Sandy Pringle combs her domestic cat mythical being before her judgment at the traditional town Cat Club' sixth annual cat show at the Solomon Calhoun civic center in St. St. Augustine on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022.


For the traditional town Cat Club' sixth annual cat show this past weekend, the Solomon Calhoun civic center resembled a form of feline campground.


Rows upon rows of steel cages claimed as home bases were established to cater to, apply with, calm and trick out every cat contestant awaiting their flip within the judging rounds.


however these weren't normal waiting areas. No, they were additional like dignitary lounges or cat condos wrapped to seem sort of a Caribbean jungle (cat hammock included) or a habitation appropriate the Queen of Sheba.


house owners and handlers hand-fed their furred charges snacks like cracker buggy (each slice to precisely 1/4-inch) or bite-sized steamed carrots.


different cats and kittens were receiving unpunctual blow-outs from hair dryers connected to any retailers that would be found within the gymnasium area.


for his or her hopeful owners, it absolutely was simply par for the course for any cat show on the road.


Pirate Cats of St. St. Augustine

For years, archangel and Carol Rothfeld have organized the show, traditionally beaked because the competition "Celebrating the Pirate Cats of St. Augustine."


although none of the feline contestants are literally dressed up like swashbucklers, every year' show includes a visit from variety of native pirate reenactment teams who create for photos with the cats further as guests.


The puckish name, Carol Rothfeld said, comes from not solely St. Augustine' privateering origins however also the very fact that, as she said, "Every ship had a cat — not just for sensible luck however additionally to induce obviate any rodents."


Ancient town Cat Club money handler archangel Rothfeld and show managers Guy allice shad and Carol Rothfeld stand along at the show at the Solomon Calhoun civic center in St. St. Augustine on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022.


The Rothfelds, who currently board the Silver Creek motor-assisted living home, are former New Yorkers who for many years helped placed on a number of the most important international cat competitions at venues like Madison sq. Garden.


"So we all know the way to placed on a decent show," Carol same in an exceedingly phone interview with The Record last week, simply 2 days before Saturday' begin of the two-day event.


Through word of mouth and loads of social media connections within the cat showing community, the annual St. St. Augustine event (outside of 2021, once it absolutely was canceled because of COVID-19) typically attracts nearly two hundred cats and their owners, additionally to judges and spectators.


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it's run through the auspices of The International Cat Association and follows the grading standards of that organization.


There are six judgings on a daily basis for the 2 days of the show in areas akin to purebred standards, beauty, simple movement and temperament. Contestants and skilled judges come back from across the planet and nation.


Kittens aged 4-8 months are judged individually from those nine months and older, as are altered (spayed or neutered) animals, those certified as pedigree, and home (non-purebred) cats.


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so suggests that major fluffs of fur like Persians vie except for different breeds, even as skinny, lanky Sphinxes compete against their own kind.


because the rounds advance, judges bestow ribbons upon different breeds, further as better of division and so finally, best of show.


Archie Johns holds his cat Mon-da-ak at the traditional town Cat Club' sixth annual cat show at the Solomon Calhoun civic center in St. Augustine on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. Johns came from Horton, Alabama, for the event.


It doesn't look or feel very like AN yankee Kennel Club event, the dog equivalent of such competitions.


"People who have not been to a cat show don't have any plan however it works," Carol Rothfeld said. "There aren't any handlers with leashes leading the animals around a ring. It' additional regarding the judges taking every cat out of its show cage, inserting them on stage and judgment all consistent with the standards of that breed."


A feline 'Toddlers & Tiaras'

As one decide pulls a longhaired Ragdoll breed out of its cage onto the showing stage, another judge begins testing the feline' hand-eye coordination by waving a glittered wand before of her.


The cat responds well, pull au fait a clawing stand and increasing her body absolutely because the judges take down notes.


Another judge gently pulls back the Ragdoll' head to envision her mouth and teeth.


additional notes.


It' the feline equivalent of "Toddlers & Tiaras."


A cat appearance out from a carrier at the traditional town Cat Club' sixth annual cat show at the Solomon Calhoun civic center in St. St. Augustine on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022.


coming back from such far-flung locations as California, Tennessee and North American country — with traveling and lodging price not enclosed — why are such a big amount of drawn into this world?


Steven Lawson was a daily on the cat show circuit before turning into a judge.


Lawson, from Sarasota, said, "First, you get curious about one breed of cats. and so you get interested in aiming to shows, and then you get your 1st award ANd you're hooked."


the foremost unforgettable cat he' ever judged was "Toll Booth Harry" who was reclaimed once being tossed out of a moving truck close to a road toll booth, solely to become one in every of the most extremely embellished entries within the home cat class when his new house owners started showing him.


"He simply had this personality, ya know?" same Lawson.


To bring home a high ribbon suggests that not only bragging rights however an magnified market price for owners wanting to breed kittens from highly awarded progenitors.


The Rothfelds themselves embarked on that way.


Judge-in-training Tammy Ardolf watches Lynne Sherer decide a cat at the traditional town Cat Club' sixth annual cat show at the Solomon Calhoun civic center in St. St. Augustine on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022.


whereas they don't breed purebred cats anymore, the couple still maintains 2 of their favorite yankee shorthairs at their new residence in Silver Creek.


Their male cat, a former quadruple grand altered winner, is called Catch a Rising Star, or simply Carson for short. The female, named Charisma, is part of Carol' cattery (a specialty breeding group) referred to as Carocats.