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- Straits Times
Celeb Pawrents: Actor-DJ Dennis Chew's pedigree Toyger won 8 awards in first cat competition
SINGAPORE – It was their first feline competition, and local actor-DJ Dennis Chew went in with no expectations.
He was pleasantly surprised when his fur-sibling Woody, a male one-year-old Toyger, went on to win eight rosettes at Universal Cat Association Singapore' s inaugural cat show held at Suntec City on June 7.
Woody, which Chew adopted from local breeder Origins Toyger in 2024, was the only such breed in the competition, which featured about 60 cat breeds.
A Toyger is a rare feline pedigree, and can cost between $13,000 and $35,000. It is known for its distinctive coat of deep orange hues and dark stripes reminiscent of a tiger's.
Four judges from China, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand assessed each cat based on attributes such as physical appearance, temperament, confidence and grooming condition.
The Malaysian and Singaporean judges named Woody as the best cat in the Shorthair Specialty category. Woody was chosen as the third- and fifth-best cat in the All Breed category by the Chinese and Thai judges respectively.
Chew, 51, confidently says Woody could have been ranked higher if 'he wasn't so grumpy'.
The Love 972 DJ, actor and host says: 'It was his first time in a public place. The numerous cats, smells and noises also stressed Woody out.' Moreover, the competition was long, from 9am to 6pm.
The experience was an eye-opener, and Chew says he is looking forward to more such competitions.
Despite his fierce-looking appearance, Woody is playful, friendly and affectionate. He also gets along with Chew's other cat. Furby is a male four-year-old chocolate golden point British shorthair that he bought for $5,000 from a local pet shop four years ago.
Woody (left) won eight awards at Universal Cat Association Singapore's inaugural cat show on June 7.
ST PHOTO: TARYN NG
Furby is quiet and chill, and always greets him at the door when he gets home, says Chew. 'Woody is the vocal cat and will greet me with a meow. He will also follow me around the house,' he adds.
The cats – both sterilised, licensed and microchipped – get along very well, something Chew is thankful for. They are also very sociable, unlike the stereotype that cats are aloof creatures.
'When they play rough, it looks like they are fighting each other, but you can also see them stroking each other often,' he says.
He adds: 'Furby may be the older brother, but the real alpha is Woody.'
Furby is a male four-year-old chocolate golden point British shorthair.
ST PHOTO: TARYN NG
Chew says he did not need to train them much, as they respond easily when their names are called. 'Furby can do one trick – a high five – when he's given treats,' he adds with a laugh.
His feline companions read his moods too. 'I'm generally a happy person, but there are times when I feel stressed, Furby and Woody will come and rub against me,' says Chew.
He recalls there was one day when he was feeling exceptionally down and lying in bed. 'Both of them came to my room and rested next to me, one on each side. Furby even put his paws around me, like he was hugging me.'
Chew, who graduated from Ngee Ann Polytechnic with a diploma in Chinese media and communication in May, says Woody will position himself on the table next to his computer when he does his work. 'He's a good study companion,' he says.
One of Woody's favourite spots in the house is on the table where Dennis Chew does his work.
ST PHOTO: TARYN NG
Both cats are also his 'meditation companions', he adds. 'They never fail to sit by me quietly whenever I meditate.'
The Mediacorp artiste has not always been a cat person. He is nominated for the BYD Favourite Male Character Award for his performance in the supernatural drama Mr Zhou's Ghost Stories@Job Haunting III (2024) at the upcoming Star Awards.
Chew used to have a schnauzer named Coffee, which he adopted from local shelter Voices For Animals in 2016. 'She was a breeder dog before she was abandoned, and was in such a bad shape when I met her,' he says.
'Her fur was all matted and her teeth were so decayed that the vet could not tell how old she was,' he adds.
The dog was very fearful of people, and it took Chew six months of love and care before it warmed up to him.
It never dawned upon Chew how bad the abuse was until he took Coffee to the vet once because she had diarrhoea. Wondering why Coffee had no reaction when given an injection, Chew says the vet told him that she had suffered a lot more pain when she was a breeder dog.
'Then the vet told me why Coffee never made any sound – her vocal cords had been cut. I cried when I heard that; how can people be so cruel? '
Coffee lived with Chew for five years, until he gifted the dog to his good friend's son.
'They visited my place one day, and while the son was playing with Coffee, he told his father that Coffee understands him very well,' says Chew.
While the adults did not think much about what the then 12-year-old boy said, his friend called Chew a few weeks later, asking if they could adopt Coffee.
'My friend found out that his son was being bullied in school and had suicidal thoughts,' says Chew. 'A psychiatrist suggested getting a companion pet for the boy, so when my friend asked if they could have Coffee, my reply was an immediate yes.'
He adds: 'The boy and Coffee had such an affinity. Coffee took to him instantly, which surprised us all. It felt so good seeing both of them together.'
It was after Coffee's departure that Chew thought of having cats, which offered another kind of companionship.
Unlike Coffee, who needed more care, Furby and Woody are independent and low-maintenance. Chew used to buy toys for them, but they lost interest in them quickly.
Furby always greets Dennis Chew at the door when he gets home.
ST PHOTO: TARYN NG
He says: 'I learnt the best and cheapest way to entertain them. I just need to throw them a ball of scrap paper, and they will play 'fetch' with it.'
He spends an average of $200 monthly on their grooming, litter and food, which consists of a diet of wet food and kibbles. He also pays about $1,200 a year for his cats' insurance premiums.
'Several pet food brands have approached me to offer to sponsor Furby and Woody's food in exchange for endorsements, but I rejected them,' says Chew. He points out that there is no need, as his pets are already used to the food and treats he feeds them.
He has no plans to add to his fur family. 'Two is enough,' he says. 'They give me so much joy. When I have a bad day, seeing them at home, all the stress disappears.'
Joanne Soh is a lifestyle correspondent at The Straits Times, with a special interest in entertainment and pop culture.
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