Cat's Meow

The fur was flying in Iselin last weekend. Hundreds of cats from throughout the Northeast made the pilgrimage to the Central Jersey Cat Fanciers Cat Show (www.ticama.org/).

Coiffed like beauty contestants, and  traveling in cushy crates with leopard print drapes, the fabulously well bred felines purred and spat but mostly reveled in the scene and the attention.

There were sleek Abyssinians stretching, Persians prowling, Ragdolls primping. A Chartreux — one of the so-called “smiling blue cats” from France — leered at her judge as she clung like a magnet to the scratch pole. There was even a category for cats labeled “Household Pets”… a catchall for every Tom, Dick or Harry who is “clean, well fed and altered,” according to the show spectator’s guide.

While it was hardly the most important of contests, the costume competition caught our eye. We voted the cat dressed as Elvis Presley “best in show” (www.njmyway.com for video) with the poor kitty with the Thanksgiving turkey outfit a close runner-up.
 
There were treats for the cool cat in your life. Tabbywalk Design (www.tabbywalkdesign.com) brought silver-plated kitty charms bracelet and hand-painted drinking glasses with a colorful puss. Other vendors sold handbags and totes for the cat obsessed, cat-oure clothing, and gourmet pet food. 

Some owners sported scratches like badges after their pets lost their tempers during the long wait for judging. Others sat staunchly crate-side, hoping kitty would bring home the blue.

Peter Zabrowski, from Glen Gardner, admitted his Bengal cat Mr. Montague had not performed at his peak. 

“He’s a little lazy right now, ” Peter said. “I think he’s getting tired of the whole affair.”  

Mr. Montague looked sleepily at us. A cat outfitted as Queen Latifah was called to the costume ring. Three days is a long time for anyone to be at their best, even when you are dressed to the nines.
  

Tags: Central Jersey Cat Fanciers Cat Show | Iselin

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