CATS AND THE CAT FANCY IN NEW ZEALAND (1880s TO THE EARLY 1900s)

LIVE STOCK MARKET. - A NEW DEVELOPMENT Lyttelton Times (New Zealand). 29th September 1886
Hitherto cats have not been a marketable commodity, and, consequently, they have been without any stated value, but now that Mr Acton-Adams has become a purchaser they will probably have a [set] market value. This will be a special boon to one class of the community at least, namely, greyhound owners and trainers. The suburbs of Christchurch literally swarm with cats, and it is an impossibility to prevent their destruction by greyhounds occasionally. When such a thing happens, it invariably turns out that the slaughtered feline is a prize-taker at the cat show, and the value is appraised at from £5 upwards. The amount of penetration exhibited by greyhounds in these matters is extraordinary. They never kill anything but a prize animal.

THE EARLY DAYS OF THE CAT FANCY IN NEW ZEALAND

The New Zealand Governing Council was founded in 1930 and was closely associated with the parent body in Britain, having a similar constitution and rules. It lapsed during the Second World War and the Cat Fancy in New Zealand was all but extinct until 1949. In 1949, a few enthusiasts started a cat club in Auckland, where most of the descendents of former registered cats were still to be found. In less than 5 years it had made astonishing progress with around 1500 cats registered, a few imported from Australia and many imported from England (and only the very best cats were imported). The President after the reformation of the New Zealand Governing Council was Mrs B Downey, and the Hon Secretary was Mr R Marshall. Affiliated clubs were The Auckland Cat Club (Hon Sec Mr R Marshall); Canterbury Cat Fanciers Club (Hon Sec Mr C B Holmes); Franklin Cat Club (Hon Sec Mr R H Gray); Hamilton Cat Club (Hon Sec Miss M E Barlow); Palmerston North Cat Club (Hon Sec Miss A E Rogers) and Southland Cat Fanciers Club (Hon Sec Miss I M Flegg).

New Zealand launched a cat journal in 1953. It was called "Cat Monthly" and was devoted to the welfare, breeding and exchange of cats. Editor and publisher was Miss Dulcie Hore, 52 Roy Street, Palmerston North, New Zealand, and, the price was ls. 4d. per copy. The issues carry useful veterinary notes, general interest features with illustrations and news items about the English Fancy by Mrs. D. Brice-Webb.