About the Author

The background of the formation of The Traditional Cat Association, Inc. and my recognition and subsequent naming and defining of the three different types of “Siamese” in the world is often equated only with the beginnings of TCA, INC. But the depth of my knowledge of animal breeding and husbandry is much more extensive. I grew up on our Wisconsin Dairy Farm, where breeding and keeping registry and performance records on our herd of Holsteins was a way of life and the source of our means of support.  Our Farm had the top herd in our County for 22 years straight, based upon monthly, Wisconsin State tests on each individual cow in our herd and on our facilities. 

Horses became my passion very early in life, beginning with our work horse team, who I road often even before I could walk. By age 5 I had my own pony and by age 8 I had my own palomino horse.  Ginger was bred to an Arabian Stallion, so thus began my career in Arabian horses.  My subsequent purchases of Arabians lead to a dedicated calling to the Arabian Show circuit.  If I wasn’t working, as a Service Representative for the telephone company, I was on the road with my Arabians.  Training, management, breeding and showing were all up to me alone.  I even drove the truck and horse trailer to and from show arenas.

My years resulted in several Show Championships in both Halter and performance.  On my roster of top awards is. Lady Gay Sun, the 1970 U.S. Reserve National Champion Part-Arabian Mare.  I bred, trained and showed the Sire of Zarr-Hassan (Gazarr X Belleza) who won the titles of Canadian National Champion Stallion and U.S. Reserve National Champion Stallion in the same year.  His sire, Gazarr + (Gazon X Starr-Fire), the stallion I raised, went on to sire over 80 Show Champions. By age 10 Gazarr have won multiple Halter Championships. English Pleasure Championships, was top 5 Stallion in Regions 1, 2 and 7, was Top 20 Halter Stallion, and Top 20 English Pleasure Champion at the Canadian National Championships, was Top 20 Halter Stallion at the U.S. National Championships, and received his Legion of Merit Award by 1975.   I raised 6 full brothers from Gazarr’s mother, Starr-Fire, who was a full sister to a U.S. National Champion Mare. The third generation of my breeding still romps around our pastures today, adding beauty, their sense of humor, and fun to our lives.

Over those years I bred Traditional Siamese and sold the kittens. They were prevalent then, and easily found.  After John and I were married, which involved a move to a different State, we began looking for a Traditional Siamese of our own. During 1985 and 1986 we searched.  Hoping the end of our quest could be found at a cat show, we attended one.  It was at that cat show where I came face to face with the Extreme Wedge Siamese. The sign on the cage read “Siamese”, but what I saw was an absolute, indescribable shock. .In my mind, what ever that thing was, it surely wasn’t a Siamese Cat!  It was emaciated looking, long and thin with a head weirdly shaped like a piece of pie with large ears and slitty eyes. I called it the Extreme Wedge Siamese.  When I inquired about the Traditional Siamese Cat I knew in my youth, I was insulted and rebuked. That sharp criticism set me on a determined coarse to find out what had happen to “MY Siamese”. 

In two years we still hadn’t found a Traditional Siamese kitten for ourselves, so I wrote a letter to CATS Magazine, which was published.  Only 19 breeders responded from all across the U.S. and Canada.  We purchased “Serenity” as a kitten from Laura Kelly in Florida.  We were and still are very happy with “Serenity”. With such a small number of breeders responding I knew the Siamese breed I knew was in trouble.  The bloodline base was scattered and obviously small. I typed all 19 breeders addresses on one sheet of paper, sent it to all of them and asked them to get together and share bloodlines. I thought that was that. Such was not the case. Their responding letters and those from people asking for help finding the “Old Style” Siamese turned into a flood of correspondence. I like helping people, so the Good Samaritan in me started sending out my “Breeders List” to all who asked for it. John began wondering if I was spending too much of our personal money, so I began accounts.  The letters back and forth turned into our Newsletter, and my accounts became our Treasurer’s Report.

To provide distinction, and respect, I created the breed names, Traditional Siamese and Classic Siamese and wrote Breed Standards for both.  This took considerable research to accomplish.  The importance of what a Breed Standard is and how it is used, demanded that I be accurate, clear, and thorough. 

Currently TCA, INC. is the leading force behind the push to bring back the “original” Traditional Siamese and Classic Siamese. Over the years we have accepted other breeds that have the same difference in body type as the Traditional Siamese and Classic Siamese from the Extreme Wedge Siamese. Included are the “Traditional Balinese”, “Classic Balinese”, “Traditional Burmese”, “Classic Burmese” and more.  Once again I created these breed names and wrote their supporting Breed Standards.  All together I’ve written over 30 Breed Standards and am still working on more. 

It took a great deal of time and effort for me to create and publish the TCA, INC.,  Registry, all of the forms, documents,and  “Constitution and By-Laws, Registry and Show Rules”  that formed this Association and are for the exclusive use of TCA, INC. members only. For instance, our “Constitution” took m e four and one half months to write!  

There are so many breeds that have been harmed by the constant revisions of their Breed Standards by the other cat associations, and other negative actions. I had to take a stand against this onslaught. That is one of the main reasons we are here, and are so willing to work with others who support the same goals. 

We have our own Registry, hold our own shows, have major advertising both on the web and in Magazines and have a highly sought Breeders List available to prospective customers.  Our web site  www.traditionalcats.com  receives over 400,000 “hits’ per month. 

I am proud of my record of standing up for the democratic process, the will of the majority and maintaining the high integrity that is the hallmark of TCA, INC. Through honesty, integrity, high ethics and dedication to the Traditional Cats and their breeders.

Staying united and always growing has made our efforts an ever stronger voice on behalf of the Traditional and Classic Siamese. Their Royal history, personality and glorious coloration deserve nothing less.

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Last Updated : 05/17/24