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Show Lets The Cats Out Of The Bag

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By DAVID SOMMER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 4, 2008

DADE CITY - Cat people took over Dan Cannon Auditorium at the county fairgrounds this past weekend, and the signs were everywhere.

"SHOKATZ," read the Georgia plate on one SUV parked in the chaotic lot outside. "My cat is smarter than your honor student," read the bumper sticker on another.

Inside the hall, cat smell punctuated the air. But unlike their canine rivals for human affection would have been, this crowd was quiet for the most part.

Except for the Siamese: They will tell you what for.

Dorothy Werner of St. Augustine names her Siamese after "Star Trek" characters. She fed Alexi Starship Helmsman Sulu her favorite treat, judging from the cat's anxious anticipation, as they waited to be called into the ring.

Apparently, the tasty but very expensive treat did the trick. Helmsman Sulu, a blue-point with big ears and a long skinny nose, won the brown ribbon for best in breed Saturday from judge Walter Hutzler in Ring 3 on Saturday.

Nearby, Debbi Stevenson of Geneva watched her cat Lexington as she put up with the antics of a young kitten.

"She's gotten shown a lot, so she's used to this," Stevenson said of her seal point Siamese.

Sure enough, Lexi, as she is known, won a blue ribbon for best in breed from judge David Mare in Ring 2.

Hutzler, of New York, and Mare, of Las Vegas, are virtual rock stars on the Cat Fanciers Association show circuit. The weekend's event was presented by the Miami Florida Cat Fanciers and featured more than 220 felines competing in a variety of classes and categories.

Each entrant got a chance to show off in each of four rings on both days, so there were a lot of ribbons and happy cat people on hand.

Many who weren't showing their cats Saturday wandered up to the main stage, where cat expert Judy Thomas of New York lectured on the characteristics and personalities of various breeds.

"I call it a breed showcase, although some call it a parade of breeds," Thomas said of her well-attended sessions. "A parade of breeds sounds like they are all going to prance out in colorful costumes, which is not the case."

Thomas advised Winter Haven resident Kay Kern to stick with the Abysssinian breed after Kern told of losing Tippy, her beloved Aby, to old age last year.

"I was brought up to hate cats, which is bad, and I lived two-thirds of my life not knowing what I was missing," Kern said.

"I was sick once, and she Tippy brought every toy in the house and put them on top of me.

"They pick you. You don't pick them."

Nearby, Lilly Cagle, 6, of Dade City, petted a playful Sphynx.

"It feels like velvet," the girl said of the hairless cat's skin.

Cagle said she had two cats at home but didn't know what type they were.

"Plain old mixed-breeds," her mother, Jessica, reported.

Reporter David Sommer can be reached at (727) 815-1087 or dsommer@tampatrib.com.

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