| For thousands of years going back to the Ancient | | | | look like a Persian but have short hair; Siberian cats, |
| Egyptians, cats have been put on public display. But | | | | which history shows have been around for at least |
| the first cat shows in the United States, held in | | | | one thousand years; Sphinx cats, which are the most |
| Maine, didn't appear until between 1860 and 1870. | | | | famous of the hairless cats, and probably made most |
| Finally, in 1895, a show clawed its way into New York | | | | popular in recent years by Doctor Evil from the |
| City, hosted in Madison Square Garden. | | | | Austin Powers movies; and Abyssinian cats, one of |
| Badoop-badoop! Fast-forward to the present: Cat | | | | the oldest known breeds on this planet. One of my |
| clubs and cat fancy organizations are everywhere, | | | | favorites was a plump Russian Blue Cat with a plush |
| holding local, state and national shows in every part | | | | double coat similar to a beaver--gorgeous! |
| of the country. And no wonder: If you search | | | | What a spectacle, these fancy cat shows! Cat toys |
| YouTube, either online or on your TV with your TiVo | | | | are everywhere, grooming stations and supplies to |
| HD DVR, it's very clear that you don't have to be a | | | | style and fluff abound, and the large crates where |
| cat breeder to be easily amused and entertained by | | | | the cats are displayed are decorated with animal |
| the very funny videos featuring endless breeds of | | | | prints, feather boas and more! In preparation for the |
| cats--from hilarious cat bloopers to just cute cat | | | | show, cats are bathed, nails clipped, and ears cleaned. |
| behaviour. But what's missing from most of these | | | | And some cats are more "high-maintenance" than |
| viral videos are a the cat fanciers themselves, who | | | | others. A long haired cat requires much more effort |
| regularly travel across the country attending cat | | | | than a short haired cat and, if shown on a regular |
| shows. Talk about a special breed of PEOPLE! | | | | basis, must be bathed weekly and combed twice |
| Perhaps you're familiar with the crazy cat lady on | | | | daily! What divas! |
| some of The Simpsons episodes? I guess they're not | | | | Here are a few grooming tricks I learned while I was |
| all THAT crazy--are they? | | | | there: By fluffing up the hair on top of a cat's head, |
| So... I went to Pleasanton, California with a very clear | | | | you can modify the appearance of large ears; to |
| mission: to find out just how crazy people can get | | | | make a cat's tail appear shorter, trim the excess hair |
| about cats--and, while I was there, to learn out how | | | | at the end of the tail; to give the kitty a rounded |
| well they know their famous felines of Film and | | | | look, clip the hair around the face; and to make their |
| Television with our very first Badoop-Badoop Cat | | | | eyes look rounder, cut the hair over the eyes; finally, |
| Quiz! | | | | to make the cat's neck look thicker or shorter, just |
| What better place to get a close-up perspective of | | | | comb out its ruff so that it stands out to frame its |
| the cat fancier lifestyle than the Crow Canyon Cat | | | | face. Do you think our favorite Hollywood stars heed |
| Show! I couldn't believe all the cats I saw: Siamese | | | | any of this advice? |
| cats, known for their legendary voice and captivating | | | | Even though our breeders didn't get every answer |
| blue eyes; Persian cats, with their long flowing coats | | | | correct in our Cat Quiz, it's clear that these folks |
| and open pansy-like faces; Himalayan cats, actually a | | | | clearly know and love their cats. I got a particular |
| Persian cat with the color pattern of a Siamese cat | | | | kick out of the fact that while that the show |
| (who knew?!); the Egyptian Mau, which were | | | | manager assured me that cat people are not crazy, |
| worshiped as deities in ancient Egypt; the remarkably | | | | the club's treasurer told me that the difference |
| dense and muscular Tonkinese; Burmese cats, often | | | | between cat owners and dog owners is that Dogs |
| described as "bricks wrapped in silk"; Exotic cats that | | | | have "Masters," and Cats have "Staff. |