USA: America's finest felines prepare for upcoming Cat Championship in New York

Ahead of the upcoming 2006 CAF-Iams Cat Championship in New York City, a wide array of cats from all over the country and abroad, gathered at Madison Square Garden to give cat-lovers a preview of their feline skills. The cats converged at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday (October 11, 2006) with their owners and agent handlers, amusing visitors by displaying a range of skills -- jumping through stationary hoops, going after fake birds and even clicking the mouse of a computer. More than 300 felines are expected to take part in the competition, which also happens to be 100th anniversary of the Cat Fanciers' Association, reportedly the world's largest registry of pedigreed cats. At the preview, down from Virginia, was a Sphynx called 'Billy Idol' accompanied by a Cornish Rex called 'Brighton', both five months old. Their owner said that the Sphynx breed is almost naked, with a little bit of downy hair on some occasions. She said "Billy Idol" was dog-like in the way it followed her around the house. Another cat at the preview was a five and a half month old male black and white Persian, "Basketcase", also from Virginia. "Basketcase", who has been in competition since he was four months old, also has another name -- 'Crazy' that his agent and owner say they prefer. Linda Rogge, the handling agent for 'Basketcase' said the cat really seemed to like New York City, which he is visiting for the first time. "He's a five and a half month old male and he loves everybody and Starbucks coffee, we found out," said Rogge. Then there was a brown and white female Calico Persian called "Crystal" from Atlanta, Georgia. She is five years old and is an avid competitor, out almost every other weekend at competitions across the country, having won 67 best cat ribbons. Her owner, Gene Dugger, says she loves to travel and is one of the best cats she's ever bred. Many of these cats are expensive, but Pam Delabar, President Of The Cat Fanciers Association, believes you can't necessarily put a price on them. "Well, intrinsically, quite a bit because that's what the owners feels about the cat. Monetarily, there are cats - our Persians go upto five thousand dollars easily and some cats are actually invaluable for their ability to project out a strong, healthy progeny, after they've done with their show career." The cats also have little traits that make them endearing, but Delabar says that almost any cat can attract her attention. "Any kitten can come up in the ring and just look at you and maybe just sort of fall down, purr, do, needing or the bread, making bread like we call it. They are just plain cute and they're adorable by what they do in the ring," she said Also attracting attention at the preview was 'Tattoo', a black furry cat, down from Italy and 'Mackie', a domestic short hair that will be taking part in the agility section of the upcoming championship. 'Tattoo' who just turned five months old has a new owner who's hoping that the cat will do well at the competition. Another cat 'Hugh Jackman', along with 'Tattoo' have visited the NYSE and have both had the special distinction of ringing the closing bell. The Cat Championship will be held in the Big Apple's Madison Square Garden on October 14th and 15th.

ITN Source | October 14, 2006

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