A cat may look at a secretary of state*

Secretary of State Colin Powell (right) sews up the cat bloggers' vote, posing with "Cat of The Year" Colin Powell (left) in the State Department's Treaty Room yesterday (Evan Vucci / AP photo)

"We name all of our black cats after prominent African-Americans," explained Sig Hauck, whose Bombay Colin Powell is the Cat Fanciers' Association's "Cat of the Year," reports AP:

The prize-winning cat, a copper-eyed Bombay born in the Brookfield, Conn., home of Sharyn and Sig Hauck, on the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, responded with a hesitant purr, and had nothing further to offer reporters, on the record or otherwise.

Colin Powell, the secretary of state, said he had been given the chance to name the recently born offspring of Colin, the cat, and had chosen Ralph Bunche, in honor of the late diplomat.

Goomp named his own magnificent black cat Tom after a prominent African-American way back when, as we blogged here recently:

Before the internet and blogging, we never knew any conservative black voices other than Thomas Sowell, introduced to us years ago by Goomp, who named his now dearly-departed black-with-white pussycat Tom in honor of this oft-quoted pundit.

Colin Powell's official portrait (Larry Johnson photo©)

Update: Goomp commented re Colin's resemblance to his current feline friend, Lucie -- blogged here and here and here -- a sable Burmese. A Googling of the Cat Fanciers' Association site reveals that a sable Burmese was the Mother of All Bombays:

The black leopard of India inspired her choice of the breed's name. Ms. Horner began her effort in 1953 with the selection of a black American Shorthair male with deep copper eye color and a Grand Champion sable Burmese female. Through a long process of inbreeding and outcrossing and careful selection, she was able to consistently produce a black cat unlike any other.

The Bombay achieved CFA Championship status in 1976, eighteen years after it was created. Outcrossing to Black American Shorthairs and sable Burmese is still allowed.

*Post title refers to proverb quoted by Alice in Chapter VIII, "The Queen's Croquet-Ground," from Alice In Wonderland:

'I don't like the look of it at all,' said the King:
'however, it may kiss my hand if it likes.'

'I'd rather not,' the Cat remarked.

'Don't be impertinent,' said the King, 'and don't look at me
like that!' He got behind Alice as he spoke.

'A cat may look at a king,' said Alice. 'I've read that in
some book, but I don't remember where.'

Comments

[goomp]

Colin looks like my Lucie. Are you sure copper eyed Bombays are not Sable Burmese which is what Lucie is.

[Sissy Willis]

Check out Colin Powell's official portrait. His face is rounder and flatter than Lucie's I think:

Colin Powell

[Sissy Willis]

Also check out breed profile:

Breed Profile: Bombay

[Sissy Willis]

You're RIGHT! I just read the last link re breed profile:

Ms. Horner began her effort [of developing the breed] in 1953 with the selection of a black American Shorthair male with deep copper eye color and a Grand Champion sable Burmese female.