GALLERY: Cat of the Year concluded

The Southern Africa Cat Council held the Cat of the Year competition at the Randpark Golf Club on 7 August.

“I started showing cats in the 80s and my feral won Best Cat on Show and I was hooked,” said Honeydew resident and judge Karen Pepler who has been involved with showing cats ever since.

According to Pepler there were 80 from all over the country. There were 30 adults, 30 neuters, 13 kittens and seven domestic pets – pavement specials and rescues. To get to the Cat of the Year competition, cats have to attend every show.

Cats get awards which count for a number of points as they progress from Champion to Grand Champion to Supreme Champion through their lives. If a cat gets nominated for best in show they also win points and if a cat wins a section or Best Cat of the Day they also get points and they all add up.

When asked what the most important features of a cat are that a judge considers, Pepler said “The shape of the head and body conformation is the most important. The importance of colour depends on the breed. For example, when judging a Birman judges consider the eye colour, body colour, points (ears, nose, feet and tail) and the mitts. In other breeds, judges take into account coat texture, face type, body type and muscularity. While the Siamese is elegant, a Persian is more solid. The Maine Coon falls in the same judging section as the Birman. However, no value is given to colour or pattern or eye colour – only coat texture and type.”

The cats were judged by Ngaio Crawley, Jan van Rooyen, Rita Wiseman and Gail Nel.

The Cat of the Year 2015 awards were as follows:

• Best Kitten: Aquila Nouha, a white Persian, owned by Renee van Wyk
• Best Adult: Supreme Champion Pearl Squeaky, a cream Burmese, owned by Penny Steyn
• Best Neuter: Premier Shakespurr’s William, a blue bi-colour Persian, owned by Hannelie Röhrs
• Best Pet: Mazzouri, owned by Lashan Moodley
• Cat of the Year: Supreme Champion Pearl Squeaky, owned by Penny Steyn