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NEW ZEALAND
As in the other countries belonging to the Commonwealth, research
has revealed practically nothing about the history of the
domestic cat in New Zealand, except for the fact that it was
first introduced by the early settlers, which makes on realise
that even in those far-away days the value of the cat as a
catcher of vermin was appreciated and also that it was regarded
as a member of the household who went with the family as a
matter of course.
In 1930, the New Zealand Governing Council was founded, with
a similar constitution and regulations to the British one.
As in most countries, the second world war played havoc with
pedigree cat breeding, and it was not until 1949 that interest
was revived, which is still steadily growing. There are now
a number of flourishing cat clubs and many cat shows. As in
Australia, as well as the separate cat shows, there are also
sections for cats at stock shows, and special features are
the classes held for children’s pets.
In this country, too, there is a steady importation of really
outstanding cats from the British Isles, and cats with well-known
British prefixes in their pedigrees are constant winners at
the shows. The high cost of these pedigree cats, together
with the expensive journey and quarantine, shows clearly how
much value is placed on cats of British breeding. The quality
of the New Zealand animals is excellent, with most breeds
well represented. the Siamese are very popular, and long-haired
Blacks, Blues and Reds, in particular, seem to do well on
the show bench.
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Cat
insurance 
