Just as there are extreme personality differences between dog people and cat people, there are major differences between a dog show and a cat show.
At a dog show, you can expect impressive athletic ability. A cat show, however, is a different story.
The Cat Fancier Association held its annual Cat Show at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, from Saturday, Jan. 18 to Sunday, Jan. 19, where 100 cats from over 35 breeds were judged.
The CFA created the oldest registry and largest list of pedigree standards for cats in the 1900s, and since then has had a long evolution of breed standards and rule changes. Standards are written guidelines describing the ideal example of the breed.
“The standard is part blueprint because it describes the ideal specimen for the breed, and part constitution because it can be revised by the members of the breed council,” according to the CFA website.
Each cat is first judged against others that share its color, then others of the same breed and eventually all the cats in the competition. Qualifying cats have the opportunity to compete against “Champion” cats from other groups, with the winner being crowned a “Grand Champion.”
Prior to 2015, competing cats were required to have a documented pedigree assuring the cat was purebred. The CFA has now modified its rules to include household cats in competitions, though they compete separately from pedigreed cats.
Looking around, the expansive event space at the hotel was chaotic. Owners ran about urgently with cats in their arms, eager not to miss the last call to enter their cat into a judging session.
Cat owners and spectators alike patiently awaited the judges’ decisions and, though no one got too excited, the disappointment or immense pride was obvious on the competitors’ faces.
Some fancy cat owners at this event have been entering their feline friends in accredited competitions throughout the nation for decades. A select few have been successful enough to quit their careers and focus entirely on these competitions.
“The moment every cat breeder lives for is that moment of exhilaration when your cat is held aloft and proclaimed ‘Best Cat in Show’!” the CFA website stated.
Talking with some of the competitors, it is obvious there is an entire world unbeknownst to those who passed by the DoubleTree that day.
The energy in the room felt like a sports bar or a racetrack, and the suspense was tangible if you were lucky enough to get close to a lifelong cat show enthusiast. Many owners are committed to their cats and invest a great amount of time into making them successful.
Although not everyone can be a winner, the event brings together cat lovers from all over the state to celebrate the creatures they love.
