January 2008 Newsletter - United Burmese Cat Fanciers
January 2008 Newsletter - United Burmese Cat Fanciers
January 2008 Newsletter - United Burmese Cat Fanciers
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<strong>United</strong> <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong> <strong>Fanciers</strong><br />
UBCF <strong>Newsletter</strong><br />
In This Issue Volume 1, Issue 1, <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong><br />
Editorial - The State Of The Breed ........................................................................ 2<br />
President’s Message ......................................................................................................... 4<br />
UBCF - Through The 1970s And 1980s .................................................................. 5<br />
How I Met My First <strong>Burmese</strong> ...................................................................................... 6<br />
Mentoring New Breeders -<br />
An Interview With Barbara Kish ................................................................... 12<br />
<strong>Burmese</strong> Show Success 2006 - 2007 ........................................................................ 14<br />
When Was Your Last <strong>Cat</strong> Show? ........................................................................... 16<br />
Rescuing <strong>Burmese</strong> - Friends Who Need New Homes ................................ 17<br />
Treasurer’s Report ......................................................................................................... 17<br />
The Must Have List -<br />
Books And Resources For <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong> Lovers .................................... 18<br />
Lessons Learned From The Grand Prix Fire ................................................. 20<br />
Letters To The Editor ................................................................................................. 22<br />
UBCF Regional Map ....................................................................................................... 23<br />
UBCF Membership List .................................................................................................. 23<br />
Plans For Upcoming UBCF <strong>Newsletter</strong>s .......................................................... 24
Editorial By Nancy L. Reeves<br />
The State of the Breed<br />
The opinions expressed in this editorial are strictly those<br />
of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of<br />
UBCF’s officers or its members.<br />
An Unexpected Turning Point<br />
One day last February, I found myself sitting at my computer,<br />
disgusted by yet another heated argument on one of<br />
the Yahoo <strong>Burmese</strong> lists. I finally had had enough of these<br />
venomous exchanges, tired of watching one group of <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
breeders expressing their opinions only to be harshly<br />
criticized by breeders on the other side of the argument. It<br />
should be no surprise to most readers of this newsletter that<br />
the primary issue involved in these discussions is one that<br />
has haunted our breed for decades: the lethal cranio-facial<br />
mutation, more commonly known as the <strong>Burmese</strong> Head<br />
Defect.<br />
That February day I felt it was time for a new forum,<br />
one where traditional breeders (those who choose not to<br />
<strong>United</strong> Bumese <strong>Cat</strong> <strong>Fanciers</strong><br />
<strong>Newsletter</strong><br />
Volume 1 Issue 1<br />
November 2007<br />
Editor: Nancy L. Reeves<br />
Art Direction & Printing: Art Graafmans<br />
Contributors:<br />
Leora Alden Kathryn Amann<br />
Carolyn Beard Hyla Carney<br />
Jo Whitman Diamond Prudence Dorazio<br />
Becky Drew Bob Gleason<br />
Art Graafmans Kristi Graafmans<br />
Willa Hawke-Rogers Larry Jelinek<br />
Barbara Kish Lynette Massow<br />
Jenny Nelson Nina Pearlmutter<br />
Margaret Stevens Shirley Storey<br />
Rose Wheeler Tim Wheeler<br />
Cover Photo Credits:<br />
All Photos © Chanan Photography<br />
work with the lethal gene) could freely talk without fear of<br />
criticism from contemporary breeders (those who choose to<br />
work with the lethal gene). So I set up a new Yahoo group,<br />
and invited the traditional breeders that I knew personally<br />
to join. They in turn recommended some of the breeders<br />
they knew. And those new members invited more traditional<br />
breeders. And so the list grew.<br />
Our first exchanges on the new list were hesitant – in<br />
fact I sensed the need to “seed” the list with topics that I<br />
hoped would spark discussions. When several weeks<br />
passed without much activity, I began to feel that perhaps<br />
this kind of forum wasn’t needed. But soon discussions<br />
multiplied, until a cathartic flurry of exchanges occurred.<br />
The floodgates had opened, and traditional breeders felt free<br />
to vent and commiserate over many years of accumulated<br />
frustrations. And the primary source of those frustrations<br />
was the Head Defect and the hoped-for development of a<br />
genetic test.<br />
“The Test”<br />
Being an optimist by nature, for years I have been waiting<br />
eagerly for Leslie Lyons and her team at U.C. Davis<br />
to identify the horrific lethal gene or genes that cause the<br />
Head Defect to occur, and which ultimately threatens our<br />
breed. My optimism, however, has become tempered by<br />
reality.<br />
My early assumptions were that developing a genetic<br />
test for the Head Defect would solve numerous problems<br />
within the breed and help heal the divided <strong>Burmese</strong> communities.<br />
I’m no longer so naïve. In fact, I have come<br />
to believe that “The Test” may, if not handled correctly,<br />
further divide us. Nevertheless, I still think this test is a<br />
critically important milestone for the <strong>Burmese</strong> breed.<br />
I make no claims to having a good understanding of<br />
genetics, and I find many aspects difficult to comprehend<br />
and explain. However, for me at least, there is compelling<br />
evidence that the gene or genes which produce the contemporary<br />
look and the accompanying Head Defect can not be<br />
separated, and once the Head Defect gene is found I believe<br />
it unlikely that there will be lines which can produce the<br />
contemporary look without the litter losses. The early work<br />
done by the Search Core group, which demonstrated this<br />
fact to many people’s satisfaction, and more recently the<br />
health survey done by Dr. Susan Little, which shows that<br />
after three decades the percentage litter loss has remained<br />
at 25%, leads me to this conclusion.<br />
Page 2 UBCF <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong>
No one knows how much time will pass before the<br />
genetic marker(s) for the Head Defect are found. It may<br />
be next month, or it may take years. When it is found, I<br />
think the most important use of the test will be to verify<br />
which lines and cats are free of the defect. That is critically<br />
important to the <strong>Burmese</strong> breed. Should the lethal defect<br />
spread into all lines of <strong>Burmese</strong>, it would weaken the health<br />
of the breed and might eventually lead to the end of the<br />
<strong>Burmese</strong> cat.<br />
Even with a genetic test in hand, I fear it may be unlikely<br />
that most breeders who work with contemporary<br />
lines are going to make changes in their breeding programs,<br />
if it turns out that the “contemporary look” invariably carries<br />
with it the lethal gene. They breed their cats because<br />
they prefer that look, and they like the show hall success<br />
they have experienced for decades. Many are also deeply<br />
invested in their contemporary lines, both financially and<br />
over many generations. There may be some who choose to<br />
spay and neuter their lines and start over, and I personally<br />
will do all I can to applaud and support their decision.<br />
A Great Responsibility<br />
Thanks in part to exchanges on the Traditional <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
Breeders list, but mostly thanks to the energy and commitment<br />
of its members, a decision was made to revive<br />
the <strong>United</strong> <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong> <strong>Fanciers</strong> Club, whose history is<br />
included in this newsletter. Key to the revival of UBCF is<br />
the decision to include all colors and variations of <strong>Burmese</strong>,<br />
American and European, and to promote healthy <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
throughout the world.<br />
All cat breeders deal with health problems, be they<br />
genetic, congenital or environmental, and all breeds of cats<br />
carry health problems to a greater or lesser degree. We can<br />
never solve or breed out all of those health problems without<br />
severely limiting gene pools and thereby endangering<br />
the existence of the breeds we love. However, my personal<br />
feeling is that a key ethical defining line is crossed when<br />
breeders knowingly promote or continue severe and/or lethal<br />
health problems, when other alternatives are available.<br />
Ever since the contemporary <strong>Burmese</strong> cats and their<br />
descendents first appeared, they have come to dominate the<br />
show ring. But thanks to the hard work and perseverance<br />
of many breeders, traditional line <strong>Burmese</strong> have become<br />
increasingly competitive, achieving significant regional<br />
and national wins, and I predict they will continue do so in<br />
the future.<br />
But this will only happen if we work together to produce<br />
and promote the healthiest and best <strong>Burmese</strong> that we<br />
can, mentor new breeders to join us in this effort, and aim<br />
to inform the general public, show judges, and everyone<br />
involved in cat registries around the world, how critically<br />
important their choices are to the future of the <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
breed.<br />
I feel proud to participate in the renaissance of UBCF,<br />
with its rich history of accomplishments. The club and<br />
its members also bear a great responsibility. I believe we<br />
may hold the very existence of the <strong>Burmese</strong> breed in our<br />
hands. As members of UBCF, dedicated to the health and<br />
well being of the <strong>Burmese</strong> cat, let us stand together and do<br />
