Puuurfect cats on show in Tauranga

Dianne Head with Demelza, a Burmilla longhair. Photo / George Novak

There was Kenzi, the seal-pointed harlequin Siamese.

There was Demelza, the Burmilla longhair.

There were curious cats, grumpy-looking cats, playful cats, and sleepy cats at a packed Greerton Hall yesterday for the annual Tauranga Cat Show.

There were simply too many cats to count, or meet.

Allison Jackson with curious Kenzi, a seal-pointed harlequin Siamese. Photo / George Novak

Geyserland Cat Club secretary Dianne LeBas said the official number of competitors was 115.

It had been a very busy day, she said.

"We've actually had a range of quite unusual cats today."

That included a Cymric cat – a red tabby shorthair with no tail – and a domestic cat with a little bobtail.

LeBas said all the animals on show had been well behaved.

"No cat fights, only with the exhibitors," she said with a laugh.

The competition was a real "mixed bag" this year, LeBas said, and it was hard to pick a standout winner.

"This is our 16th year in Tauranga and hopefully we will continue to support the local people by bringing our show here," she said.

"The public has really shown up in force today, which we're quite pleased about."

LeBas encouraged anyone who wanted to join the club to contact her.

The Geyserland Cat Club has its meetings in Rotorua, where it is based, and more information can be found at www.geyserlandcatclub.co.nz.