It’s well known that here at the Insider, we like cats.
We mean no offense to our other four-legged companions, who are equally liked, but this story isn’t about you. It’s about cats.
And if you share our passion for felines, then clear your schedule for the weekend. Because quite honestly, there will be cats for days. Actually two to be exact, as the Himalayan Cat Fanciers Association takes over the Grappone Conference Center this Saturday and Sunday for its seventh annual show – and its first at the Grappone.
Despite the specific name of the organization, this is an all-breed show, meaning your favorite style of kitty just might be on hand. There will be Maine Coons, Ragdolls, Scottish Folds (the ones with the permanently bent ears) and of course, Himalayans.
Vicky Merrill, a member of the Himalayan Cat Fanciers Association and a judge for Sunday’s portion of the show, expects up to 80 cats and kittens to participate. And are they ever looked at closely.
“From the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail,” said Merrill. “Everything is scrutinized.”
There are four classes: championship, kitten, altered and household. Within each class, the breeds are separated and judged for three awards – Best in Division, Best in Color and Best in Breed. The only thing better than Best in Breed is a spot in the top 10 overall.
The event runs 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days and cost is $5 for adults and $3 for seniors and children. But just think about how many cats you get to see for such a small amount of money. If you see 70 cats, that’s just over seven cents per cat. Totally worth it.
“This is heaven for people who appreciate cats,” said Merrill. “And all the cats are going to be there both days.”
For the price of admission, you get to roam around the Grappone Center and look at cats. There will be four judging rings each day, so assuming you go Saturday and Sunday, you can watch each of the eight judges inspect your favorites. And we’re quite sure you’ll find a few of them, especially in the kitten class.
“The reason we have eight judges is because we all interpret things differently,” said Merrill. “We all have our different life experiences that come into judging.”
But don’t let your eyes wander too much looking at all the other cats – they’re not in the judging ring for long.
“You have to be able to take the cat out of the cage, get them on the table and back in the cage in a minute forty-five or two minutes,” said Merrill. “You start judging as soon as you turn around.”
And if you want to learn more, most of the feline owners are more than happy to talk.
“All you have to do is ask them to tell you more about their cat,” said Merrill. “You can learn a lot about a specific breed.”
Some may even let you pet their furry friend.
“We don’t recommend that spectators touch the cats without the owners’ permission,” said Merrill. “A lot of people will let you touch their animal, but it’s nice to ask first.”
While the goal of the weekend is to bring home a top prize, there’s still that cat lovers bond. Merrill sees it as a perfect time to teach people about different breeds.
“Our goal is to educate feline health and safety,” said Merrill. “I tend to educate a lot when I judge.”
The judges don’t know what cats will be there until they enter the judging ring, so Merrill said she plans for all breeds.
“The first time someone put a sphynx on the table I said ‘what do I do with this?’ ” said Merrill.
In addition to the show, CAVES will be on hand for an educational seminar on Saturday and the Concord/Merrimack County SPCA will have a booth and likely some animals for adoption.
So it might be hard to be around all those fluffy cats and not take one home. But would that really be a bad thing?