all we can to help the <strong>Burmese</strong> breed flourish now, and for<br />
the future.<br />
CH Burma Pearl’s Petite Princesse<br />
©Chanan Photography<br />
Nancy L. Reeves<br />
Burma Pearl <strong>Cat</strong>tery<br />
UBCF <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong> Page 3
President’s Message By Willa Rogers-Hawke<br />
<strong>United</strong> <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong> <strong>Fanciers</strong> History And Mission<br />
Prior to 1958 there were two clubs devoted to <strong>Burmese</strong> breeders; each of these was unaffiliated, that is neither was<br />
aligned to any major cat fancy association. The two clubs, the <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong> Society of the East and the <strong>Burmese</strong> Breeders<br />
of America, which was composed largely of western breeders, merged in 1958 under the new and presently continuing<br />
name of the <strong>United</strong> <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong> <strong>Fanciers</strong> (UBCF). There are now many other <strong>Burmese</strong> clubs in existence, but each of<br />
those clubs is affiliated with one of the cat fancy associations<br />
The first officers of UBCF were: President Ruth Larson of California (Ruboe <strong>Cat</strong>tery), Vice Presidents Doris Springer<br />
of San Francisco (Yindling <strong>Cat</strong>tery) and Mildred Alexander (Mrs. Alexander’s <strong>Cat</strong>tery) of Los Angeles, CA, and Treasurer<br />
Grace Forrest (BoGrae <strong>Cat</strong>tery) from Sacramento, CA. The international group of <strong>Burmese</strong> Breeders within UBCF accomplished<br />
the notable achievement of having a single standard for <strong>Burmese</strong> cats accepted by all major cat fancy associations.<br />
The first UBCF annual meetings were held in California. However, since few could attend, a new system of regional meetings<br />
was instigated by the then Regional Chairman of Gulf Shore Region, Christine Streetman, who held the first Regional<br />
Meeting in Dallas, Texas, in 1960.<br />
UBCF remained a strong force in the world of <strong>Burmese</strong> until around the year 2002, when due to lack of interest or perhaps<br />
leadership (the elected President unexpectedly resigned), it became dormant until its revival in 2007. UBCF remains<br />
non-affiliated with any cat fancy registry organization, and our membership includes Regular Members, persons who have<br />
a registered cattery and are or have been breeding and/or showing registered <strong>Burmese</strong> cats; Affiliated Members, who are<br />
persons owning <strong>Burmese</strong> alters of pet stock or those interested in the breed, such as judges; and Honorary Members, who<br />
in the opinion of the board of directors have been of particular service or who have significantly advanced the objectives of<br />
the organization.<br />
The Mission of the <strong>United</strong> <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong> <strong>Fanciers</strong> is:<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
To create and develop interest and knowledge of the <strong>Burmese</strong> cat, and in the care, health and breeding thereof.<br />
To seek to establish markets for the breed.<br />
To cultivate acquaintanceship among members.<br />
To promote and advance in every way possible the interest of owners, breeders, and exhibitors of <strong>Burmese</strong> cats.<br />
To determine standards of the <strong>Burmese</strong> cat.<br />
To maintain, develop, and publish information concerning the breed.<br />
If you would like more information about UBCF, or to become a member, please contact:<br />
<strong>United</strong> <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong> <strong>Fanciers</strong>, Inc.<br />
c/o Prudence Dorazio, Secretary<br />
40 Morgan Point<br />
Noank, CT 06340 U.S.A.<br />
prudencedorazio@comcast.net<br />
Page 4 UBCF <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong>
UBCF History By RoseAnn Wheeler<br />
UBCF - Through the 1970s And 1980s<br />
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<br />
easy to see how I would bring this along with me into the realm of breeding <strong>Burmese</strong> cats.<br />
Over the years I have inherited a collection of documents, pedigrees, newsletters and the like of all things <strong>Burmese</strong>.<br />
With my appointment as Historian of the newly revitalized UBCF, I can now share some of our fascinating breed’s history<br />
with the membership.<br />
I would like feedback from the membership on topics or items of interest that you might like to see. Please feel free to<br />
contact me at burmesecat@verizon.net.<br />
Below you will find an excerpt of a letter written by Marianne Bolling. Marianne was a founding member of UBCF.<br />
Dated: May 15, 1976<br />
First off, let’s recap the history of the <strong>United</strong> <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong> <strong>Fanciers</strong> and the <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong>. The <strong>United</strong><br />
<strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong> <strong>Fanciers</strong> is an unaffiliated <strong>Burmese</strong> Breed Club…we are not CFA; ACFA; UCF; etc…..we are<br />
unaffiliated. When we were formed, we set up our own Constitution and Standard of the <strong>Burmese</strong> cat. See<br />
Art. 11, Sec. 1-F of the Constitution, “The purpose….to determine standards of the <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong>”, and also<br />
copy of the UBCF <strong>Burmese</strong> Standard, “Color”, “…..The mature specimen should be a rich, warm, sable<br />
brown…..”<br />
The only color acceptable in the <strong>United</strong> <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong> <strong>Fanciers</strong> is sable brown.<br />
Through years of work, expense, research, controversy and criticism, a small group of dedicated and conscientious<br />
breeders were able to get the <strong>Burmese</strong> re-instated after they had been thrown out of CFA from<br />
1947-1957 (which was prior to the formation of ACFA in 1955). For this reason, two pioneer <strong>Burmese</strong> clubs,<br />
the <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong> Society and the <strong>Burmese</strong> Breeders of America merged together in 1960 (16 years ago) and<br />
formed the <strong>United</strong> <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong> <strong>Fanciers</strong>. Their primary purpose was gaining acceptance of a single <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
Standard in all cat registering associations.<br />
Life with a <strong>Burmese</strong> once again returned to normal…..normal until 1967 when CFA changed the classification<br />
of the <strong>Burmese</strong> from a “Pure Breed” to an Established Hybrid”.<br />
The “old horns” and “not-so-old horns” have been through all of this turmoil! Now they tire of breeders that<br />
want to get to heaven on the back of the <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong>! All patience in lost! The <strong>Burmese</strong> were on a pedestal;<br />
they were registered; recognized; shown in championship status…..and then…..devastated….kicked out<br />
of the cat fancy entirely for 10 years…..re-accepted only to be demoralized 10 years later in their classification.<br />
It is astounding that one particular breed should be subjected to such a turbulent career. No other breed has<br />
been prone to such agitation.<br />
Sincerely,<br />
Marianne Bolling<br />
Editor<br />
UBCF <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong> Page 5
How I Met My First <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
San-Dans Christmas Belle - “Kyrabelle”<br />
I live in Ontario Canada, and my cattery is Gingerhill<br />
Sable <strong>Burmese</strong>. Back in the mid 1970’s I cat sat for a<br />
friend who did a lot of world travel, he had a champagne<br />
<strong>Burmese</strong> named Kyra. After a trip in 1977 as a thank you<br />
for all the cat sitting he asked if I’d like a <strong>Burmese</strong> also,<br />
and gave me the money for one. I found the San-Dans <strong>Cat</strong>tery<br />
in Toronto who had a kitten born on Christmas Day<br />
named San-Dans Christmas Belle, and had Halton Ridge<br />
Alfie as her sire. When getting her I had a long chat with<br />
the breeder and also got the papers. The breeder became<br />
my breeding mentor.<br />
Belle, who I called Kyrabelle, became my first breeding<br />
queen in 1978. The San-Dans cattery had to go out of business<br />
due to a family health concern and I was given another<br />
of her breeding females San-Dans Minnie Mouse. From<br />
there I imported my first Mahajaya Toffee cat in 1980,<br />
Pandit Ginger, for my breeding program, and later in 1990 I<br />
brought up the last Toffee daughter, Pandit Rachel.<br />
Larry Jelinek<br />
Gingerhill Sable <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
Traditional <strong>Cat</strong>tery’s adventure in <strong>Burmese</strong> began with a<br />
heart attack – congestive heart failure and cardio myopathy<br />
to be exact. Twelve years ago, my husband, Donald, faced<br />
a total lifestyle change – from active professional painter<br />
to housebound invalid – from gregarious people person, to<br />
one who was alone long hours each day. We determined a<br />
pet would be a solution. Dogs required too much work and<br />
time. We needed someone who loved people, was entertaining<br />
and could oversee itself – a cat. My husband, being<br />
the researcher, began a quest for the cat breed that would<br />
best fit that description. Of course, we chose the <strong>Burmese</strong>.<br />
Next, we had to find a <strong>Burmese</strong> breeder. We found a listing<br />
for <strong>Burmese</strong> kittens in the paper, which lead us to “Elwood<br />
P. Dowd”, a Champagne male. Though Woody would<br />
never be honored in the show ring, he had all the wonderful<br />
qualities of the <strong>Burmese</strong> – smart, playful, and ever present<br />
at our side. At twelve years old, he still maintains all of<br />
these traits – though he is a bit crankier with a new kitten’s<br />
antics.<br />
Four years after Donald’s original diagnosis, he was getting<br />
back on his feet – able once more to venture somewhat<br />
out of the house. This left Woody alone. Not good! We<br />
found a playmate for Woody. By now we had researched<br />
