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South Africa is
very isolated but through the Internet and the various mailing
lists, I am able to feel part of the greater world-wide fancy.
Where else could I spend a couple of pleasant hours each day
learning what I have learnt in the past 11 months? New breeds,
politics, vital health information, etc. etc.
I have been
breeding Burmese since 1981. Fortunately, South Africa embraced
the 10 colour spectrum of Burmese, what most Americans refer to
rather disparagingly, in my opinion, as European or Foreign
Burmese. I readily admit that I too was a "purist" as
far as the colours were concerned until I realised just how inbred
our local Burmese population was. This set the course for the
future of my breeding programmes.
Besides the 9
dogs who share our home, we have all my Burmese and the only
Bombays (at present) in South Africa. The outdoor cat runs are a
sanctuary to 3 leopard tortoises, were rescued from veldt fires...
they are excellent "lawn" mowers and thrive on dry
premium cat food.
In order to keep
my cats in the manner to which they have grown accustomed to, I
own and run a boarding kennel and cattery (sold the kennels in
1998 after my remarriage when I immigrated to the United States)
which I started in January 1981 (also started breeding Burmese
that same year although I had bred a single litter in the early
seventies, but because I was pursuing a nursing career did not
continue.)
The first of my
imported cats came from England in 1986 - a cream male, Gd. Ch.
Gitalaya Starshadow Gorgeous Gus D.M., who had been successfully
campaigned to Championship in the UK and was also Kitten of
the Year in 1985. He was accompanied by a lilac/platinum male
kitten, Ch. Gitalaya Timaling Viking Warrior D.M. Gus has had an
extraordinary influence on the red and cream breeding programmes
in SA by introducing the desired "powdered" effect we
breeders like to see, in particular for the cream coated Burmese.
He was the top Burmese sire for no fewer than 7 years! He
unfortunately developed FLUTD in Sept. 1992 and had to be
castrated. He now lives in luxurious retirement with other
"Golden Oldies" who have contributed so much to my
programme. [Gus went to Rainbow
Bridge in 1998]
Viking Warrior,
aka Herbie, born in March 1986, is still a working stud, and
probably one of the largest Burmese boys around! Not only by bulk
but in size! [Sadly, Herbie went to Rainbow Bridge in October 2000
due to liver failure]
These first 2
imports were followed by a further 4 studs, the most recent of
which arrived last year in October [1995]. Their full story, along with
the history of Gitalaya Cattery appears on my homepages - under
the title of "Stud Tales"
I have also
imported 2 Burmese females from Elaine Gleason of Hullabaloo
Cattery - London, Ont. Canada. My brown girl from Elaine, Gitalaya
Hullabaloo Celebration obtained her D.M. last August when a
chocolate female got her final Supreme Challenge certificate.
Patience, the other girl is presently raising a litter of
chocolates for me. Both are excellent mothers and a credit to
their breeder.
In January 1995,
I welcomed the first Bombays to South Africa. Bob and Carol
Winston's Windshadow Knight Rider; Fenton and Judy Kovic's
Fejuko Hugs 'n Kisses as well as a girl from Germany bred by Hilde
Frank: Nancy von Heidberge (introduction through Fenton and Judy!)
So I have 2 cats that are registered with TICA as well as with the
Canadian Cat Association and several from the England registered
with the GGCF. In March, I imported a further Bombay female from
the UK, Boronga Black Savita.
Imported cats
are permitted to have the "importee's" (?) prefix added
to their names and remain part of the official name for the cats
life! We do not add suffixes in SA. I soon hope to have Bombay
info on my homepages too.
My cattery is an
outdoor cattery, with large runs and Wendy houses for shelter and
accommodation. Each unit has electricity for winter heating and
light as required. We also have "nursery rooms"
where kittens move to when they are about 8 - 9 weeks, after
their first inoculation. Giving them access to a secure outside
world! It covers about half an acre with its own gardens and
trees. One of the benefits of living outside the city limits!
