2009.01.18
Kitties on the catwalk
The kitties take the stage this weekend at the annual Star City Cat Fanciers "Cats in Coat" show at the Holiday Inn near the Roanoke Airport.
Felines from across the region will compete for honors including best in breed and of course, best in show. Shorthairs, longhairs, no hairs, you name it, you can see it. Whatever kind of kitty suits your fancy, the Fanciers have it.
If you like cats and have never been to a cat show before, you really should go. You will not see Fluffy strut her stuff around a ring like the doggies do at their shows. The more dignified felines interact with the judges one at a time, but there are always several rings going on simultaneously, so there is never a lull in the action.
The kitties are kept in carriers in conference rooms while they wait their turns to impress the judges, which allows fans the opportunity to look at the cats and their tricked-out mobile homes and chat with the servants who tote them around.
The servants, sometimes called the owners, are passionate about their felines and are usually happy to answer questions about their kitties, but they do have to listen for their call to be judged, so if they don't want to converse, it's nothing personal.
If your kitties are like mine, they do not really appreciate a lot of excess handling. Believe me, the show kitties have no problem with being patted down like suspect in custody. They are the most agreeable cats you will ever meet. Hardly any cat-titude at all.
This year the Roanoke Valley SCPA will also be at the show with adoptable kitties. So you can go to the show and go home with a purring souvenir.
Show hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The hotel is located at 3315 Ordway Drive in Roanoke.