more heavily into the <strong>Burmese</strong> breed, and found a breeder,<br />
not an ad in the paper.<br />
We had our first exposure to the contemporary<br />
headed <strong>Burmese</strong> on this search. We<br />
were totally unaware of the health problems that went with<br />
the contemporary head. We chose a sable male kitten that<br />
had the traditional type head out of a contemporary lit-<br />
Evita’s Myrna loy of Traditional and Kittens<br />
Page 6 UBCF <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong>
ter, since we preferred the look. It was with “Edward G.<br />
Robinson” aka Gabby, that we started learning about the<br />
differences between the breeding of traditional and contemporary<br />
<strong>Burmese</strong>.<br />
We loved living with <strong>Burmese</strong> cats. We began toying<br />
with the idea of raising <strong>Burmese</strong> kittens to perpetuate the<br />
joy. Both of our boys were altered, and not show quality.<br />
If we were to do this, we were committed to excellence and<br />
bettering the breed. Enter Evita <strong>Burmese</strong> – Brian Tripp.<br />
Through Brian, we found our sweetheart, Myrna Loy, the<br />
queen of our home and cattery. Myrna had her first litter<br />
this August 21, 2007.<br />
The rest will be history.<br />
Becky and Donald Drew<br />
Traditional <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong>tery<br />
About 35 years ago, a long time friend of mine decided<br />
to take an extended trip to Europe, and asked if I could care<br />
for her cats - a female <strong>Burmese</strong>, and a male Himalayan. I<br />
agreed and the next 3 months were an absolute nightmare.<br />
The <strong>Burmese</strong> was the worst cat I’d ever seen. She hissed<br />
at me and I NEVER could come close to her, let alone<br />
touch her, and I decided I hated the <strong>Burmese</strong> and loved the<br />
Himalayan.<br />
My friend came back home, and was I ever glad to<br />
see the backside of that <strong>Burmese</strong> cat . . . but some years<br />
later another friend, Sonja Westlund, gave me a pregnant<br />
female <strong>Burmese</strong>, to make me change my mind. I decided<br />
to give the breed a second chance . . . and fell in love with<br />
<strong>Burmese</strong>.<br />
That was my first breeding queen, Discobbolos’s Dorie<br />
of Taku. She was the foundation of the Tojay line.<br />
Hyla Carney<br />
Tojay <strong>Cat</strong>tery<br />
At the time I lived in Canada, and couldn’t find a <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
to start my own cattery with. About four months after<br />
I had been searching regularly, I came across a lady who<br />
was a breeder and she helped me get started. That was Rita<br />
Schoebel from Suncoast. Another breeder, John Ankman<br />
of Shakespurr <strong>Cat</strong>tery in eastern Canada who is now deceased,<br />
sold me a boy. I have since merged and am being<br />
mentored by an old time cattery and one of the original<br />
breeders, Roger and Rochelle Horenstein of Chin Hills.<br />
To me the <strong>Burmese</strong> are the best cats, they are all the best<br />
attributes of a dog and a cat. They are the perfect pets.<br />
I was given a kitten that was part <strong>Burmese</strong>. Her name<br />
was Jewel. My husband’s mother had a <strong>Burmese</strong> cattery<br />
when he was growing up which is where my cattery name<br />
comes from, Qwan Yinn <strong>Burmese</strong>. I only had her a couple<br />
of months before someone accidentally let her out and a<br />
dog killed her. I absolutely fell in love with the personality.<br />
She was so friendly and loving. Like a dog in a cat body.<br />
I was hooked and started searching. That was 8 years ago<br />
now. Tojay <strong>Cat</strong>tery Female<br />
Leora Alden<br />
Qwan Yinn <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
I met my first <strong>Burmese</strong> when I worked in a Veterinary<br />
Clinic in West Vancouver BC. I had always been a dog<br />
lover but met this hypochondriac <strong>Burmese</strong> sable male and<br />
fell in love -- 37 years ago!! He was a big boy about 15<br />
pounds and he was a candidate for pet insurance, always<br />
something wrong! He belonged to a breeder, and I met<br />
her cats and that was the beginning of my love affair with<br />
<strong>Burmese</strong>. I bought a sable female, Cressida, from her and<br />
she went everywhere with me on a harness, the beach,<br />
camping, etc. I had one litter from her under contract. I<br />
lost her sadly to a car when I moved to the country and she<br />
escaped.<br />
Carolyn Beard<br />
Beardsley <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
UBCF <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong> Page 7
How I Met My First <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
While perhaps I’m<br />
best known for Siamese<br />
cats, the breed with which<br />
I started, my second<br />
breed of pedigreed cats<br />
were <strong>Burmese</strong> and those<br />
little brown fuzzies have<br />
been close to my heart<br />
ever since. My first was<br />
Chuck’s Burma of Rogers<br />
Hts. I got her from<br />
an ACFA judge, Mars<br />
Hanson (Kansas City), for<br />
my son Chuck. Mars told<br />
me that he couldn’t get the<br />
papers because they had<br />
been lost in a fire when the<br />
breeder’s house burned.<br />
I took her anyway. First,<br />
because she was the prettiest<br />
thing I had ever seen (despite two small scars on her<br />
side) and secondly I knew that ACFA would allow her to be<br />
registered unknown x unknown.<br />
About the same time I got GC Kramperts Ace of Marhan<br />
who was the 2 nd ever bluepoint Siamese GC in CFA.<br />
His sire, Krampert’s Kewole Lei had been the first. Ace<br />
actually took a Best <strong>Cat</strong> win in a Minneapolis ACFA show<br />
at the age of eight (8) years! I took Burma with me even<br />
though she absolutely did not meet the existing ACFA standard<br />
and I believe she received Winners Ribbons but I’m<br />
not absolutely certain – moot point either way.<br />
Whitney Donaldson-Abt (Gray Horse Farm Domestics<br />
fame) was one of the four judges and she took one look<br />
at Burma and asked to speak with me after the class was<br />
judged. She told me that while Burma didn’t meet the<br />
ACFA standard she was, indeed, what a <strong>Burmese</strong> should<br />
look like. She wanted to know where and how I had come<br />
to have her. When I told her that I got her from Mars she<br />
“just knew it.” It seems Mars had gotten Burma as a kitten<br />
from Mildred Dobyns and had never paid for her – which<br />
explained why she didn’t have any papers. Whitney further<br />
told me that Burma was actually a Yindling cat and<br />
that Doris Springer had been searching high and low for<br />
that litter of kittens. Apparently Doris had been traveling<br />
after her husband had been killed during the war and had<br />
left Whirling Dervish with this woman in New Orleans<br />
(Mildren Dobyns). Doris got Whirling Dervish back but by<br />
Willa Rogers-Hawke<br />
Left and above - 1960s<br />
the time she got around to getting him Mildred had already<br />
let Mars have the female kitten but noted to Doris that she<br />
would be easily identifiable because of two small scars on<br />
her side. Now the circle was complete.<br />
The cat fancy was the cat fancy even in those days and<br />
Whitney contacted Doris who contacted me and wanted to<br />
buy Burma. She desperately wanted something from that<br />
litter from her beloved Whirling Dervish. Doris gave me<br />
Mrs. Dobyns’ name and address and I wrote her offering<br />
to pay the balance due on the kittens to get the papers.<br />
Unfortunately she never wrote back. By that time I had<br />
already bred Burma to Casa Gatos Myron (owned by Tommie<br />
Brodie Meadows) which eventually produced Rogers<br />
Hts. Dart.<br />
When I balked at selling Burma to Doris, she asked if<br />
I would at least consider breeding her to the then famous<br />
Prince Pogo of Yindling and letting her have a kitten. I<br />
agreed. The litter was fabulous. The pick was a gorgeous<br />
female I named Rogers Heights Valiant, 2 nd pick was Rogers<br />
Heights Matador of Pallady, 3 rd went to Tommy Brodie,<br />
4 th went to Glenn Robberson, and fifth to Scotty Griffey as<br />
a spay. I realized that I couldn’t let Valiant go anywhere<br />
so I negotiated and subsequently agreed to send Burma to<br />
Doris after all.<br />
I showed Valiant in ACFA because she could not be<br />
registered in CFA. Valiant ended up 8 th highest scoring<br />
All American <strong>Cat</strong> that year. For those of you who may not<br />
remember AA scoring – they were <strong>Cat</strong>s Magazine awards<br />
compiled from all the various association shows. This was<br />
prior to CFA having it’s own awards program. Somewhere<br />
Page 8 UBCF <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong>
in that timeframe the ACFA standard was changed or perhaps<br />
the judges just knew what a “real <strong>Burmese</strong>” should<br />
look like, I can’t honestly recall – but Valiant was shown<br />
only in ACFA.<br />
Following that great show season I again contacted the<br />
Dobyns woman and explained how great the kittens were<br />
and how I needed those papers. This time she wrote me<br />
back and explained what Mars had done and said that “time<br />
heals all wounds – even one’s temper” and since I was in no<br />
way responsible for Mars’ behavior she would let me have<br />
the papers for $50. You can imagine how quickly I sent<br />
that check! The rest, dear readers, as they say – is history.<br />
A little footnote to the story – Valiant was the cat that<br />
was always used on the UBCF stationary.<br />
Mrs. Billie Gerst<br />
Willa Rogers-Hawke<br />
Rogers Hts <strong>Cat</strong>tery<br />
Doris Springer<br />
My experience with the breed began in the mid ‘30’s<br />
when I came to San Francisco from southern California<br />
solely to meet Dr. Thompson and Billie Gerst and to see the<br />
solid brown cats. I became so enamored of the <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
that no other breed has held any challenge, any real interest<br />
to me since. To own one, to know one, is to love them all.<br />
When Dr. Thompson made his start here in 1930 with<br />
the female Wong Mau, can you imagine he problems confronting<br />
him and his very able assistant, Mrs. Billie Gerst?<br />
Limited to one cat, with only Siamese available for breeding<br />
purposes?<br />