My husband,
*John and I, live in a rural community of some 10,000 souls. We
are fortunate to have a fairly large property (for our area) of 93
acres. We have protected the ground as best we can and have about
10 acres of indigenous bush - providing homes for many
creatures... from an incredible variety of birds, which includes
guinea fowl and francolin. Rabbits abound and on occasion I have
seen the endangered brown riverine rabbit! Also in our little wood
is home to the meerkat - a sort of mongoose - which has a bad
reputation as being a rabies vector. Unfortunately, it is all too
often true. [*John
passed away on September 12th, 1997]
Other creatures
that are part of "our world" are the endangered black
eagles that nest at the Witwatersrand Botanical Gardens some 10
kilometres away from us. We often see them soaring on the
thermals while they hunt! Several years ago, I was on my way to
provision the household when I drove out and saw one of the eagles
on the ground. It had just caught a rabbit! It flew off despite my
slow approach! But what a thrill! More recently, as I was
returning to kennels after lunch, the eagles were out hunting, I
wondered what they were after. About 100 meters down the dirt
road, there was a moggie in the road. I accelerated which seem to
"stall" the eagles, giving the cat a chance to dart
across the road into the long veldt grasses to safety under the
trees.
Well water is
stored in a water tower. It is 8 metres tall. The residents of the
tower include a nesting pair of Giant Spotted Eagle Owls as well
as a pair of barn owls. It is not uncommon at dusk to see them
leave on their hunting expeditions. On bright moonlit nights, we
see them winging their across the veldt.
Not so long ago,
after a show, I was sitting in the living room (I had earned a
celebratory drink when I heard a frantic scratching on one
of the patio doors... thinking it was once of the dogs wanting to
be let in, I did a "head count" and all were present and
correct... I got up and peeped through the patio door. There was a
beautiful silvery grey barn owl asking for admission! I turned off
the light wondering how I could rescue the bird and scurried out
to find a wire cat carrier... However, when I returned, the bird
had literally flown! I was relieved it had not injured itself! I
guess it was out hunting and maybe a rodent had scampered onto the
patio and it had followed in hot pursuit probably blinded by the
light!
Two years ago, I
was on my way to Cat of the Year, one of my Burmese had qualified!
Not 300 metres from our gate, I glanced across the veldt and
noticed a "dog" running in the distance... but
instinctively knew it wasn't a "dog", I slowed and a
black backed jackal ran across the road in front of me! There have
always been jackals in our area, we have heard them but this was
the first time I had ever seen one! We are also aware of
wild cats that roam, civets etc. the area... But, as yet, have
never seen one! There are also porcupines, hedgehogs and
anteaters in the surrounding countryside. Occasionally we
hear reports of duiker (buck) crossing the national highway.
One of the
adjacent areas is the internationally famous palaeo-entological
site of Sterkfontein (a 10 minute drive from our farm). In the
20s, the Sterkfontein Caves were discovered by gold prospectors.
Little did the world know of the exciting discoveries to follow.
The skull of "Mrs. Ples", who roamed this planet
over 2.5 million years ago was found there. New digs have been
opened in our area as well. There was an interesting documentary
on the work being done by Witwatersrand (Wits) University shown on
TV recently. Last year the South African Broadcasting Corporation
aired Ape Man, hosted by Walter Cronkite on national TV and part
of the Sterkfontein digs were shown. Several links to these
fascinating sites can be found in Tour
South Africa with Gitalaya ..
Small game parks
are common around Muldersdrif. There is a rhino sanctuary, several
hotels have their own private parks all within 20 minutes to half
an hours drive! South African tourist brochures rightfully boast
that this is a world within a country!
You can travel
to some high peaks in the mountains for skiing in winter, or down
to the coastal regions for a glorious holiday along some of the
most breathtaking beaches in the world!
Of course there
are our world renowned game parks, both supported by the Parks
Board and many, many private game lodges and wild life
sanctuaries.. Check my South African
Links ..
South Africa can
boast to having a great deal of sunshine when compared to many
other countries. The climate on the whole is temperate, although
our winters can be harsh too. Even in winter, daytime temperatures
are generally warm when some of the locals can be found wearing
shorts and T shirts! But, once the sun sets, the temperatures drop
quite rapidly with sneaky winds.
I hope you have
enjoyed some of the beautiful wild flowers that colour(ed) .. My
World....
For
further impressions of "My World" - my Tribute
to Rhodesian Ridgebacks ..
My
"New" World is
now in New Jersey in the USA
Flower
images : Agapanthus - blue and white, Clivias,
Red hot poker, Amaryllis, Arum lilies -
All indigenous to South Africa
Page background : Proteas
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