Cat show debuts in Cape Girardeau

The first cat show in Cape Girardeau has a twofold purpose -- to show off cats and take in toys for needy children.

The Havanas in Toyland show started on Saturday with 106 entries, and the show continues today.

The first half of the show's name comes from its largest entry, 14 Havana Brown cats. Havana Browns, a breed with a mink-like coat, first arrived in Britain in the 19th century along with the importation of Siamese cats.

The second half is for a dollar discount on the entry fee in exchange for a new, unwrapped toy for the Marines' Toys for Tots program.

Show committee members also plan to donate the profits of the show to the Winn Feline Foundation, which is dedicated to the health of cats.

Household pets were judged Saturday. Four rings were judged Saturday and four will be judged today.

Show committee member Ann Edwards of Rolla, Mo., attended Southeast Missouri State University a few decades ago and remained friends with Ernest and Patty Chiles of Jackson. Edwards said they'd been encouraging her to hold a cat show her for years.

Spectatorship was fairly steady Saturday, but Edwards said a return to Cape Girardeau would depend on proceeds seen from this show.

"It's kind of tough to expect a large turnout on Thanksgiving weekend, but it [the date] was all that we could get," she said. "Judges are flown in from all over the country, and those expenses must be paid. Cape Girardeau is over 100 miles from the airport, which caused us to rely on Bart Transportation because of the limited flights from the local airport. But this show does bring revenue to Cape Girardeau. Breeders come from all over the country and spend money while they're here."

More than 25 breeds were shown. The felines are examined carefully by judges for how closely the cat measures up to the standard for that breed.

Robert Bryan of Ossian, Ind., said he's handled more than 300,000 felines in his 29 years of judging and only been bitten five times.

"I have met so many friends from all over the world through this," he said.

Cat lovers Cheryl, Echo and Angel Garrett of Cape Girardeau were driving by and saw an advertisement that drew them in. Their cat at home is part Maine Coon, part Persian. The trio eyed the wire cages of Maine Coons, comparing them to their pet.

The cat at home is kind of a therapy cat.

"Angel is disabled, and the cat really belongs to her," Cheryl Garret said. "When Angel is sick, she [the cat] tells me. The cat took to her from day one. She's the only one that can brush her."