Mrs. Gerst [of Palo Alto, California] was very well<br />
versed in genetics, holding a Master’s Degree in Animal<br />
Husbandry. To her must go full credit for the survival<br />
of the breed in this country. Without her grueling efforts<br />
we would have no <strong>Burmese</strong> today. It was she, with her<br />
deep and abiding love for the “Sable Shadows”, who did<br />
the ground work for future generations of eager <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
breeders.<br />
Among other early breeders who assisted in the program<br />
[was] Ruth Fisher, graduate of California’s well known<br />
Mills College. Ruth advised, assisted, and kept a number<br />
of the animals. She remained a <strong>Burmese</strong> breeder until her<br />
death [in 1962].<br />
Mildred Alexander of Los Angeles, with her famous<br />
“Motel for <strong>Cat</strong>s” early started a strain of her own from two<br />
of the early cats. Many winning <strong>Burmese</strong> of today carry in<br />
their background names of the early “Alexander” <strong>Burmese</strong>.<br />
. . .<br />
Doris Springer<br />
CFA Judge and First President of UBCF<br />
From “The <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong>”, CFA Yearbook 1964<br />
UBCF <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong> Page 9
How I Met My First <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
I was twelve years old when I saw an article in National<br />
Geographic about cat breeds. I couldn’t take my eyes off<br />
the sable <strong>Burmese</strong> in the picture. I looked at the beautiful<br />
rich brown coloration and the deep gold eyes of the mother<br />
<strong>Burmese</strong> pictured and thought, “One day I will own a cat<br />
like this!” I still have that National Geographic.<br />
In 1979 I got my opportunity. I was living and working<br />
in the Houston area and saw an ad for <strong>Burmese</strong> kittens in<br />
the newspaper. The cattery was Springcrest, and I immediately<br />
went there and met Carol Cummings, who showed<br />
me GRC Senshu’s De-Fender and Springcrest Seaport, and<br />
I chose a girl from a litter of 3 boys and a girl, much to<br />
Carol’s dismay. She tried her best to talk me into a boy,<br />
but I was stubborn. I didn’t know why then, but now, of<br />
course, I understand totally -- she wanted that girl and<br />
always maintained she was the best that cat ever produced.<br />
I named the kitten Mai Tai, and I just wanted her for a pet.<br />
Carol told me that if I decided I wanted the papers to breed<br />
her, just to send $85 extra dollars and she would provide<br />
them.<br />
Mai Tai was a fabulous retriever that made most dogs<br />
hang their heads in shame. She could catch the ball in<br />
midair, when it was banked off a wall, and go after it if<br />
I bounced it. She hunkered down like a dog when I was<br />
holding the ball, and she would bring it to me constantly<br />
to entice me to play with her. If I ignored her, she could<br />
chip the ball with her paw from the floor onto my lap as<br />
I sat on the couch. She never missed. She putted better<br />
than Arnold Palmer. I sent the money for the papers, and<br />
that was the beginning of my love affair with <strong>Burmese</strong>. I<br />
started breeding in 1980.<br />
During the 80’s I had the good luck to see many beautiful<br />
cats from catteries that no longer exist, and I got to talk<br />
to many old time breeders about their experiences. I had<br />
long discussions with Brook Anderson (Summersage) and<br />
<strong>Burmese</strong> queen and kittens from the April 1964<br />
issue of National Geographic Magazine that<br />
inspired Shirley Storey:<br />
“The <strong>Cat</strong>s in our Lives -- Mother and kittens<br />
reveal the <strong>Burmese</strong> to be compact and muscular.<br />
The three appear to be smiling gravely, an<br />
illusion created by upturned mouths set in full<br />
faces. Their eyes glow with deep gold . . . The<br />
unique and wonderful color of the <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
is a ‘rich, warm sable brown.’ Coat is short,<br />
lies close, has a glossy sheen and satiny texture.<br />
Fastest growing in popularity among the<br />
Shorthairs, the Burm commands a handsome<br />
price.”<br />
acquired Summersage Kirby from him. I talked often with<br />
Mary Tichenor, and managed to acquire Brandolion’s Cozette<br />
from her, and “Cozy” was a grand old cat with a chest<br />
like Mae West and was a great foundation for my cattery<br />
along with my nine pound Springcrest Mai Tai. Cozy had<br />
seven kittens at age eight by c-section, was spayed, and on<br />
her feet, and nursing (or at least trying) a day later. What<br />
an Iron Maiden! I bred her to GRC Jade Orchid Jaguar<br />
twice and had a long distance friendship with Jane Billings,<br />
who was a lovely person who played the harp in concerts<br />
and was a court transcriptionist. My hoped for litter from<br />
Jaggie was born four days early, and I raised the two surviving<br />
kittens on a tomcat catheter. My vet said they were<br />
my miracle kittens.<br />
Red Barn’s Jess Godiper was acquired from Red Barn<br />
cattery in Roanoke, Virginia, from Diane Bollinger, who I<br />
recently sold three pets to (for both her and her family).<br />
I lived in Virginia a while and regularly showed against<br />
Diane’s lovely Sweet Sioux, as well as Randy Madden’s<br />
gorgeous Sau-Nee Azure Dee of Leia. I saw the majestic<br />
KoKo King Mr Fantastic both at Randy’s and later at<br />
Diane’s. Diane told me, “He doesn’t like me. He always<br />
belonged to men, and when he sees my husband he comes<br />
running and is all over him.” I wish I had taken his picture<br />
as he had a head like a dinner plate. He lived to be 14+<br />
years and made his way to Ishta cattery in Las Vegas. I<br />
also had cats from Ishta cattery, and Sandy Maher proved<br />
to be one of the most interesting people I have yet to meet.<br />
In the mid-eighties I met Linda Jeske at the now defunct<br />
Empire <strong>Cat</strong> Club Show in NYC. She was showing a drop<br />
dead gorgeous blue spay who so impressed me that I pestered<br />
Linda for every detail about this cat and she obliged,<br />
of course. Unfortunately her blue girl had no offspring, but<br />
Linda, as we all know, produced many, many other fantastic<br />
show cats. At this show I also met Zelda Markowitz of<br />
Page 10 UBCF <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong>
Rock-Land cattery and begged her for a kitten, although I<br />
had no extra money with me at the time, as the New York<br />
show proved quite expensive. The cats in the kitten’s pedigree<br />
were not familiar, but I did acquire the kitten, which<br />
I named Rock-Land’s Sand and Sable, on a trade. When<br />
I got home and traced the pedigree, my eyes bugged out<br />
because she went back to GC Brierwood’s Babe, who was<br />
a national winner and not seen in many pedigrees. Sandy<br />
had huge eyes like saucers and could go from placid to fight<br />
in three seconds or less.<br />
I made a wonderful friend with Susan Beshears of<br />
WhoDat in the 80’s, and we maintain that friendship<br />
today although she is no longer in cats. Susan and Ralph<br />
Beshears had many winners in UBCF in past years, and I<br />
was lucky enough to acquire some of their lines going back<br />
to Puma Lair, Shawnee, and old Midwestern lines as well.<br />
A cat from Susan Mundell of Risu cattery and some lines<br />
from Dodie Granger of Yasmin blended in with lines I had<br />
acquired from Pat Swihart, who also ran a traditional breeding<br />
program as well as her contemporary program. Pat had<br />
some lovely Jeske lines as well as Tse Mau from Eileen<br />
Dunn in California, but the lines I loved the most were the<br />
lines coming from GC Koro’s Beau Brummel. His type<br />
was so deeply ingrained in the lines that it reappeared generations<br />
later. He was the key male in my early breeding<br />
years in my lines, and I thrilled to see GC Fongin Chop Soy<br />
through several different descending cats in his pedigree.<br />
The nineties were a time of pedigree research for me.<br />
I met Claudia LaGrippe, through Pat, who had developed<br />
the initial database sold with Compuped. I acquired some<br />
of her old pedigrees . . . quite a few actually, and made my<br />
own data base inputting the data by hand. The notes on the<br />
pedigrees were very interesting. Some of the old cats listed<br />
as sable were not really “sable” but colors, which were<br />
considered disreputable at that time so they were listed as<br />
sable. During this time I visited a friend in Arizona and<br />
while there met Marie Zeiner, one of the pioneers in dilute<br />
breeding. She told me that at one time she had a chart<br />
of the colors of Siamese used in the <strong>Burmese</strong> breeding<br />
program with Wong Mau, but a flood had destroyed much<br />
of her personal effects including this chart. Marie was a<br />
wonderful hostess and entertained me with explanations on<br />
the definite difference between the champagnes originating<br />
from the Brierwood cats and the ones from the Pomona<br />
lines. I got to see her Pomona male, and my only regret is<br />
I didn’t use him but at the time it was just so far to ship. I<br />
think he was the last of the Pomona males.<br />
I had a wonderful database on my computer in the late<br />
90’s and early 2000’s, and about four or five different <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
files on pedigrees. And, one year in the 90’s I won the<br />
Linechaser’s Ribbon for researching the most pedigrees for<br />
that club (in Europe). I made friends with Rosemary Hale<br />
and other Europeans through Linechasers and eventually<br />
sold Hilde Frank cats for her traditional Bombay breeding<br />
program in Germany. I also worked with Anni Hemme of<br />
Chandigarah and received two gorgeous cats back from her<br />
from cats that had gone to Germany. I took a pale platinum<br />
male to Silvia Roll-Becker for Martha McMillan of Ineedakat<br />
cattery in Pittsburgh, although I almost had to fold<br />
up Ineedakat’s Lover Boy to fit him in the carrier he was<br />
so large. Eventually I was the happy recipient<br />
of one of his offspring Vom Silvan’s Silverado<br />
of Stagelight. I was very happy to have these<br />
lines of Martha’s as I don’t think too many got<br />
them.<br />
I showed a good bit in the 80’s and 90’s,<br />
but haven’t of late because of my stressful<br />
