 
CATS IN SOUTH AFRICA
It is very difficult to trace the history of
the domestic cat in South Africa, little being known, apart
from the fact that the first missionaries and settlers brought
their pets with them. Most native villages have their dogs,
but a cat is a rare sight, and if one is seen it usually comes
from a European home.
Several of the animal societies, such as the Royal Society
of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Our Dumb Friends League
and the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals have branches
in wide-spread parts of Africa, where cats are among the many
animals receiving attention.
The interests of the pedigree cat in South Africa are looked
after by the South African Cat Union. This was founded in
1946 primarily to register cats, to encourage pedigree breeding
and cat shows, and is associated with the British Governing
Council. Apparently there were very few pedigree cats in South
Africa prior to that date, but today there are many excellent
examples of a number of the recognised breeds. The Siamese
appears to be the most popular, outnumbering all others at
the shows, while excellent Cream and Blue long-hairs all bred
from imported English cats are making a name for themselves.
There do not appear to be any British short-hairs, and very
few household pets are shown. In such a large country, running
a cat show is quite an achievement, and among others the Western
Province Cat Club, the Siamese Cat Society of South Africa,
the Rand Cat Club, and the Natal Cat Club, are doing fine
work in promoting interest in pedigree cats.
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