Burmese are very addictive

Mrs. Sedcole was a well known breeder of Persians in Auckland (prefix ELROSE). Her son (Mr. Pollock) decided he wanted to breed Burmese after having them described by a visiting judge, Miss Katherine Yorke. Apparently Miss Yorke judged at the June 1956 Auckland Cat Club Show and was so impressed by the standard of the cats she judged, commented that she would like to see the Burmese breed established in New Zealand.

Mr. Pollock went into partnership with his mother, Mrs. Sedcole to breed Burmese and together they chose the RANSEIN prefix - RAN for Rangoon and the SEIN from Bashein - two large cities in Burma.

In 1956 they made arrangements to import three Burmese through an agent in England. The cats were: Merrick Apollo (Male), Paquita and Nilgris Buru Kaihau (both female).

There was no publicity over the arrival of the cats in New Zealand, not like when the first Burmese came to Australia. Burmese were shown (on exhibition only) for the first time in New Zealand at the Auckland Cat Club Kitten Show on 2/3/1957. The catalogue for that show claims that there were only approx 150 Burmese in England.

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