job, some health issues of my own, and my<br />
mother’s advanced age. However, I would like<br />
to do a bit more showing in the next few years.<br />
I have been working on outcrossing lines and<br />
acquiring type so that my cats are competitive<br />
with what is being shown in the Southern<br />
Region.<br />
CH Stagelight’s Daniel My Brother<br />
© Twisted River Photography<br />
Shirley D. Storey<br />
Stagelight <strong>Cat</strong>tery<br />
UBCF <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong> Page 11
Mentoring New Breeders<br />
An Interview With Barbara Kish,<br />
Laki <strong>Cat</strong>tery<br />
What do you think are the most important characteristics<br />
and abilities of someone thinking about becoming a<br />
<strong>Burmese</strong> breeder?<br />
Anyone can put two cats together and have kittens,<br />
or buy a show cat, but you will never become a <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
breeder unless you have the love, patience, and unending<br />
devotion to this wonderful breed. You will have to be willing<br />
to put the cats before yourself many, many times, and<br />
unless one is able to start out this way you will fail.<br />
What are the best ways to find and mentor a new breeder<br />
-- prior clients, other breeders (of different breeds), friends,<br />
family members, people you meet at cat shows?<br />
I do not search out a new breeder, I feel they need to<br />
contact me. I want to get to know them, feel them out and<br />
see if they have that special touch to raise wonderful kittens.<br />
Thankfully I have, and the years helped super people<br />
to become outstanding breeders. The number one thing is<br />
that they be willing to learn, not become a know-it-all in a<br />
few years. I can usually tell who is going to be in it for the<br />
long haul. The saying goes if you can last 5 years you will<br />
continue through the good and bad.<br />
CH LAKI’S BARRELLIN BARRY, DM<br />
Br/Ow: Barbara & Richard Kish<br />
What should you watch for/be careful of in evaluating a<br />
potential new breeder? What are warning signs that there<br />
might be problems?<br />
The biggest warning signs are “we don’t want to be big<br />
breeders, we just want to have a few litters for our family<br />
and friends”, or “this looks easy, I think we can do this. It<br />
would be nice to have some kittens to sell now and then.”<br />
And when I try to start them out in showing in premiership,<br />
and I get an answer that says “no way, why should we<br />
bother?”<br />
What should you tell a potential new breeder in terms of<br />
the realities and challenges of breeding?<br />
I tell them the nitty gritty, the bad with the good. I<br />
usually like to have a new breeder have some experience<br />
with animals so they know how it sometimes can be heartbreaking<br />
and then sometimes it is great. I feel them out in<br />
regards to how far they would go to take care of their cats<br />
and kittens and what their goals are.<br />
How should you start a new breeder -- with a neutered<br />
or spayed cat, and ask them to show in Premiership?<br />
This is the ideal, but some people just do not want to<br />
show, so if I think they are going into this to improve the<br />
breed and breed top notch kittens, I will work with them.<br />
What are the most important tips for showing a <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
-- preparing the cat, taking to the ring, etc.?<br />
Great show cats are made at home, the breeding behind<br />
it and above all the condition, and that can be the one thing<br />
that will impress the judge. A great <strong>Burmese</strong> requires very<br />
little care, a quick slicking down and clean the eye area,<br />
and then into the ring you go.<br />
What must a new breeder prove to you before they are<br />
ready to start with a kitten -- and should it be first a breeding<br />
female, bred to one of your males?<br />
Their intentions and the willingness to possibly sacrifice<br />
time and money to get the best they can to start with. I<br />
have sold bred females, and kittens of outstanding type, and<br />
it has worked out both ways, depends on who I am working<br />
with.<br />
Page 12 UBCF <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong>
What recommendations are most important for caring<br />
for their new kitten or breeding cat -- food, care, supplements,<br />
caging.<br />
Always keep your cat or kitten used to a cage, though<br />
a cage should only be used in training or raising kittens.<br />
Sometimes a whole male needs to be caged, but it should<br />
be big enough to give him a comfortable life. I recommend<br />
a good quality food to everyone, pet owners or potential<br />
breeders, but I do not hold them to that food. If their cat<br />
looks and feels good then the diet is fine.<br />
When it’s close to time for the first birth, what do you<br />
tell a new breeder?<br />
I walk them through the whole experience, and am<br />
available anytime to help. I tell them just be there to help<br />
if needed but allow the mother to do it herself, she knows<br />
how.<br />
What are suggestions you have for caring for new babies<br />
in the first few weeks, and weaning kittens.<br />
The first few weeks require no care other then you petting<br />
them, picking them up, and talking to them to get them<br />
used to everything. There are sometimes nervous mothers,<br />
but you have to let her know you are not going to take her<br />
babies away or hurt them. I allow the mothers to wean the<br />
kittens and them to wean themselves when they start eating<br />
soft food and raw beef.<br />
What are your recommendations, if any, for vaccines or<br />
supplements for breeding cats?<br />
I have a maintenance mix that I use and I explain it to<br />
them and advise them to use it. I advise very few vaccines.<br />
Once every three years after the initial shots.<br />
What are the best ways to help a new breeder evaluate<br />
the confirmation of <strong>Burmese</strong> kittens when deciding if they<br />
are show quality?<br />
The things to look for are the little golf ball head, short<br />
muzzle, short compact body, and then start to look for other<br />
things as they grow, such as heft to the kitten, just like they<br />
say, a little brick. Other things are explained as the kittens<br />
grow and the eye color starts changing, gold eyes are<br />
a must.<br />
CH LAKI’S DIABOLIQUE OF GRAY MARK, DM<br />
Sire: CH Laki’s Barrelin Barry, DM<br />
Dam: CH, GP Laki’s Proud Mary, DM<br />
Br: Barbara & Richard Kish<br />
Ow: Margaret & Ray Stevens<br />
What other suggestions do you have for mentoring new<br />
breeders?<br />
Don’t try to press them into doing something they don’t<br />
want to do, and above all do not start out with a whole<br />
male. Buy the best female you can, either a kitten or a<br />
young adult, and proceed from there with advice from me<br />
or another old time breeder, who knows the blood lines and<br />
can recommend who to work with. If you work alone it<br />
is very hard so try to find someone to work with you, to<br />
exchange kittens, give stud service so you can work with<br />
different lines. Try to get someone to help you along or<br />
work with you that lives close to you.<br />
Barbara Kish, Laki <strong>Cat</strong>tery<br />
Interviewed By<br />
Nancy Reeves, Burma Pearl <strong>Cat</strong>tery<br />
UBCF <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong> Page 13
<strong>Burmese</strong> Show Success 2006-2007<br />
<strong>Cat</strong> <strong>Fanciers</strong> Association (CFA)<br />
These are the CFA National <strong>Burmese</strong> Breed Awards for UBCF member cats for the 2006/2007 Season:<br />
Kittens Second Best Gray Mark Noami Campbell De Bears<br />
(1 in top 10) Breeder: Margaret-Ray Stevens<br />
Owner: Art-Kristi Graafmans<br />
Championship Ninth Best GC Nightsong’s Amber Dawn<br />
(2 in top 15) Breeder/Owner: Lois-Rebecca True<br />
Twelfth Best GC At’s A Burm Turchino Bruma<br />
Breeder/Owner: Barbara-Russ Remier<br />
Premiership Fifth Best GP Nightsong’s Viva Le Bleu<br />
(2 in top 10) Breeder/Owner: Lois-Rebecca True<br />
Ninth Best GP Laki’s Ashlynne of Ringapurr<br />
Breeder: Barbara A.-Richard F. Kish<br />
Owner: Nancy K. Schuman<br />
The International <strong>Cat</strong> Association (TICA)<br />
The top <strong>Burmese</strong> for the 2006 season in each class were:<br />
Kittens: Vindouro Albee Great Lakes Region 9th in Regional Top 20<br />
Katsnjazz Kenny Burrell Mid Pacific Region<br />
Starstrutter Midnight Jazz Northwest Region<br />
<strong>Cat</strong>s: Vindouro Albee Great Lakes Region 3rd in Regional Top 20<br />
Thecatslove Vangelina Southern Europe Region 12th in Regional Top 20<br />
Vindouro Pachelbell of Ringapurr Great Lakes Region<br />
Alters: Laki’s Ashlynne of Ringapurr Great Lakes Region 3rd in Regional Top 20<br />
Sableze Cameo Southwest Region 4th in Regional Top 20<br />
Burmusic Solo Mio of Valor Northeast Region 3rd in Regional Top 20<br />
American Association of <strong>Cat</strong> <strong>Fanciers</strong> (ACFA)<br />
ACFA had three UBCF member cats shown to Regional Honors for 2006-2007:<br />
Mayacats Hearts on Fire NC Region Best <strong>Burmese</strong> Dan and Camille Rogers, Breeders/Owners<br />
Carmel Kats Pride Rock SC region Best <strong>Burmese</strong> Alter Jenny Nelson, Breeder/Owner<br />
and 7th best Alter<br />
Katsnjazz Kenny Burrell<br />
Page 14 UBCF <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong>
Canadian <strong>Cat</strong> Association (CCA)<br />
Canadian <strong>Burmese</strong>:<br />
Championship Best <strong>Burmese</strong> and 15th Best All Canadian <strong>Cat</strong><br />
GC Kalmer Sunshine Lollypop CNW, Sable Female<br />
Breeder/Owner Kathy Balmer<br />
2nd Best <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
GC Laki Dark as Ebony of Strathkirk, Sable Female<br />
Breeder Barbara & Richard Kish, Owner Jean Morphee-Barnard<br />
Kitten Best <strong>Burmese</strong> Kitten and 2nd Best All Canadian Kitten<br />
Hullabaloo Olympia Ducatkis CNW, Champagne Female<br />
Breeder/Owner Robert & Elaine Gleason<br />
2nd Best <strong>Burmese</strong> Kitten and 13th Best All Canadian Kitten<br />
Kantata Sarah Burmhardt CNW, Blue Female<br />
Breeder/Owner Lynn Sharkey<br />
Premiership Best <strong>Burmese</strong> Alter<br />
SMGC Kalmer’s Silver Bell Gabriel CNW, Platinum Spay<br />
Breeder/Owner Kathy Balmer<br />
Foreign <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
2nd Best <strong>Burmese</strong> Alter<br />
