In This Issue:
From the President’s Desk | TICA 2022 Elections | TFMS Updates l | First JE Ring in Europe | Kari Winters Rescue & Rehabilitation Award | Welcome Two New Clubs | Zymox New Feline Focused Products | Trupanion Holiday Safety Tips | TICA Social Media Fan of the Week| EveryCat Foundation October Update | GL Regional Update| MA Regional Update | NW Regional Update | SC Regional Update | SE Regional Update | SW Regional Update
From the President’s Desk: A Message from TICA President Vicki Jo Harrison
Dear TICA Friends,
In this issue you will find all the information you need to vote in the TICA Fall Election. Please take the time to read the information in the article “Time is Running Out to Cast Your Vote in TICA’s 2022 Membership Elections” and exercise your right to vote. TICA is a membership driven organization, so let your voice be heard through your vote!
Last week TICA sent a survey so we can better meet your needs. The survey is quick and easy, just five quick questions. Please check your email and take the survey. Those who did not receive an email can go to https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/wbCs8C to access the survey.
As always, I wish each of you good health. Please stay safe and hug your kitties tight!
Vicki Jo Harrison TICA President
Time is Running Out to Vote in TICA’s 2022 Membership Elections
Did you cast your vote yet in TICA’s 2022 Membership Election? Your ability to vote ends next week (November 20, 2022, at 11:59 pm CST)!
This year members of seven TICA regions will be holding elections for Regional Directors — Asia East, Asia West, Great Lakes, Mid Atlantic, Northwest, South Central, and Europe. In addition, members will have the opportunity to vote on several proposals. Please read through all the information on the proposals. In addition to an explanation of each, the pros and cons are listed for each proposal. TICA is a member driven association. Please exercise your right to VOTE!
Read details of all 2022 ballot proposals and learn who is running in Regional elections before you vote.
TICA members in good standing as of April 1, 2022, and have renewed their membership by June 30, 2022, are eligible to vote.
Ballots were emailed on October 21, 2022, to all members from “TICA Online” with the subject “TICA 2022 Election Open for Voting”. Members who do not have an e-mail address on file with TICA’s Executive Office have been mailed, via U.S. Postal Service, a notification with instructions how to vote online.
Questions about missing ballots, membership, election guidelines, or technical assistance with the voting process can be obtained by contacting YesElections at Help+TICA@YesElections.com or call (866) 384-9978.
Voting is an important and meaningful way to advance the issues you care about most and provides an opportunity for you to choose the representatives you think will best achieve the results you want to see within TICA.
TICA Updates TFMS Homepage to Better Meet Member Needs
Attention all TICA members and clients! TICA has updated the TFMS homepage to better meet your needs.
The TFMS homepage has been updated to include images of this year’s top winners and now lines up the images across the top of the home page to make it easier for you to access important information to your account.
The tabs “My Unpaid Invoices” and “Cases Waiting on Me” were also added below the six primary image links.
My Unpaid Invoices – Shows all invoices with a balance due of money owed to TICA. If you click on the invoice, it will take you to the statement where you can process payment.
Cases Waiting on Me – Includes a list of your cases where the status has been marked “In Progress – Waiting on Client”. This tab can be used to check the status of your case to see if TICA’s EO has a question or needs more information to process your case. When you click on the case it will open it so you can see and respond to exactly what is needed for the EO to complete the request.
These tabs were moved to the homepage of TFMS due to the number of questions being asked about where to find these items. We made these changes to give these topics more visibility with direct links so you can act.
Check out the updates https://tfms.tica.org/.
TICA Felinology Club Hosts First Junior Exhibitor Ring in Europe
The first TICA Junior Exhibitor ring in Europe took place November 5-6, 2022, at the Felinology show at the Northcroft Leisure Centre, in Newbury, U.K.
During the event, six Juniors presented their cats in the ring at the event and answered questions from TICA judge Brenda Russo about cat care. Two of the Juniors who took part in the ring were regular stewards in the Europe West Region and the other participants were new to the Junior Exhibitor program. The ring was a big success with the Juniors who cannot wait to continue with the Program.
Each participant received a TICA Junior Exhibitor Rosette, goodie bags from club Feliology and TICA, and a cat care package from sponsor Feed Pet U.K. with items and cat toys from Katzenworld and other product samples.
Felinology wishes to thank Colette Millet for taking the reins in the EW for our Juniors, Regional Director Nicky Goulter for all her support, Brenda Russo for her wonderful kindness with our Juniors, and an especially big thanks to the Juniors and their cats for participating in this event.
