In January 2003, Capital Cat Fanciers (CCF) voted to create a partnership with an emerging cat club in Shanghai, China ~ the first official Chinese cat club, outside of Hong Kong and Taiwan, to seek affiliation with the Cat Fanciers Association.  Our partnership is based on an open exchange of advice and information, and a commitment by CCF to serve as the Shanghai Cat Love Club (SCLC) liaison in the United States until such time as the Chinese club is able to achieve full recognition as a CFA affiliated club.

The SCLC held their first cat show March 22-23 in one of the “hottest exhibition centers in Shanghai”, with over 100 cats in entry, a majority of which were Persians.  The CFA judges in attendance were CFA Vice President Pam DelaBar and veteran judge Wain Harding.  The gate was substantial due to a very effective advertising campaign and a high interest in cats as pets in China.  Several spots of the cat show were televised on the Chinese television network.  As a contribution to its first show, CCF sent Best Cat in Show rosettes made for presentation by the CFA judges.

Shanghai, as many are aware, is the financial capital of China and the part of the country that has the most liberal laws and regulations associated with economic activity.  Capitalism has taken a very strong place in the Shanghai economy.  The rise of pet hobbyists is a natural consequence, with rapidly rising disposable incomes and an interest in smaller pets for apartment dwellers.

Most of the higher quality pedigreed cats in China have historically been imported from Russia and from other countries that have active trade with China.  As a consequence, most of the cats ~ while easily recognizable as a specific breed ~ are not “papered”.   The owners of these cats are committed, however, to begin keeping very strict records on their cats and to begin a process to have them able to be registered with CFA in a few years.

CFA has very strict rules and procedures for the registration of cats coming from other registries.  In its February meeting in Pittsburgh, the Board of CFA authorized the creation of a new “interim” system for creating records that will eventually allow the cats in China to be part of the CFA registry.  This is NOT a new or temporary registry; it is simply a system to begin the registration process for cats, including new breeds, in a formal and systematic manner.

The Capital Cat Fanciers is pleased to be the part of nurturing new clubs in China, commonly called “The Largest Marketplace on Earth”.  With a common bond created through our mutual appreciation of cats, it is with tremendous excitement that we welcome the newest participants to the cat fancy and CFA.