January 2008 Newsletter - United Burmese Cat Fanciers

United Burmese Cat Fanciers 

UBCF Newsletter 

In This Issue Volume 1, Issue 1, January 2008 

Editorial - The State Of The Breed ........................................................................ 2 

President’s Message ......................................................................................................... 4 

UBCF - Through The 1970s And 1980s .................................................................. 5 

How I Met My First Burmese ...................................................................................... 6 

Mentoring New Breeders - 

An Interview With Barbara Kish ................................................................... 12 

Burmese Show Success 2006 - 2007 ........................................................................ 14 

When Was Your Last Cat Show? ........................................................................... 16 

Rescuing Burmese - Friends Who Need New Homes ................................ 17 

Treasurer’s Report ......................................................................................................... 17 

The Must Have List - 

Books And Resources For Burmese Cat Lovers .................................... 18 

Lessons Learned From The Grand Prix Fire ................................................. 20 

Letters To The Editor ................................................................................................. 22 

UBCF Regional Map ....................................................................................................... 23 

UBCF Membership List .................................................................................................. 23 

Plans For Upcoming UBCF Newsletters .......................................................... 24

Editorial By Nancy L. Reeves 

The State of the Breed 

The opinions expressed in this editorial are strictly those 

of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of 

UBCF’s officers or its members. 

An Unexpected Turning Point 

One day last February, I found myself sitting at my computer, 

disgusted by yet another heated argument on one of 

the Yahoo Burmese lists. I finally had had enough of these 

venomous exchanges, tired of watching one group of Burmese 

breeders expressing their opinions only to be harshly 

criticized by breeders on the other side of the argument. It 

should be no surprise to most readers of this newsletter that 

the primary issue involved in these discussions is one that 

has haunted our breed for decades: the lethal cranio-facial 

mutation, more commonly known as the Burmese Head 

Defect. 

That February day I felt it was time for a new forum, 

one where traditional breeders (those who choose not to 

United Bumese Cat Fanciers 

Newsletter 

Volume 1 Issue 1 

November 2007 

Editor: Nancy L. Reeves 

Art Direction & Printing: Art Graafmans 

Contributors: 

Leora Alden Kathryn Amann 

Carolyn Beard Hyla Carney 

Jo Whitman Diamond Prudence Dorazio 

Becky Drew Bob Gleason 

Art Graafmans Kristi Graafmans 

Willa Hawke-Rogers Larry Jelinek 

Barbara Kish Lynette Massow 

Jenny Nelson Nina Pearlmutter 

Margaret Stevens Shirley Storey 

Rose Wheeler Tim Wheeler 

Cover Photo Credits: 

All Photos © Chanan Photography 

work with the lethal gene) could freely talk without fear of 

criticism from contemporary breeders (those who choose to 

work with the lethal gene). So I set up a new Yahoo group, 

and invited the traditional breeders that I knew personally 

to join. They in turn recommended some of the breeders 

they knew. And those new members invited more traditional 

breeders. And so the list grew. 

Our first exchanges on the new list were hesitant – in 

fact I sensed the need to “seed” the list with topics that I 

hoped would spark discussions. When several weeks 

passed without much activity, I began to feel that perhaps 

this kind of forum wasn’t needed. But soon discussions 

multiplied, until a cathartic flurry of exchanges occurred. 

The floodgates had opened, and traditional breeders felt free 

to vent and commiserate over many years of accumulated 

frustrations. And the primary source of those frustrations 

was the Head Defect and the hoped-for development of a 

genetic test. 

“The Test” 

Being an optimist by nature, for years I have been waiting 

eagerly for Leslie Lyons and her team at U.C. Davis 

to identify the horrific lethal gene or genes that cause the 

Head Defect to occur, and which ultimately threatens our 

breed. My optimism, however, has become tempered by 

reality. 

My early assumptions were that developing a genetic 

test for the Head Defect would solve numerous problems 

within the breed and help heal the divided Burmese communities. 

I’m no longer so naïve. In fact, I have come 

to believe that “The Test” may, if not handled correctly, 

further divide us. Nevertheless, I still think this test is a 

critically important milestone for the Burmese breed. 

I make no claims to having a good understanding of 

genetics, and I find many aspects difficult to comprehend 

and explain. However, for me at least, there is compelling 

evidence that the gene or genes which produce the contemporary 

look and the accompanying Head Defect can not be 

separated, and once the Head Defect gene is found I believe 

it unlikely that there will be lines which can produce the 

contemporary look without the litter losses. The early work 

done by the Search Core group, which demonstrated this 

fact to many people’s satisfaction, and more recently the 

health survey done by Dr. Susan Little, which shows that 

after three decades the percentage litter loss has remained 

at 25%, leads me to this conclusion. 

Page 2 UBCF January 2008

No one knows how much time will pass before the 

genetic marker(s) for the Head Defect are found. It may 

be next month, or it may take years. When it is found, I 

think the most important use of the test will be to verify 

which lines and cats are free of the defect. That is critically 

important to the Burmese breed. Should the lethal defect 

spread into all lines of Burmese, it would weaken the health 

of the breed and might eventually lead to the end of the 

Burmese cat. 

Even with a genetic test in hand, I fear it may be unlikely 

that most breeders who work with contemporary 

lines are going to make changes in their breeding programs, 

if it turns out that the “contemporary look” invariably carries 

with it the lethal gene. They breed their cats because 

they prefer that look, and they like the show hall success 

they have experienced for decades. Many are also deeply 

invested in their contemporary lines, both financially and 

over many generations. There may be some who choose to 

spay and neuter their lines and start over, and I personally 

will do all I can to applaud and support their decision. 

A Great Responsibility 

Thanks in part to exchanges on the Traditional Burmese 

Breeders list, but mostly thanks to the energy and commitment 

of its members, a decision was made to revive 

the United Burmese Cat Fanciers Club, whose history is 

included in this newsletter. Key to the revival of UBCF is 

the decision to include all colors and variations of Burmese, 

American and European, and to promote healthy Burmese 

throughout the world. 

All cat breeders deal with health problems, be they 

genetic, congenital or environmental, and all breeds of cats 

carry health problems to a greater or lesser degree. We can 

never solve or breed out all of those health problems without 

severely limiting gene pools and thereby endangering 

the existence of the breeds we love. However, my personal 

feeling is that a key ethical defining line is crossed when 

breeders knowingly promote or continue severe and/or lethal 

health problems, when other alternatives are available. 

Ever since the contemporary Burmese cats and their 

descendents first appeared, they have come to dominate the 

show ring. But thanks to the hard work and perseverance 

of many breeders, traditional line Burmese have become 

increasingly competitive, achieving significant regional 

and national wins, and I predict they will continue do so in 

the future. 

But this will only happen if we work together to produce 

and promote the healthiest and best Burmese that we 

can, mentor new breeders to join us in this effort, and aim 

to inform the general public, show judges, and everyone 

involved in cat registries around the world, how critically 

important their choices are to the future of the Burmese 

breed. 

I feel proud to participate in the renaissance of UBCF, 

with its rich history of accomplishments. The club and 

its members also bear a great responsibility. I believe we 

may hold the very existence of the Burmese breed in our 

hands. As members of UBCF, dedicated to the health and 

well being of the Burmese cat, let us stand together and do 

all we can to help the Burmese breed flourish now, and for 

the future. 

CH Burma Pearl’s Petite Princesse 

©Chanan Photography 

Nancy L. Reeves 

Burma Pearl Cattery 

UBCF January 2008 Page 3

President’s Message By Willa Rogers-Hawke 

United Burmese Cat Fanciers History And Mission 

Prior to 1958 there were two clubs devoted to Burmese breeders; each of these was unaffiliated, that is neither was 

aligned to any major cat fancy association. The two clubs, the Burmese Cat Society of the East and the Burmese Breeders 

of America, which was composed largely of western breeders, merged in 1958 under the new and presently continuing 

name of the United Burmese Cat Fanciers (UBCF). There are now many other Burmese clubs in existence, but each of 

those clubs is affiliated with one of the cat fancy associations 

The first officers of UBCF were: President Ruth Larson of California (Ruboe Cattery), Vice Presidents Doris Springer 

of San Francisco (Yindling Cattery) and Mildred Alexander (Mrs. Alexander’s Cattery) of Los Angeles, CA, and Treasurer 

Grace Forrest (BoGrae Cattery) from Sacramento, CA. The international group of Burmese Breeders within UBCF accomplished 

the notable achievement of having a single standard for Burmese cats accepted by all major cat fancy associations. 

