Over 100 cats from around the world will be flown into North Augusta in early September for an all-breed championship cat show.
Cattyshack Cat Club, the local group for The International Cat Association, will host the show at Riverview Park Activities Center at 100 Riverview Park Drive on Sept. 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The cost is $10 per person or $30 for a family of four, with only cash or Zelle being accepted for payment. The local group is expecting at least a couple hundred attendees.
There will also be a place to adopt local cats in need of forever homes.
Over 100 cats of up to 72 different breeds will be a part of the show, which offers awards to winners, but no monetary prizes.
Jennie Hodges, head of advertising for Cattyshack, which was founded in 1994, said some cats come from as far as China.
“These are cat enthusiasts who like to learn about them and see them, and it’s also a social thing,” she said. “A lot of it isn’t about the cats winning something but about being around other people.”
At the show, the cats will start off in show cages, where attendees can come by and ask the owners about the breed. When it’s their turn to compete, the cats will be brought into the ring and placed on the table in front of the judges, who will look at their bone structure, coat and temperament.
Hodges said she knows one local who can’t have a cat at home because her parents are allergic, so she’s coming to the show to get her fill of cats.
“The main thing about the show is to learn more about cats and proper care and breeding and cutting down on stray cats,” she said. “As long as you’re not allergic, it’s a good thing.”
