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Feline Agility Competitions

by Jennipher Walters (Subscribe to Jennipher Walters's posts)
Nov 2nd 2010 1:00PM Filed Under: Cats, Photo Galleries


If you've ever owned a cat, it may be hard to imagine that it will do anything you want on command. Especially jumping through hoops and climbing through tunnels. But at the recent Meet the Breeds, crowds gathered to watch cats compete in a mini version of the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) Feline Agility Competition. (The video above shows a Tonkinese kitten starting her training for these events and the photo gallery below shows the preview the CFA gave Paw Nation at Meet the Breeds.)

During these events, a handler guides a cat through a standard 10-obstacle course by enticing the cat to follow along using a cat teaser wand. The contestants must navigate stairs, four jumps (4 inches, 6 inches and 14 inches), two hoops, two tunnels and a set of four weave poles. Typically, feline agility competitions are two days long with about 30 to 40 cats vying for the title of fastest feline. Each cat gets 10 minutes of training on the specific course and three timed runs before competing.

What Happened at Meet the Breeds

by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts)
Oct 22nd 2010 10:00AM Filed Under: Dogs

cane corso dog pictureThis lucky attendee got to visit with Cane Corsos, one of the newest breeds to be recognized by the AKC. Damon Dahlen, AOL

Paw Nation had an amazing time at Meet the Breeds last weekend. We loved getting to chat with fans of the site and some of the 39,000 dog and cat lovers who attended. While our photo/video booth and iPad giveaways were big hits, there was lots more fun to be had throughout the Javits Center!

The American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) brought together 1,000 dogs and cats representing 200 breeds for the public to meet (and pet and cuddle). Part of the allure of the event is the opportunity to see a number of rare breeds and talk to experts about what owning that pet is like.

Learning About the Breeds
"Meet the Breeds gives the public the opportunity to see, touch and play with dogs and cats -- including some of the rarest breeds most people may have only read about or have seen on television -- and learn more about which dog or cat could become a lifelong member of their family," says American Kennel Club spokesperson Christina Duffney.

"It's a great opportunity for kids to play with a 200 pound mastiff dog that is larger than most New York City kitchens, pet a hairless sphynx cat, or interact with 'Toto' and other characters from 'The Wizard of Oz' in the cairn terrier booth, all while their parents learn about the characteristics of each breed and the importance of picking the right dog or cat that best fits their lifestyle," she added. Educating the public about the responsibilities and quirks of each breed is, in fact, a major motivating factor for having the event.

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Curious About Cat Shows? Here's How They Work

by Helena Sung (Subscribe to Helena Sung's posts)
Oct 12th 2010 12:00PM Filed Under: Cats

Cornish rex cat picture A Cornish rex at a CFA cat show in San Mateo, Calif. shinzui, Flickr

Canines aren't the only ones who get to win ribbons for their physical perfection. Cats have been starring in their own competitions since 1906 and the creation of the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA).

A member of the CFA's Board of Directors, David White has been showing and breeding cats for 15 years. He currently has the number-one ranked Cornish rex in the country and the tenth best cat in the country. White talked to Paw Nation about what happens at cat shows and how felines are judged.

What is the Cat Fanciers' Association?
It's the world's largest registry of pedigreed cats.

How many different cat breeds are there?
The CFA currently has 41 recognized cat breeds.

When are cat shows held?
The CFA show season lasts from May 1 to the following April 31. Every weekend, there are five to 10 shows throughout the country, and there are international shows too. Serious competitors can spend upwards of $15,000 in a show season.

How large do the cat shows get?
Entries for cat shows in the U.S. are limited to 225 to 450 for space reasons. At international shows with larger exhibit spaces, there can be 1,000 or more cats per show.

Countdown to Meet the Breeds: What to Expect at the Event

by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts)
Oct 4th 2010 2:30PM Filed Under: Pets News

meet the breeds pictureMeet the Breeds

Meet the Breeds is less than two weeks away! Taking place Oct. 16–17 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City, Meet the Breeds is the world's largest showcase of dogs and cats, featuring demonstrations from the Cat Fanciers' Association and American Kennel Club, not to mention the opportunity to interact with experts on all 160 dog breeds and 41 cat breeds.

There will be loads of exciting activities going on, such as the demos by The Seeing Eye and Disc Dogs on Saturday morning and Kitty Cat-ture Feline Fashion Show with 20 custom outfits from Meow-Wear on Saturday afternoon. We can't wait to see the Infurno Flyball Dogs in action after lunch on Saturday, and you know we'll be taking part in the voting on Cat Idol; New York's favorite feline will be crowned Sunday at 3 p.m. Sunday will also feature the five fastest cats in an agility time trial, and we're positively purring with excitement.

If you have the opportunity to attend, we hope you'll swing by the Paw Nation booth (#2401) in between seeing the demos and your favorite breeds. Even if you can't make the event, you can still get in on the fun! We'll have nine giveaways going on over the next two weeks, as well as many special stories about dog and cat breeds as we count down to Meet the Breeds!

Currently, you can enter to win:

A year's supply of Iams dog food and a full year of pet insurance from Pet Partners, Inc.

Keep checking in this week and next for a chance to win pet products, gift cards and more!

Meet the Breeds Is Coming!

by Paw Nation Staff (Subscribe to Paw Nation Staff's posts)
Aug 18th 2010 11:00AM Filed Under: Pets News
Get out your calendars and mark these dates: October 16 and 17, 2010. That's when Meet the Breeds, hosted by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA), comes to New York City's Jacob Javits Center. You'll be able to meet AKC-registered dog breeds and CFA-registered cat breeds, and ask questions about owners and experts.

Paw Nation is the official blog of Meet the Breeds, and from now until the event opens, we will be posting fascinating articles and even hosting great giveaways in connection with the event.

Last year, 36,000 attendees flooded the Jacob Javits Center to see 200 individually decorated official breed booths where animal lovers interacted with dogs, cats, puppies and kittens. In addition, there were 100 vendor booths featuring every imaginable pet product, plus five ongoing demonstration rings with law enforcement dogs, grooming, agility, obedience, an interactive "Cat Idol" showcase and more.

While we know that October is a couple of months away, you should definitely check out the Meet the Breeds website, and continue visiting Paw Nation for special articles, giveaways and more!

American Kennel Club and Cat Fanciers' Association Launch Meet the Breeds

by Sonia Zjawinski (Subscribe to Sonia Zjawinski's posts)
Aug 7th 2009 9:00AM Filed Under: Meet the Breeds
When watching the Westminster Dog Show, haven't you often caught yourself wondering just how snuggly and smooshable a Brussels Griffon's face really is?

Meet the Breeds, hosted by the American Kennel Club and the Cat Fanciers' Association, comes to New York City's Javits Center October 17th and 18th. The event will showcase 160 AKC-registered dog breeds and 41 CFA-approved kitties whom you'll be able to play with and pet.

Each breed will have its own booth, decorated to represent the breed's origins or cultural throwbacks. Example: the Old English Sheepdog group designed a "Peter Pan" booth for a similar event in Long Beach last year.

While we know that October is a ways away, AKC's just-launched Meet the Breed's website is sure to tie you over until then. The site includes a Meet the Breeds game so you can test your breed know-how and compete with others online, along with a gallery of the 160 dogs and 41 cats that will be at the show. Advance tickets can be purchased via the site as well.

As we get closer to the event, Paw Nation will be previewing more from Meet the Breeds, including interviews with breeders and Broadway's top dog trainer. Stay tuned!


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