The first UBCF annual meetings were held in California. However, since few could attend, a new system of regional meetings 

was instigated by the then Regional Chairman of Gulf Shore Region, Christine Streetman, who held the first Regional 

Meeting in Dallas, Texas, in 1960. 

UBCF remained a strong force in the world of Burmese until around the year 2002, when due to lack of interest or perhaps 

leadership (the elected President unexpectedly resigned), it became dormant until its revival in 2007. UBCF remains 

non-affiliated with any cat fancy registry organization, and our membership includes Regular Members, persons who have 

a registered cattery and are or have been breeding and/or showing registered Burmese cats; Affiliated Members, who are 

persons owning Burmese alters of pet stock or those interested in the breed, such as judges; and Honorary Members, who 

in the opinion of the board of directors have been of particular service or who have significantly advanced the objectives of 

the organization. 

The Mission of the United Burmese Cat Fanciers is: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

To create and develop interest and knowledge of the Burmese cat, and in the care, health and breeding thereof. 

To seek to establish markets for the breed. 

To cultivate acquaintanceship among members. 

To promote and advance in every way possible the interest of owners, breeders, and exhibitors of Burmese cats. 

To determine standards of the Burmese cat. 

To maintain, develop, and publish information concerning the breed. 

If you would like more information about UBCF, or to become a member, please contact: 

United Burmese Cat Fanciers, Inc. 

c/o Prudence Dorazio, Secretary 

40 Morgan Point 

Noank, CT 06340 U.S.A. 

prudencedorazio@comcast.net 


UBCF History By RoseAnn Wheeler 

UBCF - Through the 1970s And 1980s 

I’ve always been fascinated with history. It’s not unusual to see me toting an English history book to a cat show. So it’s 

easy to see how I would bring this along with me into the realm of breeding Burmese cats. 

Over the years I have inherited a collection of documents, pedigrees, newsletters and the like of all things Burmese. 

With my appointment as Historian of the newly revitalized UBCF, I can now share some of our fascinating breed’s history 

with the membership. 

I would like feedback from the membership on topics or items of interest that you might like to see. Please feel free to 

contact me at burmesecat@verizon.net. 

Below you will find an excerpt of a letter written by Marianne Bolling. Marianne was a founding member of UBCF. 

Dated: May 15, 1976 

First off, let’s recap the history of the United Burmese Cat Fanciers and the Burmese Cat. The United 

Burmese Cat Fanciers is an unaffiliated Burmese Breed Club…we are not CFA; ACFA; UCF; etc…..we are 

unaffiliated. When we were formed, we set up our own Constitution and Standard of the Burmese cat. See 

Art. 11, Sec. 1-F of the Constitution, “The purpose….to determine standards of the Burmese Cat”, and also 

copy of the UBCF Burmese Standard, “Color”, “…..The mature specimen should be a rich, warm, sable 

brown…..” 

The only color acceptable in the United Burmese Cat Fanciers is sable brown. 

Through years of work, expense, research, controversy and criticism, a small group of dedicated and conscientious 

breeders were able to get the Burmese re-instated after they had been thrown out of CFA from 

1947-1957 (which was prior to the formation of ACFA in 1955). For this reason, two pioneer Burmese clubs, 

the Burmese Cat Society and the Burmese Breeders of America merged together in 1960 (16 years ago) and 

formed the United Burmese Cat Fanciers. Their primary purpose was gaining acceptance of a single Burmese 

Standard in all cat registering associations. 

Life with a Burmese once again returned to normal…..normal until 1967 when CFA changed the classification 

of the Burmese from a “Pure Breed” to an Established Hybrid”. 

The “old horns” and “not-so-old horns” have been through all of this turmoil! Now they tire of breeders that 

want to get to heaven on the back of the Burmese Cat! All patience in lost! The Burmese were on a pedestal; 

they were registered; recognized; shown in championship status…..and then…..devastated….kicked out 

of the cat fancy entirely for 10 years…..re-accepted only to be demoralized 10 years later in their classification. 

It is astounding that one particular breed should be subjected to such a turbulent career. No other breed has 

been prone to such agitation. 

Sincerely, 

Marianne Bolling 

Editor 


How I Met My First Burmese 

San-Dans Christmas Belle - “Kyrabelle” 

I live in Ontario Canada, and my cattery is Gingerhill 

Sable Burmese. Back in the mid 1970’s I cat sat for a 

friend who did a lot of world travel, he had a champagne 

Burmese named Kyra. After a trip in 1977 as a thank you 

for all the cat sitting he asked if I’d like a Burmese also, 

and gave me the money for one. I found the San-Dans Cattery 

in Toronto who had a kitten born on Christmas Day 

named San-Dans Christmas Belle, and had Halton Ridge 

Alfie as her sire. When getting her I had a long chat with 

the breeder and also got the papers. The breeder became 

my breeding mentor. 

Belle, who I called Kyrabelle, became my first breeding 

queen in 1978. The San-Dans cattery had to go out of business 

due to a family health concern and I was given another 

of her breeding females San-Dans Minnie Mouse. From 

there I imported my first Mahajaya Toffee cat in 1980, 

Pandit Ginger, for my breeding program, and later in 1990 I 

brought up the last Toffee daughter, Pandit Rachel. 

Larry Jelinek 

Gingerhill Sable Burmese 

Traditional Cattery’s adventure in Burmese began with a 

heart attack – congestive heart failure and cardio myopathy 

to be exact. Twelve years ago, my husband, Donald, faced 

a total lifestyle change – from active professional painter 

to housebound invalid – from gregarious people person, to 

one who was alone long hours each day. We determined a 

pet would be a solution. Dogs required too much work and 

time. We needed someone who loved people, was entertaining 

and could oversee itself – a cat. My husband, being 

the researcher, began a quest for the cat breed that would 

best fit that description. Of course, we chose the Burmese. 

Next, we had to find a Burmese breeder. We found a listing 

for Burmese kittens in the paper, which lead us to “Elwood 

P. Dowd”, a Champagne male. Though Woody would 

never be honored in the show ring, he had all the wonderful 

qualities of the Burmese – smart, playful, and ever present 

at our side. At twelve years old, he still maintains all of 

these traits – though he is a bit crankier with a new kitten’s 

antics. 

Four years after Donald’s original diagnosis, he was getting 

back on his feet – able once more to venture somewhat 

out of the house. This left Woody alone. Not good! We 

found a playmate for Woody. By now we had researched 

more heavily into the Burmese breed, and found a breeder, 

not an ad in the paper. 

We had our first exposure to the contemporary 

headed Burmese on this search. We 

were totally unaware of the health problems that went with 

the contemporary head. We chose a sable male kitten that 

had the traditional type head out of a contemporary lit- 

Evita’s Myrna loy of Traditional and Kittens 


ter, since we preferred the look. It was with “Edward G. 

Robinson” aka Gabby, that we started learning about the 

differences between the breeding of traditional and contemporary 

Burmese. 

We loved living with Burmese cats. We began toying 

with the idea of raising Burmese kittens to perpetuate the 

joy. Both of our boys were altered, and not show quality. 

If we were to do this, we were committed to excellence and 

bettering the breed. Enter Evita Burmese – Brian Tripp. 

Through Brian, we found our sweetheart, Myrna Loy, the 

queen of our home and cattery. Myrna had her first litter 

this August 21, 2007. 

The rest will be history. 

Becky and Donald Drew 

Traditional Burmese Cattery 

About 35 years ago, a long time friend of mine decided 

to take an extended trip to Europe, and asked if I could care 

for her cats - a female Burmese, and a male Himalayan. I 

agreed and the next 3 months were an absolute nightmare. 

The Burmese was the worst cat I’d ever seen. She hissed 

at me and I NEVER could come close to her, let alone 

touch her, and I decided I hated the Burmese and loved the 

Himalayan. 

My friend came back home, and was I ever glad to 

see the backside of that Burmese cat . . . but some years 

later another friend, Sonja Westlund, gave me a pregnant 

female Burmese, to make me change my mind. I decided 

to give the breed a second chance . . . and fell in love with 

Burmese. 

That was my first breeding queen, Discobbolos’s Dorie 

of Taku. She was the foundation of the Tojay line. 

