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Perth Now
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Feline fanatics take over Perth for first-ever cat fair
West Aussies have driven far and wide to be part of Perth's first-ever Oz Feline Fair hosted by social media sensation Steven Meserve who said cats are riding the popularity train closer to dogs than ever. Feline fanatics lined up outside the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday morning eager for the festivities, cat-themed experiences and cosplay competition to begin. The Watkin family woke up at 5am and drove from Northam to Perth for 5-year-old Fifi and 3-year-old Willo to look at cats despite mum, Antonia, not being a fan of the animal herself. 'Fifi has been obsessed with cats ever since she had a rainbow kitty dance party for her birthday... I'm not really a cat person but you gotta do what you gotta do for the kids,' Ms Watkin said. Boom Court and her daughter Leona were cat shopping at the fair despite her husband having a strict no-cat rule at home. 'We are not going to get a cat today but we will surprise him with one once our home renovations are will learn to love it,' Ms Court said. About 130 felines competed, with the titles of Best in Breed and Best in Show available to both domestic and pedigree entrants. The winners will be announced on Sunday. Boom Court with her daughter Leona, 9. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The Sunday Times International cat judge and charismatic TikTok influencer Mr Meserve was the star of the show on Saturday and the host of the CATstravaganza competition. Mr Meserve, 52, has been a cat judge for 25 years despite studying marketing and public relations in university. He started Loving Cats Worldwide, the host of the CATstravaganza show, three years ago with a dream to convert people into 'cat people'. 'I think cats are having their moment finally and I will say thanks to me,' he said. 'The first cat show happened only 12 years after the first dog show... I think why it's never been celebrated is because it's never been cool and now it's becoming cool, 'I think finally, they're getting their moment and at Loving Cats Worldwide we convert a lot of non-cat people into cat people and it is bringing cats to the same level as dogs.' Social media personality Steven Meserve. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The Sunday Times Mr Meserve has 15 cats and two dogs living inside his 10-bedroom Portugal home with him despite growing up in a dog-only household. Sphynx cat breeder Angela Irvine and the social media star said cat ownership is on the rise because they are low maintenance. 'People can't afford big houses anymore and they are opting for apartment living and it's so much more convenient to have a cat in an apartment than a dog,' Ms Irvine said. The event has already graced Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide and Melbourne, with Sydney to follow Perth in June. Cat show manager Judy Coish said there were thousands more attendees in Perth compared to the previous fairs over-east. 'Perth VIP tickets sold out first, and the ticket sales were more than any other state, even big states like New South Wales and Victoria,' Ms Coish said. Perth's epic turnout has secured the city will be on the CATstravaganza show list next year. 'We'll definitely be back in Perth because I think the turnout here has been the best ... our last stop is Sydney, so even for the biggest city in Australia, I don't think it is even going to touch the capacity that came to Perth.'
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Yahoo
‘We are their voice': BPD detective weighs in on internet predators targeting kids through video games
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Elk Grove man accused of abducting a 10-year-old girl he met on the video game Roblox appeared in a Kern County courtroom Friday afternoon. 27-year-old Matthew Naval of Elk Grove in Sacramento County has been charged with seven felonies — kidnapping, kidnapping a child under 14 years of age to commit sex acts, as well as four counts under Penal Code Section 288 — two counts of sex acts with a child under 14, exhibiting harmful matter to a minor, contacting a minor with the *intent to commit sexual offense… and contacting a minor *to commit sexual offense. '288 is very serious, right? It's for a crime that's committed against a child that's under 14,' said Detective Aaron Watkin, with the Bakersfield Police Department. During his Friday arraignment, Naval's bail set at $1.35 million. Naval is barred from contacting the alleged victim. Postponement of the arraignment requested by criminal defense attorney Mark Anthony Raimondo, who says he's likely to represent Naval. The Kern County Sheriff's Office says the 27-year-old met a 10-year-old on Roblox, the online video game. On Saturday, Naval picked up the girl from Taft. She was located Sunday in Elk Grove, alongside Naval, in his car at a strip mall near his residence. Wrong man, wrong bed, wrong treatment: Patient's death prompts medical board to discipline California doctor Naval was arrested and booked for kidnapping and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor child. 'The focus of this is protecting the kid. That's the number one thing. We are their voice. Sometimes, kids can't speak for themselves,' said Detective Watkin. Detective Watkin is not involved in this case, but weighed in as an expert on sex crimes. In Kern County, this isn't the first case involving Roblox. In 2023, a man was charged for engaging in sex acts with a teenage girl he met online. He was sentenced to three years in prison and must register as a sex offender for life. 'These kids nowadays are using their electronics all the time. So number one, it's important for parents to know what their kids are doing online,' said Detective Watkin. 'So, I know this case was specific to Roblox, but it's anything, any type of online platform where there's some sort of communication.' In a statement, Roblox says in part quote, 'We have a zero-tolerance policy against child endangerment, and a range of safety features to guard against predatory behavior.' Naval has no prior record in Kern County and his arraignment is set for Monday. 'Parents, if they see something, they need to say something,' said Detective Watkin. 'Call us, let us know, and we can hopefully help them and get them out of their situation.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
