cfa grand champion, breed winner (International), national winner
zikhafri nightcrawler
CFA International area 2nd best cat in championship 2017/2018
CFA international area best longhair cat in championship 2017/2018
best maine coon cat international area 2017/2018
best cat in championship malaysia 2017/2018
best brown tabby and white maine coon cat NATIONALLY 2017/2018
BEST BROWN TABBY AND WHITE MAINE COON CAT international area 2017/2018
MALAYSIA's first cfa national winner and breed winner of any breed
first malaysian-bred cfa national winner
THOSE WHO STAY WILL BE CHAMPIONS! - What a great mantra by the legendary Michigan Head Football Coach- Glenn E. “Bo” Schembechler. And what a fitting way to metaphor of a career of the magnificent cat: CFA Grand Champion, Breed Winner, National Winner Zikhafri Nightcrawler.
From Zero to Hero
Nightcrawler or Knight was born on 26th August 2015 from a litter of six. The last in the litter and smallest at birth, often being overlooked and overshadowed by his siblings:- Juggernaut, Mojovision, Starjammer, Apocalypse and Sabretooth.
His father is CFA Grand Champion Zikhafri Cerulean Warbler, who is out of CFA Grand Champion Shubacoons Presqui’le of Zikhafri and CFA Grand Champion Star Coons Odessa of Zikhafri, DM. Presqui’le or Bandit, is the son of CFA National Winning and Breed Winning cat GC, BW, NW Highlander Hey Jude of Tabbeyrd and GC Highlander Diva of Shubacoons. Odessa or Dessi, is already over achieving cat, having to be a Distinguished Merit cat herself following a 6-generations of Distinguished Merit cats in her pedigree including GC, RW Idlemaine Butler of Texas Belle, DM- the most grand producing Maine Coon in CFA, and her great grandfather, and GC, GPD, NW Texas Belle Vanner, DM (grandmother).
Knight’s dam is none other than CFA Grand Champion, Divisional Winner McKittycreek Medina II of Zikhafri. She is out of another award winning National Winner and Distinguished Merit cat: GC, NW McKittycreek T Ruxpin of Shubacoons, DM and CH Coons’kin Gaga of McKittycreek. These are an older lines, more of classic Maine Coon look which has been popular in the late 90’s and 2000’s. T Ruxpin produced 4 National Winning cats and kittens.
Of all 6 littermates in the litter, not only was Knight being overshadowed by his siblings, but also had been the least expected to carry the banner of the program. Apocalypse was a Divisional Winning kitten in 2015/2016 season as the 4th Best Kitten Malaysia and others like Juggernaut, Sabretooth and Jammer were more people oriented and likable, predicted to be able to surprise many when they are older.
And what a wrong prediction it was, by us.
Knight’s owners- Hafiz, Lyiana and Affan- were originally bound to have Juggernaut, the pick of litter. However, at the age of 3 months, he was affected by a severe flu and left us too soon. The entire family, us included, were mourning of the loss and it seems the chosen one for Hafiz’s family may not be in this litter. And they wanted to wait. Hafiz, Lyiana and Affan have been our neighbor so for quite awhile, and lived pretty much one block apart from our house. Being so close made it as an advantage and sometimes an additional responsibility when we sometimes asked them to babysit our babies when we are out traveling to shows or hometown. And that could be a blessing too.
When we were at the CFA Annual 2016 in Las Vegas, Hafiz and Lyiana were asked to petsit them at home. Nothing short of sheer luck or coincidence, Knight who were still not rehomed, “chose” Lyiana and a connection was made. At the brink of being rehomed (Knight were offered to many people who turned down on him with excuses small size, does not have pattern or simply not cute), Hafiz and Lyiana agreed to take Knight.
knight's show career
Hafiz and family kept Knight since then and bloomed him to be shown in Championship in the October and December CFA shows. On 31st December 2016, Knight achieved the title and became CFA Grand Champion Zikhafri Nightcrawler. Knight was also not only the first of the six to grand but he also granded in two shows. As he achieved the title, Knight was promised to be rested from show hall.
And again, we were wrong.
And again, we were wrong.
The plan was to actually try to get a Division Win for Knight's father, Buster as opposed to showing Knight extensively. However, due to Buster not in a perfect condition to be shown, we started showing Knight on Aug 12th, 2017 at Kuala Lumpur Show by Johor Bahru Cat Club, and in that show Knight was 9th, 4th, 3th and 2nd Best Cat in Championship, competing with GC, DW Laguna Leo Palermo (Best Cat Championship DW Malaysia), GC, DW Crocoon Valegro and GC, NW Venizia Jupiter in Maine Coon Championship category.