Hyla Carney 

Tojay Cattery 

At the time I lived in Canada, and couldn’t find a Burmese 

to start my own cattery with. About four months after 

I had been searching regularly, I came across a lady who 

was a breeder and she helped me get started. That was Rita 

Schoebel from Suncoast. Another breeder, John Ankman 

of Shakespurr Cattery in eastern Canada who is now deceased, 

sold me a boy. I have since merged and am being 

mentored by an old time cattery and one of the original 

breeders, Roger and Rochelle Horenstein of Chin Hills. 

To me the Burmese are the best cats, they are all the best 

attributes of a dog and a cat. They are the perfect pets. 

I was given a kitten that was part Burmese. Her name 

was Jewel. My husband’s mother had a Burmese cattery 

when he was growing up which is where my cattery name 

comes from, Qwan Yinn Burmese. I only had her a couple 

of months before someone accidentally let her out and a 

dog killed her. I absolutely fell in love with the personality. 

She was so friendly and loving. Like a dog in a cat body. 

I was hooked and started searching. That was 8 years ago 

now. Tojay Cattery Female 

Leora Alden 

Qwan Yinn Burmese 

I met my first Burmese when I worked in a Veterinary 

Clinic in West Vancouver BC. I had always been a dog 

lover but met this hypochondriac Burmese sable male and 

fell in love -- 37 years ago!! He was a big boy about 15 

pounds and he was a candidate for pet insurance, always 

something wrong! He belonged to a breeder, and I met 

her cats and that was the beginning of my love affair with 

Burmese. I bought a sable female, Cressida, from her and 

she went everywhere with me on a harness, the beach, 

camping, etc. I had one litter from her under contract. I 

lost her sadly to a car when I moved to the country and she 

escaped. 

Carolyn Beard 

Beardsley Burmese 



While perhaps I’m 

best known for Siamese 

cats, the breed with which 

I started, my second 

breed of pedigreed cats 

were Burmese and those 

little brown fuzzies have 

been close to my heart 

ever since. My first was 

Chuck’s Burma of Rogers 

Hts. I got her from 

an ACFA judge, Mars 

Hanson (Kansas City), for 

my son Chuck. Mars told 

me that he couldn’t get the 

papers because they had 

been lost in a fire when the 

breeder’s house burned. 

I took her anyway. First, 

because she was the prettiest 

thing I had ever seen (despite two small scars on her 

side) and secondly I knew that ACFA would allow her to be 

registered unknown x unknown. 

About the same time I got GC Kramperts Ace of Marhan 

who was the 2 nd ever bluepoint Siamese GC in CFA. 

His sire, Krampert’s Kewole Lei had been the first. Ace 

actually took a Best Cat win in a Minneapolis ACFA show 

at the age of eight (8) years! I took Burma with me even 

though she absolutely did not meet the existing ACFA standard 

and I believe she received Winners Ribbons but I’m 

not absolutely certain – moot point either way. 

Whitney Donaldson-Abt (Gray Horse Farm Domestics 

fame) was one of the four judges and she took one look 

at Burma and asked to speak with me after the class was 

judged. She told me that while Burma didn’t meet the 

ACFA standard she was, indeed, what a Burmese should 

look like. She wanted to know where and how I had come 

to have her. When I told her that I got her from Mars she 

“just knew it.” It seems Mars had gotten Burma as a kitten 

from Mildred Dobyns and had never paid for her – which 

explained why she didn’t have any papers. Whitney further 

told me that Burma was actually a Yindling cat and 

that Doris Springer had been searching high and low for 

that litter of kittens. Apparently Doris had been traveling 

after her husband had been killed during the war and had 

left Whirling Dervish with this woman in New Orleans 

(Mildren Dobyns). Doris got Whirling Dervish back but by 

Willa Rogers-Hawke 

Left and above - 1960s 

the time she got around to getting him Mildred had already 

let Mars have the female kitten but noted to Doris that she 

would be easily identifiable because of two small scars on 

her side. Now the circle was complete. 

The cat fancy was the cat fancy even in those days and 

Whitney contacted Doris who contacted me and wanted to 

buy Burma. She desperately wanted something from that 

litter from her beloved Whirling Dervish. Doris gave me 

Mrs. Dobyns’ name and address and I wrote her offering 

to pay the balance due on the kittens to get the papers. 

Unfortunately she never wrote back. By that time I had 

already bred Burma to Casa Gatos Myron (owned by Tommie 

Brodie Meadows) which eventually produced Rogers 

Hts. Dart. 

When I balked at selling Burma to Doris, she asked if 

I would at least consider breeding her to the then famous 

Prince Pogo of Yindling and letting her have a kitten. I 

agreed. The litter was fabulous. The pick was a gorgeous 

female I named Rogers Heights Valiant, 2 nd pick was Rogers 

Heights Matador of Pallady, 3 rd went to Tommy Brodie, 

4 th went to Glenn Robberson, and fifth to Scotty Griffey as 

a spay. I realized that I couldn’t let Valiant go anywhere 

so I negotiated and subsequently agreed to send Burma to 

Doris after all. 

I showed Valiant in ACFA because she could not be 

registered in CFA. Valiant ended up 8 th highest scoring 

All American Cat that year. For those of you who may not 

remember AA scoring – they were Cats Magazine awards 

compiled from all the various association shows. This was 

prior to CFA having it’s own awards program. Somewhere 


in that timeframe the ACFA standard was changed or perhaps 

the judges just knew what a “real Burmese” should 

look like, I can’t honestly recall – but Valiant was shown 

only in ACFA. 

Following that great show season I again contacted the 

Dobyns woman and explained how great the kittens were 

and how I needed those papers. This time she wrote me 

back and explained what Mars had done and said that “time 

heals all wounds – even one’s temper” and since I was in no 

way responsible for Mars’ behavior she would let me have 

the papers for $50. You can imagine how quickly I sent 

that check! The rest, dear readers, as they say – is history. 

A little footnote to the story – Valiant was the cat that 

was always used on the UBCF stationary. 

Mrs. Billie Gerst 

Willa Rogers-Hawke 

Rogers Hts Cattery 

Doris Springer 

My experience with the breed began in the mid ‘30’s 

when I came to San Francisco from southern California 

solely to meet Dr. Thompson and Billie Gerst and to see the 

solid brown cats. I became so enamored of the Burmese 

that no other breed has held any challenge, any real interest 

to me since. To own one, to know one, is to love them all. 

When Dr. Thompson made his start here in 1930 with 

the female Wong Mau, can you imagine he problems confronting 

him and his very able assistant, Mrs. Billie Gerst? 

Limited to one cat, with only Siamese available for breeding 

purposes? 

Mrs. Gerst [of Palo Alto, California] was very well 

versed in genetics, holding a Master’s Degree in Animal 

Husbandry. To her must go full credit for the survival 

of the breed in this country. Without her grueling efforts 

we would have no Burmese today. It was she, with her 

deep and abiding love for the “Sable Shadows”, who did 

the ground work for future generations of eager Burmese 

breeders. 

Among other early breeders who assisted in the program 

[was] Ruth Fisher, graduate of California’s well known 

Mills College. Ruth advised, assisted, and kept a number 

of the animals. She remained a Burmese breeder until her 

death [in 1962]. 

Mildred Alexander of Los Angeles, with her famous 

“Motel for Cats” early started a strain of her own from two 

of the early cats. Many winning Burmese of today carry in 

their background names of the early “Alexander” Burmese. 

. . . 

Doris Springer 

CFA Judge and First President of UBCF 

From “The Burmese Cat”, CFA Yearbook 1964 



I was twelve years old when I saw an article in National 

Geographic about cat breeds. I couldn’t take my eyes off 

the sable Burmese in the picture. I looked at the beautiful 

rich brown coloration and the deep gold eyes of the mother 

Burmese pictured and thought, “One day I will own a cat 

like this!” I still have that National Geographic. 

In 1979 I got my opportunity. I was living and working 

in the Houston area and saw an ad for Burmese kittens in 

the newspaper. The cattery was Springcrest, and I immediately 

went there and met Carol Cummings, who showed 

me GRC Senshu’s De-Fender and Springcrest Seaport, and 

I chose a girl from a litter of 3 boys and a girl, much to 

Carol’s dismay. She tried her best to talk me into a boy, 

but I was stubborn. I didn’t know why then, but now, of 

course, I understand totally -- she wanted that girl and 

always maintained she was the best that cat ever produced. 

