CASA – The first World Cat Federation club in Africa

On 1 March 2007, South Africa and the African continent joined the ranks of the World Cat Federation, when the board voted for the acceptance of The Cat Association of Southern Africa as a member under patronage.  Full membership was granted officially during the GA meeting in August 2008.

The World Cat Federation is one of the largest, if not the largest, Pedigreed Cat Organisation in the world and is a founder member of the World Cat Congress.  It is difficult to accurately determine the number of clubs, members and cats involved, as clubs register members and their cats individually and not centrally, as many of the other large international bodies do.  It is not possible to directly compare figures.  A visit to the website proves the impressive number of confederations, federations and clubs affiliated to WCF, the large number of recognised judges and the large number of shows taking place somewhere in the world throughout the year.  Now that the African continent also has representation, WCF covers the globe for all practical purposes.

An abstract from the website summarizes it very well as follow:

About World Cat Federation
The WCF was founded on 1988 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil by three clubs which were seeking for more democratic and human procedures in the cat fancy, more than other existing federations ever had. Right now the WCF consists of more than 540 clubs throughout the world covering all continents including the United States.
The WCF is registered in Germany as "eingetragener Verein" (registered association) and since the European community is ready - in Brussels as an European Federation, too.
The WCF takes part at consultations, arranged by the European parliament in Strasbourg, and is responsible for animal welfare and legislation in some working parties and hearing. A WCF member, whether it is a club or a federation, is independent in his business.

The philosophy of WCF is one of inclusivity, rather than exclusivity and it accepts all cats registered with any member body of the World Cat Congress, as well as cats registered with most of the other major non-affiliated cat organisations on it’s shows, without the need of re-registration.   WCF was a founder member of the World Cat Congress (WCC) and strives for global co-operation in the cat world, while most of the local affairs of clubs, shows and registration remains with the local club, allowing for cultural differences and ensuring that most of the revenue from registrations, shows, etc. remain with the club and it’s members.

South African cat lovers has never practically had access to international competition.  That has all changed now, as WCF awards (titles, as it is referred to internationally) are recognised internationally and an international award attained in South Africa would count if a cat is exhibited in any other WCF show in the rest of the world.

A cat may only receive one award per day at WCF shows and all classes are separated according to the title of the cat, breed, colour, pattern and sex (and age groups in kittens).

WCF shows are classified as National, International and World shows and are officially licensed by the board and published on the website.

WCF allows only one major award per class, to the cat awarded an Excellent 1 placing, if the cat is of sufficient quality to receive the required point score. 

Due to the fact that South Africa is the only country in Southern Africa (and probably Africa) where cat shows are held, it is practically almost impossible to travel with cats to shows in different countries.  South Africa is a large country compared to many other WCF countries, especially in Europe.  South Africa is therefor divided into 5 different regions, which have the same status as countries for WCF show- and judging purposes.  These are:  ZA-010 Western Cape Province, ZA-020 Eastern Cape Province, ZA-030 Kwazulu-Natal Province, ZA-040 Northern Cape & Free State Provinces and ZA-050 Gauteng and the other surrounding provinces.  The Regions are only accepted as different countries up to the title of International Grand Champion.  For the Continental and Grand Continental titles, cats have to compete in a different country.

Many exhibitors also find it difficult and expensive to travel to different regions within South Africa.  For this reason we have introduced a system of “South African National Titles”, not unlike the national titles awarded in countries like Israel and the LOOF in France.  This means exhibitors have the choice of either pursuing International titles for their cats, or National titles, giving cats of high quality the recognition they deserve in the form of formal titles, even if only competing within their own region.  National titles are only recognised within South Africa, but will be indicated on the pedigrees of any exported offspring.  A cat wanting to follow an International career up to the title of World Champion will have to stay on the International option of titles and follow through with these rules.

The International and National titles are won according to the following guidelines and rules:

 Champion/Premier – 3 CAC/CAP at national or international shows from 3 different judges. 93 points required for this award.

 International Champion/Premier – 3 CACI/CAPI at 3 international shows from 3 different judges in 2 different countries or regions.  95 points required for this award.
National equivalent:  SA Grand Champion/Premier – 3 CACI/CAPI at 3 national or international shows from 3 different judges.  95 points required for this award.

 Grand International Champion/Premier – 3 CAGCI/CAGPI at 3 international shows from 3 different judges in 2 different countries or regions.  97 points required for this award.
National equivalent:  SA Double Grand Champion/Premier – 3 CAGCI/CAGPI at 3 national or international shows from 3 different judges.  97 points required for this award.

 European or Continental Champion/Premier – 3 CACE/CAPE at 3 international shows from 3 different judges in 3 different countries.  97 points required for this award
National equivalent:  SA Triple Grand Champion/Premier – 3 CACE/CAPE at 3 national or international shows from 3 different judges.  97 points required for this award

 Grand European or Continental Champion/Premier – 3 GCACE/GCAPE at 3 international shows from 3 different judges in 3 different countries.  98 points required for this award.
National equivalent:  Supreme Champion/Premier – 3 GCACE/GCAPE at 3 national or international shows from 3 different judges.  98 points required for this award.

 Double Supreme Champion/Premier – 6 GCACE/GCAPE at 6 national or international shows from 6 different judges.  98 points required for this award.

 Triple Supreme Champion/Premier – 9 GCACE/GCAPE at 9 national or international shows from 9 different judges.  98 points required for this award.

 World Champion/Premier – 3 CACM/CAPM at 3 international shows from 3 different judges in 3 different countries on 2 different continents.  98 points required for this award.
No National equivalent for this award.

 World Shows – One award received at a world show, where a judge from the extended board of WCF must officiate, counts as an award received in another country or continent.  World shows are run according to a special set of rules and only one world show per year is allowed per country, under special license from the board.

 CASA has had many successful shows already, in all the Regions.  There are also several sub-clubs staging their own successful shows under CASA/WCF rules.  There are many highly titled cats already in South Africa and a few cats with local WCF titles have been exported and carried on with their show career in their new countries.

 The philosophy of CASA is to enjoy our wonderful hobby in a spirit of friendly competition, complimentary to any other existing cat organisation and to use our energy to promote, build and improve in an environment where we feel welcome and appreciated.  Let’s hope that all our members will be allowed and able to live our dream for a long time to come.

Apart from the standard classes on WCF shows, there are also additional side classes and rings which can be entered on a voluntary basis.

 “Specials” are additional fun events, where cats of the same breed, or other defined category compete in a side show (or side class.)  There are no specific rules and no specific titles awarded.  However there is a lot of prestige associated with doing well in a special.  This side class is usually judged by a judge well known to have a special interest in the breed.  Winning “Best” in a special is indeed a special event, while being place very high in the scores really tells the owner and breeder of the exhibit something about the quality of the exhibit.  The specials are not only fun, although that is an important part of it.  This open style judging is often also very informative, with the judge discussing certain important of unique features of the breed and giving advice on some of the aspects in breeding and presentation, etc. of the breed.  Cats doing well in the specials will most of the time automatically end up in the Best on Show line-up as well.  There are also extra prizes to be won in the special side classes.

 The WCF ring, which is additional to the standard classes, is open to any exhibit on a WCF show, and is probably the fairest system for calculating points towards Regional and National Top Cat scores and may be used in future for this additional purpose.  See below the rules on the rings, as published on the WCF website.

 Johan Lamprecht   -   President – CASA