Intersection

Things we learned at the High Rollers Cat Show in Henderson

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Photo: Rosalie Spear

You’ve seen Fido strut his stuff around the ring as his proud owner stands by, awaiting judgement on whose dog is Best in Show. But did you know there’s a similar venue for Fido’s feline counterparts, and that there exists an entire subculture surrounding cat shows and breeding? Here are several things we learned about cats, and their competitions, at the 13-ring High Rollers Cat Show in Henderson on August 28.

1.The High Rollers Cat Show was sanctioned by the International Cat Association, which administers the rules, licensing and management of hundreds of cat shows annually in 103 countries. Cats are judged on categories like Best of Color, Best of Division and Best of Breed.

2.A place where cats are commercially housed is called a “cattery.” They come in two varieties: boarding catteries (like kennels, for when you’re away on vacation) and breeding catteries (where cats are bred as a hobby or sold for profit).

Breeders Judy Sugden and Jean Mill.

3.Werewolves are real, sort of. The lykoi cat, a newly discovered natural mutation from Tennessee, is an up-and-comer in the world of cat breeding. Lykoi roughly means “wolf cat” in Greek, and with their tufts of black and grey hair and bright yellow or green eyes, they look like miniature versions of their namesake. However, these littles ones are usually very gentle, intelligent and loyal to their human family, unlike the ones we hear about around Halloween.

4. The bengal cat, created by Jean Mill in the 1980s, was the first breed to combine a wild animal (the Asian leopard cat) with a domestic cat. The bengal is currently the No. 1 registered breed in TICA. Mill’s daughter Judy Sugden is following closely in her footsteps with her creation of the toyger. I met both of these cat world legends, Mill and Sugden, at the show. Sugden told me that the toyger ("toy tiger") looks like a mini version of the real thing, but it’s bred only with domestic cats. She’s used selective breeding with about 50 cats so far to sculpt the toyger’s unique look.

Men & Cats

5.Did you know you can clone your cat? ViaGen Pets, a company specializing in pet cloning, was in attendance at the show, and it was there that I discovered the future is now. You can completely clone your cat for $25,000 (or your dog for $50,000). They also offer services for express tissue banking for $500 and genetic preservation for $1,600. With ViaGen, I suppose you never have to say goodbye to your furry family member. “… A truly special pet provides us a unique sense of comfort and life-enriching fulfillment, which is nearly impossible to extend beyond your pet’s natural lifespan. Until now,” reads ViaGen’s website.

6.There’s a book out there called Men & Cats by Marie-Eva Gatuingt and Alice Chaygneaud. Based on the French Tumblr Des Hommes et des Chatons, this book is a series of images of hunky men alongside adorable cats and kittens posed in the same or similar way. If it’s not on your coffee table yet, it needs to be.

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