World Cup-themed cat show delights animal lovers in Bedfordview

A World Cup Soccer-themed All Breeds Championship Cat Show was held at the Jeppe Quondam Sports Club on July 11.

There were about 90 cats entered, all different breeds and colours. National Cat Society (NCS) chairperson and show manager, Charmaine Danziger, explained that some of the cats at the show originate from overseas, while some are local.

She said breeders like to import cats for their breeding stock, to open their bloodline, or increase their gene pool.

Danziger said the NCS is affiliated with the registrar called the Cat Federation of South Africa.

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She added that shows are held between March and August of each year, as that’s when breeding season normally stops.

“There are several shows, and in each show the judges judge a cat according to their standard for that specific breed. For instance, a Persian has a certain standard and so on.

“The judges have been taught and have studied for many years to understand the breed and to be able to pass and qualify as an all-breeds judge,” Danziger explained.

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At this specific show, there were six different judges.

The exhibitor or cat owner would present their cat to the judge when called. Danziger said the cats had to be well-presented and show consistent grooming.

She added, “If the cat meets the required standard per its breed, the judge may award them and then nominate them for the best in show line-up to determine the overall cat of the day.”

The show manager said cats would be awarded either gold, silver or bronze, and when they’re a kitten they get either a ruby, emerald or sapphire.

The categories include kittens aged four to nine months. The neuter category includes sterilised cats, male and female, nine months and older.

There are also the entire males, which are breeding males, and the entire females, which are breeding females.

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Then there are domestic pets, no specific breed, which are general, normal household cats.

Danziger shared that this was their final show for the year to achieve Cat of the Year points.

“This is a very prestigious event; it culminates the end of the show season with a show on August 29 in Pretoria.”

With the show’s theme centred on the FIFA World Cup, most exhibitors decorated their cages accordingly, and a best cage competition was also held.

The chairperson thanked their main sponsor for the show: Lionel’s Choice Cat Food.