‘I love my cats': All's fair for feted felines at curious new cat expo
A phalanx of felines basked in the slavish, open adoration of fanciers who flocked to Melbourne's newest cat expo on Sunday.
And for an inaugural event, there was enough to see at the Oz Feline Fair to tickle cat lovers' fancies, including a hairless elf-breed cat riding a skateboard, Bengal cats with leopard-like fur, and Persian cats with enough hair to make a small rug.
Even attendees like Zoe Jackson, 9, of Thomastown, who already had pet moggies queued for the popular 'pat a kitten' stall. Zoe wanted 'to pat a different cat'.
On the stage, charismatic Portugal-based American cat judge Steven Meserve held court, talking about the characteristics of Persian cats.
Charmayne Hales, of Enfield, near Ballarat, said she didn't have three of her cats judged at the fair for the money. The prize for 'supreme exhibit', won by Lil Winnie, a Singapura cat owned by Fiona Sullivan, of Grantville, was worth about $1500.
Hales said she enjoys showing off the rare breed Australian mist, which was developed 50 years ago and blends Burmese, Abyssinian and domestic breeds.
Hales said she, husband Gary and daughter Emma, 12, love chatting to the public at the 20 shows a year they attend with their cats.
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