NATICK — As countless internet users can attest, cats are good entertainment — especially if the cat in question is dressed as JFK, or khaki-clad insurance company mascot “Jake from State Farm.”
Those are just two of the costumes New England Meow Outfit Inc. (NEMO) has seen at its Cat and Owner Costume Contest, which will return later this month during the nonprofit cat club’s show at the Verve Hotel.
The show isn’t limited to pedigreed cats — those whose parents are the same breed and who are registered with a recognized cat association. Participants can also enter household pets for judging.
“We expect to have over 120 cats with at least 30 different pedigreed breeds represented, plus a class of household pets, companion cats who have unknown backgrounds,” explained co-show manager Iris Zinck.
Pedigreed cats are judged on traits including the shape of their head, the length of their tail and the qualities of their coat, while household pets are judged by looks, personality and grooming, according to a NEMO press release.
Zinck noted that this is the first cat show sponsored by the Cat Fanciers' Association — the world’s largest registry of pedigreed cats — held in Greater Boston in nearly a decade.
“I'm personally looking forward to showing my cats under the judges we have coming, who I believe to be some of our organization's finest,” she said in an email interview. “We have one judge coming all the way from Germany, another from Las Vegas, another from Texas.”
The Verve Hotel, 1360 Worcester St. (Route 9), Natick
Aug. 27-28, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day
Visit tiny.cc/NEMO22. Entries close at 8 p.m. Monday, or when the show hits 175 entries.
Admission is $12 for adults and $10 for kids under age 12. Children younger than 5 years old get in for free.
Zinck advised checking out NEMO’s list of cat show do's and don’ts before attending. Visitors are asked to avoid running or shouting in the show hall, and to wait for owners’ permission before touching any cats.