Back in about 2004 several crazy cat ladies put their heads together and shared a vision. They looked at their wonderful, hairless, Sphynx and imagined them with curled ears ... and the foundation for the Elf was born.
Tina Tomaini of Inquisikitty and Kristen Leedom, of Quendi and Patty Soule of Soulecats began working toward making that dream a reality. In 2005 the first Elf was born, appropriately named Gandolf, and the reality had begun. Through time they shared their vision with others who joined them along the way and as the days passed by on the journey toward the Kingdom of Elf they came to a fork in the road, some chose one path and others chose another. As it is in this world of people, we sometimes reach the same end by different means, the Elf Cats benefitted with both the genetic diversity of the American Curl and the Highlander through one or the other being chosen by some to gain those amazing curled ears.
From then until now, more breeders have fallen under the spell of the Elves and have joined in the venture toward their sound foundation. Many of the Elf are now in generations that are beginning to exhibit the traits that were envisioned in their beginning. The breeders that have devoted their years, their homes and their hearts to these marvelous cats are beginning to introduce them in TICA's showhalls. Once the introductions have been made all around, and the numbers have been met, they hope to gain acceptance as a New Trait of the Sphynx. The Elf is attempting to be accepted as a New Trait of the Sphynx because it's the proper place for our curled eared, long-legged, hairless kids to be. They're 90% Sphynx with just that addition of the arced ears with curled tips to make them different. We'll be showing several times throughout this show season in our Region, other Elf breeders will be showing in their Regions, so it's possible that, with just a little luck, you might run into an Elf in the showhall this year!
As a New Trait, the Standard for the Elf is that of the Sphynx cats with only a modification for the Elf's curled ears. The standard Elf appears to be a hairless cat, although it is not truly hairless. The skin should have the texture of chamois, it may be covered with very fine down which is almost imperceptible to both the eye and the touch. On the ears, muzzle, tail, feet and scrotum, short, soft, fine hair is allowed. Lack of coat makes the cat quite warm to the touch. The cat should not be small or dainty. The overall appearance of the Elf ear should be one that is aesthetically pleasing to view. The ears are large and open, with firm cartilage from the base to at least one-third the height of ear, curving back over the top of the head in an arc to the softly curled tips. The Elf is sweet-tempered, lively and intelligent and above all else amenable to handling.
As breeders of Sphynx, Elf, Bambino and Dwelf, we here at WavorgoNaked and HoBBiTcaTs chose to use the Highlanders for outcross with our Sphynx on the path to curled eared kids. We acknowledge that the original Elf breeders used American Curl, but they have agreed to respect the choice of those who chose this additional outcross. Here, in our cattery, we believe in the strength of genetic diversity and we know that using this outcross in the foundation of the Elf expands this new trait's gene pool. In the years to come the American Curl outcross lines and the Highland outcross lines will weave between each other and the cats produced will attain a consistently predictable type … that of a Sphynx with curled ears, as it is neither the American Curl or Highlander that we choose to model our cats after. If the Elves achieve their bid in TICA to be accepted as Sphynx New Trait, they will lose all outcrosses that aren't permissible to the Sphynx. When that time comes, the larger the curled eared side of the gene pool is, the better for the sound foundation of the Elf. Or that's what I believe. I base this on almost 14 years raising hairless, mutation breed cats. I base this on hundreds of hours of research through those years that supports a broad, healthy gene pool. I base this on every day of those years living with, working with, observing and loving these cats. I'm proud of what we're producing in these early years of our Elf program.
If you haven't met the Elf, we welcome you to their magic.
Our
Elves.....
We are
honoured to have been chosen for the noble cause of protecting and preserving
these special creatures that share their lives with us. We encourage you to look
around to see what the Elves are up to. But beware! They may steal your heart,
just as they have ours …
PICTURES COMING SOON
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Top photo of Hadrian by Helmi
Fick. Butterfly photo of Hadrian by Preston
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