In This Issue:
From the President’s Desk | TICA Winter Board Meeting| Instachew Receives TICA Endorsement of Excellence | TICA Welcomes Three New Clubs | How to Deal with Matted Cat Hair | TICA and IPG Host Groomer Training Classes | TICA Social Media Followers Celebrate Holidays| TICA GL Regional Update | TICA MA Regional Update | TICA SW Regional Update
From the President’s Desk: A Message from TICA President Vicki Jo Harrison
Dear TICA Friends,
As we enter 2023, we are excited for all that this new year has in store for us and our cats!
Our membership and registrations continue to climb as we add new clubs each month to expand our family of felines and friends. We are also adding many new marketing partners that are helping us expand and offer new opportunities to our members. See our story in this issue about innovative pet product company Instachew receiving TICA’s Endorsement of Excellence.
Our Winter Board Meeting will be held next week where we will discuss and vote on, among other topics, many exciting changes to our Junior Exhibitor program. Find a link to the meeting agenda in this issue along with information on how you can join the meeting.
As always, I wish each of you good health. Please stay safe and hug your kitties tight!
Vicki Jo Harrison TICA President
TICA Winter Board Meeting to be Held January 18-20, 2023
The Winter TICA Board meeting will be held January 18-20, 2023. The meeting will be held online. The agenda can be found here. Contact your Regional Director with any questions or comments.
The Zoom link for the open sessions will be posted on tica.org a few days prior to the meeting.
TICA Recognizes Instachew with Endorsement of Excellence Award:
Company Celebrates with Exclusive Pricing for TICA Members & Clients of up to 25% Off
Recognized for their commitment to creating smart pet products designed to improve the experiences between people and their pets, TICA bestows Instachew its newest Endorsement of Excellence Award.
Instachew was born out of the realization that there was a lack of innovative pet products in the North American market. Since 2017, Instachew has partnered with leading players in the smart pet products category to create unique and advanced pet product solutions for all pet owners.
Over the past six years, Instachew has created a line of products that solve many pet care issues, such as the Purrsight Smart Pet Camera to make sure pets are always monitored, the Purrflow Pet Fountain to keep your pets hydrated with fresh water, and the Purrclean Smart Litter box for making the process of cleaning waste efficient and easy. For more information on Instachew and the unique set of products they offer, visit them online.
In honor of receiving TICA’s Endorsement of Excellence Award, Instachew is offering TICA members and clients in the U.S. exclusive pricing of up to 25% off original priced Instachew products until February 13, 2023. To access the special pricing, go to https://www.instachew.com/tica-specials. The offer does not apply to sale items.
TICA Welcomes Three New Clubs
TICA continues to grow in 2023 with the addition of three new clubs to our family. Please give a warm welcome to Crazy Pants Cat Club (Lynbrook, New York) in our TICA Northeast Region, and Feline Club Singapore and Cats Australia both in our International Region! Welcome to TICA’s family of fabulous felines, fun, and friendships!
How to Deal with Matted Cat Hair
Cats are famous for being self-groomers. So, should you be concerned when your feline’s fur starts looking clumpy and thick? Matted fur isn’t something you should ignore, since maintaining your cat’s coat is essential for their overall wellness. Matted fur not only makes it more difficult for your cat to groom themselves, but it could also be a sign of some underlying health issues. Our partners at Trupanion, medical insurance for the life of your pet, share the following information on caring for matted cat hair.
What is Matted Cat Hair?
Simply put, matted fur is extremely tangled, knotted fur. It often appears thick and clump-like, and it is extremely difficult (if not impossible) to comb through. According to Trupanion veterinarian Dr. Sarah Nold, hair mats in cat fur can occur all over the body or in isolated areas, like the stomach or lower back. The matted fur may also be painful for your cat and can pull on the skin.
Causes for Matted Cat Fur
“Matted hair on your cat often indicates that they have stopped grooming or aren’t grooming as effectively as they used to,” says Nold. “There are many different causes for this, one of the more common being itchiness from skin issues such as allergies or external parasites.”
A number of other conditions may also contribute to matted cat fur:
- Kidney disease
- Diabetes mellitus
- Dental issues
- Arthritis
- Old age / age-related illnesses
When to Seek Veterinarian Attention
Cats are notoriously good at hiding pain and discomfort. So, it can be difficult to tell when the matted fur on your feline is due to an underlying illness or has progressed to the point where it’s causing other issues. Nold suggests practicing caution.
“If this is a new issue with your cat, they should be examined by your veterinarian to try to determine the underlying cause,” she says. “Depending on your cat’s temperament, and the size of the hair mat, your cat may have to be sedated by your veterinarian to have the hair mats removed.”
Still, even minor cases of fur matting need to be addressed. Not only will your cat likely not be able to groom it out herself but attempts to do so can cause an excess of hair in their system and lead to hairballs.
