Laugh. Learn. Love cats.
Over the weekend, a dog came to visit on the coffee shop patio. She was a very polite dog, and she watched Cupcake in fascination without ever barking or whining.
Cupcake thought she would show her new friend how tricks are done. She gave her best fist bump.
Which meant she got a tasty treat.
Cupcake: Did you see that, dog? I’m not showing you again.
Then Cupcake went back to her dressing room — I mean carrier — for a well-deserved snooze.
Cupcake: Wake me when you have more treats.
Pierre: I may have just turned thirteen years old, but my reflexes are as sharp as ever. Especially when it comes to toys that move fast!
Pierre: I’m going to get you, little hedgehog. Flying in the air won’t save you!
Pierre: This is my serious face. When I wear this, you know I mean business. Here I come, hedgie.
Pierre: Gotcha! Don’t forget who is the cat in charge around here.
Cupcake: Everyone says they can tell this is my new bag. I don’t understand how they can tell just by looking at it.
Cupcake: It’s smaller than the bag we take on outings now. All of my important things have to fit inside.
Cupcake: I think my blanket will fit in here.
Cupcake: Maybe it’s big enough for my treats, too!
Cupcake: I guess this bag will be OK. Time to fill it up!
Last weekend, I visited the Sandy Claws Cat Fanciers show in Kissimmee, FL. Visiting a cat show is always a lot of fun, but it seems like I always end up there at an awkward time when all the exhibitors are really busy with something. Eating lunch, getting a group photo, or something else that makes it hard to chat with them. I was fortunate to be there at a good time when many of them were happy to chat with me between taking their cats to be judged, which made it a lot of fun.
I’m not sure if it’s just our region of the country or what, but every cat show I’ve been to here has had loads of Bengals. This one was no exception. One exhibitor had a litter of kittens who had just turned old enough for adoption and were at their first show. They were a little wary about all of the chaos going on around the floor, but were curious to meet me.
Every judging ring I saw except the ones exclusively for long-haired cats had at least one Bengal in it. They really are beautiful cats! It was fun to talk to the breeders about how much personality energy these guys have. I was worn out just thinking about keeping up with one of them.
The other kind of cat that was in all of the show rings and all over the show hall were Maine Coons. It turned out this Maine Coon takeover was because this show included an event called the Maine CoonVention, which included seminars, special show events just for Maine Coons, and awards for the breed.
I am always amazed by the ears on Maine Coons, especially the juveniles who haven’t quite grown into them yet. This guy’s ears seem to go on forever!
Everyone was talking about this young cat because she is a polydactyl Maine Coon. You can see how big her paws are where her thumb is gripping the scratching post.
As a result of the focus on the breed, the pet me cat at the show was a Maine Coon. His name was Potter, and he was enormous! He was also sleeping on the job. He had received a big lifetime achievement award that was displayed nearby, so he deserved a nice nap after years of shows naming him 10th and 8th best international alter and 13th best regional alter. His human said that he was done being judged and was just here for the CoonVention.
Of course, Bengals and Maine Coons weren’t the only cats there. I spotted a little odd-eyed white Rex peeking out of an enclosure as I walked past.
This Persian had just arrived the day before from South America. He is going to live with a woman here in the US who had started to show him that very day!
One of the other cats whose humans I visited with at length is this calico oriental shorthair. Fancy was the number 2 oriental shorthair in the world in 2016. I didn’t know that oriental shorthairs came in calico. She’s really beautiful!
The cat show was a lot of fun to visit. If you go, make sure you talk to the people who are there to exhibit their cats. They like talking about their cats as much as you like talking about yours, and you can learn a lot!
