Rare Kanaani Cats Haifa And Haya And Their Custodian Mikhail Salita Break A New World Record Together
The two record-setting cats and their human custodian, Animal Chaplain and Rabbi Mikhail Salita, were recognized by Record Holders Republic for a unique human-animal partnership that achieved two world No. 1 WCF breed rankings after a single show.
United States, 2nd Sep 2026 - The World Kanaani Organization (TWKO) today announced that Haifa and Haya, a Kanaani mother-and-daughter pair, and their custodian, Animal Chaplain and Rabbi Mikhail Salita of Brooklyn, have become world record holders together. Record Holders Republic recognized their historic achievement after both cats became the best-ranked cats of their breed in separate WCF Best Cat categories following a single show.
The record was established at the Fennica Cattus Europe Continent Cat Show, including its WCF Jubilee Show program, held Aug. 8-9, 2026, in Vantaa, Finland. After that one two-day show, Haifa reached the world No. 1 position for adult Kanaani cats in the WCF Best Cat 2026 breed ranking, while her daughter Haya reached world No. 1 for Kanaani kittens/juniors.
In one sentence: one show produced two simultaneous world No. 1 breed-ranking positions for two cats of the same breed in different age categories.
What the ranking means
The WCF Best Cat system maintains separate annual rankings by category and breed. In this context, 'world No. 1' means the highest-ranked Kanaani within a specific WCF Best Cat category; it does not mean an overall all-breed Best in Show title. Haifa and Haya earned official show evaluations, certificates and ranking points in Vantaa. Because no other Kanaani cats were ranked in their respective divisions, those debut points placed each of them at No. 1 in the breed ranking.
Haya received two CACP certificates, was nominated for Best in Show, and placed fifth in the WCF Kitten/Junior Ring. Haifa received an Excellent evaluation and a CAC certificate. According to TWKO's review of available breed and exhibition records, the Vantaa weekend was the first documented competitive cat-show appearance by the Kanaani breed.
A measurable record that can be broken
The present benchmark is two cats. It may be equaled if two cats of one breed reach No. 1 in separate WCF Best Cat breed-ranking categories after the same single show. It may be broken if three or more cats of one breed do so after one show. The cats do not have to be related, and they do not have to share the same custodian; the measurable question is how many cats of a single breed simultaneously reach separate world No. 1 breed-ranking positions as the direct result of one show.
"This world record belongs to all three of us," Salita said. "It represents the extraordinary trust, care and cooperation that can exist between animals and humans. Haifa and Haya did not simply appear at a show; together, we brought an almost vanished breed back to the international stage."
For Salita, the timing during America's 250th anniversary year adds another layer to the story: a Brooklyn-based preservation effort brought an almost forgotten Israeli-developed breed back onto an international stage. The cats' participation was conducted through the Feline Alliance of Ukraine, a WCF-affiliated club, reflecting the international cooperation behind the Kanaani restoration effort.
About The World Kanaani Organization
The World Kanaani Organization is the official Kanaani registry and an affiliated branch of the Salita Foundation. Based in Brooklyn, TWKO protects, documents and restores the rare Kanaani breed through verified pedigrees, responsible breeding, historical research, animal welfare, cultural education and international cooperation. The Kanaani emerged in Jerusalem in the 1990s and today survives through a fragile, carefully documented population.
https://www.recordholdersrepublic.co.uk/search-world-record-holders.aspx
Media Contact
Animal Chaplain and Rabbi Mikhail Salita
CEO, The World Kanaani Organization
World record holder with Haifa and Haya, recognized by Record Holders Republic
Email: bestsellerpress@gmail.com
Website: twko.org
Instagram: @kanaanicats_official
Verification for editors
The World Kanaani Organization
Record Holders Republic official registry (search 'Kanaani')
WCF Best Cat database
Fennica Cattus 2026 show information
twko.org | Page
Media Contact
Organization: The World Kanaani Organization
Contact Person: Mikhail Salita
Website: https://twko.org/
Email: Send Email
Country:United States
Release id:48690
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