If you notice that your cat is no longer interested in self-grooming or is not grooming themselves effectively, contact your veterinarian.
Trupanion, Medical Insurance for Pets
Whether it’s matted cat hair or another condition, you never know when you may have to make an unplanned trip to the veterinarian. Trupanion is here to give you peace of mind by helping you budget for unexpected accidents and illnesses.
If you’re a breeder, you can sign up for Trupanion’s Breeder Support Program to provide your kitten buyers with a special offer of Trupanion policy coverage with no waiting periods. That means coverage goes into effect immediately so that you and the new owners can rest easy knowing your cats are protected when they head to their new homes. This program is completely free to join as a breeder, just click here to get started!
Trupanion is a registered trademark owned by Trupanion, Inc. Underwritten in Canada by Omega General Insurance Company and in the United States by American Pet Insurance Company, 6100-4th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98108.
Please visit AmericanPetInsurance.com to review all available pet health insurance products.
TICA & International Professional Groomers Provide Feline Education
TICA/IPG Seeks Cats to Star in Groomer Training Sessions
TICA will partner once again this year with the International Professional Groomers, Inc. (IPG) to help more groomers learn about caring for cats.
Sponsored by TICA and Dr. Elsey Cat Products, TICA will share a booth with IPG President/Founder Linda Easton at each location and present three training classes for groomers at several pet grooming shows and competitions throughout 2023. Classes titled “Cat Safe Salon”, “Understanding Feline Behavior”, and “Body Language of Cats” will be presented at the following conferences:
- Groom Expo West, LA Convention Center, Pasadena, CA, February 16-19, 2023.
- Atlanta Pet Fair & Conference Atlanta, GA, March 10-12, 2023.
- Northwest Groom Show, Tacoma, WA, March 16-19, 2023.
- The Teton Groom Expo, Snake River Event Center, Idaho Falls, ID, May 18-21, 2023.
- All American Grooming Show, Schaumburg, IL, August 10-13, 2023.
- Super Zoo Las Vegas, August 22-25, 2023.
- Groom Expo, The Hershey Lodge & Convention Center, Hershey, PA Sept. 7-10, 2023.
Feline Models Needed: TICA and IPG are looking for feline models to sit in the TICA booth during training classes at each event location. Those interested in helping staff the TICA/Dr. Elsey/IPG booths with one or two friendly cats can contact RoeannFulkerson@gmail.com for details. Retired show cats who still love attention are ideal for this event.
See How TICA Social Media Followers Celebrated the Holiday’s with their Cats
Check out some of the posts TICA Facebook and Instagram followers created last month to show off their cats, including festive feline-themed holiday clothing, special holiday cards from their cats, and resolutions they will try to hold their cats to in the new year. Add your cat to the fun! Don’t miss out on sharing your cat in our special Valentne’s Day tribute. Sign up for the TICA Facebook or TICA Instagram page.
TICA Regional Updates:
TICA Great Lakes Regional UpdateTICA Mid Atlantic Regional UpdateTICA Southwest Regional Update
TICA Great Lakes Regional Director, Liz Brown:
Make your plans now to attend upcoming shows in the TICA GL Region:
- March 10-12, 2023, Showcats Columbus in Columbus, OH (this event will be back in our own building). If you can’t attend a show, please donate to the club to We want to keep our club’s solvent, and everything matters.
TICA Great Lakes Regional Show & Banquet: This event will be hosted by PracTICAl Cats, July 28-30, in Gray Summit, MO (GL REGIONAL). Note: With an early date for this event, your winning cats’ pictures will be due earlier than usual. Take the opportunity now to get those pictures taken as soon as possible.
GL Webmaster (Word Press) Volunteer Needed: Contact Liz if you are interested in volunteering to do maintenance for the regional website and have experience in Word Press.
TICA Mid Atlantic Regional Director, Brenda Russo:
Make your plans now to attend upcoming shows in the TICA MA Region:
- March 10 – 12 2023, Central Jersey Cat Fanciers in Oaks, PA.
- March 17 – 19 2023, United Cat Club Inc. in Chantilly, VA.
- March 25 – 26 2023, Philadelphia Tea Party in Lebanon, PA.
- April 21 – 23 2023, United Cat Club Inc. in Richmond, VA.
Please consider sponsorship opportunities if you cannot make a show!
TICA Southwest Regional Director, Laurie Schiff:
Make your plans now to attend these other upcoming shows in the TICA SW Region:
- February 18-19, 2023, Cattitude Cat Club, in Arcadia, CA. New Club!
- March 11-12, 2023, Surf-N-Turf Cat Club & America’s Finest Felines, in Arcadia, CA.
- April 15 -16, 2023, America’s Finest Felines, in Arcadia, CA.
- July 29-30, 2023, Regional Show and Awards hosted by Socal ExoTICA Cat Club in Arcadia, CA.
- November 18-19, 2023, America’s Finest Felines, in Arcadia, CA.
