Mary Arnold

an interview with TICA Judge Mary Arnold

By Jay Lehman

Jay: What made you decide to get your first cat and what kind was it?
Mary: I had cats as a child, and dressed them in doll clothes, and wheeled them around in a baby stroller....much more fun than dolls...
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Jay: When did you get your first pedigreed (show quality) cat and what breed was it?
Mary: My first purebred was a silver Persian, that I bred and showed the resulting silver tabby in ACFA

Jay: When did you become involved in breeding and why?
Mary: I bred Irish setters for both field and show for many years, and it was a natural progression to want to breed cats, after acquiring my first Persian.

Jay: What breeds have you/do you breed, and why?
Mary: Persians... because they are challenging to get the extremity and soundness on the same cat, and they also require SO much from the exhibitor, as far as conditioning, grooming, and presentation.. it feels like more of 'me' goes into my entry with a Persian.
Sphynx, because they are so opposite from Persians, and I enjoy seeing the
two breeds together! I also bred Abyssinians, and showed them successfully...got several other
current Aby breeders started.

Jay: When did you become involved in TICA and why?
Mary: I showed ACFA, and was encouraged to become a judge by Don Shaw. I am a founding member of TICA - number 33 to be exact!!!

Jay: What other associations were you ever involved with?
Mary: ACFA, and AKC, and I have granded several in CFA

Jay: When and why did you decide to become a judge?
Mary: Because of my background in working dogs and horses, the structure and conformation as it pertains to working soundness was important to me. I had seen several breeds of dogs bred into major unsoundnesses because of fads or fashion. I didn't want to see that happen to cats, and with TICA just 'taking off' it felt like I could get in on the ground floor, and make a difference.

Jay: What is your fondest memory of TICA?
Mary: breeding a litter of brown tabby and white Persians, that was, on paper anyway, exactly what I wanted... Perfectly placed white, superimposed over a bright, clear classic tabby pattern... and, of course, excellent type. Then bringing him out at Incats in Moscone Center, and having him go Best of the Best Kitten....and repeating that at Madison Square Garden, and then ending up as Kitten of the Year. Yeah, I guess that would be the 'fondest memory!'

Jay: What advise would you give to Russian Blue exhibitors about showing this breed?
Mary: Socialization!! Take the future show cat EVERYWHERE! To the store, to the bank, everywhere... get it used to carriers, sounds smells, sights....ask the receptionist at the vet to play judge the kitten often, get it used to being handled by strangers, with other animals around.