TICA’s Junior Exhibitor Committee is in the process of expanding the program and will present a proposal for the Board to vote on at the Winter Meeting 2023. Among the improvements to the program, include updating levels of distinction to incorporate awards Excellence in Information Technology, Excellence in Showmanship, and Excellence in Humanitarian Programs, among others. The Committee is also updating tasks and has created a fun, new educational program that can be tailored more toward highlighting the talents and interests of those in the Juniors program. Incentives are also being considered throughout the program and at completion for graduates.
The Committee is encouraging Juniors to become Junior Members while improvements are being made to the program. All current work by Juniors, including showing in the rings and working on tasks, will continue to count.
Dusty Rainbolt Awarded TICA’s Kari Winters Rescue and Rehabilitation Award by CWA
Last month, author Dusty Rainbolt was honored with TICA’s annual Kari Winters Rescue and Rehabilitation Award in the Cat Writers Association’s annual Communications Contest.
Rainbolt received the award for her article Save a Life: Foster a Kitten that appeared in Catster’s May/June 2021 issue. The article details how to foster a kitten, including how to avoid foster failure.
Sponsored by TICA, the Kari Winters Rescue and Rehabilitation Award is presented annually to the best single article or column published in a newspaper, magazine, newsletter, professional blog/website online venue, or single radio or television broadcast on the topic of the rescue and rehabilitation of cats/kittens from shelters or rescue groups for the purpose of adoption to forever homes. Entries are judged on compelling personal accounts and the education of readers on the need for rescue.
TICA Welcomes Two New Clubs
TICA continues to grow with the addition of two new clubs to our family. Please give a warm welcome to CELEBRATIONS CAT CLUB (Brooksville, FL) in our TICA Southeast Region and NSWTICA (Sydney, Australia) in our International Atlantic Region! Welcome to TICA’s family of fabulous felines, fun, and friendships!
Zymox New Feline-Focused Line of Products with TICA Endorsement of Excellence Seal
Pet King Brands recently expanded their veterinarian-recommended line of Zymox Enzymatic Dermatology products with three new feline-focused products that will provide relief for ear and skin conditions in cats and kittens. New products include TICA’s logo Endorsement of Excellence seal on the packaging.
Zymox for Cats and Kittens uses the same effective enzymatic formula that pet parents and professionals have relied on for over 25 years to help dogs and cats achieve healthy ears and skin without antibiotics.
The line includes Zymox Enzymatic Ear Solution with 0.5% Hydrocortisone for Cats & Kittens for ear infections, Zymox Enzymatic Ear Cleanser for Cats & Kittens to keep ears clean and healthy, and the Zymox Enzymatic Topical Cream with 0.5% Hydrocortisone for hot spots, wounds, infections, ringworm, and facial acne.
In celebration, Zymox is offering an exclusive savings opportunity for TICA members to save 20% on any Zymox product on Zymox.com and Chewy.com by using the promo code TICA at checkout through November 20, 2022.
Avoid These Holiday Hazards to Keep Your Spirits Bright This Season
While unexpected illnesses and injuries can happen to your cat at any time of the year, the hustle and bustle of the holidays can bring some extra hazards. Our friends at Trupanion, medical insurance for the life of your pet, outlined a few things to keep in mind as we head into this year’s holiday season. Among them:
Christmas tree. It doesn’t take much for a cat to get into mischief around a Christmas tree. To prevent Christmastime calamity, be mindful of:
- Tree water – Use a tight-fitting tree skirt to restrict your cat’s access to the tree’s water because it can be harmful to drink and can contribute to a tipped tree. If you choose to add chemicals to the tree’s water to keep it fresh longer, make sure the label says it is safe for pets.
- Tinsel – Pets love the shiny excitement that is tinsel, especially kittens. From 2019-2020, ingestion of foreign material was the second most frequently claimed condition for kittens on Trupanion policies. The average annual cost for these claims ranged from $600 to $1,700.
- Ornaments – Hang any small or fragile ornaments high enough that they won’t break with a swipe of a paw.
- Pine needles – Clean up fallen pine needles frequently because they can upset your cat’s stomach if consumed.
- Strings of lights – Keep your pets from chewing on holiday lights by tucking cords out of their reach or use a grounded three-prong extension cord.
Snow globes. Snow globes can contain ethylene glycol (antifreeze). If you break one, they can cause a lot of harm, especially to a cat. If they lick up the liquid, immediately go to the closest emergency veterinary hospital!
Poisonous plants. Decking the halls with boughs of holly (and mistletoe) helps bring the holiday spirit into your home, but if your cat ingests any of these plants, they can get very sick. Keep these holiday plants away from paws’ reach or opt for artificial plants instead.
Holiday food favorites. It’s best to keep your cat on their regular diet during the holidays. Some popular holiday foods are especially dangerous to your pet. Check with your veterinarian for what foods are safe for your cat.
