THERE’S sure to be plenty of catcalls heard at Madison Square Garden this weekend – only this time, they’re not coming from Knicks players.
Cat lovers are coming from all over the country to show off their pets at the fifth annual CFA-IAMS Cat Championship. The, ahem, cat-estants are in search of that most elusive prey: the title of “Best of the Best CFA Cat Champion of 2007.”
Last year, Evgeni Plushenko – a Russian blue from Long Island – beat out more than 200 in his breed. But the fame must have been too much for him, because as soon as he was declared the winner, he leapt from the judge’s arms, fled the auditorium, and went missing for 14 hours.
His year in the spotlight is up; now, a new winner must step up atop the scratching post. In order to be a contender, cats navigate a string of mazes and tunnels with the fastest time possible. They are judged on agility and appearance.
The winner receives a trophy,
a year’s supply of cat food, and a basket of products and toys. Owners will keep the contestants happy backstage by feeding them treats – freeze-dried chicken, kibble and, oddly, baby food (who knew?) But for anyone looking to see fur fly, it’s unlikely that there’ll be any catfights before the big show. If, however, you’re looking to adopt a cat that doesn’t come with a schmancy pedigree, there is an Adopt-a-Thon in MSG’s Garden Terrace, where 500 homeless cats are looking for a home. Sounds purr-fect to us!
The show begins today at 10 a.m. and continues tomorrow at Madison Square Garden. Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com ($15 for adults). The Adopt-a-Thon runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow. For more information, call (877) 232-7469.