Later that month, Knight joined another Kuala Lumpur Show, and he was Best, Best and Best Cat in Championship. The three judges have had never seen Knight before, so we were shocked by this results.
Sometimes, it takes a little bit of a push and dare, and perhaps some bulletin board comments from some people to ignite the fire in you. That was what happened with us, when some people who were not long enough in the fancy, spreading rumors around that we are afraid of competitions. Motivated by this, along with blessings from Hafiz and Lyiana, so we were off to National Win Campaign.
Knight and Hairri were off to Beijing for the first show in China. Facing many National Win running cats there at the show, along with facing China's very own GC, BWC, NW Panasky's Simbala of Moon Empire, Knight managed to be Best of Breed 5x from 10 rings, and was in the Top 10 7 times. In the next weekend, at the CFA Show in Chongqing, again along with other National Win runners, Knight managed to be in all 8 rings for the show. What started with only 227.1points is now 1300points in three weekends, and the future was bright.
Afza then continued to show Knight in China in all over the country- Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang and Tianjin. At this point, Knight continued to pile up his NW points, and at the 16-17 December 2017 CFA Show in Tianjin, Knight finally fulfilled the requirement for minimum points for Championship National Win surpassing the 4300points and collected 4854.60points. His fans and supporters grew and Knight was dubbed with the nickname "Sir Knight" by Patricia Thorner who happened to be the loving mom for Knight's dam, Deena.
Given this achievements, we rested Knight from that weekend until Chinese New Year, when we finally realized that the potential of getting Sir Knight a higher place in the standings.
Before the hiatus, Sir Knight was scored at 87 rings, with points from 2nd Best of Breed and low finals, and he had 46 rings with points lower than 50 and 21 rings of score of 20 and below. We knew we could actually replace these rings, so our strategy was to get him scored in 100 rings as soon as possible after the Chinese New Year break.
On 24th Feb 2018, Afza and Sir Knight is off again to the shows, piling up points and completing the 100 rings requirements in three shows. At the 24th March 2018, Sir Knight finally achieved the 100 rings, and the fun began. Sir Knight continues to rack up points and replaced the lower rings, and his points catapulted him so high that cats below him had difficulties to pass him.
Sir Knight ended his show career and National Win campaign in Chengdu, China on 28-29 April 2018, after attending 18 shows in Malaysia and China. There, the usual judges who adored him since the beginning of his National Win campaign were there. Judge Bob Zenda particularly appreciated of how these cats, same like Sir Knight to be shown week in week out since the season started. In that show, both Hairri and Afza were present to witness a history folded, as Sir Knight officially finished his National Win and Breed Win campaign, the first as Malaysian-bred NW cat in the history of CFA.
Later that month, Knight joined another Kuala Lumpur Show, and he was Best, Best and Best Cat in Championship. The three judges have had never seen Knight before, so we were shocked by this results.
Sometimes, it takes a little bit of a push and dare, and perhaps some bulletin board comments from some people to ignite the fire in you. That was what happened with us, when some people who were not long enough in the fancy, spreading rumors around that we are afraid of competitions. Motivated by this, along with blessings from Hafiz and Lyiana, so we were off to National Win Campaign.
Knight and Hairri were off to Beijing for the first show in China. Facing many National Win running cats there at the show, along with facing China's very own GC, BWC, NW Panasky's Simbala of Moon Empire, Knight managed to be Best of Breed 5x from 10 rings, and was in the Top 10 7 times. In the next weekend, at the CFA Show in Chongqing, again along with other National Win runners, Knight managed to be in all 8 rings for the show. What started with only 227.1points is now 1300points in three weekends, and the future was bright.
Afza then continued to show Knight in China in all over the country- Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang and Tianjin. At this point, Knight continued to pile up his NW points, and at the 16-17 December 2017 CFA Show in Tianjin, Knight finally fulfilled the requirement for minimum points for Championship National Win surpassing the 4300points and collected 4854.60points. His fans and supporters grew and Knight was dubbed with the nickname "Sir Knight" by Patricia Thorner who happened to be the loving mom for Knight's dam, Deena.
Given this achievements, we rested Knight from that weekend until Chinese New Year, when we finally realized that the potential of getting Sir Knight a higher place in the standings.
Before the hiatus, Sir Knight was scored at 87 rings, with points from 2nd Best of Breed and low finals, and he had 46 rings with points lower than 50 and 21 rings of score of 20 and below. We knew we could actually replace these rings, so our strategy was to get him scored in 100 rings as soon as possible after the Chinese New Year break.
On 24th Feb 2018, Afza and Sir Knight is off again to the shows, piling up points and completing the 100 rings requirements in three shows. At the 24th March 2018, Sir Knight finally achieved the 100 rings, and the fun began. Sir Knight continues to rack up points and replaced the lower rings, and his points catapulted him so high that cats below him had difficulties to pass him.