Keep away from pets:
- Chocolate, candy, sweets
- Fatty food like gravy
- Spicy food
- Cooked bones
- Alcoholic beverages
Candles. Keep Menorah and other holiday decorative candles far enough away from pets that they can’t knock them over. In some circumstances, you could also opt for electric candles instead; many flameless candles flicker just like the real thing, but without the fire risk.
Ringing in the New Year. Fireworks, poppers, and champagne make for an exciting New Year celebration for humans, but your pet might feel otherwise. The loud noises can frighten cats. Keep them relaxed by providing a quiet room with a fan, TV, or music playing to create white noise.
The Gift of Peace of Mind. While we all hope for a relaxing holiday season, you never know when you may have to make an unplanned trip to the veterinarian. That’s why Trupanion was created to help you budget for unexpected accidents and illnesses so you can have year-round peace of mind.
If you’re a breeder, you can sign up for Trupanion’s Breeder Support Program to gift 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.
Join the Fun with TICA’s Social Media Fan of the Week
Meet last month’s TICA Social Media Fans of the Week and learn how you can make your cat our next recipient.
Have you entered your cat to be TICA’s Social Media Fan of the Week yet? Each Sunday, TICA posts a theme for the week on our Corporate TICA Facebook page. Each Thursday we name our Social Media Fan of the Week and post a slideshow story on our Facebook and Instagram pages featuring our runner ups.
Get social with TICA and join the fun with our community of cat lovers on TICA’s Corporate Facebook and Instagram page. If you aren’t a TICA Facebook follower already then follow us now and check each Sunday’s post to make your cat a social media star!
Check out last month’s TICA Social Media Fans of the Week:
Meet Chelsey and her cat Eden. Chelsey says Eden was her best friend for seven years prior to her passing to Cancer, proving that cat’s, not necessarily dogs, are a human’s best friend.
Meet Effie and Katniss. Submitted by Jen Swendra to show some of the unusual place’s cats will climb, Effie is the Scottish Fold on the high shelf and Katniss is the troublemaker on the landing shelf above the stairs.
Meet Optimus, submitted by Anna J. Merillat Tooley as our Halloween fan. This 10-month-old Maine Coon is pictured here spreading Halloween cheer everywhere Optimus goes.
Meet Snowy, submitted by Deena Best, to show what we love most about our cats. In this picture Snowy is showing his love by “snuggling and sleeping with his boy, dreaming of all the ways to destroy the house.”
EveryCat Health Foundation November 2022 Update
EveryCat Health Foundation Announces Giving Tuesday, November 29, 2022 – EveryCat Health Foundation’s 2022 Cures4Cats Day appeal will coincide with Giving Tuesday, November 29th, 2022. This year’s focus is Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), with donations going to EveryCat’s Bria Fund to continue much needed FIP research.
FIP is a deadly, complex, and challenging disease. EveryCat Health Foundation’s generous donors have provided funding for dedicated research leading to successful antiviral treatments. This is an amazing, life-saving accomplishment – but there is still so much to learn.
Mark your calendars for Giving Tuesday, November 29th and get ready to make your tax-deductible donation to the EveryCat 2022 Cures4Cats campaign. Or you can make your donation now.
Throughout the month of November, EveryCat will also be sharing FIP information on our website and social media.
Cures4Cats Kicks Off – Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc. has generously agreed to kick off our Cures4Cats fundraising effort with an initial $20,000 match to help stretch your donation further. Every gift you make helps fund FIP studies that improve the lives of cats. Every cat. Every day.”
TICA Regional Updates:
TICA Great Lakes Regional UpdateTICA Mid Atlantic Regional UpdateTICA Northwest Regional Update
TICA South Central UpdateTICA Southeast Regional UpdateTICA Southwest Regional Update
TICA Great Lakes Regional Director, Liz Brown:
Treasury Balance: The Current TICA GL Treasury Balance is $5655.67 with an additional $801.72 PP transfer pending ($1/entry in Paypal).
Fall Elections: Make sure you vote for GL Regional Director in the upcoming TICA elections. Read the platform from GL candidate, Liz Brown.
Make your plans now to attend upcoming shows in the TICA GL Region:
- November 12-13, 2022, Cats Rule Cat Club w/HCM Clinic in Racine, WI.
- January 14-15, 2023, PracTICAl Cats w/HCM, in Gray Summit, MO.
- March 10-12, 2023, Showcats Columbus in Columbus, OH (this event will be back in our own building).
2022 TICA Annual in Chicago: A long list of the specific persons who helped make this event great was posted online, on the Groups.io list and in the September TICA newsletter. It took the entire region to make this happen and we owe its success to all of YOU! Thank you for your hard work and showing TICA why we are the very best region in the world.
