One of the judges at work, taken from the CFA International Cat Show’s available press photos
Westminster make way, there’s another show in town: the CFA International Cat Show, a.k.a. Cat-Minster! (Their trademark slogan is “showcasing the world’s finest pedigreed felines.”)
What is Cat-Minster?
It’s the biggest cat show of its kind in the United States, and is also considered the most prestigious. It marked its 19th year in 2006.
It runs for three-days, usually the weekend before Thanksgiving. Entrants can number as high as 850, and come from all over the world, including Canada, Europe, and Asia.
Proceeds are donated to the Winn Feline Foundation.
Categories
Judging takes place in three categories:
• Kitten
• Championship
• Premiership
From the Championship winners, the cat with the highest score in the Longhair and Shorthair divisions go on to compete for the coveted Best in Show title, as do the Longhair and Shorthair winners in the Kitten and Cat Premiership divisions.
Fun for Spectators
If you’re lucky enough to make it to Cat-Minster, there’s lots to do besides just watching the judging from the looks of things. Such as:
• Breed Booths – any cat owners also belong to groups specific to their cats breed. These groups set up booths that tell about the cats history and origins, showcase winning cats, and present charts detailing breed-specific information (like color combinations).
• Breed Showcase – here you can meet various breeds and talk to people knowledgeable in what sets that breed apart from others. (Besides markings and coat colors, some cats are more social and/or high energy than others. Great place to visit if you’re interested in getting a particular breed!)
• Meow Mall – vendors abound, peddling anything and everything a cat or a cat lover might want.
Booths in the Meow Mall, taken from the CFA International Cat Show’s available press photos
Missed It? Catch It Again on GSN!
The most recent show was held on November 17-19, 2006 in San Mateo, California. However, the Game Show Network featured it on their station last weekend, but they’re replaying it today at 12 Noon (Eastern)/ 11 a.m. (Central).
GSN also has some neat Cat-Minster fun on their site, such as:
• Profiles of the top ten cats (“Cat-Minster Contenders” they call them)
• Under the Talent tab there’s profiles of the Hosts, Owners, and Judges (Bob Goen, of Entertainment Tonight fame, is one of the judges)
• Video clips of the cats behind-the-scenes getting ready for the big show
• “Cat-paper,” a.k.a. wallpaper for your computer. (How anyone decides on just one is beyond me. They’re all too cute!)