It's time to look this purr-fect

Elegant poise, perfect posture, shapely legs, a luxurious coat… this isn’t Kate Middleton at a charity gala, but contestants taking part at the Teesside Cat Club Championship Show. The event, now in its 36th year, will see more than 200 cats from all over the country trying to get their paws on prizes, including Best In Show.

With 27 judges assessing everything from the size of their teeth to the fluffiness of their coat, competition is tough and competitors cannot afford to have a fur out of place.

Pedigrees range from Persian and Semi Long Hair to British and Burmese, and in the household pet category where personality counts, even purring can win prizes. Any growling at the judge and the aggressor is disqualified immediately.

Jean Stewart, from Darlington, is among this year’s entrants and has 12 cats – all of whom are Persian (mainly white) and former champions. “I don’t have a favourite, they are all loved in their own way,” she says. Jean is taking three cats to the show – Nelly, a kitten, Alfie, who is hoping to win an Imperial Grand Premiere title and Paddington Bear, who will hopefully become a Grand Premier Champion.

Unlike Crufts, where dogs jump through hoops, dance on two feet and parade around the ring, the cats just have to sit and look pretty. They are each examined by a vet beforehand and have to be squeaky clean to avoid any cross infection. “You wouldn’t get into the show if there was a flea on your cat,” says Jean. “I’ve never had a flea in 35 years, touch wood.”

Placed in individual pens – to avoid any stand-offs – with a clean white blanket, litter tray and water dish, the cats are given a number and wait their turn to be assessed by the judge.

They are marked on their colour, shape and size and can lose points if their teeth are protruding or they have a fleck of dirt on their feet. “The eyes have to be the right colour – orange if they’re Persian – their ears tiny, short and not sticking out and their coat has to be free of any knots,” says Jean.

On top of that, their tail has to be long and flowing. If it looks as though someone’s stood on it, they’ll be marked down immediately. “They have to be perfect, it’s like Miss World,” says Jean. “They love the attention.”

It takes months (and years) of preening and pampering to look this good. Jean’s Persians are all given a good bath and thorough grooming before the show which can take an entire day.

“I’ve been bathing them since they were four weeks old so they find it quite relaxing,” she says. “I do them in the kitchen sink. They think it’s a game and love it.”

She uses Fairy Liquid to get the grease out, followed by Head & Shoulders shampoo to make their coats fluff up and feel nice and soft. (They don’t have dandruff, but it leaves a nice smell.) After a good rinse, she uses a slicker brush to comb out any knots – there’s no brush sharing in Jean’s house, each cat has its own. She then gives them a blow dry with a turbo-charged hairdryer of the kind you’d find in a poodle parlour, before a dab of baby talc to separate the fur and make their coat look even fuller.

When she’s not grooming, Jean is hoovering – twice a day in some areas. “The fur gets everywhere,” she says. “You’ve got to keep on top of it.”

The whirring of hairdryers can also be heard in Middlesbrough where fellow prize winner Ian Morris is also busy preparing for the show. Ian has been breeding and showing cats for 32 years and has 12 Persians and Exotic Shorthairs.

“With Persians, it’s the coat that’s the crown and glory, so if the coat is not right they’re not going to win, especially if you’re showing a blue,” he says. “You’re looking for volume and anything that can give the coat separation so it doesn’t look clumpy.”

With white Persians competing to get their coat as near as possible to a brilliant white, owners often use a blue base shampoo. “You’re only supposed to leave it on for five minutes,” says Ian. “My friend got distracted and left it on for 20 minutes and his cat was lilac. You could see it a mile off.”

Ian’s only faux pas was taking the wrong cat home. “When the judges say it’s time to go home, obviously you want to get going, especially when you’ve driven all the way to Glasgow. I was rushing, trying to get everything in the bag, there were two or three silver tabbies and I just picked the wrong one,” he says. Fortunately, his sister was there and spotted it.

Ian has bred more than 50 award-winning cats and will this time be showing an Exotic Shorthair, Blue Persian and a kitten. “We all go for a day out, but I think anyone who says they’re not bothered if they win or lose is lying because you don’t pay £30 to enter a cat and travel half way around the country if you don’t want to win,” he says.

Ian and Jean often set off at 3am to drive to shows in Edinburgh, Birmingham and London. Apart from a hobby, it’s the prestige - there’s no prize money. The highlight for Jean was winning Best Persian at The Supreme Cat Show, the equivalent of Crufts. “We just like to show our cats,” she says. “We must be mad.”

They have spent thousands on their cats over the years and try not to think about it. The most expensive cat Ian bought was £3,000 and then there’s the upkeep - he pays £40 for a bottle of shampoo and it only lasts six washes.

Like Jean’s prize-winning Persians, who spend most of their life napping in the conservatory, Ian’s cats also lead a pampered life with gourmet grain-free food and grooming sessions three times a week. In the run-up to a show, they’re groomed every day.

“It is a lot of effort, but it’s worth it,” he says. “Even after 32 years, it’s still a buzz - I still don’t sleep the night before a show.”

Teesside Cat Club (All Breeds) shared Championship Show will be held at Barnard Castle, Teesdale Leisure Centre, Strathmore Road, Barnard Castle, County Durham on Saturday, August 27. The event will be the first back-to- back show with the Cumberland Cat Club and welcomes entries for pedigrees and household pets. Entries close August 2.

Show manager Veda Price also loves Persians (she has 20 in her house) and knows the effort that goes into breeding a prize winner. “It’s competitive, but it’s a lovely atmosphere at the show,” she says.

The event is open to the public from 12.30pm. Admission £2.50 or £2 (conc). For further info, visit teessidecatclub.com