.

A new little sister?

Mom called Linus' breeder. Sounds like Linus and I will be getting a new little European Burmese sister. Not sure how I feel about that. Please see Linus' diary for more details and to vote for your favorite name for her.