Linda Lindsey

an interview with TICA Judge Linda Lindsey.

By Jay Lehman

Jay: What made you decide to get your first cat and what kind was it?

Linda: My husband, Roland, and I visited a cat show in Austin, TX and were intrigued by the different breeds and process of running a cat show. Our first cat was a CFA-registered, pet-quality, 6-months-old Burmese. After we had had her about 3 weeks, we noticed her nipples were getting pink and called the guy who bred her. He admitted he had allowed her to run the house with a 6-month old Siamese male. The result was one Seal Mink Tonkinese baby who lived almost 17 years.

Jay: When did you get your first pedigreed (show quality) cat and what breed was it?

Linda: In the early 1970s, we got our first show quality cat, which was a Korat. She finaled in her first show (and our first show as exhibitors). That did it - we were hooked on cat shows!

Jay: When did you become involved in breeding and why?

Linda: We became involved in breeding because we appreciated the fact that for centuries the Korat breed has basically remained unchanged, and has not been bastardized by self-serving individuals. New Korat owners must sign a strict "pledge" when Korats are sold/adopted. We had been working with Korats for a couple of years when we got a Russian Blue kitten. (One can never have too many blue cats, right?) As a breeder, exhibitor and judge, I have taken a lot of ribbing over the years about my "boring blue cats."

Jay: What breeds have you/do you breed, and why?

Linda: I am too busy judging and traveling with my job to breed now. I believe new kittens need extensive hands-on socialization. In the past, and especially when I decided to become a judge, I bred, lived with, groomed and exhibited the following breeds: Korats, Russian Blues, Persians, Exotic Shorthairs, Siamese, Maine Coons and Household Pets. Currently, I own an 18-year old Russian Blue spay, two Maine Coon alters, a Korat alter and a HHP alter. (Not to mention about 10 "wild" cats we trapped in a humane trap many years ago, altered and have been feeding in our back yard ever since. Most won’t let us touch them, but they sure can eat our food!) My 18-year-old Russian Blue, SGC RO-LIN Amarillo, was TICA’s 10th Best International Cat in 1981. She lived in Canada for a couple of years, but then came back to her "roots" in Texas.

Jay: When did you become involved in TICA and why?

Linda: I am a founding/charter member of TICA. When Georgia Morgan attended her last Board of Directors meeting for ACFA in Point Lookout, Missouri, she was flying through Austin, Texas, and had a lay-over. She called us telling us about the probability of the formation of a "new" association. Roland picked her up at the airport, brought her to our home, and we called several other area breeders and club representatives to come to our home and "meet with Georgia." There were about 9 to 10 people present representing three different clubs. We were all very excited about the "new" association, which was to be TICA. My TICA life membership number is in the single digits, so obviously, I have been around for a while. I choose TICA (exclusively, since its formation) because: the people are friendly; the judging is the most fair I have seen, (and yes, "minority" breed cats can and do win); the judging program is very progressive; the cats are beautiful; it’s FUN, and great "therapy" after a hard work week.

Jay: What other associations were you ever involved with?

Linda: Prior to TICA, I exhibited in ACFA and CFA.

Jay: When and why did you decide to become a judge?

Linda: I was licensed as a TICA judge in 1982. My husband was TICA’s first "TICA trained and licensed judge." Other judges came over to TICA before him, but he was the first to go through TICA’s judging program and be licensed by TICA. I saw how much he enjoyed judging and decided to do it also.

Jay: What is your fondest memory of TICA?

Linda: There are so many fond memories about TICA. One of the best memories is when I attended the annual banquet in Bellevue, Washington in 1995 and two "BLUE" cats were Best and 2nd Best International. Best was SGC Love Sumalee Ruangdej ("Gideon"), a Korat, and 2nd Bet was SGC Inkblotz London Fog ("Bear"), a British Shorthair, there were many cheers of "Yea for the blue cats!" (and yea for "minority" breed cats.)

Other fond memories -- even though it involved MUCH manual labor in those early/formative years of TICA, Roland was both TICA TREND editor and TICA yearbook editor. I "assisted" him a lot, and recall TICA TRENDs being strung all over our floors as we were getting them ready for mailing each time. Things really ran on a shoe string back then, but they ran-----

Jay: What advise would you give to Russian Blue exhibitors about showing this breed?

Linda: Socialize them EARLY. Since Russian Blues are shy by nature, they need exposure to show hall situations as soon as they are old enough to enter the door (3 months to be in the show hall, 4 months to compete in the shows). Have as many different people handle the kittens as possible, with many different noise levels. (Always ask people to disinfect their hands prior to handling.)

Watch how judges handle the Russian Blues and DON’T BE SHY about speaking with them if you think your RB’s are being handled too roughly. RB’s want to be handled with a gentle, but secure touch. They hate being grabbed with quick, jerky movements. Handling a RB should be done with a smooth, flowing motion.

In conclusion, even though RB’s are still a "minority" breed as far as numbers in our shows, it is always such a pleasure to look in a judging cage and see a magnificent RB looking at you with those beautiful green eyes!

Ask any judge who has been a "trainee" in my rings, and they will tell you that I always say a Russian Blue should be "elegant"; if you don’t see "elegance", something is wrong. TICA judge Fate Mays frequently quotes me as saying, "according to Linda Lindsey, if a Russian Blue isn’t elegant, just put it back." Okay, so I’m a sucker for blue cats. I can live with that.