I named the kitten Mai Tai, and I just wanted her for a pet. 

Carol told me that if I decided I wanted the papers to breed 

her, just to send $85 extra dollars and she would provide 

them. 

Mai Tai was a fabulous retriever that made most dogs 

hang their heads in shame. She could catch the ball in 

midair, when it was banked off a wall, and go after it if 

I bounced it. She hunkered down like a dog when I was 

holding the ball, and she would bring it to me constantly 

to entice me to play with her. If I ignored her, she could 

chip the ball with her paw from the floor onto my lap as 

I sat on the couch. She never missed. She putted better 

than Arnold Palmer. I sent the money for the papers, and 

that was the beginning of my love affair with Burmese. I 

started breeding in 1980. 

During the 80’s I had the good luck to see many beautiful 

cats from catteries that no longer exist, and I got to talk 

to many old time breeders about their experiences. I had 

long discussions with Brook Anderson (Summersage) and 

Burmese queen and kittens from the April 1964 

issue of National Geographic Magazine that 

inspired Shirley Storey: 

“The Cats in our Lives -- Mother and kittens 

reveal the Burmese to be compact and muscular. 

The three appear to be smiling gravely, an 

illusion created by upturned mouths set in full 

faces. Their eyes glow with deep gold . . . The 

unique and wonderful color of the Burmese 

is a ‘rich, warm sable brown.’ Coat is short, 

lies close, has a glossy sheen and satiny texture. 

Fastest growing in popularity among the 

Shorthairs, the Burm commands a handsome 

price.” 

acquired Summersage Kirby from him. I talked often with 

Mary Tichenor, and managed to acquire Brandolion’s Cozette 

from her, and “Cozy” was a grand old cat with a chest 

like Mae West and was a great foundation for my cattery 

along with my nine pound Springcrest Mai Tai. Cozy had 

seven kittens at age eight by c-section, was spayed, and on 

her feet, and nursing (or at least trying) a day later. What 

an Iron Maiden! I bred her to GRC Jade Orchid Jaguar 

twice and had a long distance friendship with Jane Billings, 

who was a lovely person who played the harp in concerts 

and was a court transcriptionist. My hoped for litter from 

Jaggie was born four days early, and I raised the two surviving 

kittens on a tomcat catheter. My vet said they were 

my miracle kittens. 

Red Barn’s Jess Godiper was acquired from Red Barn 

cattery in Roanoke, Virginia, from Diane Bollinger, who I 

recently sold three pets to (for both her and her family). 

I lived in Virginia a while and regularly showed against 

Diane’s lovely Sweet Sioux, as well as Randy Madden’s 

gorgeous Sau-Nee Azure Dee of Leia. I saw the majestic 

KoKo King Mr Fantastic both at Randy’s and later at 

Diane’s. Diane told me, “He doesn’t like me. He always 

belonged to men, and when he sees my husband he comes 

running and is all over him.” I wish I had taken his picture 

as he had a head like a dinner plate. He lived to be 14+ 

years and made his way to Ishta cattery in Las Vegas. I 

also had cats from Ishta cattery, and Sandy Maher proved 

to be one of the most interesting people I have yet to meet. 

In the mid-eighties I met Linda Jeske at the now defunct 

Empire Cat Club Show in NYC. She was showing a drop 

dead gorgeous blue spay who so impressed me that I pestered 

Linda for every detail about this cat and she obliged, 

of course. Unfortunately her blue girl had no offspring, but 

Linda, as we all know, produced many, many other fantastic 

show cats. At this show I also met Zelda Markowitz of 


Rock-Land cattery and begged her for a kitten, although I 

had no extra money with me at the time, as the New York 

show proved quite expensive. The cats in the kitten’s pedigree 

were not familiar, but I did acquire the kitten, which 

I named Rock-Land’s Sand and Sable, on a trade. When 

I got home and traced the pedigree, my eyes bugged out 

because she went back to GC Brierwood’s Babe, who was 

a national winner and not seen in many pedigrees. Sandy 

had huge eyes like saucers and could go from placid to fight 

in three seconds or less. 

I made a wonderful friend with Susan Beshears of 

WhoDat in the 80’s, and we maintain that friendship 

today although she is no longer in cats. Susan and Ralph 

Beshears had many winners in UBCF in past years, and I 

was lucky enough to acquire some of their lines going back 

to Puma Lair, Shawnee, and old Midwestern lines as well. 

A cat from Susan Mundell of Risu cattery and some lines 

from Dodie Granger of Yasmin blended in with lines I had 

acquired from Pat Swihart, who also ran a traditional breeding 

program as well as her contemporary program. Pat had 

some lovely Jeske lines as well as Tse Mau from Eileen 

Dunn in California, but the lines I loved the most were the 

lines coming from GC Koro’s Beau Brummel. His type 

was so deeply ingrained in the lines that it reappeared generations 

later. He was the key male in my early breeding 

years in my lines, and I thrilled to see GC Fongin Chop Soy 

through several different descending cats in his pedigree. 

The nineties were a time of pedigree research for me. 

I met Claudia LaGrippe, through Pat, who had developed 

the initial database sold with Compuped. I acquired some 

of her old pedigrees . . . quite a few actually, and made my 

own data base inputting the data by hand. The notes on the 

pedigrees were very interesting. Some of the old cats listed 

as sable were not really “sable” but colors, which were 

considered disreputable at that time so they were listed as 

sable. During this time I visited a friend in Arizona and 

while there met Marie Zeiner, one of the pioneers in dilute 

breeding. She told me that at one time she had a chart 

of the colors of Siamese used in the Burmese breeding 

program with Wong Mau, but a flood had destroyed much 

of her personal effects including this chart. Marie was a 

wonderful hostess and entertained me with explanations on 

the definite difference between the champagnes originating 

from the Brierwood cats and the ones from the Pomona 

lines. I got to see her Pomona male, and my only regret is 

I didn’t use him but at the time it was just so far to ship. I 

think he was the last of the Pomona males. 

I had a wonderful database on my computer in the late 

90’s and early 2000’s, and about four or five different Burmese 

files on pedigrees. And, one year in the 90’s I won the 

Linechaser’s Ribbon for researching the most pedigrees for 

that club (in Europe). I made friends with Rosemary Hale 

and other Europeans through Linechasers and eventually 

sold Hilde Frank cats for her traditional Bombay breeding 

program in Germany. I also worked with Anni Hemme of 

Chandigarah and received two gorgeous cats back from her 

from cats that had gone to Germany. I took a pale platinum 

male to Silvia Roll-Becker for Martha McMillan of Ineedakat 

cattery in Pittsburgh, although I almost had to fold 

up Ineedakat’s Lover Boy to fit him in the carrier he was 

so large. Eventually I was the happy recipient 

of one of his offspring Vom Silvan’s Silverado 

of Stagelight. I was very happy to have these 

lines of Martha’s as I don’t think too many got 

them. 

I showed a good bit in the 80’s and 90’s, 

but haven’t of late because of my stressful 

job, some health issues of my own, and my 

mother’s advanced age. However, I would like 

to do a bit more showing in the next few years. 

I have been working on outcrossing lines and 

acquiring type so that my cats are competitive 

with what is being shown in the Southern 

Region. 

CH Stagelight’s Daniel My Brother 

© Twisted River Photography 

Shirley D. Storey 

Stagelight Cattery 


Mentoring New Breeders 

An Interview With Barbara Kish, 

Laki Cattery 

What do you think are the most important characteristics 

and abilities of someone thinking about becoming a 

Burmese breeder? 

Anyone can put two cats together and have kittens, 

or buy a show cat, but you will never become a Burmese 

breeder unless you have the love, patience, and unending 

devotion to this wonderful breed. You will have to be willing 

to put the cats before yourself many, many times, and 

unless one is able to start out this way you will fail. 

What are the best ways to find and mentor a new breeder 

-- prior clients, other breeders (of different breeds), friends, 

family members, people you meet at cat shows? 

I do not search out a new breeder, I feel they need to 

contact me. I want to get to know them, feel them out and 

see if they have that special touch to raise wonderful kittens. 

Thankfully I have, and the years helped super people 

to become outstanding breeders. The number one thing is 

that they be willing to learn, not become a know-it-all in a 

few years. I can usually tell who is going to be in it for the 

long haul. The saying goes if you can last 5 years you will 

continue through the good and bad. 

