The 2013 Cat of the Year is hosted by Eastern Cape Cat Club, and takes place on 3 August 2013.

The venue for this annual highlight is The Boardwalk International Conference Centre, on Beach Road, Summerstand in Port Elizabeth. 

Download the booking form here, and a list of cat-friendly accommodation.

The 2011 WCC SEMINAR & OPEN MEETING is hosted by the SOUTHERN AFRICA CAT COUNCIL and takes place on 8 July 2011, from 08H30 to 17H00 at the SOUTHERN SUN GRAYSTON HOTEL, Sandton.

Sponsored by Royal Canin

(download a PDF version to print)

PROGRAMME

08H30 - 08H40  Welcome  - Mr Jan van Rooyen

08h40 - 09h30   Introduction of WCC Delegates.

09h30 - 11h00   Updates on Genetic Testing & New Breeds vs Defects. -  Dr Leslie Lyons

011h00 - 11h15  Tea/Coffee

11h15 - 12h15   Advances in the Management of Feline Reproduction. - Dr Daniela Steckler

12h15 - 13h00   Breeding Programs for African Wildlife. De Wildt Animal Sanctuary

13h00 - 14h00   Lunch

14h00 - 15h00   The use of Megavoltage Radiation in feline cancer patients. - Dr Georgina Crewe

15h00 - 15h15   Tea/Coffee

15h15 - 16h15   Nutrition for reproduction and growth in cats. - Dr Victoria Geddes

16h15 - 16h55   Open Discussion: Q&A to WCC Delegates WCC Delegates

16h55 - 17h00   Closing Mr Jan van Rooyen

More about our speakers:

Dr Leslie Lyons

Dr Lyons is an associate professor at the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. In 2002 Dr. Lyons made international headlines by analysing the DNA of the world's first cloned cat, a kitten named Cc: and confirming that it was indeed a true clone, a genetic copy of its mother. Dr. Lyons has helped develop DNA tests for polycystic kidney disease (PKD), an inherited condition that shortens the life of cats by causing them to suffer kidney cysts. Previous tests for this condition involved ultrasound and were not very accurate, unlike the DNA test devised by Dr. Lyons. Approximately one third of all Persian cats carried the PKD gene at one time, but because of ultrasound testing and the newer, more accurate DNA tests, these PKD-carrier cats are gradually being identified and removed from the feline gene pool by spaying and neutering. A DNA test for feline coat colour carriers and feline

parentage has also been developed by Dr. Lyons, and is being offered to cat breeders, like the PKD test, so that they can determine whether cats they have bred have correct pedigrees, and whether these cats carry colourpoints, Burmese Colour Restriction, long hair, colour dilution or rare coat colours, such as chocolate and cinnamon. One of Dr. Lyons' current projects is identification of the genes that cause head defects, a lethal deformity in American Burmese cats. She is also working on identifying genes that cause Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), which causes affected kittens to become blind at the age of approximately two months. Although much of Dr. Lyons' research has dealt with cats, she also works on resources for gene mapping of other companion animals, such as dogs and horses. She has a partial appointment with the California National Primate Research Centre and is developing new genetic research for the rhesus macaque.

Dr Daniela Steckler

Dr Steckler was born in Germany and study Veterinary Science at the Freie University of Berlin, Germany. She also passed the South Africa Veterinary Board exam and achieved her Master of Veterinary at the University of Pretoria. She is a Diplomat of the American College of Theriogenology, specialising in animal reproduction. She is also a part time lecturer at the University of Pretoria in a bovine reproduction course. Dr Steckler has been involved in numerous research initiatives, including Seroprevalence of canine herpesvirus in breeding kennels in the Gauteng Province of South Africa and

Parentage Verification of the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) in a multisire insemination trial using an international microsatellite test panel.

Dr Georgina Crewe

After graduating with a BVSc degree (University of Pretoria, 1964), Dr Crewe worked as a state veterinarian for two years, concentrating on milk production and cattle breeding. She then set up a small animal practice, working part time for the following institutes: Occupational Health, National Health, Technikon RSA and the University of the Witwatersrand. Whilst working at the University of the Witwatersand, Dr Crewe had access to a Cobalt radiation machine. She realised that radiation could cure, or at least have a palliative effect on cats

and dogs suffering from solar induced squamous cell carcinomas and other painful radiosensitive cancers. For her research on ΓÇ£The Effect of Cobalt60 Radiation on Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Nasal Planum of the Domestic Cat"she was awarded an MSc in 2009.

Dr Victoria Geddes

Dr Geddes graduated with a BVSc degree from the University of Pretoria in 2006. From January 2007 to June 2010 she worked as a small animal veterinarian both in South Africa and England. During this time period she also did 8 months of Equine practice. Dr Geddes joined Royal Canin in July 2010 as the Technical Manager for Gauteng, the Free State and the Eastern Cape, concentrating on nutrition in dogs and cats.

