Twisty CAts

In article ,
says...
"Sherry" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Oct 21, 11:58 am, "CatNipped" wrote:
"MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote in message

...







"Sherry" wrote in message
oups.com...
Does anyone remember the "Twisty Cat" breeder, and the surrounding
controversey of a
few years back? Does anyone remember which state that was in?
I"m asking because the shelter has a cat that looks exactly like them.
Cute little
thing, she looks a little like a kangaroo -- seems to be a birth
defect and she seems
to have adapted very well to it. It really bugs me, the similarity to
the Twisty Cats though.

Sherry

Hi Sherry,

I do remember the "Twisty Kats," but I didn't remember which state was
involved. I did a little searching via the Internet, and it seems that
the locale was not far from you (and even closer to me). According to
this site, it was in Marshall, Texas:
http://www.cfainc.org/comments-twistykats.html.
Many of us -- probably *most* of us -- considered it unethical to
deliberately breed a deformity into generations of cats. This article
(from Cat Fanciers Association) includes this paragraph: "Speir has
said
in interviews that she sees no difference in what she is doing and in
what
breeders of recognized breeds do. She claims to be breeding something
that
is appealing and 'cute.' Even though true cat lovers believe that all
cats
are appealing, those who engage in purposeful breeding carry the
additional responsibility to assure that a cat's basic ability to
function
will not be compromised." (The reference is to Vickie Speir, who was
the
breeder of the cats.)

Here is another site that purports to give a chronology:
http://www.delmars.com/kitcats/twisted.htm. This site notes that Vickie
Speir claimed that she was not "breeding" but was only "reproducing a
favorite pet."

And here is an article that was posted by Vickie Ives (who was known in
earlier articles as Vickie Speir):
http://www.karmafarms.com/twisty.htm.
It tells "her side" of the story and also includes several pictures.
She
does claim that they do not sell Twisties.

MaryL

I would disagree with this article on only one point, the "None of the 37
breeds accepted by CFA involve physical characteristics that would
interfere
with the cat's ability to move and to act in a normal way," declaration
is,
I believe, wrong. Persian cats' faces have become so "flat" from
inbreeding
that members of this breed have trouble breathing and respiratory
problems.
There are also, I believe breeds of cats whose legs have been so
foreshortened that they have problems running and jumping. With all
other
statements made in the article, I agree completely - the "twisty cat"
idea
is horrendous.

Hugs,

CatNipped- Hide quoted text -

Oh absolutely. Their sinuses and eyes are even screwed up because
their
faces are practically concave now. This is nothing more than stupid
breeders who think they are "improving" the breed. (Definition of
"improve":
whatever gets more rosettes)
Look at a Persian from a few decades ago. They look nothing like
Persians
today.

Sherry

Yep, I agree with you and MaryL. The things I *LOVE* about cats are the
same things that have made them the world's most perfect predator... The
speed and grace of movement that allows them to stalk and then to chase down
and catch prey, the razor sharp claws that grapple into and hold down the
prey, the tapered snout and curved fangs that can deliver the killing bite
to the neck, the rough tongue with backwards-facing spikes that is perfect
for removing meat from bone. Pretty gruesome, but gruesome in the most
beautiful way imaginable (to me, anyway). Nature has created the perfect
killing machine and man has no business trying to change perfection.

No doubt. Cats are the ultimate predator and it's all hard-wired. Even a
cat that has never had to hunt still has the full set of skills to do
so.

"CatNipped" wrote
I'm the only person I know who watches nature shows and roots for the cat
instead of the gazelle! ;


ooo I cannot even watch those shows.

"cybercat" wrote in message
...

"CatNipped" wrote
I'm the only person I know who watches nature shows and roots for the cat
instead of the gazelle! ;


ooo I cannot even watch those shows.

I get really upset when the cat misses and has to go hungry (especially if
there are cubs "at home"). I am somewhat of a bigot when it comes to herd
animals and herbivores - I mean, how much intelligence does it take to sneak
up on a blade of grass? ;

Hugs,

CatNipped

"CatNipped" wrote in message
...
"cybercat" wrote in message
...

"CatNipped" wrote
I'm the only person I know who watches nature shows and roots for the
cat instead of the gazelle! ;


ooo I cannot even watch those shows.

I get really upset when the cat misses and has to go hungry (especially if
there are cubs "at home"). I am somewhat of a bigot when it comes to herd
animals and herbivores - I mean, how much intelligence does it take to
sneak up on a blade of grass? ;


I can see this. I am just not much on seeing Bambi--or anything for that
matter--get slaughtered. Although, if I could see the stray who keeps
killing voles and leaving them for me actually kill them, I might like that.
The little bahstahds have killed so many of my plants. Good plants, too.

"cybercat" wrote in message
...

"CatNipped" wrote in message
...
"cybercat" wrote in message
...

"CatNipped" wrote
I'm the only person I know who watches nature shows and roots for the
cat instead of the gazelle! ;


ooo I cannot even watch those shows.

I get really upset when the cat misses and has to go hungry (especially
if there are cubs "at home"). I am somewhat of a bigot when it comes to
herd animals and herbivores - I mean, how much intelligence does it take
to sneak up on a blade of grass? ;


I can see this. I am just not much on seeing Bambi--or anything for that
matter--get slaughtered. Although, if I could see the stray who keeps
killing voles and leaving them for me actually kill them, I might like
that. The little bahstahds have killed so many of my plants. Good plants,
too.

LOL! I don't blame you - a little furry hero to your plants and you is a
good thing to have!

Hugs,

CatNipped

On Oct 20, 11:10 pm, Sherry wrote:
Does anyone remember the "Twisty Cat" breeder, and the surrounding
controversey of a
few years back? Does anyone remember which state that was in?
I"m asking because the shelter has a cat that looks exactly like them.
Cute little
thing, she looks a little like a kangaroo -- seems to be a birth
defect and she seems
to have adapted very well to it. It really bugs me, the similarity to
the Twisty Cats though.

Sherry

Vickie Speir, Texas. Don't remember where, exactly. What an ass she
was. I flamed the **** out of her on some newsgroup at one point.

-L.

On Oct 20, 11:10 pm, Sherry wrote:
Does anyone remember the "Twisty Cat" breeder, and the surrounding

snip

Sherry

By the way - how's Jake?

-L.

On Oct 22, 4:43 am, "-L." wrote:
On Oct 20, 11:10 pm, Sherry wrote: Does anyone remember the "Twisty Cat" breeder, and the surrounding

snip

Sherry

By the way - how's Jake?

-L.

You know, I didn't see him/her after early spring, not once. I was
kind of concerned
about this--especially after the awful flooding we had in the spring.
But I think
I *have* seen her/his progeny--lots of babies around during August.
They're
really cute. Not much bigger than those 'Husky" kindergartner's
pencils.

Sherry

Sherry

On Oct 22, 9:31 pm, Sherry wrote:

You know, I didn't see him/her after early spring, not once. I was
kind of concerned
about this--especially after the awful flooding we had in the spring.
But I think
I *have* seen her/his progeny--lots of babies around during August.
They're
really cute. Not much bigger than those 'Husky" kindergartner's
pencils.

Sherry

Sherry

The babies really are darling, aren't they?
If you changed anything in the yard, she may have moved. She may go
back down into your basement in the winter , as well.

-L.