Cat show draws participants from across the country

MANSFIELD - The cat stood still with his tail in the air as Nan Schindler brushed his legs and belly.

"I'm just preparing him to go into the show ring," she said — the silver tabby was one of more than 170 cats to compete in the Mid Ohio Cat Fanciers Show, which started Saturday at the Richland County Fairgrounds.

Nearly 100 people drove from across North America to enter their cats in the show, which was sanctioned by the Cat Fanciers Association. Of the 43 breeds nationally recognized, Schindler said at least 35 were present Saturday.

Schindler, of Crestline, has been the co-manager of the show for the past 10 years. She's also a competitive cat shower herself, which takes up many of her weekends throughout the year.

"You'll have a show every weekend from May 1 until April 30 the following year," Schindler said.

Competitors were working hard Saturday to get as many points as possible before the end of the show year. The event in Mansfield was one of four sanctioned shows taking place across the country that day. Everyone was trying to earn a coveted top-25 national ranking, which would earn them a seat at the Cat Fanciers Association's upcoming annual banquet.

"This is an important show, since there are only three weeks left," Schindler said. "There are people in 26th and 27th place right now, trying to get a national win."

Jerry Allgire and his wife, Debbie, of Bowling Green, have been on the road a lot the past few weekends with their tonkinese kitten. They've been to New Orleans, Knoxville, Raleigh and Atlanta.

"You work, then run to a cat show, then work some more and then run to another cat show," Jerry said. "This is the last month we'll be able to show her."

The Allgires are 23rd out of 291 in the Great Lakes Region of the cat association, and Jerry suspects they'll will hold onto their seat on the annual banquet.

"I don't think we will fall out between now and the end of April," he said.

The event also showcased vendors selling cat nutrition products, hygiene products to prepare the cats for the show, coffee mugs, shirts and more. Everyone was planning to return Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Then, in a few weeks, everyone will start showing again at the start of the next season.

"It can be an extensive hobby," Schindler said, "but it's rewarding."

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