The first two Birmans in South Africa, Champion Primgradia Tai Ming’s Sean (Int.Ch. Nero de Tsun xCh. Griswold Ombelle) and Pringradia Griswold’s Sirena arrived during the early seventies. They were imported by Mrs Cruywagen of Johannesburg and came from Gert Griswold of the U.S.A.

Elizabeth Brown (Smokeyhill Cattery, U.K.) exported the stunning Smokeyhill Chin-Ho (Ch. Solomon von Assinda x Ch. Paranjoti Kimsallie) to South Africa.

Chin-Ho became the foundation stud of Mrs Louise Denby’s Tai Pan Cattery and sired no less than 88 kittens for her, passing on his loving and gentle nature to all of them. With him came Little Fantasy, bred by Mrs P.Healy of the U.K. - both these cats attained Championship status in only three shows. Little Fantasy was awarded a trophy for "Best Brood Queen" in 1977 and Mrs Denby also won trophies for "Best Brood Queen" and "Best Stud" in 1979. In 1975, Mrs Denby imported Boltwood Temple Maiden (Smokeyhill Kim Ching x Miorama Tamu), a superb Birman who went on to win "Best Longhair Female on Show" during 1976 and was runner-up in 1977.

ABOVE: Mrs Louise Denby (right) with Sandy Gunst

For many years Mrs Denby had an uphill battle to promote the unknown Birman cat in South Africa. And although she stopped breeding in 1981, she is currently the President of the newly formed "Sacred Birman Fanciers Group of Southern Africa" and is always ready to give help and advice. Her dedication and devoting to the Birman is truly inspirational...

Other early imports included: Hephzibah Zulaah, a seal point female, and Hephzibah Joringel (Shaminka Simba x Mei Hue Psyche), a blue point male, imported from Mrs M.John of England by Mrs J.A. Holmes of "Kundalila Cattery" in Johannesburg.

Mrs Nora Anderson of "Lao Sinh Cattery" imported a seal point boy Vallon Tudor Prince (CH. Iffleycott Ratna x Vallon Periwinkle) from Mrs Snape of England. "Baby Bear", as he was known, went on to become a Grand Champion in six consecutive shows.

Dr Alec Coutts of "Monarch Cattery" imported a blue point girl Bellatrix Blue Cassini (Belleview Blue Chaucer x Cinglese Cassiopeiae) from Mrs G.Fellows of England, unfortunately she had breeding problems and was spayed. Alec also owned Thakit Cinglese Caterlena, a Seal point female, who was bred by K.Porter of England and imported by Lyle Thackwray of Durban, who decided to leave the country.

The Early Years..... Source: "The Birman Cat Worldwide" by Vivienne Smith

(3 October 1977 - 5 April 1992)

Tinki was born on the 3rd of October 1977 to Boltwood Temple Maiden and Smokeyhill Chin-Ho - both imported from the UK by Mrs. Louise Denby.

Tinki was the best show quality female out of four kindles born during 1997 - which she proved in August 1986 by being the very first Birman to become a Supreme Champion in South Africa. Tinki also won "Best on Show" many times, competing against other longhaired cats. Tinki had a personality completely her own. Her main "diet" was steak, chicken and Kingklip bought ONLY from Woolworths. Substitutes were sniffed at and rejected - often without tasting! During the night, she drank water only from a glass and if her water was not on the dressing table where it was suppose to be, she would complain bitterly.

Tinki only had one kindle of kittens, passing her loving nature to her off-spring and so brought much happiness to those who had the honour of being owned by these beautiful, mysterious Sacred Cats of Burma. Two of Tinki’s off-spring, Taimen and Lobsang, won numerous awards at shows. Lobsang was repeatedly chosen "Best on Show". Both "sons" traveled widely and even appeared on television!

"God’s garden must be beautiful because he only takes the best..." Kathleen James, LHASETWA Birmans

In spite of the great efforts made by breeders during the 70s and 80s to establish the Birman cat in South Africa, by the early 90s, Birmans were still quite rare and unknown. The fact that there were only a handful of breeders, which made it extremely difficult to find kittens, didn’t help matters much. Only could only find Seal points and Blue points and very little development of the breed took place. With hardly any new bloodlines entering the country, a high degree of in-breeding were taking place. The future of this magnificent breed seemed uncertain...

Fortunately, this started to change when, during 1994, the first Tabby-point Birmans arrived in the country. But it is 1996 that can truly be seen as a turning point for the Birman in South Africa, since it marked the arrival of no less than seven new imported lines,

arriving from countries such as Germany, Australia, the U.S.A. and the U.K., which included the very first Lilac point Birmans.

This continued during 1997, with the arrival of four Canadian imports as well as the very first Tortie points in South Africa arriving from the U.K. and U.S.A. Many of these imports made their "splash" onto the S.A. show scene during 1997, and it was a truly terrific year for the Birman.

Special mention must go to the stunning Chocolate point boy Supreme Champion KYAT SHWECHINTHE TOBER MORAY (Shwechinthe Meirion x Shwechinthe Zalina) who not only became a triple Supreme Champion during 1997, but was also the 1997 S.A.Birman of the Year.

SEE BIRMAN AWARD PAGES FOR HIGHLIGHTS OF EACH YEAR!

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