NATICK, Mass. — Meow!
Cat lovers are invited to a cat gathering this weekend in Natick like no other.
New England Meow Outfit Inc. will hold its annual cat show, including a Cat-and-Owner Costume Contest. The contest is just one small part of the cat show, which is expected to bring together over 100 cats and over 30 pedigreed breeds.
The purrfect event will be held from 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at the VERVE Hotel Boston, 1360 Worcester St., Natick.
The event will also include kitty playoffs and a stuffed animal contest with prizes for children.
On Sunday, radio talk show host Ron Bell and Boston Globe travel writer and columnist Christopher Muther will judge the Cat-and-Owner Costume Contest.
“The contest celebrates the human-animal bond in a most a-mewsing way,” organizers said in a statement.
Participants and their cats will compete in coordinated outfits, with judges selecting winners, who will receive a $40 Petsmart gift card.
Russell Webb, vice president of the Cat Fanciers’ Association, will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the event.
Costume contest participants must be entered in the cat show in order to compete. The deadline to enter your cat closed on Monday.
Eight professional judges affiliated with the Cat Fanciers’ Association, the world’s oldest and largest registry of pedigreed cats, will present and evaluate the cats for awards.
Pedigreed cats will be judged based on their breed standard, which highlights special characteristics of each breed – for example, head shape, body length, coat quality, and color.
“Household pets are judged on an individual level – their looks, personality, and grooming come heavily into play,” organizers said.
“It is very inclusive and fun to watch,” organizers said.
Vendors will be selling cat-related items, and a raffle will offer visitors a chance to win everything from cat trees to jewelry to wine.
For kids, a stuffed animal contest with prizes will be held on Saturday afternoon. Also Saturday, Show Manager Iris Zinck will conduct the Kitty Playoffs, a contest to determine the most playful cat or kitten entered in the show.
Spectators are welcome. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for children under 12 and children under 5 are free.
Advance tickets are highly recommended due to limited capacity. For tickets, visit the cat show website.
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