CH LAKI’S BARRELLIN BARRY, DM 

Br/Ow: Barbara & Richard Kish 

What should you watch for/be careful of in evaluating a 

potential new breeder? What are warning signs that there 

might be problems? 

The biggest warning signs are “we don’t want to be big 

breeders, we just want to have a few litters for our family 

and friends”, or “this looks easy, I think we can do this. It 

would be nice to have some kittens to sell now and then.” 

And when I try to start them out in showing in premiership, 

and I get an answer that says “no way, why should we 

bother?” 

What should you tell a potential new breeder in terms of 

the realities and challenges of breeding? 

I tell them the nitty gritty, the bad with the good. I 

usually like to have a new breeder have some experience 

with animals so they know how it sometimes can be heartbreaking 

and then sometimes it is great. I feel them out in 

regards to how far they would go to take care of their cats 

and kittens and what their goals are. 

How should you start a new breeder -- with a neutered 

or spayed cat, and ask them to show in Premiership? 

This is the ideal, but some people just do not want to 

show, so if I think they are going into this to improve the 

breed and breed top notch kittens, I will work with them. 

What are the most important tips for showing a Burmese 

-- preparing the cat, taking to the ring, etc.? 

Great show cats are made at home, the breeding behind 

it and above all the condition, and that can be the one thing 

that will impress the judge. A great Burmese requires very 

little care, a quick slicking down and clean the eye area, 

and then into the ring you go. 

What must a new breeder prove to you before they are 

ready to start with a kitten -- and should it be first a breeding 

female, bred to one of your males? 

Their intentions and the willingness to possibly sacrifice 

time and money to get the best they can to start with. I 

have sold bred females, and kittens of outstanding type, and 

it has worked out both ways, depends on who I am working 

with. 


What recommendations are most important for caring 

for their new kitten or breeding cat -- food, care, supplements, 

caging. 

Always keep your cat or kitten used to a cage, though 

a cage should only be used in training or raising kittens. 

Sometimes a whole male needs to be caged, but it should 

be big enough to give him a comfortable life. I recommend 

a good quality food to everyone, pet owners or potential 

breeders, but I do not hold them to that food. If their cat 

looks and feels good then the diet is fine. 

When it’s close to time for the first birth, what do you 

tell a new breeder? 

I walk them through the whole experience, and am 

available anytime to help. I tell them just be there to help 

if needed but allow the mother to do it herself, she knows 

how. 

What are suggestions you have for caring for new babies 

in the first few weeks, and weaning kittens. 

The first few weeks require no care other then you petting 

them, picking them up, and talking to them to get them 

used to everything. There are sometimes nervous mothers, 

but you have to let her know you are not going to take her 

babies away or hurt them. I allow the mothers to wean the 

kittens and them to wean themselves when they start eating 

soft food and raw beef. 

What are your recommendations, if any, for vaccines or 

supplements for breeding cats? 

I have a maintenance mix that I use and I explain it to 

them and advise them to use it. I advise very few vaccines. 

Once every three years after the initial shots. 

What are the best ways to help a new breeder evaluate 

the confirmation of Burmese kittens when deciding if they 

are show quality? 

The things to look for are the little golf ball head, short 

muzzle, short compact body, and then start to look for other 

things as they grow, such as heft to the kitten, just like they 

say, a little brick. Other things are explained as the kittens 

grow and the eye color starts changing, gold eyes are 

a must. 

CH LAKI’S DIABOLIQUE OF GRAY MARK, DM 

Sire: CH Laki’s Barrelin Barry, DM 

Dam: CH, GP Laki’s Proud Mary, DM 

Br: Barbara & Richard Kish 

Ow: Margaret & Ray Stevens 

What other suggestions do you have for mentoring new 

breeders? 

Don’t try to press them into doing something they don’t 

want to do, and above all do not start out with a whole 

male. Buy the best female you can, either a kitten or a 

young adult, and proceed from there with advice from me 

or another old time breeder, who knows the blood lines and 

can recommend who to work with. If you work alone it 

is very hard so try to find someone to work with you, to 

exchange kittens, give stud service so you can work with 

different lines. Try to get someone to help you along or 

work with you that lives close to you. 

Barbara Kish, Laki Cattery 

Interviewed By 

Nancy Reeves, Burma Pearl Cattery 


Burmese Show Success 2006-2007 

Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) 

These are the CFA National Burmese Breed Awards for UBCF member cats for the 2006/2007 Season: 

Kittens Second Best Gray Mark Noami Campbell De Bears 

(1 in top 10) Breeder: Margaret-Ray Stevens 

Owner: Art-Kristi Graafmans 

Championship Ninth Best GC Nightsong’s Amber Dawn 

(2 in top 15) Breeder/Owner: Lois-Rebecca True 

Twelfth Best GC At’s A Burm Turchino Bruma 

Breeder/Owner: Barbara-Russ Remier 

Premiership Fifth Best GP Nightsong’s Viva Le Bleu 

(2 in top 10) Breeder/Owner: Lois-Rebecca True 

Ninth Best GP Laki’s Ashlynne of Ringapurr 

Breeder: Barbara A.-Richard F. Kish 

Owner: Nancy K. Schuman 

The International Cat Association (TICA) 

The top Burmese for the 2006 season in each class were: 

Kittens: Vindouro Albee Great Lakes Region 9th in Regional Top 20 

Katsnjazz Kenny Burrell Mid Pacific Region 

Starstrutter Midnight Jazz Northwest Region 

Cats: Vindouro Albee Great Lakes Region 3rd in Regional Top 20 

Thecatslove Vangelina Southern Europe Region 12th in Regional Top 20 

Vindouro Pachelbell of Ringapurr Great Lakes Region 

Alters: Laki’s Ashlynne of Ringapurr Great Lakes Region 3rd in Regional Top 20 

Sableze Cameo Southwest Region 4th in Regional Top 20 

Burmusic Solo Mio of Valor Northeast Region 3rd in Regional Top 20 

American Association of Cat Fanciers (ACFA) 

ACFA had three UBCF member cats shown to Regional Honors for 2006-2007: 

Mayacats Hearts on Fire NC Region Best Burmese Dan and Camille Rogers, Breeders/Owners 

Carmel Kats Pride Rock SC region Best Burmese Alter Jenny Nelson, Breeder/Owner 

and 7th best Alter 

Katsnjazz Kenny Burrell 


Canadian Cat Association (CCA) 

Canadian Burmese: 

Championship Best Burmese and 15th Best All Canadian Cat 

GC Kalmer Sunshine Lollypop CNW, Sable Female 

Breeder/Owner Kathy Balmer 

2nd Best Burmese 

GC Laki Dark as Ebony of Strathkirk, Sable Female 

Breeder Barbara & Richard Kish, Owner Jean Morphee-Barnard 

Kitten Best Burmese Kitten and 2nd Best All Canadian Kitten 

Hullabaloo Olympia Ducatkis CNW, Champagne Female 

Breeder/Owner Robert & Elaine Gleason 

2nd Best Burmese Kitten and 13th Best All Canadian Kitten 

Kantata Sarah Burmhardt CNW, Blue Female 

Breeder/Owner Lynn Sharkey 

Premiership Best Burmese Alter 

SMGC Kalmer’s Silver Bell Gabriel CNW, Platinum Spay 

Breeder/Owner Kathy Balmer 

Foreign Burmese 

2nd Best Burmese Alter 

Laki’s Fenton of Gizmo, Sable Neuter 

Breeder Barbara & Richard Kish, Owner Claire Lamontagne 

Championship Best Foreign Burmese & 14th Best All Canadian Cat 

GCH Horizon’s Ash CNW, Red Male 

Breeder/Owner Ann Kidd & Ivan Battye 

2nd Best Foreign Burmese 

GCH Horizon’s Commander, Cream Male 


Kitten Best Foreign Burmese Kitten 

Strathkirk Spartacus, Red Male 

B/O Jean Morphee-Barnard 

2nd Best Foreign Burmese Kitten 

Strathkirk Tosca 

Breeder/Owner Jean Morphee-Barnard 

Premiership Best Foreign Burmese Alter 

GPR Horizon’s Ash, Red Neuter 


CH Carmel Kats Pride Rock 

© David Hull 


When Was Your Last Cat Show? By Kristi Graafmans 

What are some of the reasons that you find to not attend 

cat shows? There must be quite a few rationales, as I have 

not seen many of the 50 plus UBCF members at a cat show. 

