Persian color point from Odesa named the Cat of the Year

Buying an elite-bred kitten these days is as expensive as an elite puppet. $300 or thereabouts for a small mewing fur ball sounds quite reasonable. And this despite the fact that a cat will never show the dog’s dedication or prove useful to man in any practical way. It is generally believed that a dog becomes attached to man and a cat to man’s home. Nevertheless, this most freedom-loving of all domesticated animals remains a true obsession with many; it is a perfect introvert in relationships with man.

An international exhibit of the World Federation of Cats, held last weekend at the National Ecology and Nature Center, displayed 150 breeds. The Canadian and the Don River Sphynx were correctly regarded as the rarest, on a par with the British shorthair, Scottish Fold, and red “marble cat.” There are also grand Siamese cats snobbishly watching the visitors, big fluffy Persians good- naturedly lying on their cushions and paying no attention to anyone. Practically every cage had a tag informing that the inmate was purebred. Many boasted champion certificates (after all, if a pet was good enough, why not display it and make the most of it?). And the prices were remarkably different, some selling at several hundred hryvnias. It is just that not all kittens of a litter can eventually compete, it takes conspicuous breed characteristics, like so many stripes on the face or a definite combination of colors.

Despite the excitement among the visitors, the cats were rather phlegmatic and none mewed too loud. The woman with a huge black Persian said that the poor things got tired sitting in a cage for two days more than in a week of active life. It is not very pleasant to sit or lie there, being watched by thousands of eyes, even if you know that they are marveling at you. Most of the cats slept, sometimes assuming such grotesque postures that one groped for one’s video camera, to send the tape to the popular television show Make Yourself a Film Director. The Don River Sphynx’s kittens were clad in wool vests. Their fur is so short it looks more like skin, so the little ones are best kept warm in winter.

Of course, the Cat of the Year contest was the focal event, organized by the Cat Breeders Alliance of Ukraine. Only cats winning other competitions during the year were eligible. This time the winner was a Persian color point with the impressive name Swift of Ever Top, owned by Olena Kharytonova from Odesa (of course, she called him just Swift). The rest of the contestants received consolation prizes. This contest is considered the most prestigious, so being placed even 12th is a matter of honor.

Exotic birds were displayed in the next hall. Canaries and parakeets sang at the top of their voices, happily oblivious of the deadly neighborhood (although their enemies were too drowsy to pay any attention, besides most were not predators but expensive house toys).