Sir Knight ended his show career and National Win campaign in Chengdu, China on 28-29 April 2018, after attending 18 shows in Malaysia and China. There, the usual judges who adored him since the beginning of his National Win campaign were there. Judge Bob Zenda particularly appreciated of how these cats, same like Sir Knight to be shown week in week out since the season started. In that show, both Hairri and Afza were present to witness a history folded, as Sir Knight officially finished his National Win and Breed Win campaign, the first as Malaysian-bred NW cat in the history of CFA.
Thank you note
A National Win is never about the exhibitors. It is about the cats that we love, we adore so much. Nonetheless, we would like to say Thank You, on behalf of Sir Knight to all judges who used him in their finals, clubs who putting up shows week in week out, fellow exhibitor friends- old and new- who we made and all fans and families who kept supporting us since the beginning. It is not easy to show in a foreign country, much less in China with the system, payments and language barriers that we had.
A special Thank You note is due to Hafiz, Lyiana and Affan, who without your blessings, support and undivided love to Sir Knight none of these who have happened. To Allies of Cat Enthusiasts- Aika Akira Cattery (Idd & Aki), De'Arjuna (Nazry and Ina), Ahmed al-Mayouf (Magic Coons Cattery) and Glorian Chai- Thank You for neverending support and help in many ways. To Adilah Roose (Idaman Cattery), judges Ed Maeda and Nicholas Pun for advices and moral support all season long. To late Gerard Lejeune (Embellie Cattery), who trusted us from Day 1 and saw the potential in us, we know he would be so proud of these achievements. And to Afza, who sacrificed the time and many days away from family and friends, showing Sir Knight beautifully week in, week out.
Of course, to the one and only- GC, BWI, NW Zikhafri Nightcrawler who we love and amaze day in day out with your charm and personality, a complete package of what a true show cat should be like. Sir Knight is already testified and validated of his squareness of the muzzle, beautiful eye and ear shape and placings, pattern and color to die for and a long rectangular body that represented how a Maine Coon cat should be like; but his personality and showmanship that has won the hearts of many. Not even once did Sir Knight hiss at anyone or judges, not even once he peed or pooed, or sprayed in the hotel rooms or judging rings and never did he struggled when handled by anyone. Showing an almost full mature, 3-year old maine coon breeding male Maine Coon Cat is never an easy task, but Knight accommodated us with so many opportunities and co-operations. For that we thank you Knight, for making this dream possible.
A special Thank You note is due to Hafiz, Lyiana and Affan, who without your blessings, support and undivided love to Sir Knight none of these who have happened. To Allies of Cat Enthusiasts- Aika Akira Cattery (Idd & Aki), De'Arjuna (Nazry and Ina), Ahmed al-Mayouf (Magic Coons Cattery) and Glorian Chai- Thank You for neverending support and help in many ways. To Adilah Roose (Idaman Cattery), judges Ed Maeda and Nicholas Pun for advices and moral support all season long. To late Gerard Lejeune (Embellie Cattery), who trusted us from Day 1 and saw the potential in us, we know he would be so proud of these achievements. And to Afza, who sacrificed the time and many days away from family and friends, showing Sir Knight beautifully week in, week out.
Of course, to the one and only- GC, BWI, NW Zikhafri Nightcrawler who we love and amaze day in day out with your charm and personality, a complete package of what a true show cat should be like. Sir Knight is already testified and validated of his squareness of the muzzle, beautiful eye and ear shape and placings, pattern and color to die for and a long rectangular body that represented how a Maine Coon cat should be like; but his personality and showmanship that has won the hearts of many. Not even once did Sir Knight hiss at anyone or judges, not even once he peed or pooed, or sprayed in the hotel rooms or judging rings and never did he struggled when handled by anyone. Showing an almost full mature, 3-year old maine coon breeding male Maine Coon Cat is never an easy task, but Knight accommodated us with so many opportunities and co-operations. For that we thank you Knight, for making this dream possible.
Celebrating knight's brother - cfa gp, dw zikhafri sabretooth of aika akira
Equally sweet was that Sabretooth, Knight's littermate was also a winner in the Premiership class. He is 5th Best Cat in Premiership Malaysia 2017/2018, and 2nd Best Maine Coon Cat in Premiership 2017/2018. Two unwanted cats by many, but emerged as winners by the season end.
Knight is equally sweet and playful outside of show halls. Even though he is almost three years old, but his kitten-ish demeanors were always there. Here's a video of him at the hotel room, when he wasn't sleeping or snuggling his human slaves...
congratulations sir knight!
