THE ULTIMATE CAT
Supreme Grand Champion Cherie Dear Niki

Article that appeared in overseas magazine, 1981.
by
Stella Slabber,
8 Avenue Bernard, Southfield, Cape Town

I started importing Chinchilla cats from Jeanne Ramsdale, (DEARHEART Silvers), of Long Beach, California, as far back as 1970.  My CHERIE cattery is based purely on these Dearheart/Beverly-Serrano bloodlines, with undeniable success.

I am very proud and grateful that no solid colours have ever been bred into my chinchillas and it must surely be of interest to other dedicated breeders of these beautiful cats that, in all these years, no kittens have been produced with other colouts, specifically no "goldens".  It is sad to see many winners pictured looking like solid color persians in type, with weepy eyes and squashed-in faces, instead of the smiling baby-doll faces so typical of the chinchillas.

Supreme Grand Champion Cherie Dear Niki achieved his great honour at the Alll Breeds Cat Club Champinship Show on 27th March, 1982 at he Pavilion, Muizenberg, Cape Province, here in the Republic of South Africa.  This was the crowning achievement of his very exciting show career, included in his grande finale, being again, for the third time, Best Cat in Show.

Niki has had a meteoric rise to fame.  As a kitten he showed great promise being truly cobby from birth, with a round head and wide cheeks.  A great future was foretold by all cat fanciers who saw him.  He became champion in the minimum time possible having obtained his 3 Challenge Certificates in the first 3 shows he attended.  He obtained his Grand Championship in like manner and was Best Longhair Adult 7 times and Best Cat in Show 3 times.  One of his most exciting titles was Cat of the year, 1980.  As he has now won everything it is possible for him to win, if he were to attend another show, it would have to be 'For Exhibition Only'.  The awarding judge, Mrs Doreen Paitaki, in her report on the occasion of the Supreme award, had this to say about him:  "Looking every inch the Supreme Champion that he is.   Beautiful conformation.  Large head with lovely wide green eyes.  Coat colour and texture, excellent .  A nature to match his looks and a pleasure to judge."  Niki obtained no fewer than 8 trophies at this last show, a gold Supreme medal and several large rosettes, including one donated by Durham County Cat Club from America.

Dear Niki's sire is CH Cherie Alexis who is a son of my first pair which I imported:  CH Cherie Dearheart Alemander Imp. and GR CH Cherie Dearheart Jennifer Imp.  his dam is Cherie Chansonette, a daughter of my second pair of imports:  GR CH Cherie Dearheart Daniele Imp. and CH Cherie Dearheart Chantilly Imp.

During 1981 my latest Grand Championship was obtained by GR CH Dearheart Nicholas Imp. and, starting offf on his own young show career is CH Cherie Dearheart Merlin Imp.

Niki's progency are doing equally well.  Two daughters, Cherie Siba Muluk and Cherie Simonette, and son Cherie Shah In Shah became champions during 1981.

Niki's grandmother, GR CH Cherie Dearheart Jennifer, S. Africa's first Grand Champion, has obtained no fewer than 13 S.C.'s but these did not count because, until recently, three grand champions had to be present to compete in the class before the award could count.

Thus it is that Niki has stolen a march on his famous grandmother.   Also we must take into consideration that queens have motherhood duties which interfere with their show careers.  Jennie needs one more S.C.C. to be another Supreme Champion.  Her story appeared in CAT WORLD INTERNATIONAL Jan/Feb. '75.   She is nearly 12 years of age and as beauriful as ever.

To become a Supreme Champion, as cat has first to acquire his Championship status.  This takes a minimum of 3 shows as each C.C. has to be given by a different judge.  The cat is then eligible to compete in the grand champion class at the next 3 shows and win first place and a G.C.C. to become a Grand Champion.   Only then is he allowed to compete in the Supreme class.  The winner of the Supreme class and, indeed, of any of the aforegoing classes, is not necessarily awarded his C.C., G.C.C. or S.C.C.  Three judges are involved n this final judging which is conducted in silence and only if the points total the amount required, i.e. 93%, is the award made.  Three S.C.C. will make the cat a Supreme Champion.

My very sincere and grateful thanks to the DEARHEART breeder, Jeanne Ramsdale, for making this all "come true"!  Without her dedication, I certainly would never have achieved this success, nor would I have been able to carry on with her dedicated breeding career here, on the other side of the world.