By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, Oct 12: Feline aficionados can look forward to perhaps one of the most ‘meow-nificent’ and ‘paw-sitive’ event come November this year at the ‘Cats Around The World’ show.
Set to hit Farley Kuching on Nov 19 and 20, from 3pm to 6pm, the show will be a ‘purr-fect’ opportunity to meet fellow cat lovers or even aspiring cat owners.
Calling on the public to take part in the event, YAST Group chairwoman Esther Law Lee Poh said the show will be the first ever such event held in conjunction with the Miss Tourism International beauty pageant.
“As the organiser of the 25th Miss Tourism International World Final 2022/2023, we have put together a feline-focused attraction to complement the main event.
“Listed as one of promotional activities prior to the grand finale of the 25th Miss Tourism International World Final 2022/2023 which will be held at Raia Hotel and Convention Centre on Nov 25, Cats Around The World 2022 is also to promote Kuching, which is the capital city of Sarawak,” Law said at a press conference here today.
Also at the press conference was Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting.
Cats Around The World is an event project initiated by YAST Group and D’Touch International, while Farley Group was invited as a partner for this first edition of Cats Around The World 2022.
Law explained that the event will also create awareness of the different and specific breed standards as to what makes an ideal specimen of a particular breed in terms of how it looks and behaves.
Thus, the organisers have decided to hold a competition.
“We will engage judges who compare cats to their breed standard. Organisations like the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) establish standards for every cat breed. The more standards a competing cat fulfills, the better it will score.
“The standard aspire to describe features that draw from the natural style of a breed. The judge will then look for the overall balance and proportion in a cat’s features,” she added.
There will be six competition categories, namely VIP Best Choice Award, Best Dressed Award, Best Kitten Shorthair, Best Kitten Longhair, Best Adult Shorthair and Best Adult Longhair.
As the partner of this inaugural Cats Around The World event, Farley Mall Kuching director Eijing Lau said the group looks forward to welcoming the 25th Miss Tourism International World Final contestants to Kuching.
“All the results will be announced only on the second day of the event during our closing ceremony. Our targeted number of cats to compete in this event will be around 50 to 60 cats. All the participants will receive an exclusive certificate of participation.
“Registration is now open and participants can register their interest by collecting registration forms from our Information Desk located by our mall main entrance. More details can be found on the registration form,” Lau added.
With such event being supported by the Ministry of Tourism, he hoped it would become an annual event in a more professional standard whereby they can attract participants from other parts of Malaysia and internationally to participate and ultimately to promote Kuching as a Cat City. — DayakDaily
