There will Never

be Another!

Originally published in the July 1995 issue of the CFA Almanac

© 1995 The Cat Fanciers Assoc.

 

 

GC Shawnee Moon Flight, Nikki, Marion Hall

Nikki Horner

1925-1995

The End of a CFA Legend, but

Her Legacy Lives On
 
 
  • Female Cat of the Year, 1949 (Siamese)
  • Inventor of the Bombay, 1959
  • Cat of the Year, 1960, 1961, 1963 (Persian), 1965 (American Shorthair)
  • Kitten of the Year, 1959 (Persian, 1966 (American Shorthair
  • First American Shorthairs to go Cat and Kitten of the Year
  • Best Shorthair Cat and Best Burmese, 1967-68
  • Burmese in Top 20, 1971-72
  • Over 100 Shawnee Grands and over 500 Shawnee Best-in-Show Wins
  

She Will Be Missed!

Charlie and Mary Lynn Farmer, Dayle and Marion Hall

 

 

In Memory of Nikki Horner

(Shawnee Cattery)

by Boris Teron, CFA Judge
 

     “Memories” are a great part of each and every one of our lives.  In 1946, Nikki registered the cattery name “Shawnee” and immediately began breeding and exhibiting outstanding cats and kittens.  A former Miss Kentucky, she worked with an excelled in American Shorthairs, Sable Burmese, Exotics, Himalayans, Persians, and Siamese.  Nikki was very instrumental in developing and perfecting the Bombay into what we see in the show ring today.  All her entries were presented in peak show condition and always were groomed to more than perfection.  Nikki had a keen eye for quality and perfection and bred for those standards.  She could have been a judge and a real asset to our CFA Judges Panel; however, she chose to breed quality cats and exhibit her achievements.  Among some of the cats she exhibited, there were several that stood out far beyond the average show cats.  To name a few, I recall:

  
 
  • GC Shawnee Moonflight, a copper-eyed white Persian male, who was awarded Cat of the Year several times (“All American” in those days)>
  • GC Shawnee Trademark, classic silver tabby American Shorthair male, Highest Scoring Cat 1964-65, Best Shorthair Male 1964-65, 4th Highest Scoring Shorthair Male 1965-66.
  • GC Shawnee Painting The Town Red, red Persian female, also Cat of the Year.
  • GC Shawnee Whitewash, Copper-eyed white Persian female,  Best Longhair Female 1964-65, 4th Highest Scoring Female Longhair 1965-66, 2nd Highest Scoring Longhair Female 1966-67.
  • GC Shawnee Cassius Clay, sable Burmese male.
  • GC Shawnee Chubby Checkers, sable Burmese male.
  • GC Shawnee Road To Fame, Bombay.
  • GC Hill House Daniella of Shawnee, sable Burmese female, bred by the late Stella Harlos (CFA Allbreed Judge) and owned and shown by Nikki.  She was a top winning Burmese in 1969, the 2nd Highest Scoring Shorthair Female 1964-65, 1965-66, and 5th Highest Scoring Shorthair Female 1966-67.
  
 

I was pleased to have had the pleasure of showing my own cats at shows where Nikki also exhibited through the years, and we became good friends.  When judging at shows where she exhibited, there was never a problem in finding the Best Cats in most categories.  (At that time awards were Best and 2nd Best Novice, Open, Champion, Grand Champion, Longhair & Shorthair, in addition to top awards of Best, 2nd Best, and Best Opposite Sex Cats in Finals.  This was before we went to Top 5 and Top 10 in finals.)  I was most pleased to have been able to award one of Nikki’s Himalayans Best Cat at a southern show at which I was judging in the 80’s when she was working with the breed.

Sadly, a long time illness took her from the cat fancy and her friends-she will indeed be missed by the many who knew, loved and admired her.

“Shawnee,” the Legend,  The greatest Name in Cats for Many Years.  “Nikki S. Horner,” a Most Gracious Lady, You were and will remain in our “Memories.”*