My first cat show attendance was back in 1992, the day after my former husband moved out.

My daughter and I needed something to fill the void and a cat show seemed to be just the right thing. We entered the auditorium in Omaha, Nebraska -- our home at the time -- to a cold stiffness from human and feline.

It was all business, all breed-oriented, all competition, and we stayed only a short while. Though I could hear the meows that emanated from all directions, we were allowed nowhere near the judging, nor could I touch even one cat! Though many of the cats wouldn't mind it in the least, no exceptions were granted for me to "see" the cats by touching them.

The icy, human-created rigidity spun us right out the door after we'd bought cute cat shirts.

Last Sunday, my current husband and I attended a cat show near where we now live in Washington. Upon entering the door, the familiar feline odors beckoned us in -- real cats! Real people, perhaps? Yes!

I'm sure that my "crazy cats" T-shirt alerting everyone that I was a cat person might have helped. However, the warmth of true cat lovers and the willingness of dear felines brought us together in the most purr-fect mini-relationships. Not once did I, with fear and trepidation of "no," find myself asking to pet or hold a cat. Kitties of all kinds from carefully-bred cats to housecats, were on their way to me as if magnetically.

There seemed to be an understanding that my touching or holding a prized cat would not only help me perceive the show, but it was a good "brag" for the owners and quite often a few minutes of safe, trustworthy, friendly physical attention to the cats. I felt the plush, thick fur of a blue (gray) British short-hair. The incredibly soft fur of a Persian kitten made it hard for me to let go. There was the familiar build and beauty of a Himalayan reminiscent of our Kabootle (now on the other side of Rainbow Bridge). However, the most astounding was the Devon Rex with scant but wavy fur, crinkly whiskers, huge ears and a tail whose touch was much like our Jaspur's would feel if almost shaven.

Not only did the cat owners, cats and I bond, but my husband and I were invited to attend the judging. Fearing that this was a cruel competition, totally awful for cats to endure, I was reluctant. But there we were on the bench. A female judge was very vocal in her descriptions of each cat and her choices.

There were kitties there for adoption, too. Jim had to pull me away after I'd petted or held each one! I wanted them all! And it goes without question that they wanted me! That's how it goes with cats.

After such a humane cat show experience, it was indeed an honor to be allowed to hold "best first kitten" and "best first housecat" among others. I was able to judge for myself who the first cats were -- all of them!

Yes, there were the usual concerns about spreading germs, cats smelling other cats on me or perhaps my own cats, Jaspur and Mikey, possibly leaving their scents on me. Thanks partly to antibacterial soap and spritzers, and mostly open-hearted sharing, these concerns were minimized. At one point we left with toys for our kitties and were back again -- as if the show were addictive.

But it was the unguarded acceptance by cat loving humans and all those precious felines who brought us back.

This, indeed, was my "First Best Cat Show" of all!

Copyright © Lauren L. Merryfield
February 23, 2001