Fanciers' show judges both pet and pedigreed cats

Some sat on fluffy cushions waiting to be called. Some dozed, others yawned and looked bored, while others sat patiently as their coats were brushed and fluffed to perfection.

This weekend 202 pedigreed cats -- and a few household pets that don't qualify as show cats -- let themselves be scrutinized by eight judges in a two-day Cat Fanciers' Association-sanctioned show presented by Pfanciers United For Fun, or PUFF. The show at the Arena Building awards points toward the distinction of being premier cats in their breeds. The cats were examined by four judges Saturday and will be examined by the remaining four today.

In the household pet division, a Persian female named Cocoa, owned by Samantha Ratledge of Cape Girardeau, was entered for her first cat show. In the first of eight show rings, Cocoa won best household pet, paws down, over six others.

Samantha's mother, Nikki Caldwell, high-fived her elementary school-aged daughter before collecting Cocoa from the judge's ring and going to the next round.

"I wanted her to have the experience of entering her cat more for fun to see how she would like it," Caldwell said.

The household pet judging is essentially a beauty contest, said judge Mary Auth of Champaign, Ill. It's all about good looks, personality and the judge's personal preference.

"It's difficult to judge household pets," Auth said. "There are no standards. I have nothing to judge them against."

What worked for Cocoa was the contrast of her copper eyes against chocolate-colored fur.

"She makes a beautiful presentation," Auth said.

Pedigreed cats are held to stricter standards. Depending on the breed, cats are judged by their attitude, coats and shape of their bodies, ears and heads. Some cats played with dangled feathers, some looked bored, but most all cats appeared to be comfortable with cat shows.

Auth petted and stretched and considered cats from Manx to Maine coon to Siamese to the hairless Sphynx. She assessed each cat according to show standards, jotted down notes, then chose the top 10.

Anne Edwards, of Rolla, Mo., president of PUFF, said this year's cat show happened almost by accident but drew nearly double the number of cats as last year's show. The 2005 show, the first for Cape Girardeau, was held over the Thanksgiving weekend, which PUFF decided wasn't a good time for a show.

A cat show in Wisconsin this month was canceled, she said, which left all those show cats with nowhere to go. PUFF officers remembered Cape Girardeau and called the Arena Building, although they figured the venue was already booked. It had been, but the New Year's Eve party scheduled for the weekend was canceled, so the show was quickly set up.

Cape Girardeau was so welcoming to the cat fanciers, Edwards said, that they plan to come back next year.

The show continues from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today.

lredeffer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160