A World Record Becomes a Record of Ukraine: Kanaani Cats Haifa and Haya Unite Four Nations

New York City, New York Sep 10, 2026 (Issuewire.com) - The Unified Database of Records of Ukraine independently reviewed and officially registered the achievement of Haifa and her daughter Haya, two cats of the rare Israeli Kanaani breed, as a Record of Ukraine. The achievement was entered under registration number AQ6013BR.

The same achievement had previously been officially recognized as a world record by the international organization Record Holders Republic (RHR).

The record category is: "Greatest Number of Cats Within One Breed to Simultaneously Reach World No. 1 Positions in Different WCF Best Cat Categories Following One Show." The official record-setting result is two cats.

Haifa and Haya achieved the record on August 8-9, 2026, at the World Cat Federation Jubilee Show in Vantaa, Finland. The two-day event constituted one official WCF show. After the show, both cats received WCF Best Cat ranking points and simultaneously reached world No. 1 positions within the Kanaani breed in two different WCF Best Cat 2026 categories.

Haifa became the world's No. 1-ranked adult Kanaani, while Haya became the world's No. 1-ranked Kanaani kitten/junior. The official record date is August 9, 2026. Both cats are registered in the WCF system through the Ukrainian club Feline Alliance of Ukraine.

The official record holder and custodian of the cats is Animal Chaplain and Rabbi Mikhail Salita, an Odesa-born Ukrainian American.

"To me, this is a shared achievement of Haifa, Haya and their custodian--an example of responsible human care for animals and harmony with the natural world," Salita said. The story of the record brings together four nations: the Kanaani breed originated in Israel; its revival program is being developed in the United States; the record-setting result was achieved in Finland; and the Unified Database of Records of Ukraine granted it independent Ukrainian recognition.

Salita describes this international collaboration as "Kanaani diplomacy"--bringing together people, nations and organizations around the preservation of one of the world's rarest cat breeds.

The record's inclusion in the Unified Database of Records of Ukraine highlights the contribution of Ukraine's feline community to international Kanaani preservation efforts and introduces this remarkable story to a wider Ukrainian audience.

Official Record Verification

Record Holders Republic (RHR) -- Official World Record: https://www.recordholdersrepublic.co.uk/world-record-holders/1754/mikhail-salita.aspx

Unified Database of Records of Ukraine -- Record No. AQ6013BR: https://ukrainerecords.com/rekord-ukrayiny-naq6013/

Media Contact

The World Kanaani Organization

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