Spring has finally sprung in Deutschland, but thanks to a misplaced winter, part of it fell on its face. The early blooming trees were a fizzle. However, we are now up to our knees in tulips, drunk on lilac fragrance, and smothered in apple blossoms. Along with flowers, spring brings kittens and by the time this goes to press, the first two litters of Deutscher Maine Coon Katzen will have arrived. My Fanny Abigail is due on May 16 and about a week later Pat Robbin’s Emily will add to Raiserslautern’s kitten crop. Henry is responsible for it all. We had thought Seth would be a good match for Emily, but he doesn’t like strange women even when they’ve been visiting for a month. Treated her like a piece of furniture!
Today was a landmark! Finally submitted my application for membership in Deutscher Edelkatzenzuchter-Verband E.V., Ortsgruppe Stuttgart I think. My translater and I had quite a struggle with the form I received. The average German is no more fami liar with «Cat Fancy lingo» than the average American. I may have bought another cat!
Acquiring the application was also quite an extended operation. When I arrived, I contacted Frau Rieger in Brühl-Kierberg she had written me about a year ago for help in buying a kitten. She referred me to Herr Schmitter in Köln (Cologne) who is a president of Deutsche Rassekatzen-Union. He referred me to Joyce Vititoe, who is a Crown judge stationed with her Air Force husband at Rhein-Main Air Base in Frankfurt. Joyce, in turn, referred me to Frau LoHemaria Heuser in Wiesbaden, president of DEKZV. Frau Heuser gave me the name and phone number of Frau Doris Schaarvogel, a DEKZV mem ber in Stuttgart. Fortunately, I took the precaution of having a Deutsch-speaking friend call her, because she doesn’t speak English and with my Deutsch in its present state, I would have bought another cat or worse! Frau Schaarvogel requested the local DEKZV representative to send the form. As a member I will, among other benefits, receive the club’s very attractive quarterly bulletin – too bad I can’t read it!
There is one little complication. DRU is an independent Deutsch organization. DEKZV is the German branch of FIFE. There apparently is no meeting of the «twain». registration makes my cats eligible to show in both associations, but unlike in the My CFA U.S., I cannot belong to both. Joyce has joined DRU; I decided on DEKZV because it has a local chapter. Now how, without creating an international incident, do I thank Frau Rieger and Herr Schmitter for helping me join their rival?!
By the fall issue I hope to be able to give an account of my first cat show in Deutsch land. Joyce has been guest judge and has shown so will give me an assist. We almost went to a show near Frankfurt a couple weeks ago but couldn’t find the right town!
My tribe has certainly proved the adaptability of cats and dogs. From having free run of a big house and bigger backyard they have made a hitchless switch to a small third floor apartment. Seth and Henry have the bedroom and balcony (which I screened); the girls have the living room, kitchen, hall, and bath; and the rest commute. The traffic through the bedroom door is terrific!
Cat food and other supplies are available at the commissary and we do have a Post veterinary clinic. Germans are fond of pets and have very strict regulations regarding their treatment. You do not see stray dogs roaming the streets and the only cats I have seen loose obviously belonged where they were. I hope my contact with the local club will give me more information on this.
Two news items before I quit. First, our sympathy to Helen LaBive on the death of her husband on March 28. Both have been MCBFA fanciers for several years. Second on a brighter note Jabey Crawford out in Indiana has caught his first mouse. Congratula tions fellow – even if it was a case of cradle robbing!!
Connie