The Collection

The Foundation seeks to the collect, preserve and exhibit works of art and literature related" to the cat. The Foundation seeks to obtain these materials from the public and to maintain them as a permanent collection. Many of us have collected cat memorabilia over the years: works of art, paintings, sculptures and other cat collectibles (ceramic cats, cats as toys, cats at Christmas and other festivals, wooden, metal, glass cats, and cats in advertising are a few examples) are all needed to build a comprehensive collection of cat artifacts.

The first major donation to the Foundation, was the silver collar and medal presented to Cosey, the Best in Show winner of the National Cat Show, the first North American cat show held at Madison Square Garden on May 8, 1895. Cosey was a brown tabby Maine (Coon) cat owned by Mrs. Fred Brown.

The silver collar (above) was presented to Cosey at the 1895 Madison Square Garden show. It was purchased, along with a photo and medal, by the CFA Foundation with funds donated by the National Capital Cat Show. Read the story of the acquisition of these pieces.

Other major artifacts include:

• 1810 aquatints
• early 1900’s cat carrier
• original Roy Anderson Paintings
• 1880’s Scrap Book compiled by Samuel C. Perkins of Philadelphia, which contains a multitude of items related to cats
• 1896 - 3rd prize rosette awarded to Daisy, a 3 color manx, at first annual cat show in Northampton, England
• 1904 Sterling Silver Chalice from the Sheffield Cat Show in England
• 1918 publicity photo of a Persian sitting on a crystal radio set, the first prize winner at the Empire Cat Show, New York City
• 1927 Cat Show Committee ribbon with attached enamel Pin from the Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, Canada.

Books, Magazines & Other Volumes

A non-lending library is on display in the Jean Baker Rose Memorial Library, at the Cat Fanciers' Association Central Office in Manasquan, NJ. The foundation's resources provide reference for the general public and for researchers. More than 1,400 cat books are in the library. The books are catalogued and continue to be available for on-site review by interested persons.

Magazines, periodicals and other printed items are received by the Foundation each year and have become part of the collection. The publications range from general interest cat publication (Cats, Cat Fancy, Cat World International, I Love Cats, and Popular Cats) to breed newsletters, foreign publications, veterinary journals and other pet related titles.