Pet Lovers From Across Odisha Throng Berhampur To Participate In 1st Cat Show

Berhampur: Over 50 furry felines were on display at Odisha’s first all-breed cat show in Berhampur on Sunday.

Hosted by the Ganjam Canine Association, the show was held at Biju Patnaik Sanskruti Bhavan, Hillpatna, Berhampur.

The cats, brought by their owners from Berhampur, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Balugaon, Bhanjanagar, Gopalpur and Visakhapatnam, participated in the show. Six different breeds of cats including Bengal cat, Doll face Persian cat, Punch face Persian cat, Extreme Punch Face Persian cat and stray cats were major attractions. A two-year-old Zimba cat, which is worth Rs 1.8 lakh, was the focus of attraction.

There was plenty of feline fun for the pet lovers during the show. “It was lovely, endearing and interesting,” said one of the proud cat owners. The auditorium was packed with spectators and of course cats and their owners.

The cats were judged according to specific standards like appearance, health and wellness, grooming and personality by Satya Shankar Biswal of Bhubaneswar who selected 10 best entries. However, the stray cats were judged on beauty, health, presentation and personality since they do not have a standard.

A dog show was also organised simultaneously. More than 100 dogs of 21 different breeds participated and were judged by Sourav Chowdhury of Kolkata who selected 10 best entries. The last dog show was organised in Berhampur six years ago during 2018.

Y Suvam Kumar, founder of the Ganjam Canine Association, said the response for the cat show, which was held for the first time, was overwhelming. As more and more people are now residing in small houses and apartments, where dogs are difficult to manage, they prefer cats as pets, he added.

“The cats are small animals and their living cost is less than a dog. It is for this reason that the pet cat is becoming popular,” Kumar said.