CLEVELAND, Ohio – Childless cat ladies, the time is meow. Over 1,000 cats—from famous and fancy, to influencer and adoptable– will be at the IX Center this weekend for the International Cat Show & Expo.
More than 15,000 cat lovers are expected over the weekend, taking in everything from cat competitions and adoption opportunities to shopping, contests, performances and more at the event organized by The Cat Fanciers’ Association October 12 – 13.
Excitement, cat fur and romance were in the air Saturday, as Nudacris and Farrah Pawcett, the hairless Sphynx cats, prepared to be married. The two are expected to tie the knot during a wedding ceremony at the Meow Mainstage at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
The newlyweds-to-be and other famous felines are available for meet-and-greets in the Paw-Parazzi pavilion all weekend.
Love was a common theme at the cat show, where visitors snuggled up to kittens that were looking for their “furever” home in the Adoption Village.
Sue and David Caban, co-founders of Viva Los Gatos Cat Rescue, celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary, while showing off adoptable cats like Squeak, Marmalade and Serendipity.
The rescue is a volunteer, foster-based rescue currently housing 50 cats in Northeast Ohio.
“We are excited to meet people and hopefully find some good adoptions for our kitties that are here,” Sue said. “We’re trying to get more adoptions than we have in years past. We’re going to have more cats. We have six cages for cats, whereas last year we only had four cages. So, we’ve got more cats coming today and this afternoon, and more cats coming tomorrow.”
In 2023, 86 kittens were adopted during the expo, bringing the grand total to 593 adoptions over the past three expos held in Cleveland.
This year, organizers are hoping to find homes for at least 100 or more this year through the help of local shelters and rescues like Viva Los Gatos, including: The Euclid Beach Cat Project, Medina County SPCA, the Cleveland Animal Protection League; and Alleycats and Aristocrats.
“There’s something for everyone at this show. Cats are just cool,” Dug Rusinek said.
Founder and owner of Felinious, Rusinek escaped hurricanes and traveled from St. Petersburg, Florida, with his four cats to sell retro, punk T-shirts and more at the Expo. Other vendors were selling custom cat furniture, toys, litter, kibble, art and more.
“Drop love, not bombs,” one T-shirt reads with an illustration of cats parachuting from an airplane.
Rusinek said his brand is passionate about social justice.
“It’s a childless cat lady’s paradise,” Rusinek said, poking fun at a comment once made by Republican vice-presidential nominee U.S. Sen. JD Vance, when he lamented that the country is being run by “a bunch of childless cat ladies,” including Vice President Harris.
Each day of the expo kicks off at 10 a.m. with a number of sessions and informative events including a presentation giving visitors an opportunity to meet and learn about different breeds.
Feline fans can also meet Dr. Aimee Jalkanen, a Neogen veterinarian who is passionate about how genetic testing can be used to help improve pet health and well-being.
If you can’t make it to a meet-and-greet or a session, don’t worry; everywhere you turn in the IX Center is covered in cats.
Half of the expo is dedicated to the cat show, which drew breeders from around the world, all hoping to go home with a first-place ribbon.
Breeder Yvonne Credit cried after her 1-year-old red spotted oriental shorthair Huey was named “Best in Show” during an all-breed ring Saturday afternoon at the International Cat Show & Expo.Molly Walsh, cleveland.com
“This is our biggest show of the entire year,” breeder Yvonne Credit said. “We have people fly in from like 14 different countries. People from China, Japan, all over Europe are here. And of course, everybody in the US. Anyone who is out showing a cat, they’re here. Or at least they should be. This is the place to be.”
Credit, of Tiffin, said the Cat Show and Expo is a welcoming environment for anyone, whether they have a cat or not. She emphasized how it’s a great place to learn about different breeds and find a cat that would fit in with your family.
The 58-year-old was brought to tears after her 1-year-old red spotted oriental shorthair Huey was named “Best in Show,” during an all-breed ring Saturday afternoon. Cat lovers and visitors crowded to congratulate her and Huey on their win.
“This was just so unexpected,” she said, as Huey purred in her arms. “These are the top cats in the country. It just means so much to me, and it’s so great to celebrate this win with friends.”