I can give a host of wonderful reasons to attend but today 

I will stick with one. I find it is nice to get out of the house 

on the weekends and meet new friends and old. Sometimes 

I get surprised and see a Burmese breeder that I have not 

met before. And I always have a great time getting to know 

new exhibitors and breeders. Let me relate a recent experience 

I had to you. 

Art and I have a sable female kitten named Maya that 

was 6 months old in August and she did really well at a 

local campaigner’s show. With only 2 months left to show 

our kitten, we decided that we would need to travel if we 

were to have a chance at a regional win with Maya. On one 

of the weekends where there was no Region 5 show I found 

a show in Minnesota with a good judge line up for us – so 

off I went with Maya in tow. 

The last time I showed in the mid-west was 2 years ago. 

I went with a Grand Premier and I was the only American 

Burmese at the show. I was sort of expecting the same this 

time. I eagerly checked the show catalog once I got my 

benching set up and saw that I had competition. There were 

2 other sable Burmese kittens entered in the show. It did 

not take long and we Burmese breeders found each other 

and began to ooooh and aaaah over each other’s kittens and 

cats. 

Brian Tripp was showing a 5-month-old sable male 

kitten and a sable spay Premier and he was there with 3 

GC De Bears Maya 

of his protégés. I had heard of Brian but had never met 

him personally. Brian was nice and a little upset that the 

show did not bench the Burmese people all together. I was 

benched quite a ways away from Brian’s group. 

Brian introduced me to his friends which included a 

nice couple, Mike and Lauri Henry. This was their first cat 

show and they were showing their four-month-old sable 

female kitten named Phoebe. When I saw the other 2 Burmese 

kittens I thought --- oh boy, I’ve come a long way for 

nothing! 

We all went up to our first ring together and Maya made 

BOB. Brian, Lauri and Mike congratulated me and told me 

how much they liked Maya. Maya ended up making BOB 

in all the rings and made all 6 finals. And behind me my 

new Burmese friends cheered for Maya. The two Burmese 

Premiers, between them made 4 finals. 

We exchanged names and emails to keep in touch. We 

shared stories and show experiences. Mike and Lauri’s kitten 

Phoebe was extremely nice but she was just 4 months 

old. I told them how Maya did not hit her show stride until 

she was 6 months old. Burmese often need time to mature 

especially when they are 4 months old and up against other 

breeds that are 7 months old. 

This show turned out to be more than kind to our Burmese 

kitties and I was glad that the new breeders enjoyed 

being at their first show. 

Mike and Lauri’s kitten Phoebe is now 6 months old and 

they are ready to take her out again. I wish them luck with 

Phoebe and will cheer them on from Region 5. I hope to 

see them in Southern California with their beautiful kitten. 

Region 5 has many shows that I would highly recommend. 

I would love to see more of this kind of camaraderie by 

seeing more of you out at cat shows. 

More good reasons to go to a cat show: educate your 

eye – keep cattery blindness at bay, keep in touch with 

other Burmese breeders, become a certified clerk to build 

relationships with judges, join a show producing club so 

you get a chance to choose the judges that come to your 

local show. 

For future newsletters I would love to see a list, from 

each of the regions, of judges that you find consistently use 

or like Burmese. Have someone from each region identify 

shows that are Burmese ‘worthy’ and invite fellow Burmese 

breeders from other regions to attend. What interests you 

and what would get you out to more cat shows? 

I find that more doors open in CFA with participation 

and one way is by being seen and being involved in showing 

our beautiful Burmese cats. 


Rescuing Burmese 

Through a variety of circumstances, some of our beloved adult and senior Burmese find themselves without a home or 

in danger of losing their home. UBCF considers it an important responsibility for Burmese breeders and fanciers to help 

spread the word about these homeless cats, or to provide direct help in obtaining a new home for them. 

Following are only a few of the cats that currently need homes. This information comes from the Burmese Rescue 

Site at the National Alliance of Burmese Breeders, and we applaud their ongoing work and success in finding homes for 

Burmese that need them, and would like to use this forum help in that effort. For additional information about these cats or 

others that need our help, please contact the rescue coordinator: 

burmeserescue@yahoo.com 

Current Rescues: (updated 11/06/07) 

Carrollton, TX (11/6/2007) - Leah and Jonah are 11 and 10 year old platinum Burmese cats needing a new home. 

Their owner has to move out of the country and must rehome these 2 cats together. They both need to go together and are 

fabulous cats that will be missed. Please contact Leah Lindsay for more information at leahiain1@verizon.net. 

Nevada City, CA (11/6/2007) - Lucky is an 8 year old sable spay that needs a new home. His owner passed away and 

he is living in foster care with a relative of the deceased. He needs a new home due to foster owner’s time constraints and 

health issues. Please contact Mary Bennett-Meyer at earthworks1@neteze for more information. 

New York, NY (8/30/2007) - Ginger and Fred are 2 13 year old Blue Burmese. Both are neutered or spayed. Her owner 

has to give her up due to bad allergies. They need to go together to a new home. For more information please contact Thalia 

at Thaliaam@mac.com. 

Reading, Massachussetts (8/30/2007) - Frankie is a 5 and a half year old Sable neutered Burmese. He is frightened of 

children and doesn’t get along with other pets. He is a loving lap cat that will do best as an only cat in a home with adults. 

Perhaps once he’s settled in a new situation, he may be able to tolerate a new kitten. For more information, please contact 

Kathi Kavenaugh at wasdeputy@mac.com 

Treasurer’s Report By Art Graafmans 

December 15, 2007 

Balance forward from closed account $1502.18 

Reimburse ad CFA New York Show (Jo Diamond) ($200.00) 

Membership dues $1730.00 

Balance as of 12/15/2007 $3032.18 


The Must Have List 

Books And Resources For Burmese Cat lovers 

Each UBCF Newsletter issue we plan to bring you additional member suggested books, articles and websites 

Books: 

The Burmese Cat (“The Little Brown Book”) The United Burmese Cat Fanciers, Rosemonde S. Peltz 

Currently out of print 

Burmese Cats: A Complete Pet Owner’s Manual Carolyn Vella and John McGonagle, Barron’s, 1995 

Available on Amazon.com 

Burmese Cats Grace Burgess, published by Price Milburn, New Zealand 


“The Burmese Cat” Dorothy S. Richards, et al, Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1975 


The Proper Care of Burmese Cats Dennis Kelsey-Wood, T.F.H. Publications, 1992 

Out of print, but used copies available on Amazon.com 

Siamese Cats: Legends and Reality Martin R. Clutterbuck, White Lotus Press, Bangkok, 

Thailand, can be ordered from the author 

“The Wide-Eyed & Whip-Smart Burmese” Cat Fancy Magazine, October 2001 

May be available from Cat Fancy Magazine 

“The Burmese Cat” Doris Springer, 1964 CFA Yearbook - Out of print. 

“The Magnificent Burmese” Rosamonde S. Peltz 

The Cat Fancier’s Association 1978 Annual Yearbook 

“Seeing Double – The Malayan Cat” Carolyn Osier 


“A Burmese Cat Tale” Virginia Z. Deal 


Burmese Cats 2008 Wall Calendar Pet Prints - Available on Amazon.com 

Burmese Cats 2008 Wall Calendar 2008 Calendars by Brown Trout 

Available at Amazon.com or Calendars.com 

The Complete Book of Cat Breeding Dan Rice, Barron’s Educational Series, 1997 


Breeding Purebred Cats Anne S. Moore, Abraxas Publishing, 1981 



Breeding Pedigreed Cats Carolyn M. Vella and John J. McGonagle, 

Howell Book House, 1997 


Cat Breeds of the World Desmond Morris, Viking Adult, 1999 


Legacy of the Cat Gloria Stephens & Tetsu Yamazaki, Chronicle Books, 2001 

Available at Amazon.com 

Robinson’s Genetics for Cat Breeders Carolyn M. Vella, Lorraine M. Shelton, et al, and Veterinarians 

