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CFA Public Relations
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Cats! Wild to Mild
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CFA Public Relations
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Cats! Wild to Mild
The overall public relations effort for CFA goes far beyond issuing news
releases, providing show promotional materials, videos, and pamphlets, or
taking the CFA booth to pet fairs, cat shows, veterinary and humane
association conferences and numerous other venues to spread the word about
CFA.
 Cats! Wild to Mild is sure to be the "cat's meow". Supported by the Friskies PetCare Company, the National Science Foundation, Jaguar Cars North America and the Cat Fanciers' Association, this national traveling exhibition is the most
comprehensive show ever launched on the history, biology and evolution of
wild and domestic cats.
Cats! Wild to Mild traces the history of cats from
wild, exotic felines to America's Number One pet. Visitors can "prowl" into
the realms of feline science, myth, responsible pet care, endangerment and
conservation issues of wild cats. Developed by the Natural History Museum of
Los Angeles County, the exhibit will tour at least 15 cities across North
America over the next five years. "This exhibit uses the visitors'
familiarity and love of cats to teach basic science and biology lessons,"
said Dr. Blaire Van Valkeburgh, guest curator of the Cats! exhibition and
professor of vertebrate morphology at the University of California Los
Angeles. "The museum also hopes to inspire children and adults to learn
about careers in science, while educating exhibit visitors about responsible
pet care and the highly endangered status of wild cats."
Upon entering the exhibit, visitors encounter a Pre-Columbian warrior dressed as a mystical
jaguar. Examples of cats in ancient mythology and modern celebrations are
explored, from the importance of felines in Latin American cultures to early
Egyptian worship and domestication. The biology of the cat is discussed,
showing similarities between the skeletons of a domestic house cat and a
wild cat. The skeletal comparison between felines and humans is also shown.
Interactive components and panels demonstrate the flexibility of a cat's
body and the feline's superior ability to run, jump, bite, hear, see and
land on all four paws.
On the domestic cat side of the exhibit, CFA brings its commitment to promoting responsible pet ownership to the exhibit by sponsoring the "Caring For Your Cat" pamphlet. Over the five year period the exhibit will be open it is estimated that more than 1.2 million pamphlets
will be distributed to those attending the exhibit at 15 venues. Cats!
features interactive displays, dioramas, photo murals.
In the domestic cat section a case is devoted to CFA. The CFA display includes
information on CFA, a duplicate of the collar and medal presented to
"Cosey," the Best-In-Show cat at the first major cat show in the U.S. held
in 1895 at Madison Square Garden. Photo and pedigree of CFA's 1998 Cat of
the Year, Grand Champion, National Winner Araho's Meg Ryan, a Tortoiseshell Persian female owned
and bred by Joan and Tom O'Hara of New Jersey are
on display. Also featured are copies of Meg's Best Cat and Best of Breed
rosettes and her Frabel Best Cat award. The CFA Yearbook, an issue of the Cat
Fanciers' Almanac and various other CFA pamphlets are also
displayed. With the cooperation of Richard and Nancy Katris of Chanan
Photography, a photo mural of the 36 CFA breeds recognized for registration
is presented in the domestic cat section. The CFA case, the mural by Chanan,
a genetics/breeding interactive display, a birth and development panel, and
other educational units are included in the domestic cat section. In
addition, information on organizations involved in conservation and
responsible pet care will be given to museum visitors.
Other organizations not already mentioned that are participating in the exhibit are the
Ralphs/Food 4 Less Foundation, the Smith-Welsh Foundation, the Exotic Feline
Breeding Compound, the Santa Monica National Park Service and the Los
Angeles Zoo. Special teacher-aid kits and curriculum materials have been
developed for an estimated 40,000 Los Angeles school children who will tour
the exhibit, as well as educational materials including a CD-ROM on cats
that will travel to other venues.
We highly recommend visiting the Cats! Wild to Mild web site.
Cats! Wild to Mild logo used with permission.
Last Updated: May 14 2005
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