Cat show staged in Vietnam, where felines still seen as food

Vietnam, where cats have been viewed in the past as food, hosted its first ever cat show on Sunday, gathering around 60 pedigree cats with feisty stage names such as Angry Alice, Di Maria The Great and Timosa Sumo.

A participant poses with his cat Burny, a British longhair breed during Vietnam's first national cat show in Hanoi. -AFP

The show, run by the World Cat Federation, the world’s largest federation for cats, featured a dozen different breeds. Event organiser Nguyen Xuan Son said the aim was to make people see that cats are worthy of love.

A participant poses with her cat Uslada, a British shorthair breed during Vietnam's first national cat show in Hanoi. -AFP

“We also want to form a national playground for pet owners to practice and gain experience before competing in international shows,” Son added.

A participant wearing a protective facemask combs her cat Winter Sonata, a Persian breed during Vietnam's first national cat show in Hanoi. -AFP

Vietnam introduced a ban on eating cats in 2018.

“In a country where cats are still served as foods and stray cats being mistreated are popular, the event is a chance to raise awareness among people,” said Nguyen Dieu Hong, one of the attendees.

Duy Anh and Quyn Mai hold their cats during the Vietnam's first cat show in Hanoi, Vietnam. -Reuters

“Cat is not a sign of bad luck as many Vietnamese think and should be filled with love.”

Over the course of a day, judges poked and prodded the animals, felt their fur, stroked their tails, looked at their teeth and tested their agility.

Cats are seen on cages during the Vietnam's first cat show in Hanoi, Vietnam. -Reuters

Seven cats won “best of class” awards and one, Timosa Sumo, won the heart not just of judges but of the public, which applauded him enthusiastically.

Nguyen Xuan Son of Vietnam and Tawin Prai of Thailand show their cats during the Vietnam's first cat show in Hanoi, Vietnam. -Reuters

The blueish grey cat is of Scottish Fold breed, but owner Dinh Chau Hieu Tam said it was not just his beauty that made him a crowd favourite.

A cat is seen on the shoulder of her owner during the Vietnam's first cat show in Hanoi, Vietnam. -Reuters

“He spreads the love to everyone,” Tam said.

“He is my furry son. I just love him and am proud of him so much.” - Reuters

A participant wearing a protective facemask carries her cat Mochi, a highland fold breed during Vietnam's first national cat show in Hanoi. -AFP

A judge holds Diamond, a blue British shorthair cat during Vietnam's first national cat show in Hanoi on amid concerns of the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak. -AFP

A participant carries his cat during Vietnam's first national cat show in Hanoi, past spectators wearing protective facemasks amid concerns of the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak. -AFP

A judge holds a cat during Vietnam's first national cat show in Hanoi, amid concerns of the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak. - AFP

Source: NST - Reuters