Butterworth-Heinemann 1999 - Available on Amazon.com 

Cat Watching and Cat Lore Desmond Morris, Jonathan Cape Publisher, 1987 

Both available on Amazon.com 

The Natural Cat: Understanding Helga Hofmann and Monika Wegler, Voyageur, 1994 

Your Cat’s Needs and Instincts Available on Amazon.com 

Dr. Pitcairn’s New Complete Guide to Richard H. Pitcairn and Susan Hubble Pitcairn, 

Natural Health for Dogs and Cats Rodale Books 2005 


Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook Donald C. Plumb, Wiley, 2007 

or Veterinary Drug Handbook: Gigi Davidson and Donald C. Plumb, Wiley 2003 

Client Information Edition Both available on Amazon.com 

Cat Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook Delbert G. Carlson and James M. Giffin 

Howell Book House 


Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs: Don Hamilton, North Atlantic Books, 1999, 

Small Doses for Small Animals 


The Cat’s House Bob Walker and Frances Mooney, Andrews McMeel, 1996 


Bad Cat: 244 Not-So Pretty Kitties Jim Edgar, Workman Publishing, 2004 

and Cats Gone Bad Available on Amazon.com 

WEBSITES: 

N.A.B.B. Pedigree Database www.burmesecat.org/pp_search.htm 

Michele Clark, Anoka Cats 

Burmese pedigree database www.burmezen.com/db.html 

Rosemary Hale, Hawkridge Burmese and 

Ger Versluis, Roemah Koetjing Burmese & Burmillas Continued on page 21 


Lessons Learned From The Grand Prix Fire 

I knew we were in trouble as soon as I pulled onto 

our street late Friday afternoon. At the end of a nearby 

cul-de-sac two county firefighters stood looking out over 

Cucamonga Canyon at what the news people were now 

calling the Grand Prix Fire. Clouds the color of crankcase 

oil boiled in the foothills beyond the wash, far thicker than 

they had been that morning when I left for work. “We’re 

making a structure protection and evacuation plan,” one of 

them said. That’s all I needed to hear. 

As soon as I hit our driveway I began loading essential 

items into my car— I unplugged Rose’s and my own computer 

towers and set them in the back floorboard, and in 20 

minutes all our important documents, including insurance 

policies and pedigrees of generations of Burmese cats, were 

safely ready for evacuation. 

The evacuation order came late next morning. We were 

prepared, because two years before, right after 9/11, we 

had written our own home evacuation plan. Rose had cat 

carriers stationed in each room where our cats lived. It was 

a simple matter to round them up in the carriers when the 

time came (including Vinny, the garage cat). Our evacuation 

was orderly and uneventful. Carrying what worldly 

possessions we could, we caravanned our car and SUV 

down the freeway to the home of a friend who, in an act 

of uncommon kindness, took us all in. We set the cats up 

in big tents in the same social groupings they had been accustomed 

to at our house. Everyone got along fine, and it 

turned out to be a big feline slumber party. Rose and I were 

again blessed to find our home still standing when we got 

back into our neighborhood two days later. 

Natural and sometimes manmade disasters can happen 

to any of us, no matter where we live. A brief reflection on 

the last 15 years turns up memories of Hurricanes Hugo and 

Katrina, the Los Angeles Riots, floods in Texas, and wildfires 

in several western states. The terrorist attacks of 9/11 

put us all on notice, if we needed it, that we are responsible 

for our own safety and that of our family. Fear and stress 

during times like these make thoughtful planning difficult, 

if not impossible. When the adrenaline is flowing and time 

is precious, a simple and well-rehearsed evacuation plan 

can be lifesaving. The time for thinking and planning is 

well in advance of the fire, or flood, or riot. The time for 

action is when it all comes down. 

Here is the plan Rose and I had in place when the Grand 

Prix Fire threatened our home in October 2003. All we had 

By Tim Wheeler 

to do was read it and execute the steps. We made minor 

revisions after the fire, learning from the experience: 

1. Get all cats out free in the house. Put them in carriers 

(they might hide if we don’t get them first). Use carriers, 

show cages, four tents (in box on wheels in garage), 

and Nylabone transport cage. They are all in downstairs 

storage room. Then get the caged cats and their litters. Put 

them all in the cars. 

2. Downstairs, empty one big green plastic box with 

Christmas decorations into a plastic garbage bag and take 

the empty box upstairs. 

3. Upstairs in the kitchen, fill one green box with 

canned and dry foods, can openers, bottles of ibuprofen and 

Tylenol, the two drawers with cat meds, plastic utensils, 

and the block of kitchen knives. Also get the cat food and 

dishes in the kitchen cabinets by trash can, and the cat food 

in the laundry room. Get the 5-gallon emergency kit in the 

laundry room. 

4. Go into office. Get both computer CPUs. In file 

cabinet get documents, archives of insured goods, and stuff 

in file cabinets that looks important. 

5. Upstairs, load all bottles of water into the two 

vehicles. 

6. While upstairs, get some garbage bags and go to 

the back of the house. Get all Rx meds for Tim and Rose, 

Tim’s travel kit, Rose’s travel bag, blankets from the linen 

closet, clean cat bedding from guest room closet, toilet 

paper and paper towels. Get both cell phones and chargers, 

keys, cash, and Rose’s purse. 

7. Downstairs, fill the other green plastic box where 

tents are now stored with cat food, paper and plastic cat 

food dishes, and garbage bags. Look in the garage cat 

cabinet by the cages. Get the can opener there and rubber 

gloves, too. 

8. Downstairs, grab a 40-lb. bag of cat litter 

and the box of cardboard litter boxes in the storage room 

(back corner to your right as you enter). 


9. Upstairs, make final sweep. Close all 

windows, check that all appliances are off, turn furnace/air 

conditioning off, turn off all outside lights, set alarm, EXIT 

TO GARAGE. Turn off gas valve (wrench is there). Agree 

on route before driving away. 

We learned that having essential items where we could 

quickly find them was a great help. One addition we have 

made to our plan is a “bug-out box,” a plastic box we got 

at Target that we filled with emergency items—flashlights, 

camp lanterns, toilet paper, a can opener, and other basic 

items. You can find ideas for stocking emergency items at 

your county fire department’s web site. For example, the 

web site of the San Bernardino County, California Fire Department 

(our county), www.sbcfire.org, contains sections 

titled “Developing a Family Evacuation Plan” and “Family 

Disaster Plan Guide.” Use these resources, and rely on the 

expertise of the dedicated professionals who fight fires for 

a living. 

Always maintain awareness. Don’t ignore warning 

signs when events are headed your way. Some of our 

neighbors went blithely about their weekend routines as 

Websites - Continued from page 19 

Burmese interactive breeding table www.burmees.nl/ 

Ger Versluis - Click on “Mating Chart” 

the fire approached, either denying or ignoring what was 

going on around them. One family left for a day trip to the 

beach the night before the mandatory evacuation order was 

given. 

Finally, don’t forget to run through at least one practice 

drill, following your plan. You don’t have to actually 

load everything up and drive away. But walking through 

the steps, looking to see where the storage boxes are in 

the garage, and performing all the other details puts the 

sequence into your “muscle memory.” It’s the same reason 

that soldiers and firefighters run drills regularly—they fall 

back on their training in the face of a terrible and imminent 

threat. They don’t have to hesitate and think things through, 

because in a very real sense they have been there before 

in training. Rose and I didn’t get around to practicing our 

evac plan before the fire, but we should have. 

To summarize, make a plan, involve everybody in the 

family, practice the plan, and be aware of what is happening 

in your environment. Taking these steps will give you 

the feeling of security that comes with being ready when 

disaster strikes. 

Feline Genetics www.igs.net/~kiddbatt/DOCS pages/genetics1.htm 

www.kolumbus.fi/sarakontu/link/catlinks.html 

Gitalaya’s Burmese web-ring www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/8454/burmring.html 

Dr. Susan Little’s Website www.catvet.homestead.com/index.html 

Feline Cranial-Facial Abnormality Site faculty.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/faculty/lalyons/Sites/burmese.htm 

Leslie Lyons, U. C. Davis 

Feline Husbandry Site www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ccah/felinehusbandry.cfm 

Neils C. Pederson, U. C. Davis 


Letters To The Editor 

Dear Editor: 

I hope that the Renaissance of the UBCF will help to 

eliminate those problems that today threaten the Burmese 

breed. 

Individuals more knowledgeable than myself claim our 

genetic gene pool is sufficient. I heartily disagree. 

