NEWSLETTER

A quarterly newsletter is available to members of SCBF. The newsletter includes articles about nutrition, breeding, showing, grooming, general health topics, as well as just fun stories about living with the delightful and thoroughly charming Birman. Issues also include photos, pedigrees, cattery ads and litter announcements.

Regular columns include: interviews with breeders about their philosophies and breeding practices, interviews with CFA judges about the Birman breed standard and Harriet's History Corner, with reprints of historical articles, photos and information.

If you join the club, you will automatically receive the newsletter. In the left margin, select "Join the Club" and a membership application is provided for you. If you need further information, please contact our editor:

Paula Watson

FEATURED ARTICLE FROM A PAST ISSUE:-

THE SHOW BAG - A SEQUEL
by Dan Newland, NuSong Birmans

In the previous article I discussed what to look for in a show bag. This time I will explain what items we have chosen to go into our bag and how to pack it. With a little thought and planning we were able to collect more indispensable items than our single bag could contain.

We begin by packing the freshly laundered and ironed cage curtains along with a couple of towels into the bottom of the large center section of the bag. Just remember Murphy's first law of packing "What goes in first, will be needed first" and you will be ok. Next to go in on top of the curtains and towels, are a stack of three twelve by nine inch plastic litter pans. Into the top one are placed many of the small items like baby food bottles, plastic spoons, water bowls, food dishes, catnip mice, camera, business card holder, photo albums, extra film, and small paper plates. All of which has to be dumped out when you need all three pans.

In one end of the center compartment are the plastic spring water bottles. If they should accidentally leak the cage curtains will soak up the water. If the humidity is low they will dry fairly quickly when placed on the cage. If not the mildew smell helps cover the odor of the spraying tom that is usually benched close by.

In the other end is a blow dryer. I purchased a nice looking streamlined 1700 watt model. I don't know what it does with all those watts. They sure are not used in the production of heat. It has six switches on the handle and the only one that has any effect on its performance is the one marked on off. Another nice touch is its self coiling cord; when the dryer is in use it behaves like an enraged boa constrictor with the holding power of a Chinese finger trap. I cannot begin to explain the feeling of togetherness experienced in a motel room at five thirty in the morning with a blow dryer whose cord is wrapped around your wife's wrists, both of my arms and the tail of an uncooperative Birman having it's paws dried, before breakfast and the first cup of coffee. Paws that were sparkling white when we went to bed, have somehow transformed into an awful shade of purple during the night. "We'll leave the light on for you".

I now pack a six foot extension cord. This helps in keeping the coiled boa further away from the cat and gives me a little more time to react when it strikes. We also pack a drip coffee maker and its assorted accessories in its own bag, so we can be properly fortified before beginning the mornings tasks.

The cord is stored in an exterior side pocket along with a spray nozzle and hose. The hose came with an adaptor kit which is supposed to fit any faucet in the world. I have yet to find one that it will fit properly. When I do get it to stay on it is usually squirting more water up my arm than onto the cat.

The combs and claw clippers have been removed from the pockets in the zippered end compartment. Nancy could not stand the screaming every time I jammed the tines of a comb under my finger nail while trying to fish the flea comb from the bottom of the pocket. She bought a nice folding makeup organizer. It has a clear plastic front with lots of little zippered compartments. It now contains the combs, claw clippers, cotton swabs, cotton balls, eye dropper, scissors, murine, panalog cream, neosporan, small hemostat, wash rag, twist ties, plastic spoons, and some wet wipes. It is stored on top of the litter pans in the center compartment. When unpacked it hangs nicely from the edge of the cage. Just remember to zip up all of the compartments before putting it away. I do not, and the screaming has been replaced by my cussing, as I pick up the combs and other items that have fallen from the compartments that were left open when I removed it from the show bag upside down.

The compartment that used to contain the combs is also home to four eight ounce bottles containing shampoo, whitener, ultra black, and cream rinse. The shampoo whitener and rinse are F1 R2 products. The ultra black is from Bio Groom. The whitener and ultra black do not seem to do much but it makes you feel better for having used them. Kind of like meditation. I am sure that the soul of the temple priest residing in your Birman will appreciate the extra effort and you will receive your reward in paradise. From the looks I get from our Birmans at bath time I will probably be reincarnated as a litter box.

This compartment also contains the signs for the cages. The "DO NOT TOUCH" sign that no one reads. The cattery name and breed sign. It never ceases to amaze me how some one can read the name Birman and pronounce it Rag doll or Siamese. This provides us with the perfect opportunity to sit the person down and explain the difference, give them some of the literature on Birmans, which is also kept in this compartment and convert them into Birman lovers.

On the other side is a similar compartment which contains Bio Groom powder for touching up oily places behind the ears and Bio Groom texturizing spray to add body to the coat when combing. Also a spray bottle of Nolvasan disinfectant, a small bottle of Goop and Dawn dish soap for disasters (purple feet).

In closing just remember Murphy's second law of packing, "What you put into your show bag other than the bare essentials will never be needed but what you do not put in will be".