 

Forms for various purposes can be selected to download here.

The year is in full swing and when you read this, the first few SACC shows will be something of the past. Through the grapevine I hear that there are a lot of promising COTY candidates that will hit the show bench this year and thismakes the art of showing so much more exciting. I also heard that there will be a lot of new faces at the shows and a lot of exhibitors that have not shown for some time will again be showing this year. To all of you, welcome in the SACC show ring.

Cat of the Year 2005

 

Neuters

26 Karyiad The Gladiator Carol Barker

25 Emerald's Braveheart Morne Swanepoel

24 Nizat's Dream Catcher Marietta and Derick Zinn

23 Glitterkatz Thunderbolt Jenny Kavarana

22 Mee'ouser's Boy George Colleen Gardner

21 Nizat's For Your Eyes Only Marietta and Derick Zinn

20 Helshar's Horus Helena and Sharon Kelly

19 Chattapaws Mercedes Benz of Chamonix Priscilla du Plessis

18 Callicoon Phantom Spirit Pat Morgan

16 The Legends Stormcrow Johan van der Westhuizen

16 Flamboyant Lord of the Rings L'Meur Len and Carol Tindell

15 Kindlecoons Great Satchmo Wendy Landi

14 Westwood's Baraka Adrian Ruis

13 Karnaki Tokolossi Hennie Reyneke

12 Taldi Jolly Swagman Johan Groenewald Dr Ian Taylor

11 Loeloeraai Merlot Majik Jeanine Grobbelaar

10 Nizat's Vanderbilt Len and Carol Tindell

8 L'Exquisite Showbiz Charmaine Danziger Daniel Viviers

8 Taldi Jack Flash Johan Groenewald / Dr Ian Taylor

7 Nizat's Giorgio Armani Charmaine Danziger Daniel Viviers

6 Kondicoon Lord Shova Dirk Swart

4 Diva's Roquefort Willie Strauss

4 L'Exquisite Chablis Brenda Neukircher

3 Pangur Ban Ice-breaker Bridget Donnellan

2 Kernes Maverick Charmaine Danziger Daniel Viviers

1 Les Beaux Chats Pansy Wilma Heyman

Kittens

10  Warwick Byeli Sparkle Terence Jagers Alison Job

8 Sherlah Prince Charming Lynell du Toit

8 Balouchi Willangi Movie Screen Christelle Horne

7 L'Exquisite C'est Si Belle Brenda Neukircher

6 Karnaki Kissmequick Silkenclaw Grant Leih

4 Callicoon Cezanne Gillian Knox

 
4 Nizat's Jamie Lee Curtis Len and Carol Tindell
 
 

3 Anesia Marie Curie Yvonne Akersten/Irene Langford

 

2 Glitterkatz Riggeletto Dr Wally Fogarty

 
 

1 Taldi Modesty Blaze  Johan Groenewald/Dr Ian Taylor

 

 

Entires

18 Ras-Mani Nile Ganymede June Paul

17 Zion Poplap Jan and Johan van Rooyen

16 Balouchi Helshar Prince Charmyr Christelle Horne

15 Zion Tequila Sunrise of Loeloeraai Jeanine Grobbelaar

14 L'Exquisite Beau Monde Brenda Neukircher

13 Jasharvin Taliesin Xanthia Mavis Iaine Harper

12 San-Shing's Pocahontas Beryl Webber

11 Yangon Khin Khin Avice Henderson

10 Exposed Sanspelo Chippendale Anthony Aldum

 9 Chaterley's Jedidiah Stargazer of L'Exquisite Brenda Neukircher

8 Warwick Va Svetlana Judy May

 

7 CuriaCooni Aberlour Rentia Solomon

6 Sherada Kiss Me Casanova Yvonne Akersten/Irene Langford

5 Zion Keeza Liberty Belle Jan and Johan van Rooyen

4 Incatique Seal 'V of Approval Ros Chapman

3 Michele's Maybet Dudley and Michelle Fleischman

2 Mokee Okonor Zuzmara Jane Vermeulen

1 Taldi LNcats Amirs Meer Johan Groenewald/Ian Taylor

 

SACC RULES GOVERNING THE STEWARDS' FORUM AND STEWARDS

1. OBJECTS AND FUNCTIONS

1.1 To protect the Interest of Stewards

1.2 To educate members of the Forum.

1.3 To organize workshops or Stewards courses.

1.4 To encourage members to develop their skills in stewarding.

1.5 To promote good relations between Stewards, Exhibitors, Judges and Show Officials.

1.6 To produce a training manual.

2. STRUCTURE

There shall be a Stewards' Forum in each of the following centres:

2.1 Johannesburg

2.2 Durban

2.3 Port Elizabeth

2.4 Cape Town

3. ELIGIBLE FOR MEMBERSHIP

3.1 Any person interested in Stewarding at Cat Shows shall register as a member.

3.2 Any person over the age of 14 years may register as a member.

3.3 A fully paid up member of a Cat Club associated to SACC.

4. MEMBERSHIP FEE

An annual membership fee of R10.00 is payable on/or before January 1^st. Payment to be effected directly to the Secretary of the Stewards' Forum, of that region.

