By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The purr-sonalized license plates used tell-tail indications of simply who was inside the Wood County Fairgrounds building this previous weekend. Variations of cat words decorated the plates from New Hampshire, Florida, Wisconsin, and almost every other state this side of the Mississippi River.
Inside the Junior Fair Building were more than 180 spoiled felines in their blinged out cat providers, with their doting owners.
April is completion of the competitors season for cats that take a trip the program circuit – their last time to make points towards desirable cat titles.
“We want affirmation that our cats meet the breed standards,” said Sabrina Grisier, program supervisor of the Cat Fanciers Association’s Just Cat In Around Show held at the fairgrounds. Four judges worked every day to award leading types in cat-egories like the enormous Maine Coons, the smooth Abyssianians, and the puffy Persians.
The competitors sufficed to draw out the claws in some classifications.
“There are people here from all over,” said Grisier, who was revealing 2 of her cats at the program. “It’s the end of the season, so people can get kind of catty.”
Grisier and her partner reside in a funeral service home, where a barking dog would be discredited. So she started raising program cats, and now takes a trip all over the eastern part of the U.S. with her a bi-color Persians called Hemingway and LeBeaugh.
“This is the most competitive region,” she said. And the variety of feline rivals and viewers at the weekend cat program did not dissatisfy. “This has been such a wonderful turnout.”
One wall was lined with the evaluating stations, and the rest of the building had lots of tricked-out cat providers with swank beds, cat toys, freeze-dried minnows and protective owners with combs ready.
Checking out a classy Abyssinian cat at one station was Loretta Baugh, the most knowledgeable judge at the program this weekend. Baugh, from Michigan, has actually been assessing cats considering that 1965. Her hands moved over the cat, taking a look at every inch. And she playfully moved a feathered toy to evaluate the cat’s response.
“Every cat has a standard that is written for it,” Baugh said.
But it’s not simply the physical qualities that count. “They have to be well-behaved. That should be a character of a show cat,” she said, worrying that nipping is a no-no.
“I like to look into their eyes – that says a lot,” Baugh said. “We’ve got some really good cats here.”
Watching carefully at the evaluating station was Fred Post, of Grand Rapids. Post had no cats in the competitors, however has a love of felines.
“My friend and I are cat fanciers,” Post said. “I have five cats and my lady friend has seven – all rescues.”
Post said he paws-down chooses cats to dogs.
“They’re so independent. You don’t have to take them on walks like dogs. They don’t poop in the backyard,” he said.
Next to an evaluating station was the dignified Olive, the Black Persian cat presently ranked No. 1 on the planet. Her owner, Eric Simpson, of North Carolina, takes her all over the world to strut her things. He didn’t be reluctant to eliminate her from her provider and comb her hair into location to flaunt his valued Persian.
“I knew when she was very young that she was special,” Simpson said of his champ cat, whose complete name is really Gemquest Olive You Forever.
Her breed is evaluated on whatever from the more apparent qualities of character and coat to minute characteristics like eye shape, eye positioning and eye color.
“She’s a natural showcat,” Simpson said. “She prances around the table and plays with the toys.”
And Simpson has no pity about ruining Olive. “Oh, of course I pamper her,” he said.
A couple of rows away, Donna Ensor was waiting to reveal Ezra, her orange Maine Coon cat, who already weighs 15 pounds at 7 months old. Ezra originates from a line of program cats, including his papa who was a nationwide winner, and his grandpa who reached a weight of 24 pounds.
Show cats are made through a mix of good genes, a high protein diet plan, and high upkeep care, Ensor said.
Prior to each program, Ezra gets a bath. “He’s not crazy about it, but he’s used to it,” Ensor said. And that’s not all.
“Every hair is blown dry,” and powder is used in locations where his hair in some cases clumps, she said.
In addition to the rows and rows of felines, the cat program likewise included lots of product, and had a professional photographer on hand for beauty shots of the valued pussycats.
There were Tee shirts revealing Mona Lisa holding a cat, “Purrasic Park,” “Catzilla,” and “Paw and Order – Special Treats Unit.”
The supplier, Janice Pitelka, said her Cateeza business has a good time as an objective – for cats and their owners.
In addition to the more conventional cat-nip and feathery toys, Pitelka offers lots of “cat bling,” consisting of shaded sunglasses, and “stud pants,” which have 3 holes for the 2 back legs and tail. The trousers enable male cats to socialize with female cats without the danger of undesirable breeding, Pitelka said.
“We aim for fun. We want to be on the edge,” she said, including that customers won’t discover the worn-out “I love cats” motto Tee shirts at her business.