Laki’s Fenton of Gizmo, Sable Neuter<br />
Breeder Barbara & Richard Kish, Owner Claire Lamontagne<br />
Championship Best Foreign <strong>Burmese</strong> & 14th Best All Canadian <strong>Cat</strong><br />
GCH Horizon’s Ash CNW, Red Male<br />
Breeder/Owner Ann Kidd & Ivan Battye<br />
2nd Best Foreign <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
GCH Horizon’s Commander, Cream Male<br />
Breeder/Owner Ann Kidd & Ivan Battye<br />
Kitten Best Foreign <strong>Burmese</strong> Kitten<br />
Strathkirk Spartacus, Red Male<br />
B/O Jean Morphee-Barnard<br />
2nd Best Foreign <strong>Burmese</strong> Kitten<br />
Strathkirk Tosca<br />
Breeder/Owner Jean Morphee-Barnard<br />
Premiership Best Foreign <strong>Burmese</strong> Alter<br />
GPR Horizon’s Ash, Red Neuter<br />
Breeder/Owner Ann Kidd & Ivan Battye<br />
CH Carmel Kats Pride Rock<br />
© David Hull<br />
UBCF <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong> Page 15
When Was Your Last <strong>Cat</strong> Show? By Kristi Graafmans<br />
What are some of the reasons that you find to not attend<br />
cat shows? There must be quite a few rationales, as I have<br />
not seen many of the 50 plus UBCF members at a cat show.<br />
I can give a host of wonderful reasons to attend but today<br />
I will stick with one. I find it is nice to get out of the house<br />
on the weekends and meet new friends and old. Sometimes<br />
I get surprised and see a <strong>Burmese</strong> breeder that I have not<br />
met before. And I always have a great time getting to know<br />
new exhibitors and breeders. Let me relate a recent experience<br />
I had to you.<br />
Art and I have a sable female kitten named Maya that<br />
was 6 months old in August and she did really well at a<br />
local campaigner’s show. With only 2 months left to show<br />
our kitten, we decided that we would need to travel if we<br />
were to have a chance at a regional win with Maya. On one<br />
of the weekends where there was no Region 5 show I found<br />
a show in Minnesota with a good judge line up for us – so<br />
off I went with Maya in tow.<br />
The last time I showed in the mid-west was 2 years ago.<br />
I went with a Grand Premier and I was the only American<br />
<strong>Burmese</strong> at the show. I was sort of expecting the same this<br />
time. I eagerly checked the show catalog once I got my<br />
benching set up and saw that I had competition. There were<br />
2 other sable <strong>Burmese</strong> kittens entered in the show. It did<br />
not take long and we <strong>Burmese</strong> breeders found each other<br />
and began to ooooh and aaaah over each other’s kittens and<br />
cats.<br />
Brian Tripp was showing a 5-month-old sable male<br />
kitten and a sable spay Premier and he was there with 3<br />
GC De Bears Maya<br />
of his protégés. I had heard of Brian but had never met<br />
him personally. Brian was nice and a little upset that the<br />
show did not bench the <strong>Burmese</strong> people all together. I was<br />
benched quite a ways away from Brian’s group.<br />
Brian introduced me to his friends which included a<br />
nice couple, Mike and Lauri Henry. This was their first cat<br />
show and they were showing their four-month-old sable<br />
female kitten named Phoebe. When I saw the other 2 <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
kittens I thought --- oh boy, I’ve come a long way for<br />
nothing!<br />
We all went up to our first ring together and Maya made<br />
BOB. Brian, Lauri and Mike congratulated me and told me<br />
how much they liked Maya. Maya ended up making BOB<br />
in all the rings and made all 6 finals. And behind me my<br />
new <strong>Burmese</strong> friends cheered for Maya. The two <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
Premiers, between them made 4 finals.<br />
We exchanged names and emails to keep in touch. We<br />
shared stories and show experiences. Mike and Lauri’s kitten<br />
Phoebe was extremely nice but she was just 4 months<br />
old. I told them how Maya did not hit her show stride until<br />
she was 6 months old. <strong>Burmese</strong> often need time to mature<br />
especially when they are 4 months old and up against other<br />
breeds that are 7 months old.<br />
This show turned out to be more than kind to our <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
kitties and I was glad that the new breeders enjoyed<br />
being at their first show.<br />
Mike and Lauri’s kitten Phoebe is now 6 months old and<br />
they are ready to take her out again. I wish them luck with<br />
Phoebe and will cheer them on from Region 5. I hope to<br />
see them in Southern California with their beautiful kitten.<br />
Region 5 has many shows that I would highly recommend.<br />
I would love to see more of this kind of camaraderie by<br />
seeing more of you out at cat shows.<br />
More good reasons to go to a cat show: educate your<br />
eye – keep cattery blindness at bay, keep in touch with<br />
other <strong>Burmese</strong> breeders, become a certified clerk to build<br />
relationships with judges, join a show producing club so<br />
you get a chance to choose the judges that come to your<br />
local show.<br />
For future newsletters I would love to see a list, from<br />
each of the regions, of judges that you find consistently use<br />
or like <strong>Burmese</strong>. Have someone from each region identify<br />
shows that are <strong>Burmese</strong> ‘worthy’ and invite fellow <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
breeders from other regions to attend. What interests you<br />
and what would get you out to more cat shows?<br />
I find that more doors open in CFA with participation<br />
and one way is by being seen and being involved in showing<br />
our beautiful <strong>Burmese</strong> cats.<br />
Page 16 UBCF <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong>
Rescuing <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
Through a variety of circumstances, some of our beloved adult and senior <strong>Burmese</strong> find themselves without a home or<br />
in danger of losing their home. UBCF considers it an important responsibility for <strong>Burmese</strong> breeders and fanciers to help<br />
spread the word about these homeless cats, or to provide direct help in obtaining a new home for them.<br />
Following are only a few of the cats that currently need homes. This information comes from the <strong>Burmese</strong> Rescue<br />
Site at the National Alliance of <strong>Burmese</strong> Breeders, and we applaud their ongoing work and success in finding homes for<br />
<strong>Burmese</strong> that need them, and would like to use this forum help in that effort. For additional information about these cats or<br />
others that need our help, please contact the rescue coordinator:<br />
burmeserescue@yahoo.com<br />
Current Rescues: (updated 11/06/07)<br />
Carrollton, TX (11/6/2007) - Leah and Jonah are 11 and 10 year old platinum <strong>Burmese</strong> cats needing a new home.<br />
Their owner has to move out of the country and must rehome these 2 cats together. They both need to go together and are<br />
fabulous cats that will be missed. Please contact Leah Lindsay for more information at leahiain1@verizon.net.<br />
Nevada City, CA (11/6/2007) - Lucky is an 8 year old sable spay that needs a new home. His owner passed away and<br />
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<br />
health issues. Please contact Mary Bennett-Meyer at earthworks1@neteze for more information.<br />
New York, NY (8/30/2007) - Ginger and Fred are 2 13 year old Blue <strong>Burmese</strong>. Both are neutered or spayed. Her owner<br />
has to give her up due to bad allergies. They need to go together to a new home. For more information please contact Thalia<br />
at Thaliaam@mac.com.<br />
Reading, Massachussetts (8/30/2007) - Frankie is a 5 and a half year old Sable neutered <strong>Burmese</strong>. He is frightened of<br />
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.<br />
Perhaps once he’s settled in a new situation, he may be able to tolerate a new kitten. For more information, please contact<br />
Kathi Kavenaugh at wasdeputy@mac.com<br />
Treasurer’s Report By Art Graafmans<br />
December 15, 2007<br />
Balance forward from closed account $1502.18<br />
Reimburse ad CFA New York Show (Jo Diamond) ($200.00)<br />
Membership dues $1730.00<br />
Balance as of 12/15/2007 $3032.18<br />
UBCF <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong> Page 17
The Must Have List<br />
Books And Resources For <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong> lovers<br />
Each UBCF <strong>Newsletter</strong> issue we plan to bring you additional member suggested books, articles and websites<br />
Books:<br />
The <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong> (“The Little Brown Book”) The <strong>United</strong> <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong> <strong>Fanciers</strong>, Rosemonde S. Peltz<br />
Currently out of print<br />
<strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong>s: A Complete Pet Owner’s Manual Carolyn Vella and John McGonagle, Barron’s, 1995<br />
Available on Amazon.com<br />
<strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong>s Grace Burgess, published by Price Milburn, New Zealand<br />
Currently out of print<br />
“The <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong>” Dorothy S. Richards, et al, Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1975<br />
Currently out of print<br />
The Proper Care of <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong>s Dennis Kelsey-Wood, T.F.H. Publications, 1992<br />
Out of print, but used copies available on Amazon.com<br />
Siamese <strong>Cat</strong>s: Legends and Reality Martin R. Clutterbuck, White Lotus Press, Bangkok,<br />
Thailand, can be ordered from the author<br />
“The Wide-Eyed & Whip-Smart <strong>Burmese</strong>” <strong>Cat</strong> Fancy Magazine, October 2001<br />
May be available from <strong>Cat</strong> Fancy Magazine<br />
“The <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong>” Doris Springer, 1964 CFA Yearbook - Out of print.<br />
“The Magnificent <strong>Burmese</strong>” Rosamonde S. Peltz<br />
The <strong>Cat</strong> Fancier’s Association 1978 Annual Yearbook<br />
“Seeing Double – The Malayan <strong>Cat</strong>” Carolyn Osier<br />
The <strong>Cat</strong> Fancier’s Association 1983 Annual Yearbook<br />
“A <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong> Tale” Virginia Z. Deal<br />
