History of the Cat

Titles marked with a red asterisk * are for ShowCatsOnline.com members only.

Brighton Cats
The internet is awash with funny photos of felines. Even more so during the holidays. There are cats in hats... cats in costumes... cats in Christmas trees. Cats behaving badly... kittens being adorable. It seems that we humans are obsessed with taking photos of their cats that make us laugh, but this is not a new phenomenon. In fact, in the 1800's, there was a photographer who was renowned for his amusing photos of kitties...
January 2013

CFA On The Move
CFA president Jerry Hamza announces a major move for CFA headquarters to Alliance, Ohio, marking a new era for CFA Central Office...
September 2010

* Hairless Cat: An Historical Perspective
An excerpt from Francis Simpson`s `The Book of the Cat`, printed in 1903 gives the modern day breeder a historical perspective on the early appearance of the hairless cat over a century ago.
June 2007

In Search of Cats, Part 1
Cats have been held in esteem throughout most of recorded time. Author Christopher Brock reviews collections of art and information about cats around the world.
October 2004

In Search Of Cats, Part II
Cats have been held in esteem throughout most of recorded time. Enjoy this review of the collections of art and information about cats that are available around the world.
October 2004

Tracking The Cat
A five year genetic study of over 1000 felines of 22 breeds confirms that the domestication of cats about 10,000 years ago originated in an area known as the Fertile Crescent, which stretches from Turkey to northern Africa and to modern-day Iraq and Iran.
August 2008

Way We Were: CFA 1959 (Part 2) - The History of CFA 1906-1919, Part 1
Learn about the early history of CFA ...
March 2009

Way We Were: CFA 1959 (Part 3) - The History of CFA 1906-1919, Part 2
Learn about the early history of CFA ...
April 2009

Way We Were: CFA 1959 (Part 4) - So You Want To Put On A Show, Part 1
Take a look at what was involved in putting on a cat show in 1959, 50 years ago!
April 2009

Way We Were: CFA 1959 (Part 5) - So You Want To Put On A Show, Part 2
More about the challenge of organizing early cat shows in CFA ...
May 2009

Way We Were: CFA 1959 (Part 6) - Cats of Yesteryear - The Maine Cat
A trip back to the cats of yesteryear reveals the history of the Maine Cat....
June 2009

Way We Were: CFA 1959 (Part 7) - Cats of Yesteryear - The Angora
This installment in the article series tells about the development of the Angora cat...
June 2009

Way We Were: CFA 1959 (Part 8) - Cats of Yesteryear - The Australian Cat
Learn about the history of the Australian Cat, recognized by CFA in the year 1910...
July 2009

Way We Were: CFA 1959 (Part 9) - History of the Siamese, late 1800s to early 1900s - Part 1
Learn about the early history of the Siamese cat in CFA....
August 2009

Way We Were: CFA 1959 (Part 10) - History of the Siamese, late 1800s to early 1900s - Part 2
This is a continuation of the early history of the Siamese cat in CFA....
August 2009

Way We Were: CFA 1959 (Part 11) - History of the Siamese, late 1800s to early 1900s - Part 3
This is a continuation of the early history of the Siamese cat in CFA....
September 2009

Way We Were: CFA 1960 (Part 1) - Overview & Grand Parade
23 cats granded in the year 1960 - all Grand Champions, no Grand Premiers. This was the year a cream Persian earned his GC title at 14 years of age! Take a look back at the history of CFA ...
September 2009

Way We Were: CFA 1960 (Part 2) - CFA: Our Early Years, 1919-1932 - Part One
Learn more about the early years of CFA ...
October 2009

Way We Were: CFA 1960 (Part 3) - CFA: Our Early Years, 1919-1932 - Part Two
Lean more about the early years of CFA ...
October 2009

Way We Were: CFA 1960 (Part 4) - A Check List For Your Show
This 1960 cat club's check list used to prepare for a cat show still has some relevance to today's modern shows ... except perhaps the reminder to arrange for horse meat!
November 2009

Way We Were: CFA 1960 (Part 5) - History of Siamese, early 1900s - Part 1
The year is 1960 and this is the story of the history of the Siamese breed in CFA ...
November 2009

Way We Were: CFA 1960 (Part 7) - History of Siamese, early 1900s - Part 3
More of the history of the Siamese breed in CFA ...
January 2010

Way We Were: CFA 1961 (Part 1) - Overview & Grand Parade
Learn about the history of CFA in the year 1961...
February 2010

Way We Were: CFA 1961 (Part 2) - Blue Tabbies Are Accepted
The year is 1961, and blue tabbies are accepted in CFA ...
February 2010

Way We Were: CFA 1961 (Part 3) - History of Siamese, 1930s and 1940s - Part 1
The year is 1961. Learn about the history of Siamese in CFA ...
March 2010

Way We Were: CFA 1961 (Part 4) - History of Siamese, 1930s and 1940s - Part 2
More about the history of Siamese in CFA ...
April 2010

Way We Were: CFA 1961 (Part 5) - History of Siamese, 1930s and 1940s - Part 3
More about the history of Siamese in CFA ...
April 2010

Way We Were: CFA 1962 (Part 1 ) - Overview & Grand Parade
Enjoy a step back in time and look at what was happening in CFA in 1962, including photos of the latest Grand Champions...
September 2010

Way We Were: CFA 1962 (Part 2) - CFA: Our Early Years, 1932-1942 - Part 1
The 1962 yearbook included a reference to the turbulent times between 1932-1942 when the officers of CFA struggled to initiate new rules and procedures...
September 2010

Way We Were: CFA 1962 (Part 3) - CFA: Our Early Years, 1932-1942 - Part 2
Enjoy a look back into the "doings" of CFA in the 1930s and 1940s...
October 2010

Way We Were: CFA 1962 (Part 4) - The Abyssinian
ake a look back to the time to the early years of the Abyssinian in CFA...
October 2010

Way We Were: CFA 1962 (Part 5) - History of the Siamese, 1940s and 1950s - Part 1
Follow the history of the Siamese in the CFA of the 1930's...
November 2010

Way We Were: CFA 1962 (Part 7) - History of the Siamese, 1940s and 1950s - Part 3
Follow the history of the Siamese in the CFA of the 1940's and 50's.
April 2011

Way We Were: CFA 1962, Part 8
More of the history of the Siamese in CFA...
July 2011

Way We Were: CFA 1963 (Part 2)
Learn what was happening in CFA 50 years ago...
January 2012

Way We Were: CFA 1963 (Part 3)
Learn what was happening in CFA 50 years ago...
February 2012

Way We Were: CFA 1963 (Part 4) Domestic Shorthairs 2
This is Part 2 of a look at the incomparable Domestic Shorthairs of CFA 50 years ago...
March 2012

Way We Were: CFA 1963 (Part 5) The Domestic Shorthairs, Part 2
This is Part 2 of a look at the incomparable Domestic Shorthairs of CFA 50 years ago...
March 2012

Way We Were: CFA 1963 (Part 6) Benching a Show
More about the CFA of 50 years ago...
April 2012

Way We Were: CFA 1963 (Part 7) Benching a Show (Part2)
More about benching a show in the CFA of 50 years ago...
April 2012

Way We Were: CFA 1963 (Part 8) How to Get Into The Aby Business
Look back to the year 1963 and how the Abyssinian breed became part of CFA...
August 2012