Totem Cat, Spirit of the Northwest, invites you to the 2013 Annual Awards Banquet and International Cat Show where you can celebrate with friends and find your own spirit animal for you and your cats!

Next year’s event hosted by the Northwest Consortium will be held in Bellevue, Washington on August 31 through September 1.

Mark your calendars….and if you want to learn about the Totem Cat before you come to Washington, click here.

Ojos Azules is Spanish for “blue eyes”. And that’s what you notice first when you see an Ojos Azules no matter if it’s for the first time, or any time!

The deep blue of their eyes against coats of any color – but mostly with white patches typically on their feet and tail tip – creates a striking contrast that you won’t forget. The Ojos Azules, a medium-sized, shorthaired cat, originated in a New Mexico feral colony and a tortoiseshell female named Cornflower.

In 1992 only 10 Ojos Azules were counted for, and today a New Breed program and a group of dedicated breeders are working to expand the gene pool and help the breed compete for Championship status.

To learn more about Ojos Azules, click here.

After breeding and showing Siamese and Oriental Shorthairs for thirty-one years, Vicki Jo Harrison entered TICA’s judging program in 1996. Now seventeen years  and thousands of cats judged around the world later, Vicki Jo has been named Judge of the Year for 2012.

“I am very honored and humbled to have received this award,” said Vicki Jo.

Vicki Jo and her husband John breed and show Oriental Shorthairs under their cattery, Radiance located in the South Central Region, and have produced numerous International, Regional and Breed winners.

She also sits as Chair of TICA’s Siamese and Oriental Shorthair Breed Committees.

Congratulations Vicki Jo!

Columbus Ohio get ready because this coming weekend you’re going to have the world’s best Cat — a black Persian named IW SGC Nuit Magiques Ellington of Yvarie – in your town for TICA’s Internationa Cat Show and Annual Awards Banquet. Ellington will be joined by the world’s best Kitten, Alter, Household Pet Cat and Householld Pet Kitten when they are all honored at the Awards Banquet.

The “Best” for 2011-2012 are:

2012 Best Cat
IW SGC Nuit Magiques Ellington Of Yvarie
Black Persian
Marie Sarton – European South Region

 2012 Best Alter
IW SGCA Sunsoar Sambucca Of Bryndiar/Cf
Black Exotic Shorthair
Sandra Lopes – Northeast Region

2012 Best Kitten

IW Kelimcoons Don Cesar Of Sarajen

Brown (Black) Classic Tabby/White Maine Coon

Teri Matzkin – Mid-Atlantic Region

2012 Best Household Pet
IW SGM Bashful Beryl Of Careycats
Red Classic Tabby/White
Tanya Carey – Southeast Region

2012 Best Household Pet Kitten
IW Soffiee
Brown (Black) Mackerel Torbie/White
Linda Swierczynski – Mid-Atlantic Region

More than 400 cats including other TICA International and Regional winners will be on display at TICA’s International Cat Show held in conjunction with its awards banquet. The Show will be held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. To learn more visit www.columbuscatshow.com

If you’re in the path of Isaac, and you haven’t already prepared for evacuation…or you live where hurricanes and storms can hit this season, then make sure you print off TICA’s Disaster Preparedness Checklist.

For all cat owners in Florida who are in the path of Isaac, here are some links you may need:

Pet-friendly Shelters

Pet-friendly Hotels/Motels

TICA cares about all cats and their families….and we want to keep you safe!