The Empire Cat Club is the oldest and most prestigious cat club in the United States. Formed on December 5, 1913, it was admitted as a member club to the Cat Fancier's Association (CFA) at its annual meeting on December 30 of the same year. The Empire Cat Club has been in continuous operation since then.
The club's first Board of Directors wasn't limited to cat fanciers in New York City. In fact, none of the board members were from any of the five Boroughs! Julia M. and John S. Hunter were from Mt. Vernon; Agnes Isable Avata hailed from Manhasset, and Li and Ruth Lingenfellter came across the Hudson from Elizabeth, NJ. James B. Howlett, another Long Islander,
was from Freeport, John D. Zidegermann from Riverdale, NJ, and Claire Y. O'Brian came from Scarsdale, NY.
Empire's first two shows were held in December 1914 and 1915 at the Grand Central Plaza in conjunction with CFA's annual meeting. Ten years after its first show, the Empire Cat Club Show was held in the ballroom of the Hotel Pennsylvania. A reported 190 felines were in attendance, with 45 cats turned away for lack of space. Breeds represented were Solid, Shaded and Tabby Persians; Domestic Shorthairs; Siamese and six housecats.
By 1919, CFA had quadrupled in size. CFA became incorporated that year with five charter member clubs, Empire and Cleveland Persian being the most prominent and prestigious. Despite the Great Depression, CFA and Empire continued to thrive and grow. At that time, Empire held its shows in mid-November; usually on Thursday-Friday, or Monday-Tuesday, and not on a weekend.
During the 1930's the show format was somewhat different than it is today. As today, each ring was its own provenance, but one had to enter cats individually in the rings where they were to be shown. For example, at a 1936 show, one ring was designated 'Allbreed.' 'Specialty' rings were divvied up as 'Siamese' specialty, 'Tabby/Tortie (tortoise shell) Persian' specialty, 'Solid Color Persian' specialty, and an 'Any Shorthair Except Siamese' specialty. It was also the first year that the Burmese cats were recognized-with two being exhibited--a far cry from the 37 breeds recognized by CFA today!
In the 1950's most of Empire's cat shows were held at the old Belmont Plaza Hotel at Lexington Avenue and 49th Street. In 1960, the show was held at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY. Other venues for the Empire Cat Club's show were the 71st Armory at 34th Street and Park Avenue in Manhattan, where it remained from 1962-1970. In 1971 the show was held at the New Yorker Hotel at 8th Avenue and 34th Street. The crowds, according to a former club member, "Defied the fire laws of the city."
Madison Square Garden was home to the show for the three years from 1972 to 1974. As ever, the Garden had its fans and its detractors. In 1975 the show moved yet again--this time to one of the piers at the Passenger Ship Terminal on the Hudson River--where it remained through 1980. In 1981 the show returned to Madison Square Garden for a two-year stint. The Garden, however, could not provide the club with the main arena, and the show returned to the Passenger Ship Terminal.
More recently--mainly due to space limitations at these former venues--the show was held at the Sports and Recreation Center at the College of Staten Island on Victory Boulevard.
The Empire Cat Club is very happy to announce its relocation to the Fitzgerald Gym at Queens College. This more central location should make access from all five boroughs as well as Long Island much easier. The show is now traditionally held on the weekend after Mother's Day. Up to 350 cats may be exhibited at the show.
The Empire Cat Club was founded to promote the welfare of all cats, pedigreed or not, and is dedicated to promoting the interest of breeders and exhibitors. The club's national reputation was created by the quality and success of its New York Cat Show, one of the largest in the United States. In 1982, Mayor Koch declared the show's date "Empire Cat Club Day" in New York City.
Empire Cat Club members have a long-standing tradition of being in the forefront of the cat fancy. One of Empire Cat Club's former presidents, and and honorary life member, is Richard Gebhardt, who has served as president of CFA, was a 21-year member of its Board of Directors, as well as being a CFA cat show judge. Mordecai Siegal, well-known veterinary authority and editor of The Cornell Book of Cats has also been an Empire Cat Club member.
Sources: Former Empire Cat Club program notes by Judy Hymas-Thomas, John W. Wieler, Mordecai Siegal; 1958 CFA Yearbook, 1959 CFA Yearbook, 1960 CFA Yearbook, "Our Early Years."
Special thanks to Michael Brim, Director of Public Relations for CFA.
Photo copyright (c) J. Child
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