5. STEWARDS

Stewards will be divided into three (3) sections depending on their qualifications and experience, namely:

5.1 Trainee

5.2 Junior Steward (minimum age of 16)

5.3 Senior Steward (minimum age of 18)

6. COMMITTEE

6.1 Member Stewards shall elect a Chairperson and Secretary from amongst themselves.

6.2 The Secretary will be responsible for all communication between the Forum and other Offices of SACC and its members. The Secretary shall be in control of all income and expenditure and account annually to the members.

7. VOTING/MEETINGS

7.1 All members shall have 1 vote.

7.2 In the event of an equal number of votes no person shall have a deciding vote.

7.3 The Committee shall meet from time to time by giving notice to all members.

7.4 The business of the Forum shall be conducted in writing, by fax, telephone or e-mail.

8. DISCIPLINE/REPRESENTATION

The members of The Stewards Forum are subject to the Rules of SACC and submit themselves to the disciplinary Rules as set out in the Constitution of SACC.

9. HEAD STEWARDS

9.1 Head Stewards shall report any complaint to the Show Manager concerned and submit a written report to the Committee of the Forum in the event of any complaint.

10. DRESS

10.1 Stewards shall wear a white covering (coat, jacket, shirt) that must be buttoned up while cats are being handled.

10.2 No strong smelling perfume, after shave or deodorant may be worn; some cat react negatively to strong scents.

10.3 Tinkling bangles, long earrings, etc. shall not be worn as they can become entangles in claws or startle nervous cats.

10.4 Long hair must be tied back from the face.

11. RULES OF STEWARDING ETHICS

11.1 Stewards shall not talk or comment to a judge busy judging an exhibit. Questions may only be asked after the judge has finished writing his/her book or finished a class.

11.2 Stewards shall not pass the judge's opinion on an exhibit on to the owner of that cat or other exhibitors.

11.3 Stewards shall refrain from speaking to judges while Supreme Classes or Best in Show Classes are being judged.

11.4 A Steward shall not take a nervous or fractious cat out of a cage for another Steward if that cat belongs to him/her, a member of the same household or a family member in the first degree.

12. DUTIES

12.1 Stewards shall arrive at the time stipulated by the Show Manager to complete the vetting in and benching of their own cats before the bulk of exhibitors arrive so that waiting in queue to vet in their cats does not delay the starting of their duties.

12.2 Stewards shall report to the Head Steward or Show Manager in order to have their judges/duties assigned to them.

12.3 After their judges have completed judging, Stewards shall be available throughout the course of the day for duties such as giving water to exhibits, cleaning litter trays, placing rosettes on cages and handling or fetching cats for Best in Show judging.

12.4 If the Steward knows or has bred a cat in a class, or has knowledge of who owns a cat in a class, the Steward should act with the utmost diplomacy so that the judge would be totally unaware of the situation.

12.5 Failure to comply with the wishes and or requests of the Show Manager may result in a written reprimand via the Stewards' Forum.

13. PROPOSALS TO GC OF SACC

13.1 In the event of any proposals, recommendation or amendment of a rule relating to Stewards matters, the Secretary shall forward these proposals to all other Stewards' Forums for their voting.

13.2 The weight of these opinions shall form the basis for an annual poll (in questionaire form) prepared by the Secretary.

13.3 At least 50% of all members from the various Stewards' Forums must have responded.

13.4 The Secretary of each Stewards' Forum shall forward those results from the polls to the Secretary of SACC to be included in the Agenda of the Annual General Meeting of GC of SACC for voting.

The document describing the SACC Compaints Procedure is available as a download.  This document is dated October 2014.

This year has come and gone andy ou are all hopefully all planning a quiet and peaceful time over the holiday period.

My first year as the President of SACC is over and for that I have only one word: CHALLENGING. I can only thank the SACC management and delegates for the support during the year.

I have been an All Breeds Judge since 1985, judging both nationally and several times in Australia.

I was President of SACC in 1999 and 2000 and have been the Western Province cat Club's delegate to Governing Council since 1966. For 16 years I served as secretary of the Cape Panel of cat Judges, was training co-ordinator for the same period and am at present the Chairman of the Panel.

I bred Persians and Abyssinians for 22 years.

On a personal level, I am a retired high school teacher.   I am married with 3 children and 2 grandsons.  Apart from cats I enjoy gardening and reading.