2022/2023 TICA Great Lakes Regional Show & Awards will be hosted by PracTICAl Cats in Grey Summit, MO. The show will be a 3-day show July 28-30, 2023.
GL Webmaster 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:
- December 10-11, 2022, Carnivorous Winos, in Lebanon, PA.
Help Available to Adding Seminars, Guest Speakers, and Local Community Organizations for Shows: Speaking about upcoming shows, please consider providing educational seminars, guest speakers and local community organizations at your next show. This promotes not only your breed but also the cat fancy in general. We have a committee organized that would be happy for your input, suggestions, and help. We have a zoom meeting once a month. Please contact Jane Handelsman for more information and to sign up.
ATTENTION MA CLUBS: Please check to make sure your Club Charter is update. Also, please make sure all your information is up to date with current members and contact information.
2024 TICA Annual Hosted by the TICA Mid-Atlantic Region and Central Jersey Cat Fanciers: Congratulations to Columbus Show Cats; Rick and Liz for such a well-organized and incredible 2022 annual. While we are eagerly awaiting the 2023 Annual, Hosted by Sea Cats, to be held in Seattle, it is important that we begin to prepare for this huge event to be held in our region in Chantilly, Virginia 2024. More details to follow soon!
TICA Northwest Regional Director, Elaine Hawksworth-Weitz:
Do you have some time to help the clubs? Most clubs these days are operating with few members and not enough manpower to physically put on cat shows. If you can arrive early and help the club set up, or stay later for a few hours to help tear down the show hall on Sunday, the clubs would really appreciate it!
Make your plans now to attend upcoming shows in the TICA NW Region:
- December 17-18, 2022, And a Mouse, Chehalis, WA – NOTE: Change of Date!
- January 21-22, 2022, It’s Reigning Cats, Portland, OR.
- February 11-12, 2023, The Evergreen Cat Fanciers, Ferndale, WA.
- March 11-12, 2023, CanAm Cat Club, Abbotsford, BC.
- April 15-16, 2023, Calgary Cat Association, Calgary, AB.
- April 28-30, 2023, Sea Cats Cat Club, Issaquah, WA.
TICA South Central Regional Director, Jim Armel:
Happy Holidays South Central!
As most of us will be gathering with our families and friends over the next month or so to be Thankful and celebrate everything we have, let’s remember it’s the season to appreciate the past year and remember all the wonderful memories we’ve enjoyed. And don’t forget there are some who have a difficult time with this season, so let’s all be kind to one another.
We are finishing up the calendar year with a show in Waxahachie December 11-12 hosted by one of our new clubs Generations Cat Club, and then starting up the New Year with a show in Corpus Christi January 6—8, 2023 hosted by TIFS. The end of January we also have a show in Deer Park January 27-29, 2023, hosted by GCFF. Please support the Region and the clubs, as its always a difficult task putting one on.
To each and every one of you, I want to wish a very happy Thanksgiving, a joyful Hanukkah, and a very Merry Christmas!
Jim
TICA Southeast Regional Director, Rene Knapp:
Save the Date TICA 2023 SE Regional: All the TICA Florida clubs have joined forces to form Celebrations Cat Club. The Regional show/hotel/banquet will be held at the Wyndham Orlando Resort and Conference Center Celebration Area on August 19 and 20, 2023. The hotel has agreed to a special rate three days before and after the show, so it is the perfect time for a Disney vacation. Stay tuned for more information.
New Vendor Page: Phase two the TICA SE Region website has begun and will include a local vendor page to help clubs with access to all vendor information for shows. All vendors interested in being listed on the site should send their information to Rene at regional.director.se@tica.org.
Halloween Show and Wedding Ceremony: The Pigeon Forge show in Tennessee was a huge success! We had a large turnout of cats and I officiated at a wedding ceremony Saturday night in the show hall for SE members Bryan and Suzanne Proctor.
TICA SE Facebook Page: Remember to visit our SE Regional Facebook Page to keep up on all the latest news about our region.
TICA Southwest Regional Director, Laurie Schiff:
Hi all!
Don’t forget to enter our next regional show hosted by Celebrity Cat Club in Arcadia on November 19 and 20. Also, if your cat attains the title of Supreme at a Southwest show, we’d love to celebrate with you and present you with a rosette, so be sure and let us know.
Make your plans now to attend these other upcoming shows in the TICA SW Region:
- January 14-15, 2023, Socal ExoTICA Cat Club, featuring the Jean Mill Legacy Awards and International Judges, in Arcadia, CA.
- 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.
See y’all there!
Laurie
