HKICC Cat Show

We have been running a reward system with Hannah where she can earn (or lose) 'smileys' for good (or bad) behavior.   She normally earns 'smileys' by doing homework or chores and they are redeemable for things like extra TV-time or toys.  Over the last 6 months Hannah has been saving towards her goal of 50 smileys - the price of a kitten.

By April Hannah had banked 60 'smileys', and she returned from NZ determined to get her kitten.    Hannah Papa is allergic to most cats, so the kitten has to be an 'allergy free' breed like Cornish Rex or Devon Rex.   So we contacted the only Cornish Rex breeder in Hong Kong and arranged to meet them at a cat show.

The Hong Kong International Cat Club Show was held at MacPherson Stadium in Mong Kok where I'd once participated in a tai chi competition.   This was our first time to got to a cat show and we found it a fun but rather strange event.    Most of the hall was filled with tables with cats in their carriers waiting to be judged.  

Champion Cat Show Judging

Around the side of the hall were 8 or so 'rings' where judges from several different countries were judging the cats in terms of the 'ideal' characteristics for their breed, and giving awards like best-in-breed and best-in-show.  

Cornish Rex Judging

We watched the Cornish Rex category being judged by Florida-based Wayne Trevathan CFA (Cat Fanciers Association).   It turns out that Mr Trevathan is actually from Nelson, NZ (link) and does about 40 shows per year around the world.

Cornish Rex best in show

The show was sponsored by the Australian Cat Food 'RAW BARF'.    Apparently BARF stands for 'biologically appropriate raw food'.   I found this a very odd choice of acronym, since 'barf' is also slang for 'vomit' (link).   Possibly the result of some drunken late-night bet at an Aussie marketing conference!  

Competitors conserving energy between events

The cats themselves seemed quite relaxed and the owners seemed to be enjoying hanging out and chatting with other cat fanciers, and having their moggies evaluated.

The breeders we had come to meet, Ree and Chrissie, were a very nice couple,  They actually live quite near us in Tai Po, and they have a new litter of Cornish Rex kittens.  So if everything goes well Hannah might be able to choose a (3-month old) kitten in 2 months.