Award-winning kitten can claim royal connections

Cat breeder Keith Marsom with his 6-month-old British Blue kitten Foldabrit Smile A Lot at the Geyserland All Breeds Cat Show at Greerton Hall yesterday. Photo/George Novak

A British Blue kitten named Foldabrit Smile A Lot pleased the crowd and also found favour with the judges at this year's Geyserland All Breeds Cat Show in Tauranga.

The 6-month-old kitten was among 85 North Island cats competing to be judged finest feline at the annual Geyserland Cat Club event held at Greerton Hall yesterday.

The Club has members from Tauranga to Waihi, Rotorua, Whakatane, Kawerau, Taupo, Hamilton, Morrinsville, Gisborne, Whangaparaoa, Palmerston North and Australia.

Judges chose the top 10 cats in each category and then the overall Best in Show.

Show manager Wayne Morris said many pedigree breeds were on show, including Burmese, Ragdoll, Maine Coon, Siamese and the hairless Sphynx.

Well-known breeder and owner Keith Marsom said Foldabrit Smile A Lot had taken out three Best in Show ribbons and a runner-up placing in the Top Ten Kitten category, and would now go on to compete in the New Zealand National Cat Show in Nelson this year.

Its 2-year-old mother, Foldabrit Libby, also got a Best in Show ribbon in her category.

Mr Marsom, a breeder of British Blue and Scottish Folds for 20 years, had been showing the breeds for past 16 years.

Foldabrit Smile A Lot's 7-year-old father Intrigue Sir Laugh A Lot was also a top performer at shows, he said.

"British Blues are one of the more popular breeds as they are very good with people, and also have links to the British royal family through the late Queen Mother, who was also a breeder."

Mr Morris said the annual cat show was a great way to introduce people to different cat breeds. And cat fanciers did not need to breed a pedigree cat to join the club, he said.

Hundreds of people packed out Greerton Hall for the event.