Montrose - Daily Press

MONTROSE — The Montrose County Fairgrounds filled with catcalls Saturday — the kind made by felines wanting the world to take note of them at the cat show.

"It looked really fun," said Aaron Lenihan of Olathe of why he entered. He was showing his seal point Ragdoll cat, Smokey.

The 2-year-old male cat went on to win grand champion in showmanship in the intermediate division. Smokey's challenger, a year-old longhaired orange-and-white male named Firestar, also claimed a fair number of accolades for his owner, Jennifer Franz.

Cat show Judge Loretta Karl, smiles as Firestar dressed in his matching denim-and-fur jacket competes in the cat costume contest during the Montrose County Fair and Rodeo Saturday afternoon. Firestar won a blue ribbon for his costume. (Joel Blocker / Daily Press ) Advertisement

Jennifer said she'd entered Firestar last year, as a kitten, because "it just sounded like fun."

Claiming everything in the junior division for the cat show was Sherbert, an orange-and-white Turkish van-type cat shown by Aaron's sister, Celia Lenihan.

It's not all primping and purrs, though. Judge Loretta Karl said contestants are judged for their knowledge of cats; their care of cats; by the condition of their cats' fur; showmanship ability and creativity. They can also compete in best cage design and costumes.

It's Karl's third time judging the cat show. She also judged this year's pocket pet entries: Aaron's hamster, Commando, and a bearded dragon, the latter of which claimed top honors.

"It's really fun," Karl, a cat owner herself, said. "I really enjoy the kids."

Karol she'd like to see more kids take advantage of the pocket pet contests, where entries can be just about any smaller animal.

"It's a cool thing for city kids and younger kids. It's such a good thing for kids to have," she said.

"So many of the kids could do this," Jennifer's mother, Dorothy Franz, said. "Wouldn't it be awesome for kids to come down here and achieve something?"

There were achievements aplenty at the cat show. Karl quizzed Jennifer and Aaron on their general cat knowledge, ultimately finding that Aaron had the slight edge.

Aaron also won first place for cage design — he made Smokey's cage into a feed store, complete with a "silo" he made out of scrap metal, a toy truck and hand-made feed sacks.

Jennifer didn't enter the category — she said that last year, Firestar enjoyed the decorations a little too much.

In the intermediate cat toy contest, Jennifer took second for her feather ball, while Aaron won first for his hand-made cat tower and attached toys.

Both of the older kids also dressed their cats in costumes. Smokey was a denim-clad farm hand, or "working paw," as Aaron put it, and about as happy as you'd expect a costumed cat to be. After briefly fighting his fur-trimmed hat, a mellow Firestar stole the show in his matching denim-and-fur jacket, claiming the blue ribbon.

Firestar also won first in the domestic longhair class. Overall, he took home three red ribbons, one blue ribbon and the reserve champion ribbon.

Smokey was awarded four blue ribbons, a third-place ribbon, plus the grand champion ribbon, while Sherbert claimed two blue and one red ribbon, plus grand champion in showmanship for the junior division.

 

Comments

aparent wrote on Jul 20, 2009 10:06 PM:

" I think this is a delightful story, and the kids obviously worked very hard to showcase their pets. Thanks Daily Press! "




Report Abuse

Poor cat wrote on Jul 19, 2009 5:40 PM:

" Why would any cat owner dress it in fur? How disrespectful to the cat, and other creatures with fur! "




Report Abuse