Every year in Baton Rouge, many of the city’s cat fanatics get together to compete in the Greater Baton Rouge Cat Club’s annual Cat Show. At the show, more than 150 cats compete for special prizes.
“Cats from all over the country will be coming to compete. It is a great show,” said Larry Johnson, the show manager and president of the Cat Club.
The show is highly competitive, with six judges reviewing the qualities of the cats and determining their own winners from the group. Judges look at a variety of factors when judging a cat, including eyes, coat, claws and body shape. Cats are judged on a 100 point scale with many factors determining the number of points awarded, including how well the cats can play.
“The judges play with the cats to relax them and to help them look their best. You learn a great deal from a cat by playing with it,” Johnson said.
The show will host a variety of different breeds including Russian Blues, Sphinxes, Maine Coons and Siamese. There will also be a special category for household pets and cats without pedigrees, which will be an exciting opportunity for non-purebred cats to perform for fun.
Cat shows are different from dog shows, with several rules that are not what one would expect at Westminster. The cat show prioritizes breeding over endurance and agility tests one sees at dog shows. But similar to a dog show, preparation is of the utmost importance for the kitty competitors. Many owners will groom their pets for weeks in advance to get ready for the show.
Ultimately, the show is about the cats.
“We all have different avenues with how we relate to our pets,” Johnson said. “People do this because they love their animals.”
Show attendees will also get the opportunity to show their love for cats by playing with and adopting kittens provided by a variety of cat rescue groups in attendance.
For those unfamiliar with the world of cat shows, Johnson promises the show will be a singular experience.
“It is a very different kind of experience, everyone should come out to see it,” Johnson said.
The show is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. General admission is $5.
“Cats from all over the country will be coming to compete, it is a great show.”

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photo courtesy of Larry Johnson