The diversity that the geneticists speak of is only useful 

if one doesn’t mind breeding Burmese that carry the genetic 

coding for the head defect. If Traditional breeders hadn’t 

stood their ground all these years, by not incorporating the 

carrier lines into their breeding programs, there would be 

NO clean lines from which to draw to rebuild the breed. 

Separate the two gene pools, Contemporary and Traditional, 

and each is very small. 

Traditional breeders should not have to sacrifice the few 

clean lines left to save the breed. I hope we will be able 

to find a way to enlarge the unaffected lines through better 

education and other avenues allowable by the Cat Fancy 

Association. 

I hope that by better education of the public and other 

breeders that it will help to make strides to encourage better 

genetic husbandry among the breeders. What our breed 

faces today, those other breeds now affected by the head 

defect will face tomorrow. I hope that the efforts of the 

UBCF will act as a flagship for those other breeds before it 

is to late. 

Lynette Massow 

Dear Editor, 

For the future of UBCF I would like to see a UBCF web 

site, dedicated to the traditional Burmese cat. We could 

have suggestions from members for what to include on 

the site. Suggestions could come in as letters to the editor. 

There can be a members-only section, with access for 

members that should be through password only. Also, I 

would think we could have a section for the general public 

as well. A few suggestions from me to get the ball rolling: 

I’d like to see a section where members could post show 

pictures of their cats, sort of a brag section. Maybe even 

a fun section of pictures, of Burmese doing funny things, 

we have lots of candid shots from pet owners and from our 

own cats as well that we could share. 

Possibly a section for Memory Lane, written stories 

from the show hall, of past winners, of memories of past 

breeders, of big show moments, especially for traditional 

cats today. These could go on either the web site or in the 

newsletter. 

Another idea I have for the newsletter, how about a 

health tip column where Burmese breeders and owners 

could send in tips that have worked with their cats. 

Margaret Stevens 

Dear Editor, 

As a former member and officer of UBCF, I am pleased 

to see this organization get on its feet again. UBCF always 

was and should be a leader for establishing the goals of the 

Burmese community. 

Last week I attended a CFA show in Hudson, MA with 

my daughter who wanted to show her sable female, Nori’s 

Puzzled Lady (Puzzler). I specifically had this girl checked 

out by my vet as a potential breeder and, in the process, he 

noted that she would make a great queen. High praise from 

another breeder (he raises American Shorthairs). 

Puzzler has a beautiful sable coat, albeit a bit plush, and 

lovely round gold eyes. Her face is moderate with a decent 

nose break and her bite is excellent. Like all my cats, she 

is HD-free. 

Her looks, of course, did us no good in the CFA show 

rings. The flattest face was awarded the ribbons. I was 

really appalled at the appearance of the Burmese and the 

Bombays. When they sat down, they looked like triangles 

with small flat heads, bulging eyes, and all their weight 

towards the back end. It was clear that the judges knew or 

cared little about Burmese and what had become of them. 

I consider the last 10 years to be comparable to the 

40’s when the Burmese were banned from the show rings. 

This breed is in a very sorry state and new goals need to be 

set to bring them back to a healthy breed. The so-called 

“spokespeople” for Burmese are leading them down a path 

to destruction in the United States. 

It is time to speak out loudly for these loving cats. A 

united UBCF can set new goals and make people sit up and 

listen. Today, we have more tools and information than 

ever to set a standard that is a model for all pedigreed cats. 

Let’s use them to keep breeders, organizations, and the 

public informed and keep working until we have nothing 

but beautiful healthy Burmese in the show ring again. 

This is a breed that originated in the United States. Let’s 

not let it die there. 

Nina Pearlmutter, Ph.D., J.D. 


UBCF Membership 

Region 2 

Central West 

Region 1 

North West 

& Alaska 

Region 3 

South West 

& Hawii 

Region 10 

Western Canada 

Region 11 

International (Not USA or Canada) 

Region 5 

South Cental 

MEMBER CATTERY STATE REGION 

Jo Diamond Alethea WA 1 

Carole Maxey Katco WA 1 

Wendy Bennett Mocha Blast CA 2 

Hyla Carney Tojay CA 2 

Nancy Reeves Burma Pearl CA 2 

Margaret Stevens Gray Mark CA 2 

Raymond Stevens Gray Mark CA 2 

Lois True Nightsong CA 2 

Suzanne Berrin Bon Marche CA 3 

Ken Berrin Bon Marche CA 3 

Art Graafmans De Bears CA 3 

Kristi Graafmans De Bears CA 3 

Lynette Massow Az Mews AZ 3 

Russell Reimer At’s A Burm AZ 3 

Barbara Reimer At’s A Burm AZ 3 

Angela Smirnova Burma Charm CA 3 

Roseann Wheeler Bear Country CA 3 

Shirley Belanger Tuo-Ee IL 4 

Karen Buckler Codicat IN 4 

Becky Drew Traditional MN 4 

Lauri Henry Singita MN 4 

Deanne Lucek Crazy Bay IL 4 

Camille Rogers Mayacat IA 4 

Dan Rogers Mayacat IA 4 

Katherine Tenerowicz Crazy Bay IL 4 

Leora Alden Qwan Yinn TX 5 

Virginia Deal Deal TX 5 

Region 4 

North Central 

Region 9 

Eastern Canada 

Canada is divided along the 

Manitoba - Ontario border 

Region 8 

South East 

Region 7 

Central East 

Region 6 

North East 

Member Cattery STATE REGION 

Jenny Nelson Carmel Kats AR 5 

Willa Rogers-Hawke Rogers Hts TX 5 

Prudence Dorazio Mouse Island CT 6 

Ernest Dorazio Mouse Island CT 6 

Louise Frank Mine Falls NH 6 

Orrin Frink Nori MA 6 

Nina Pearlmutter Nori MA 6 

Barbara Kish Laki PA 7 

Richard Kish Laki PA 7 

Robert Kish Council Rock OH 7 

Carolyn Bentley NC 8 

Marianne Bolling FL 8 

Kathy Cannon AL 8 

Margaret Cohn Family Ties NC 8 

Robert Gerlach NC 8 

Shirley Storey Stagelight GA 8 

Brian Tripp Evita FL 8 

Robert Gleason Hullabaloo Canada 9 

Larry Jelinek Gingerhill Canada 9 

Carolyn Beard Beardsley Burmese Canada 10 

Rita Schoebel Suncoast Canada 10 

Judith Seeber Kitzspa Canada 10 

Asa Broing Ebonycatz Sweden 11 

Natalya Gnatyuk Russia 11 

Alexander Goncharov Russia 11 

Olesya Ivanitskaya Beautyburm Russia 11 

Marina Ivanitskaya Beautyburm Russia 11 

Helena Wiklundh Securitazz Sweden 11 


Coming Next Issue... 

Newsletters do not write themselves – it takes a great deal of time and the efforts of many individuals to provide the 

kind of information we have included in this, our first newsletter for the revival of UBCF. In future newsletters, which we 

hope to bring you at least three times a year, we plan to include a variety of topics, including: 

New Grands Send us pictures and pedigrees of our your new Grand Champion or Premier. 

Health Discussions of vaccines, food/nutrition, husbandry techniques, common and uncommon diseases, 

and other health concerns and recommendations. 

Head Defect As much up-to-date information as can be provided on the cranio-facial defect, and discussions of 

its impact on the future of the Burmese breed as well as ways to inform the public about its 

existence and implications. 

History More detailed information about the great Burmese that are the ancestors of our cats, and the 

people who bred and showed them. 

Resources Ongoing recommendations for resources of value to everyone who loves the Burmese cat. 

Please remember that this is YOUR newsletter and we want to know what YOU want included or discussed in future 

issues, and that we cannot do this without your help! Please email me at NancyLR@AOL.com with ideas for future topics, 

or to contribute articles or letters to upcoming newsletters. 

And to all the UBCF Members and friends who contributed to this newsletter . . . 

We have a limited number of Classic 

UBCF Brown Burmese lapel pins 

available. For details please contact: 

United Burmese Cat Fanciers, Inc. 

c/o Barbara Kish 

48 Parker Road 

Jackson Center, PA 16133 U.S.A. 

barbrich@pymtele.net 

Congratulations And Thank You! 

CH Burma Pearl’s Sweet Buttercup and her littermates

January 2008 Newsletter - United Burmese Cat Fanciers

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