The <strong>Cat</strong> Fancier’s Association 1983 Annual Yearbook<br />
<strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong>s <strong>2008</strong> Wall Calendar Pet Prints - Available on Amazon.com<br />
<strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong>s <strong>2008</strong> Wall Calendar <strong>2008</strong> Calendars by Brown Trout<br />
Available at Amazon.com or Calendars.com<br />
The Complete Book of <strong>Cat</strong> Breeding Dan Rice, Barron’s Educational Series, 1997<br />
Available on Amazon.com<br />
Breeding Purebred <strong>Cat</strong>s Anne S. Moore, Abraxas Publishing, 1981<br />
Available on Amazon.com<br />
Page 18 UBCF <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong>
Breeding Pedigreed <strong>Cat</strong>s Carolyn M. Vella and John J. McGonagle,<br />
Howell Book House, 1997<br />
Available on Amazon.com<br />
<strong>Cat</strong> Breeds of the World Desmond Morris, Viking Adult, 1999<br />
Available on Amazon.com<br />
Legacy of the <strong>Cat</strong> Gloria Stephens & Tetsu Yamazaki, Chronicle Books, 2001<br />
Available at Amazon.com<br />
Robinson’s Genetics for <strong>Cat</strong> Breeders Carolyn M. Vella, Lorraine M. Shelton, et al, and Veterinarians<br />
Butterworth-Heinemann 1999 - Available on Amazon.com<br />
<strong>Cat</strong> Watching and <strong>Cat</strong> Lore Desmond Morris, Jonathan Cape Publisher, 1987<br />
Both available on Amazon.com<br />
The Natural <strong>Cat</strong>: Understanding Helga Hofmann and Monika Wegler, Voyageur, 1994<br />
Your <strong>Cat</strong>’s Needs and Instincts Available on Amazon.com<br />
Dr. Pitcairn’s New Complete Guide to Richard H. Pitcairn and Susan Hubble Pitcairn,<br />
Natural Health for Dogs and <strong>Cat</strong>s Rodale Books 2005<br />
Available on Amazon.com<br />
Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook Donald C. Plumb, Wiley, 2007<br />
or Veterinary Drug Handbook: Gigi Davidson and Donald C. Plumb, Wiley 2003<br />
Client Information Edition Both available on Amazon.com<br />
<strong>Cat</strong> Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook Delbert G. Carlson and James M. Giffin<br />
Howell Book House<br />
Available on Amazon.com<br />
Homeopathic Care for <strong>Cat</strong>s and Dogs: Don Hamilton, North Atlantic Books, 1999,<br />
Small Doses for Small Animals<br />
Available on Amazon.com<br />
The <strong>Cat</strong>’s House Bob Walker and Frances Mooney, Andrews McMeel, 1996<br />
Available on Amazon.com<br />
Bad <strong>Cat</strong>: 244 Not-So Pretty Kitties Jim Edgar, Workman Publishing, 2004<br />
and <strong>Cat</strong>s Gone Bad Available on Amazon.com<br />
WEBSITES:<br />
N.A.B.B. Pedigree Database www.burmesecat.org/pp_search.htm<br />
Michele Clark, Anoka <strong>Cat</strong>s<br />
<strong>Burmese</strong> pedigree database www.burmezen.com/db.html<br />
Rosemary Hale, Hawkridge <strong>Burmese</strong> and<br />
Ger Versluis, Roemah Koetjing <strong>Burmese</strong> & Burmillas Continued on page 21<br />
UBCF <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong> Page 19
Lessons Learned From The Grand Prix Fire<br />
I knew we were in trouble as soon as I pulled onto<br />
our street late Friday afternoon. At the end of a nearby<br />
cul-de-sac two county firefighters stood looking out over<br />
Cucamonga Canyon at what the news people were now<br />
calling the Grand Prix Fire. Clouds the color of crankcase<br />
oil boiled in the foothills beyond the wash, far thicker than<br />
they had been that morning when I left for work. “We’re<br />
making a structure protection and evacuation plan,” one of<br />
them said. That’s all I needed to hear.<br />
As soon as I hit our driveway I began loading essential<br />
items into my car— I unplugged Rose’s and my own computer<br />
towers and set them in the back floorboard, and in 20<br />
minutes all our important documents, including insurance<br />
policies and pedigrees of generations of <strong>Burmese</strong> cats, were<br />
safely ready for evacuation.<br />
The evacuation order came late next morning. We were<br />
prepared, because two years before, right after 9/11, we<br />
had written our own home evacuation plan. Rose had cat<br />
carriers stationed in each room where our cats lived. It was<br />
a simple matter to round them up in the carriers when the<br />
time came (including Vinny, the garage cat). Our evacuation<br />
was orderly and uneventful. Carrying what worldly<br />
possessions we could, we caravanned our car and SUV<br />
down the freeway to the home of a friend who, in an act<br />
of uncommon kindness, took us all in. We set the cats up<br />
in big tents in the same social groupings they had been accustomed<br />
to at our house. Everyone got along fine, and it<br />
turned out to be a big feline slumber party. Rose and I were<br />
again blessed to find our home still standing when we got<br />
back into our neighborhood two days later.<br />
Natural and sometimes manmade disasters can happen<br />
to any of us, no matter where we live. A brief reflection on<br />
the last 15 years turns up memories of Hurricanes Hugo and<br />
Katrina, the Los Angeles Riots, floods in Texas, and wildfires<br />
in several western states. The terrorist attacks of 9/11<br />
put us all on notice, if we needed it, that we are responsible<br />
for our own safety and that of our family. Fear and stress<br />
during times like these make thoughtful planning difficult,<br />
if not impossible. When the adrenaline is flowing and time<br />
is precious, a simple and well-rehearsed evacuation plan<br />
can be lifesaving. The time for thinking and planning is<br />
well in advance of the fire, or flood, or riot. The time for<br />
action is when it all comes down.<br />
Here is the plan Rose and I had in place when the Grand<br />
Prix Fire threatened our home in October 2003. All we had<br />
By Tim Wheeler<br />
to do was read it and execute the steps. We made minor<br />
revisions after the fire, learning from the experience:<br />
1. Get all cats out free in the house. Put them in carriers<br />
(they might hide if we don’t get them first). Use carriers,<br />
show cages, four tents (in box on wheels in garage),<br />
and Nylabone transport cage. They are all in downstairs<br />
storage room. Then get the caged cats and their litters. Put<br />
them all in the cars.<br />
2. Downstairs, empty one big green plastic box with<br />
Christmas decorations into a plastic garbage bag and take<br />
the empty box upstairs.<br />
3. Upstairs in the kitchen, fill one green box with<br />
canned and dry foods, can openers, bottles of ibuprofen and<br />
Tylenol, the two drawers with cat meds, plastic utensils,<br />
and the block of kitchen knives. Also get the cat food and<br />
dishes in the kitchen cabinets by trash can, and the cat food<br />
in the laundry room. Get the 5-gallon emergency kit in the<br />
laundry room.<br />
4. Go into office. Get both computer CPUs. In file<br />
cabinet get documents, archives of insured goods, and stuff<br />
in file cabinets that looks important.<br />
5. Upstairs, load all bottles of water into the two<br />
vehicles.<br />
6. While upstairs, get some garbage bags and go to<br />
the back of the house. Get all Rx meds for Tim and Rose,<br />
Tim’s travel kit, Rose’s travel bag, blankets from the linen<br />
closet, clean cat bedding from guest room closet, toilet<br />
paper and paper towels. Get both cell phones and chargers,<br />
keys, cash, and Rose’s purse.<br />
7. Downstairs, fill the other green plastic box where<br />
tents are now stored with cat food, paper and plastic cat<br />
food dishes, and garbage bags. Look in the garage cat<br />
cabinet by the cages. Get the can opener there and rubber<br />
gloves, too.<br />
8. Downstairs, grab a 40-lb. bag of cat litter<br />
and the box of cardboard litter boxes in the storage room<br />
(back corner to your right as you enter).<br />
Page 20 UBCF <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong>
9. Upstairs, make final sweep. Close all<br />
windows, check that all appliances are off, turn furnace/air<br />
conditioning off, turn off all outside lights, set alarm, EXIT<br />
TO GARAGE. Turn off gas valve (wrench is there). Agree<br />
on route before driving away.<br />
We learned that having essential items where we could<br />
quickly find them was a great help. One addition we have<br />
made to our plan is a “bug-out box,” a plastic box we got<br />
at Target that we filled with emergency items—flashlights,<br />
camp lanterns, toilet paper, a can opener, and other basic<br />
items. You can find ideas for stocking emergency items at<br />
your county fire department’s web site. For example, the<br />
web site of the San Bernardino County, California Fire Department<br />
(our county), www.sbcfire.org, contains sections<br />
titled “Developing a Family Evacuation Plan” and “Family<br />
Disaster Plan Guide.” Use these resources, and rely on the<br />
expertise of the dedicated professionals who fight fires for<br />
a living.<br />
Always maintain awareness. Don’t ignore warning<br />
signs when events are headed your way. Some of our<br />
neighbors went blithely about their weekend routines as<br />
Websites - Continued from page 19<br />
<strong>Burmese</strong> interactive breeding table www.burmees.nl/<br />
Ger Versluis - Click on “Mating Chart”<br />
the fire approached, either denying or ignoring what was<br />
going on around them. One family left for a day trip to the<br />
beach the night before the mandatory evacuation order was<br />
given.<br />
Finally, don’t forget to run through at least one practice<br />
drill, following your plan. You don’t have to actually<br />
load everything up and drive away. But walking through<br />
the steps, looking to see where the storage boxes are in<br />
the garage, and performing all the other details puts the<br />
sequence into your “muscle memory.” It’s the same reason<br />
that soldiers and firefighters run drills regularly—they fall<br />
back on their training in the face of a terrible and imminent<br />
threat. They don’t have to hesitate and think things through,<br />
because in a very real sense they have been there before<br />
in training. Rose and I didn’t get around to practicing our<br />
evac plan before the fire, but we should have.<br />
To summarize, make a plan, involve everybody in the<br />
family, practice the plan, and be aware of what is happening<br />
in your environment. Taking these steps will give you<br />
the feeling of security that comes with being ready when<br />
disaster strikes.<br />
