Sheerbliss Giftwrapped was there in all her glory, as was Moonspun Luvly Jubbly, who took Best White Persian. More than one thousand of Britain’s most adored and adorable cats and kittens were combed, primped and held aloft for inspection at the Supreme Cat Show in Birmingham, known as the Crufts of the Cat Fancy, a member of the World Cat Congress.
There was plenty of drama and cozying-up to the judges at the UK’s largest cat show. “I’ve brought my home grown boy Vonteez Gold-Dust because he’s a very rare model,” Daniella Allen of Shrewsbury told The Guardian. “I can’t tell which way it will go. He seems to charm the judges, striking up long conversations with them.”
Both pedigree and non-pedigrees competed for titles at the annual event held on October 24th. Cats were judged for tail length, temperament and breed specific traits. “A good Russian should have nice upright ears set almost on top of the head like a capital H,” said Kate Kay, a judge, who spoke to The Guardian. One winning Burmese was praised by a judge for his “good muscular tone” and a tail tapering to a “typical paint brush tip,” according to article, which called the event the “UK’s Premier Feline Fete.”
This year’s pedigree champion, or Supreme Exhibit, was Premier Pinemarten Tina Sparkle, a fetching British Lilac Tortie owned by Penny Hopgood. The Supreme Kitten was Alejandro Tanzanite, a blue-eyed wonder with fur as fluffy as a cloud. Categories included Persian, British, Oriental and Siamese.
When the contestants were not being evaluated, they were kissed, cuddled and distracted with feathers and cat toys. The media was on hand as well, snapping photos of the cats and their owners. Unusual breeds attracted attention, including a handsome Norwegian forest cat and an enigmatic hairless Sphynx.
The annual event is organized by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy, a member of the World Cat Congress. Cat charities set up booths that take donations for less fortunate felines who could not attend.