Feline Genetics www.igs.net/~kiddbatt/DOCS pages/genetics1.htm<br />
www.kolumbus.fi/sarakontu/link/catlinks.html<br />
Gitalaya’s <strong>Burmese</strong> web-ring www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/8454/burmring.html<br />
Dr. Susan Little’s Website www.catvet.homestead.com/index.html<br />
Feline Cranial-Facial Abnormality Site faculty.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/faculty/lalyons/Sites/burmese.htm<br />
Leslie Lyons, U. C. Davis<br />
Feline Husbandry Site www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ccah/felinehusbandry.cfm<br />
Neils C. Pederson, U. C. Davis<br />
UBCF <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong> Page 21
Letters To The Editor<br />
Dear Editor:<br />
I hope that the Renaissance of the UBCF will help to<br />
eliminate those problems that today threaten the <strong>Burmese</strong><br />
breed.<br />
Individuals more knowledgeable than myself claim our<br />
genetic gene pool is sufficient. I heartily disagree.<br />
The diversity that the geneticists speak of is only useful<br />
if one doesn’t mind breeding <strong>Burmese</strong> that carry the genetic<br />
coding for the head defect. If Traditional breeders hadn’t<br />
stood their ground all these years, by not incorporating the<br />
carrier lines into their breeding programs, there would be<br />
NO clean lines from which to draw to rebuild the breed.<br />
Separate the two gene pools, Contemporary and Traditional,<br />
and each is very small.<br />
Traditional breeders should not have to sacrifice the few<br />
clean lines left to save the breed. I hope we will be able<br />
to find a way to enlarge the unaffected lines through better<br />
education and other avenues allowable by the <strong>Cat</strong> Fancy<br />
Association.<br />
I hope that by better education of the public and other<br />
breeders that it will help to make strides to encourage better<br />
genetic husbandry among the breeders. What our breed<br />
faces today, those other breeds now affected by the head<br />
defect will face tomorrow. I hope that the efforts of the<br />
UBCF will act as a flagship for those other breeds before it<br />
is to late.<br />
Lynette Massow<br />
Dear Editor,<br />
For the future of UBCF I would like to see a UBCF web<br />
site, dedicated to the traditional <strong>Burmese</strong> cat. We could<br />
have suggestions from members for what to include on<br />
the site. Suggestions could come in as letters to the editor.<br />
There can be a members-only section, with access for<br />
members that should be through password only. Also, I<br />
would think we could have a section for the general public<br />
as well. A few suggestions from me to get the ball rolling:<br />
I’d like to see a section where members could post show<br />
pictures of their cats, sort of a brag section. Maybe even<br />
a fun section of pictures, of <strong>Burmese</strong> doing funny things,<br />
we have lots of candid shots from pet owners and from our<br />
own cats as well that we could share.<br />
Possibly a section for Memory Lane, written stories<br />
from the show hall, of past winners, of memories of past<br />
breeders, of big show moments, especially for traditional<br />
cats today. These could go on either the web site or in the<br />
newsletter.<br />
Another idea I have for the newsletter, how about a<br />
health tip column where <strong>Burmese</strong> breeders and owners<br />
could send in tips that have worked with their cats.<br />
Margaret Stevens<br />
Dear Editor,<br />
As a former member and officer of UBCF, I am pleased<br />
to see this organization get on its feet again. UBCF always<br />
was and should be a leader for establishing the goals of the<br />
<strong>Burmese</strong> community.<br />
Last week I attended a CFA show in Hudson, MA with<br />
my daughter who wanted to show her sable female, Nori’s<br />
Puzzled Lady (Puzzler). I specifically had this girl checked<br />
out by my vet as a potential breeder and, in the process, he<br />
noted that she would make a great queen. High praise from<br />
another breeder (he raises American Shorthairs).<br />
Puzzler has a beautiful sable coat, albeit a bit plush, and<br />
lovely round gold eyes. Her face is moderate with a decent<br />
nose break and her bite is excellent. Like all my cats, she<br />
is HD-free.<br />
Her looks, of course, did us no good in the CFA show<br />
rings. The flattest face was awarded the ribbons. I was<br />
really appalled at the appearance of the <strong>Burmese</strong> and the<br />
Bombays. When they sat down, they looked like triangles<br />
with small flat heads, bulging eyes, and all their weight<br />
towards the back end. It was clear that the judges knew or<br />
cared little about <strong>Burmese</strong> and what had become of them.<br />
I consider the last 10 years to be comparable to the<br />
40’s when the <strong>Burmese</strong> were banned from the show rings.<br />
This breed is in a very sorry state and new goals need to be<br />
set to bring them back to a healthy breed. The so-called<br />
“spokespeople” for <strong>Burmese</strong> are leading them down a path<br />
to destruction in the <strong>United</strong> States.<br />
It is time to speak out loudly for these loving cats. A<br />
united UBCF can set new goals and make people sit up and<br />
listen. Today, we have more tools and information than<br />
ever to set a standard that is a model for all pedigreed cats.<br />
Let’s use them to keep breeders, organizations, and the<br />
public informed and keep working until we have nothing<br />
but beautiful healthy <strong>Burmese</strong> in the show ring again.<br />
This is a breed that originated in the <strong>United</strong> States. Let’s<br />
not let it die there.<br />
Nina Pearlmutter, Ph.D., J.D.<br />
Page 22 UBCF <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong>
UBCF Membership<br />
Region 2<br />
Central West<br />
Region 1<br />
North West<br />
& Alaska<br />
Region 3<br />
South West<br />
& Hawii<br />
Region 10<br />
Western Canada<br />
Region 11<br />
International (Not USA or Canada)<br />
Region 5<br />
South Cental<br />
MEMBER CATTERY STATE REGION<br />
Jo Diamond Alethea WA 1<br />
Carole Maxey Katco WA 1<br />
Wendy Bennett Mocha Blast CA 2<br />
Hyla Carney Tojay CA 2<br />
Nancy Reeves Burma Pearl CA 2<br />
Margaret Stevens Gray Mark CA 2<br />
Raymond Stevens Gray Mark CA 2<br />
Lois True Nightsong CA 2<br />
Suzanne Berrin Bon Marche CA 3<br />
Ken Berrin Bon Marche CA 3<br />
Art Graafmans De Bears CA 3<br />
Kristi Graafmans De Bears CA 3<br />
Lynette Massow Az Mews AZ 3<br />
Russell Reimer At’s A Burm AZ 3<br />
Barbara Reimer At’s A Burm AZ 3<br />
Angela Smirnova Burma Charm CA 3<br />
Roseann Wheeler Bear Country CA 3<br />
Shirley Belanger Tuo-Ee IL 4<br />
Karen Buckler Codicat IN 4<br />
Becky Drew Traditional MN 4<br />
Lauri Henry Singita MN 4<br />
Deanne Lucek Crazy Bay IL 4<br />
Camille Rogers Mayacat IA 4<br />
Dan Rogers Mayacat IA 4<br />
Katherine Tenerowicz Crazy Bay IL 4<br />
Leora Alden Qwan Yinn TX 5<br />
Virginia Deal Deal TX 5<br />
Region 4<br />
North Central<br />
Region 9<br />
Eastern Canada<br />
Canada is divided along the<br />
Manitoba - Ontario border<br />
Region 8<br />
South East<br />
Region 7<br />
Central East<br />
Region 6<br />
North East<br />
Member <strong>Cat</strong>tery STATE REGION<br />
Jenny Nelson Carmel Kats AR 5<br />
Willa Rogers-Hawke Rogers Hts TX 5<br />
Prudence Dorazio Mouse Island CT 6<br />
Ernest Dorazio Mouse Island CT 6<br />
Louise Frank Mine Falls NH 6<br />
Orrin Frink Nori MA 6<br />
Nina Pearlmutter Nori MA 6<br />
Barbara Kish Laki PA 7<br />
Richard Kish Laki PA 7<br />
Robert Kish Council Rock OH 7<br />
Carolyn Bentley NC 8<br />
Marianne Bolling FL 8<br />
Kathy Cannon AL 8<br />
Margaret Cohn Family Ties NC 8<br />
Robert Gerlach NC 8<br />
Shirley Storey Stagelight GA 8<br />
Brian Tripp Evita FL 8<br />
Robert Gleason Hullabaloo Canada 9<br />
Larry Jelinek Gingerhill Canada 9<br />
Carolyn Beard Beardsley <strong>Burmese</strong> Canada 10<br />
Rita Schoebel Suncoast Canada 10<br />
Judith Seeber Kitzspa Canada 10<br />
Asa Broing Ebonycatz Sweden 11<br />
Natalya Gnatyuk Russia 11<br />
Alexander Goncharov Russia 11<br />
Olesya Ivanitskaya Beautyburm Russia 11<br />
Marina Ivanitskaya Beautyburm Russia 11<br />
Helena Wiklundh Securitazz Sweden 11<br />
UBCF <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong> Page 23
Coming Next Issue...<br />
<strong>Newsletter</strong>s do not write themselves – it takes a great deal of time and the efforts of many individuals to provide the<br />
kind of information we have included in this, our first newsletter for the revival of UBCF. In future newsletters, which we<br />
hope to bring you at least three times a year, we plan to include a variety of topics, including:<br />
New Grands Send us pictures and pedigrees of our your new Grand Champion or Premier.<br />
Health Discussions of vaccines, food/nutrition, husbandry techniques, common and uncommon diseases,<br />
and other health concerns and recommendations.<br />
Head Defect As much up-to-date information as can be provided on the cranio-facial defect, and discussions of<br />
its impact on the future of the <strong>Burmese</strong> breed as well as ways to inform the public about its<br />
existence and implications.<br />
History More detailed information about the great <strong>Burmese</strong> that are the ancestors of our cats, and the<br />
people who bred and showed them.<br />
Resources Ongoing recommendations for resources of value to everyone who loves the <strong>Burmese</strong> cat.<br />
Please remember that this is YOUR newsletter and we want to know what YOU want included or discussed in future<br />
issues, and that we cannot do this without your help! Please email me at NancyLR@AOL.com with ideas for future topics,<br />
or to contribute articles or letters to upcoming newsletters.<br />
And to all the UBCF Members and friends who contributed to this newsletter . . .<br />
We have a limited number of Classic<br />
UBCF Brown <strong>Burmese</strong> lapel pins<br />
available. For details please contact:<br />
<strong>United</strong> <strong>Burmese</strong> <strong>Cat</strong> <strong>Fanciers</strong>, Inc.<br />
c/o Barbara Kish<br />
48 Parker Road<br />
Jackson Center, PA 16133 U.S.A.<br />
barbrich@pymtele.net<br />
Congratulations And Thank You!<br />
CH Burma Pearl’s Sweet Buttercup and her littermates<br />
Page 24 UBCF <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong>