REPORTS FROM EARLY BRITISH CAT SHOWS 1897

1897 MANCHESTER CAT SHOW

[NORTH OF ENGLAND CAT CLUB SHOW]Gentlewoman, 23rd January 1897
A large cat show is to take place in February at Manchester, which is given by the North of England Cat Club, and to be held under the rules of the National Cat Club. The prize list will be a liberal one, and the N.C.C. offer their championships.

FANCIERS’ NOTES – MANCHESTER CATS SHOW Hull Daily Mail, 2nd April 1897
Mr Pearson, who exhibited two cats at the cat show, Manchester, was very successful. He [took a?] special, also 3rd. [Unfortunately no Manchester newspapers covering this show were archived]

FELINE FANCIES The Berwick Advertiser, 30th April 1897
Miss Martin of Ayton, a new exhibitor of Siamese, made a good beginning at the North of England Cat Show held at Manchester on 30th March, by taking two first prizes, one second and first brace prize and two specials; also championship for the best short-haired cat, and the North of England Cat Club silver medal. We congratulate Miss Martin on her successful debut. – Stock-keeper.

MANCHESTER CAT SHOW – The Salisbury Truth, July 7th, 1897
Cats are no longer regarded as despised creatures, to be victimized by small boys and permitted to live only on tolerance by their elders. Like the end of the century woman, they are at last beginning to achieve some of the rights for which they have been clamoring so long, and perhaps when they are accorded equal rights with their natural foe of the canine race they will cease to bemoan their fate about the streets and to hold indignation meetings at the midnight hour and display similar anarchical proclivities. That they have already made rapid strides toward the desired end is proved by the fact that they have recently held their “annual convention” — in other words; cat show — in Manchester, England. Champion Xenophon, sent by S. Woodiwiss, of London, was pronounced the best cat in the show. He received the prize for brown or tabby males, and was valued in the catalogue at £1,000 ($5,000). Champion Perfection, who is said to have taken more prizes than any cat living, was worth even more. He took the first prize for red male tabbies, and Peeping Joe the second. Both belong to Mr. Klumell.

1897 ELGIN CAT SHOW

DOG AND CAT SHOW AT ELGIN. Dundee Courier, 11th February 1897
The second annual show of the Elgin Canine Society was held yesterday in the Mart of the Elgin Market Green Auction Company. The show was large, there about fifty more entries than last year. What added to the attraction was the show of cats, and some of them were exceedingly handsome animals. [no cat results given]

ELGIN DOG AND CAT SHOW. Elgin Courant, and Morayshire Advertiser, 19th January 1897
The second annual exhibition, under the auspices of the Elginshire Canine Society, is to take place is the Elgin Market Green Auction Company's Mart on Wednesday the 10th February. Last year's show, although the first venture of the Society, proved to be one of the best held in the north, and the forthcoming exhibition, with the experience of last year's, promises to outdo the initiatory one. The Committee have been fortunate in securing the services of Mr A. G. Dippie of Glasgow as judge. Four classes for cats have been added this year, and already the entries for those sections are coming in very quickly, a silver medal being given for the heaviest cat - any description - in the show. . . . The Secretary (Mr Alex. Edgar, Gordon Arms, Elgin) it, usual, working hard in the interests of the show, and we are certain his exertions will be rewarded with unqualified success

DOG AND CAT SHOW AT ELGIN Northern Scot and Moray & Nairn Express, 13th February 1897
The Elginshire Canine Society held their second annual show in the Market Green Mart, Elgin, on Wednesday [. . .] The entries in the cat sections numbered about 30, and formed altogether an interesting display. The winner, in long-haired, from Cupar-Fife, was a frequent prize-winner before; the second, belonging to Miss Macdonald, Marybank, was a nice, big cat; while the third (Miss Cookes, Braevilla), was a very pretty blue Russian. In short-haired cats, a very nice black belonging to Mr James Bower, Elgin, was first, while a silver grey was second. In kittens, a pretty pair were first, and the second were Persian kittens.
Long-haired -1, Mrs Frew, Cupar-Fife; 2, Miss Macdonald, Maybank, Elgin; 3, Miss Cookes, Braevilla.
Sort-haired – 1, James Bower, 63 Moss Street, Elgin; 2, Miss Robina Frew, Cupar-Fife; 3, George Ross, Bishopmill.
Gelding – 1, Mrs Scott, Hill Terrace, Elgin.
Kitten – 1, Miss Frew; 2, Mrs Hunter, Edinburgh; 3, Alex Macdonald, Dalwhinnie.

1897 FALKIRK CAT SHOW

DOG AND CAT SHOW AT FALKIRK Glasgow Herald, 24th April 1897
The second annual show under the auspices of the Falkirk and District Canine Club was opened in the Town Hall yesterday. The entries were fewer than last year, but the quality of the animals exhibited was exceedingly good, and the show was a decided success. There were 43 dog and six cat classes, and, with a few exceptions, competition in the whole of the classes was keen, while in several the judges had the utmost difficulty, in making up their minds on account of the exceedingly uniform merit of the exhibits.

FALKIRK DOG AND CAT SHOW. North British Daily Mail, 24th April 1897
The second annual show in connection with the Falkirk Canine Club was opened in the Town Hall yesterday and extends over to-day. [Cat judge – Miss Black]
Cats, Male, Long-Haired – 1, Mrs A. Finnie Young, Bailliestown; 2 and 3, Mrs M.C. Forrester, Kilsyth.
Female, Long-Haired – 1, Miss M. Parker, Neilston; 2, Miss Jane Florence, Larbert; 3, Mrs J. Armstrong, Falkirk.
Gelding, any variety – 1, David & Hunter, Milton of Campsie; 2, Miss Maggie Stalker, Haddington; 3, H.S. Wynn, Royal Hotel, Falkirk.
Short Hair, Male of Female – 1 and 2, John Dick, Kelty, Fife; 3, Thomas Plews, Edinburgh.
Any Variety – 1 and 3, Mrs D. Murray, Edinburgh; 2, John Page, Dunblane.
Any Variety, confined – 1, Alexander Morton; 2, Miss J. Florence; 3, John Balloch.

1897 TROWBRIDGE CAT SHOW

TROWBRIDGE POULTRY, PIGEON, CAGE BIRD, AND CAT SHOW Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 9th October 1897
Trowbridge Poultry, Pigeon, Cage Bird, and Cat Show will be held in the spacious and well lighted Market Hall on Tuesday And Wednesday, October 26 & 27, 1897. First-rate classification and prize money. Nearly Hundred Special Prizes in addition. A band will attend each Day. Entries Close Friday, October 15. Admission:; First Day, 2 to 6, 1s ;6 to 9, 6d. Second Day, 10 to 2, 6d.; 2 to 8,3d. Reduced Return Fares per Great Western Railway from Bristol, Swindon, Marlborough, Salisbury, Yeovil, and intermediate Stations to Trowbridge on the days of the Show. Schedules and full particulars apply to H E Bush, J A Cooper, Hon. Secretaries, 3, Church Street, Trowbridge.

TROWBRIDGE POULTRY, PIGEON, CAGE BIRD, AND CAT SHOW. Warminster and Westbury journal, and Wilts County Advertiser, 30th October 1897
This annual was held in the spacious Market Hall, on Tuesday and Wednesday. The prizes offered amounted to upwards of £100, and there were nearly 100 specials. Excellent arrangements had been made under the direction of the hon. secretaries, Messrs. H. E. Best and J. A. Cooper, and there was a capital entry, the grand totalinm all departments numbering 950, an increase of 150 on last year. Speaking generally, the quality of the exhibits was excellent, and in many of the poultry classes there was keen competition. The cage bird and cat classes were interesting features of the show, and both contained some rare specimens. [Cat judge Mr. G.H. Billett, Reading].
Cats (Open): Long hair, any colour, male - 1 and special, Miss A. Leake. Bradfield; 2 Miss W. Beal, Darlington; 3 A. Miller, Manningham.
Long hair, any colour, female - 1 W. Beal; 2 and special, Mrs. Walford-Gosnell Chelmsford; 3 Miss A. Leake.
English, any colour, male - 1 and special, J. Leigh, Blackburn; 2 W. L. Langley; 3 J. Bellinger, Frome.
Single long-hair kitten, any colour (under eight months), male or female - 1 and 2, Mrs. F. Neate. Marlborough; 3 and special Mrs. Geal, Redhill.
Single short-hair kitten, any colour (under eight months), male or female - 1 and special, R, Norris, Bath; 2 G. Mariner, Bath; 3 Mrs. E. Davies, Upper Caterham.
Local Classes. -Cat, long or short hair, any colour, male or female - 1 and special, Master C. J. Offer, Trowbridge; 2, Mrs. Grant, Road: 3, J. Lucas, Trowbridge; extra 3, H. E. Bush.
Kitten, long or short hair, any colour (under eight months), male or female - 1 and special, H. Bowles, Bradford-on-Avon; 2, Mrs. F. W. Kemp, Trowbridge; 3, Miss R. Davis.

1897 CRYSTAL PALACE CAT SHOW

CRYSTAL PALACE CAT SHOW Gentlewoman, 21st August 1897
The dates of the Crystal Palace Cat Show are now finally fixed for the 12th and 13th [October], and the Hon. Secretary tells me that the classification is on the same scale as last year, except in short-haired cats, the classes for which were so poorly supported in 1896 that they have had to be cut down. The judges invited are Mr. Tegetmeier, Mr. Fred. Gresham, Mr. Thos. Welburn, Mr. Louis Wain, and Mr. Bridgwater.

CRYSTAL PALACE CAT SHOW Gentlewoman, 4th September 1897
The coming Cat Show of the National Cat Club at the Crystal Palace, on October 12, promises to be quite as successful as their first, which was held in the same place last year. The list of special prizes is very large, and among the donors the Duchess of Bedford contributes that beautiful volume of Mme. Ronner on the cat as a prize for the best brace of English kittens, a silver saucer made from a design suggested by Her Grace is to be won by the best English cat in the Show which has never previously won a prize. For the best adult Siamese there is a second silver saucer, while for the best Neuter Cat the Duchess provides a handsome pair of silver muffineers [a dish for keeping muffins hot]. Lady Marcus Beresford allows her coveted twenty-five guinea trophy to be in competition for the best Blue Persian, and the Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison offers an Indian silver bowl as a breeders' competition in the long-haired varieties. Mrs. C. Hill is the present holder of the Beresford Trophy, and for which, I believe, she only requires one more win to become its final possessor. The Hon. Mrs. Brett is also supporting the show, and Mrs. Spearman, true to her belief in the existence of blue Siamese, offers a trophy for that variety. There is expected a very large entry of Chinchillas, and there are more specials offered for these lovely coated cats than for any other class. Cream cats seem to be increasing, while the registration of tabbies is much less than last year, the hon. sec. tells me. The L.K.A. premiership for cats will be in competition, as well as the N.C.C. championship. - Venatrix.

CRYSTAL PALACE CAT SHOW Gentlewoman, 18th September 1897
I hear that the National Cat Club Show has an imposing array of "treasures to win," over eighty specials being offered in competition, to say nothing of challenge trophies, championships, and premierships, from which it can easily be seen that cats are coming. Don't forget the dates—October 12 and 13. It will be a beautiful show.

CRYSTAL PALACE CAT SHOW Gentlewoman, 2nd October 1897
The National Cat Show, which takes place at the Crystal Palace on October 12 and 13, promises to be very large and quite fashionable. Entries are coming in fast, and appear to be very representative, though the exhibitors' preference is largely shown in the way the long-haired classes are being supported. The specials, I find, are more numerous than they have been at any previous show, and number over one hundred.

NATIONAL CAT CLUB SHOW Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, 2nd October 1897
The second championship show of the National Cat Club is to be held at the Crystal Palace this month. The Duchess of Bedford is president of the club, and among the vice-presidents are Lily Duchess of Marlborough and the Countess of Warwick. The club gives two 10-guinea challenge trophies, and the Beresford Challenge Cup, value 25 guineas, is offered for the best blue long-haired cat in the show. Among other prizes are silver saucers and muffineers given by the Duchess of Bedford, milk jugs, bonbon dishes, luncheon baskets, workboxes, coffee cups etc. An Indian silver sugar basin is to be secured by the owner of the lightest coloured Siamese, the coat to be biscuit, ears seal brown, and eyes china blue. In addition to the above, there are scores of money prizes and sweepstakes. Entries are very numerous, and the show is expected to be a great success.

THE NATIONAL CAT CLUB SHOW. London Daily News , 7th October 1897
The entries for the above show to be held at the Crystal Palace on October 12 and 13 have closed with a total of 650. This includes splendid specimens of all varieties of cats, consisting of blue, white, and black Persians, tortoiseshells, and chinchillas in the long-haired section; whilst the exhibits in the short-haired sections include Manx, Russian, tortoiseshell, tabbies, cheetahs, and Siamese. There is also a large entry in the kittens.

NATIONAL CAT CLUB SHOW St James's Gazette, 13th October 1897
The National Cat Club is holding its annual show in the Crystal Palace this week, and the south transept is musical with mewings and festive with fluffy beribboned pets. “Isn’t it an angel?” cried an enthusiastic lady of a wise-eyed Persian; and “Oh, it is too heavenly!” sighed another after rapturously watching the antics of an enchanting kitten. “I have only fourteen now,” said one lady sadly to another who stood faithfully beside her exhibited darling, cheering it with milk and caresses. The Siamese cats are like quaint little miniature bulldogs with their short hair and black-and-tan faces, and seem very expensive, one being priced as high as £50. None of them are less than ten guineas, and a kitten is priced at five guineas. The prices of good cats seem to range from £1 to £25. Some are great dandies, with pink or blue silk neck-ruffles and cushions to match. One aristocrat, “Tibs,” has its name embroidered in scarlet on a yellow cushion; while a fawn-coloured pussy, drooping wearily in a corner beneath the weight of a green ribbon, posed happily as the type of aestheticism.

[CRYSTAL PALACE SHOW] various, 13th – 16th October 1897
The success of the Cat Show the Crystal Palace will be of special interest to the mice of England. It is the ambition of the “Fancy” to raise the standard of the cat in England as gradually to eliminate the pedigreeless, miscellaneous feline that now haunts our tiles and back-gardens. To the unsympathetic male person, says a London correspondent, an amusing feature of the exhibition was the luxury lavished on some of the feline pets. Pampered toms reclining on velvet cushions, and looking lazily through windows curtained with lace, confronted one at every turn, while no self-respecting cat was without its bit of bright silk ribbon. In the matter of feeding, the animals fared sumptuously on a delicate compound made up of boiled beef and mutton and pepsinated meal. Puss, on the whole, seemed to have dropped into uncommonly comfortable quarters. But when all possess furry, pampered pussies of aristocratic lineage, accustomed to sleep on fine linen and eat boiled chicken, who will catch the mice?

NATIONAL CAT SHOW Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, 13th October 1897
The North of England is exceedingly well represented at the second annual show of the National Cat Club, which was opened yesterday the Crystal Palace, the Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison, of Northallerton, not only having the honour of making the largest entry – twenty - but also securing a very large proportion of the valuable special and other prizes. In the long-haired section, the Kepwich Park crack, Satan, one of the densest-coated blacks of the day, is winner in his section, although in whites the Yorkshire lady is beaten by Mrs. J. Pettitt (Penshurst). Mrs. C. Heslop (Darlington), Mr. J. Rothery (Halifax), Mrs. A. Finnie Young (Lanark), Mrs. Bluhm (Manchester), Miss W. Beal (Darlington), Mrs. L. Coupland (Manchester). Mrs. G. Oliver (Otley), Mr. A. A. Knight (Bradford), Mrs. E. S. Carter (York), are also successful in the same section, which is not, however, as a whole, quite as representative as the section set aside for the short-haired varieties. Among those may mentioned tortoiseshell, tabby, blue (English), and Siamese and Manx. Here the beat class is the blue. Mr. Sam Woodiwiss (Finchley), with Sedgemere Blue Boy, winning in very strong competition. In tortoiseshells Mrs. Pownall (Warrington) is a prize-winner with Brookside Faith but the most prominent Northern breeder here is Mr. G. Towlerton (Wakefield), with a team including the magnificent red tabby Champion, Perfection, and Silver Fox. Mrs. Heslop and Mr. G. Oliver are also successful in this section, and several of the championships have come North. All round, the show is the most representative ever held.

CRYSTAL PALACE CAT SHOW Edinburgh Evening News, 14th October 1897
Cats belonging to working men made up eight classes to themselves at the Crystal Palace Cat Show.

CATS AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE. London Daily News, 13th October 1897
There have been cat shows at the Crystal Palace for years, and amongst them some of the best that have been held in this country. Yet that which was opened yesterday under the auspices of the National Cat Club was the second only that has been arranged by that organization at Sydenham. At first blush the statements may seem contradictory. As a matter of fact the explanation is simple. Until quite recently the authorities of the Palace have been in the habit of conducting their own exhibitions, and as is pretty generally known they have run the whole gamut from cats and dogs and birds to flowers and fruits, to say nothing of industrial displays, such as that which has marked the Diamond Jubilee year of an historic reign.

Rightly enough Mr. Gillman, the genial manager of the "glass house on the hill," holds that a man cannot be a specialist in every department of life, even though he may have the direction of an establishment like the Crystal Palace. Hence it is that almost imperceptibly, perhaps, the practical responsibility of the conduct of special exhibitions has been allowed to pass into the hands of recognized organisations such as the National Cat Club, the Kennel Club, and the like. In the matter of bulk and hence from a purely spectacular point of view, the displays may here and there have suffered - yesterday's show, for instance, certainly showed a falling off in the matter of entries - but there has often been a distinct gain on the point of quality.

The Palace authorities, as heretofore, remain responsible for what may be called the mechanical part of the display, but the arrangement of the lists and the control of entries have been handed over in this particular instance to the Society of which the Duchess of Bedford is president. When it is remembered that in the short space of three or four weeks in the autumn a dog show, a cat show, and a fruit show have to be provided for, the advantages of the present arrangement are too obvious to need advocacy. As to the present show, the fall in the entries is accounted for by the rigours of the past winter, and by the vagaries played by the Clerk of the Weather in the early summer. Cats and kittens are, like children, remarkably susceptible to climatic influences, and the tables of mortality have been unusually heavy in the breeding centres this year. But of high quality, in cat life there is an ample representation, much to the delight of the ever-flowing crowds of lady visitors, who yesterday packed that portion of the Palace devoted to the show. This will be clearly established by the mere recital of such names as Mr. S. Woodiwiss's "Champion Xenophon" (whose selling price is modestly put by his possessor at £2,500), Mr. G. Towlerton's "Champion Perfection," Miss E. Southam's " Champion Birkdale Ruffie," and Miss K. Sangster’s " Champion Royal Hector."

Broadly speaking, it may be said that the best representations were made by the blues and the long-haired classes, whilst the kittens also made a fine display. The mention of other colours catalogued - white, black, smoke, chinchilla, tortoiseshell, orange, cream, silver tabby, and brown tabby - will be sufficient to indicate the reason why it was found necessary to divide the class list into 80 sections to cover the four or five hundred specimens benched, and to account for the heavy list of prizes offered. The show, which in the matter of arrangement, is all that can be desired, will remain open to-day.

CRYSTAL PALACE Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, 13th October 1897
Cats are in possession at the Crystal Palace this week, and a very interesting display they make in the great glass building. They are not in quite such strong force as at the first of the National Cat Club’s displays last year, but in other respects the show which opened yesterday is a considerable improvement on its predecessor. The growing taste of fair fanciers for Benes [sic – Blues?] and Chinchillas is shown in the large amount of space which these two types occupy. The older and more familiar English varieties are, however, by means played out, as some magnificent specimens which appear on the benches attest. Amongst the most successful exhibitors is the Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison, Northallerton, who carries off prizes in many classes. One of the finest, if not the finest, of her exhibits is Satan, a magnificent animal of jet black hue, which easily wins the prize in the class for black cats. She is less successful in the section for white long-haired cats, but the defeat is an honourable one, as the winning animal, Mrs. J. Pettit’s King of the Pearls, is an exceptionally beautiful specimen of its class. Many well-known ladies visited the show in the course of the day, and it was made evident by their enthusiastic and admiring comments that the cult of the cat is likely to become increasingly fashionable. To the unsympathetic male person, says our Correspondent, an amusing feature of the exhibition was the luxury lavished on some the feline pets. Pampered toms reclining on velvet cushions, and looking lazily through windows curtained with lace, confronted one at every turn, while no self-respecting cat was without its bit of bright silk ribbon. In the matter of feeding, the animals fared sumptuously on a delicate compound made up of boiled beef and mutton and pepsinated meal. Puss, on the whole, seemed to have dropped into uncommonly comfortable quarters.

CATS AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE London Evening Standard, 13th October 1897
The second show of the National Cat Club, opened at the Crystal Palace yesterday, is much in advance, so far as the quality of the exhibits is concerned, of last year's gathering. True, the number of cats is not so large, there having been very great mortality this Summer, but most of the varieties are more representative, and the number of exhibitors also shows a great increase. This is undoubtedly due to the efforts of Mrs. Stennard Robinson, the hon. secretary, and prominent members of the Committee of the Club, among whom may be mentioned the Duchess of Bedford (President), Lily Duchess of Marlborough, the Countess of Warwick, Lady Granville Gordon, Lady Hothfield, the Countess of Sefton, the Hon. Mrs. Brett, the Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison, and Madame Ronner. Mrs. Herring (Lee), Mrs. C. Heslop (Darlington), and the Hon. Mrs McLaren Morrison (Northallerton) have sent in most entries, the latter lady having close on twenty cats on show, and being successful in most of the sections. In white, long haired the Yorkshire lady is, however, beaten by Mrs. J. Pettitt fPenshurst) with a magnificent animal, the King of Pearls, but in blacks Mrs. McLaren Morrisons Satan is quite alone. In the same section the Misses Slater and Harris (Lee) and Miss Beal (Darlington) and Miss Willoughby (Slough) are among the successful exhibitors. In the short- haired varieties the exhibits of Mr. Sam Woodwiss (Finchley) are very prominent, as are also those of Mrs. Herring (Lee), the latter's champion Jimmy, one of the most noted tortoiseshells of the day, gaining great admiration. The unbeaten champion Xenophon, the famous red champion Perfection, Sedgemere Snow King, and other renowned cats have sustained their hard-won reputations.

SILVER BOWL FOR A COTTINGHAM CAT. Hull Daily Mail, 13th October 1897
At the National Cat Club's Show at the Crystal Palace, the Hon Mrs McLaren Morrison's Indian silver bowl for best Persian was adjudged to a pretty specimen shown Mrs Dunnerdale, Cottingham, Hull [note: unfortunately for Hull, this was corrected to Mrs. William Mills's cat Diamond Queenie].

CRYSTAL PALACE Irish Times, 13th October 1897
The Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava, Mrs. K. O. Chapman, Flaerty, Vicarage, Roscommon, Miss R. o. Cunningham, 64 kenilworth-square, Rathgar, and Miss S. Cunningham, Eldon Lodge, Rathgar-avenue, Rathgar, were exhibitors at the second championship show of the National Cat Club opened at the Crystal Palace today. Miss R. O. Cunningham was awarded a highly commended in the tabby or any other colour open class with Smiler, and Mrs. K. O. Chapman was commended for her Siamese King Wallypug. The “Catteries” was well patronised today, and some very fine specimens of the feline race were on view, the exhibition being a great advance in point of quality upon that of last year.

CATS AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE Morning Post, 13th October 1897
The second championship show of the National Cat Club, which opened yesterday at the Crystal Palace, should come almost as a revelation to that numerous class of persons who are wont to regard the feline species as one possessing but few varieties, and consequently having a very small claim upon the organisers of public exhibitions. Although, of course, coming a long way behind the dog in the number and variety of breeds, the cat is, nevertheless, able to make a very creditable show, and can be grouped, as the cat fancier well knows, into a really imposing array of "classes." This fact has never been more strikingly demonstrated than it is at the present exhibition, and the uninitiated visitor, whose knowledge of cat life is chiefly confined to the "lean grimalkin " common to most London streets, will find an inspection of the closely packed cages anything but the uninteresting and monotonous business he might expect.

The show includes very nearly 500 animals altogether, and for the proper enumeration of these it has been found necessary to have as many as 80 different classes. Broadly speaking, the cats are divided into two principal sections — one for the long-haired and another for the short-haired varieties — but, needless to say, each of these has a number of important sub-divisions ; thus the long-haired cats are classified according to their colour, such as white, black, blue, smoke, chinchilla, orange or cream, tortoiseshell, tortoiseshell and white, silver-tabby, brown-tabby, and gray- tabby. Each class, moreover, is further subdivided according to age and sex. Among the short-haired cats there is a foreign section, in which the Siamese and Manx varieties are represented, as well as a section devoted exclusively to English cats, in which may be seen some fine examples of the black and white, the tortoiseshell, the brown, grey, and red tabbies, and the peculiar, cloudy-looking variety known as blue. The task of awarding the prizes— by no means an easy one, considering the excellence of so many of the exhibits — was performed by a staff of five judges, among them being Mr. Louis "Wain, who has made cats his especial study from a pictorial point of view.

The National Cat Club presented two challenge cups, one for the best short-haired and the other for the best long-haired cat in the show, and these were awarded respectively to Mr. Sam Woodiwiss's champion Xenophon (which also carried off the Rotherham Challenge Bowl) and to Miss Gertrude Willoughby's Zaida, the former cat being a fine tabby and the latter a chinchilla. The Beresford Challenge Cup, for the best blue long-haired cat, went to Misses Slater and Harris's Roy; the Indian Silver Bowl, given by the Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison for the best Persian female cat bred by the exhibitor, was awarded to Mrs. Dunderdale's Mowgli [note: corrected to Mrs. William Mills's cat Diamond Queenie]; and the Howard Challenge prize, for the best blue kitten, was won by Dr. E. W. Roper. As President of the Club, the Duchess of Bedford gave four special prizes, which were awarded as follows : For the best English cat in the show which has not previously won a prize, Mr. G. Oliver's Danefield Tony ; for the best brace of English short-haired kittens over three months, Mrs. C. Heslop's Bob and Dick (yellow) ; for the best neuter in the show, Miss F. Knight's Albion Joey ; for the best adult Siamese cat, the Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison's Sura. A number of other special prizes were awarded in addition to the usual long list of class prizes. The show will remain open to-day.

THE CRYSTAL PALACE CAT SHOW. Morning Post, 14th October 1897
We are requested to state that the Indian silver bowl given by the Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison for the best Persian cat bred by exhibitor was won by Mrs. William Mills's cat Diamond Queenie, and not as stated in our issue of yesterday.

CATS! CATS! CATS! CRYSTAL PALACE A-CRAWL WITH CATS Pall Mall Gazette, 13th October 1897
Ghthquatz! Khatues! Chatze I Kahats! Cahtz! IKahts! Katz I Cats. Katz of all kinds at the Krystal Palaze. Why any single mortal should take anything but a brick-bat interest in cats passes the understanding of any one but an idiot by birth and education. How it comes to pass that people exhibit cats, actually collect them together not by twos but by hundreds is altogether outside the range of practical politics. Yet they do. At this blessed minute under an awning at the Crystal Palace the place crawls with cats. Feline cats. Cats.

Think of it. A man can clap his bat down over dozens of the animal. Cats licking their stupid faces. Cats purring like an electric plant. Cats snicking their whiskers. Cats chasing their idiotic tails. Cats lapping their milk with a noise no gentleman –no, nor any lady - should make when drinking. Cats, loads of cats, tied in the hardest of hard knots pretending to be asleep. Nothing but cats and women. Cats caterwauling, and women talking. Cats fashioned by nature and the meat chopper. Cats tailless by birth or conviction. Cats that are alive today because man was born an erring-aiming mortal. Other cats that should not be living. Cats that have their price and that haven't. Cats actually with pedigrees, although to give the majority of them their due, 'tis a wise cat that knows its father, according to the Crystal Palace Catalogue. Many cats whose family history is confined to its individual self. Cats with Toby collars round their necks. Cats with silk cushions to sleep on. Cats with ears. Cats that have left their ears at home. More cats. Some more cats. Gay and festive cats. Sad cats. Kittens. Yus, sir ; actually kittens. Kittens chaperoned by their mothers. Up-to-date kittens out without their mothers. Tom cats. Tabby cats. Every variety of cats. Cats in every shade. Cats built to suit intendingr purchasers. Cats, alas! that have still their nine lives to run. Cats that have starred two. Crazy cats. Crazy-quilt cats. Blue-eyed cats. One-eyed cats. Cats with black eyes - acquired. Brindle cats, that to catch sight of would bring on an European war. More cats than you ever saw outside your back garden. Cats! Katz! Kahts! Kohats! Chatze! Khatues! Ghthequatze!

There is a National Cat Club. Imagination reels, but that does not prevent the atrocity. Where in the kingdom the clubhouse is situated, and how many cats are kept, the catalogue kindly does not tell. But this club actually comes out in the light of day and holds a championship show, as if there could be discernible points about one cat over and above any other cat. Nevertheless the second of these shows is now in progress at the Crystal Palace. The telegraphic address is “Bow Wow," London, and the manager's name is Mr. Sparrow, so the club is not without its professional humourist. Forgetting that the late Mr. Whittington through love for a cat was convicted and sentenced to three terms of the Lord Mayoralty right here in London, the members of the Cat Club allow their names and addresses to be printed in cold type, along with the name of the cat, the immediate ancestry of the cat, if known, if not known, then that it was found on the doormat, the quality and condition of the cat, the date, if any, of its birth, how many previous prizes it has won, and the price put upon its head, or if it is not for sale or to be given away or to let, then the words "Not for Sale" are attached. Pharaoh loved cats and he got drowned. The cats he loved have lately been put on the London market badly damaged [note: crushed cat mummies for sale as fertilizer] - the proper condition in which to acquire any cat - yet Pharaoh's cats do not bring a fraction of the price asked at this show tor the Felis domestica, which is actually at the time of purchase alive and miauling. Like the Red Indian, the only good cat is the dead one, and the longer they are dead the gooder they are. All day yesterday, it may be added, there were indications of a Jubilee-seat slump in prices to set in before the show comes to an end. But to begin with, exhibitors thought nothing of asking five guineas for only one cat at a time.

The cat show is the first turning to the left from where Madame Albani usually sings. Over the entrance the management has arranged the flags of all nations at half-mast. Inside the tent were row after row of galvanized iron cages, and in every cage a cat. Their numbers ran to hundreds, ran up to 464 as a matter of pure figures from the printed list. An appalling number as this undoubtedly is, matters were much worse once upon a time, and not so very long ago at that. The reason of the falling-off in the number of cats at the show is one that very nearly passes all understanding. It seems that at cat shows lately - they hold cat shows in various parts of the country - those Cats most valued or loved have a habit of not coming back. Some people steal cats, and of late years a great many have disappeared, not to reappear until a handsome reward is offered and no questions asked. To be sure, this is not to happen at the Crystal Palace, where each particular puss is guarded like the Bank of England or a Grand National candidate. But fear of accidents of the lost, strayed, or, most probably, stolen sort has this year prevented a large number of former customers from exposing their precious felines to the care of too loving strangers. In their cages the cats have just room to stretch themselves for exercise, or, as is the case in the majority of cages, to curl themselves into a hard knot and refuse to be looked at or tickled into exhibiting their points, good and bad. They are a sleek lot, all innocent mother’s-best-boy-looking congregation. They give one the idea that if a chocolate mouse with a twine tail were to be suddenly dropped into the room the whole lot of them would go off into a violent fit. Unless they are well looked after the Norwood rats will hear of these being in the Palace and will come for them. Many of the cats had the most beautiful of silken pillows, to sleep upon, but as a rule it was the cat that had nothing but its good looks and clean straw to rest upon that took the prize.

Five judges waded through the scramble of cats. It is a terrible instance of tile degeneration of the male man that of the judges four were masculine. The first class of cat on the catalogue was the long-haired cat. And here it should be said in favour of degenerating man that few of him exhibited animals. A careful survey of the catalogue leads a cat-hater to believe that there are three brands of cats and a great many sub-divisions. The brands are long-haired cats, short-haired cats, and kittens. It is astounding to have suddenly brought home to one the different sub-brands of cats one might have. Job was never inflicted with the thirty-eight sub-divisions of the long-haired cat. The short-haired cat seems not so prevalent, but the long-haired is quite evidently epidemic. There are 284 cases of this infection reported at the Palace yesterday. They included all forms of the disease, from the simple “white” to the compl;icated "smoke." There were chinchilla, orange, cream, black, blue, and all sorts of cat colours. But it was one of the short-haired variety that "scooped the pool," and "took the kitty” - an ordinary looking Tom that if seen on the garden wall one would hesitate to throw his poker at for fear of breaking it. To see that cat would almost make one believe there may be points in cats, for it is about the very last cat in the show; that one who is not up in cat breeds would think of looking at longer than needed to take a good aim to kick hard. Yet that cat has the cool sum of £2,500 tacked to its tail. It looks a pretty comfortable price to ask for a cat whose annals are indeed short and simple. It was described as "Champion Xenophon (1,338). Date of birth 1892. Breeder and pedigree unknown. Price £2,500." His owner is Mr. Sam Woodiwiss, of East Finchley, where mice must be expensive articles of food, if they grow cats like this one. Besides other prizes, he took the National Cat Club Challenge Cup for short-hair, which, at least, has the place of honour on the prize list. The winner of the Club’s challenge cup for hair that is long was “Zaida” belonging to Miss Gertrude Willoughby, of Fulmer Hall, near Slough, an animal of which, as it is marked "Not for sale," it may be said cannot be bought for the modest sum set on the short-haired champion. The Beresford Challenge Cup for the best blue long-haired feline fell to the Misses Slater and Harris’s "Roy," which first saw the light of day nine days after August 26 last year. An Indian silver bowl, presented by the Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison, for the best Persian cat of the female persuasion, fell to Mrs. Dunderdale's "Mowgli." Her Grace the Duchess of Bedford gave no less than four special prizes, which were won by Mr. G. Oliver's "Danefield Tony," Mrs. C. Heslop’s “Bob” and " Dick," Miss F. Knights " Albion Joey," and the Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison's “Sura.” The Howard Challenge prize offered by the Hon. Cecil Howard for the best blue kitten was taken by Dr. E. W. Roper’s "Peter Bootles."

Up to the hour of going to press no definite information has been received as to whether or not the rats got after the cats or whether someone seeking a good working, short-haired cat has "planked down” that £2,500.

CRYSTAL PALACE CAT SHOW Gentlewoman, 16th October 1897
Over 600 entries were penned at the National Cat Club Show this week, and the collection of blue Persians was a remarkable one; while one of the curiosities was an Iceland cat, which has a coat of great length and the colour of a dark rich sable. An average number of Siamese were penned, but owners are chary of entering them for exhibition in the winter months; why I don't know, for several well-known owners of the breed, notably the Duchess of Bedford, declare them, when adult, to be quite hardy. Venatrix.

[CRYSTAL PALACE SHOW] Wakefield Express, 16th October 1897
At the Crystal Palace Cat Show this week Messrs Towlerton and Sons won the following prizes: 1st and championship with their red tabby (“Champion Perfection”); 1st and special with kitten (“Goldfinder”); 2nd in brace class, and 3rd with silver tabby (“Silver Fox”).

The response to this article was THE CAT SHOW Pall Mall Gazette, 18th October 1897
To the Editor of the Pall Mall Gazette.
Sir, Why did you not send an Occ. poet to the Crystal Palace to describe the Cat Show, instead of that self-sufficient and soulless person who denies the right of existence - except as a target for boot-jacks and brickbats - to one of the most beautiful and one of the most intelligent animals created ? The writer ought to confine himself to noticing furniture, confectionery, or any other kinds of exhibitions which are not beyond his Beckmesser understanding. Cats obviously are.- I am, Sir, yours faithfully, October 15. - A Cat Lover.
[Beckmesser: a critic or teacher of music characterized by timid and excessive reliance upon rules; pedant.]

LONDON LETTER Bucks Herald, 16th October 1897
I must confess that [the cat show] was rather a depressing affair. The cats looked very uncomfortable in their little dens, and the prevailing odour was such as to inspire an ardent desire for a little fresh air. However, it was certainly a remarkable collection of felines, and the ladies lingered lovingly around the cages. The champion was a heavy-looking animal, more massive than beautiful, to mind. I was informed that some years ago he changed hands at about or £50, and figured in the catalogue at £2,500. The Persians, especially the kittens, were very pretty; while the Siamese specimens were curious, but ugly.

[CRYSTAL PALACE SHOW] The Sporting Gazette, 16th October 1897
I must really confess to a feeling of disappointment when I journeyed to the Palace of Crystal on Wednesday to see the Cat Show. I expected to see a far finer and larger collection. There were three or four fine white cats, some tabbies of fame and reputation, and some handsome blue cats; but, take it as a whole, I can't say much for the show. Another thing: when a show is announced for two days, it is not right for exhibitors to take their animals away on the first night. There were any amount of empty cages on Wednesday. Whilst l am on the subject of the Crystal Palace I must say something about the train service there. It is simply disgraceful. Why, one can get to Brighton in the same time that it takes to go or come from Sydenham. I don't think the Palace will ever be the success it ought to be until this train service is improved. I know many people who shy at the long, tedious, cold journey in winter, with the horrible poky carriages provided for their accommodation. I would urge this upon the notice of the Directors of the Palace Company.

CATS AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE. Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper, 17th October 1897
[. . .] the Indian Silver bowl, given by the Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison, for the best Persian female cat bred by the exhibitor, was awarded to Mrs. Mills's Diamond Queenie.

LADIES’ LETTER Northern Whig, 20th October 1897
The Cat Show the Crystal Palace was a most enjoyable affair. The tabbies do not make tender-hearted spectators miserable by their lamentations, as do the poor doggies when they are on view. On the contrary, I firmly believe that the pussies know quite well that they are the admired of all admirers, and purr and go into the most graceful and becoming attitudes at the approach of the stranger. Some of the blue cats were very curious, and the beauty of the Persians and other species was beyond description. Every kitten was sold off at once, notwithstanding the fact that £15 was asked for several, and the prices throughout were high.

NATIONAL CAT CLUB SHOWHull Daily Mail, 22nd October 1897
A second National Cat Club Show has been held at the Crystal Palace, and the members of the club may be proud of having scored another big success. Good as was last year's exhibition, this season's fixture was touched throughout with that hall mark, "Improvement," that finally leads to perfection.

Buckingham Advertiser and Free Press, 23rd October 1897
The National Cat Club promises to make the creature of the hearthrug a thing of beauty. Its second championship show has revealed new features of joy in the domestic animal, and proved that our familiar friend Thomas when well-bred has a grace of outline and variety of good points that may make him the rival of the dog. A cat show has also this advantage over an exhibition of dogs - it is a quiet affair. The air is not rent with cries for release and furious discussion between neighbours. The cat rises to the situation and maintains an attitude of ease and dignity. Among the exhibits at the Crystal Palace show was Mr. Sam Woodiwiss’s “Xenophon,” for which £50 was recently refused. Then there were Manx cats, and cats from Siam and Russia, and representatives of every kind of pussy. Then benching was well done, the interest was sustained, and there is reason to home that the exhibition will grow in the course of the year.

NATIONAL CAT CLUB SHOW St. Andrews Citizen, 23rd October 1897
Cat shows are always interesting except to those who have an unconquerable antipathy to the Felis domestica. The National Cat Club has just held its second annual exhibition at the Crystal Palace, near London, and the occasion attracted quite a fashionable gathering, eager to pick up bargains in kittens and full-grown animals with established pedigrees and reputations.

CRYSTAL PALACE CAT SHOW. The Queen, 23rd October 1897
THE NATIONAL CAT CLUB held its second championship show at the Crystal Palace on Oct. 12 and 13. The number of entries was very satisfactory, 500 specimens being on view. These were arranged in no less than eighty classes, the long-haired and short-haired being separately classified. There were also classes for foreign varieties, such as the Siamese and the Manx, or tailless cats. In addition to which, there were eight classes for the cats belonging to working men or women; these brought forward a satisfactory entry of sixty pens. But the Cat Club is essentially a ladies' organisation, being presided over by the Duchess of Bedford, supported by many ladies of title as vice-presidents. The exhibitors were chiefly ladies, some of whom have entered into the pursuit of rearing show specimens with great zeal. The Hon. Mrs Maclaren, Kepwick Park, had no less than nineteen entries. Mrs Herring’s exhibits numbered fourteen, and those of Mrs Heslop a dozen. As these specimens have to be kept select and reared to pattern, separate establishments are required, which may be termed catteries.

The pride of place or seat of honour in the classification was awarded to the long-haired varieties, of which there were classes for all colours, sexes, and ages. Of the beauty of these varieties there can be no question. In the centre of our page of illustrations, Mr Wardle has given us a most graphic and truthful representation of Mrs Gregory's Chinchilla kittens, Bona and Aurora 204 in the catalogue, which were priced respectively at £2. 10s. and £2. 2s. It is a pleasure to look at the accurate and lifelike drawings of this artist, which are in strong contrast to the ridiculous exaggerations of feline form that are too prevalent. At the foot of the page is Mrs Martin's long-haired Chinchilla Lambkin Queen (76). This specimen was entered "Not for sale." At the top of the page is shown the head of Miss Raby's Thibet (162), a smoke-coloured specimen, which is valued at £15 despite of its date of birth, its breeder, and its pedigree being alike unknown.

The Siamese cat 287, belonging to the Hon. Mrs McLaren Morrison, is characteristic in form, but the original marking, which gave so distinctive a character to the variety, has not been retained. When first imported, Siamese cats were self coloured, with black tips to all the extremities, but this very characteristic feature has been bred out, and they are now of various colours, not as we conceive to their improvement, for the quaintness of the original animal was hardly to be excelled. It is, therefore, satisfactory to note that a special prize is offered for the best light-coloured Siamese with dark extremities, or points, as they are termed, viz., nose, ears, feet, and tail, and with tufted ears and blue eyes. The occurrence of blue eyes in cats is an interesting physiological problem; it is well known that kittens are born with their eyes imperfectly developed, and that they cannot see for some days. During this time the eyes are blue, their mature colour not being developed; in some cats the eyes remain blue during life; many of these are deaf from the ears partaking of the imperfect development of the eyes. Whether or not is worth while to breed for such a defect is a matter of fancy, on which we will not presume to hazard an opinion.

CATS AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE. Gentlewoman, 23rd October 1897
The second annual fixture of the National Cat Club was held at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, last week, and compares very favourably with the club's initial exhibition of last year. It is true that the number of cats penned was fifty less this year, but the number of individual exhibitors was fifty more, and the quality of the exhibits very much improved, so that the progress of the National Cat Club in extending the circle of exhibitors appears to be all that its supporters could wish. The exhibition attracted a very fashionable gate, and among the purchasers of kittens was the Countess of Cottenham, who invested in one of the sweet-faced Chinchillas. Lady Marcus Beresford visited the show with a large party of friends both days.

The feature of the show was the extraordinary number of Blue Persians, and the winners in these were the Misses Slater Harris's Roy, which was in grand coat; Mrs. A. Finnie Young's Bluejacket, and Mrs. Hill's well-known champion Patrick Blue, which would have been unbeatable but that he was not in coat. In Blue Queens, Miss Beal's Romaldkirke Volage took precedence, Mrs. Mills' Diamond Queenie, and Miss A. Lemmon's Mrs. Brougham following in order. Mrs. Hill was also fortunate in winning with her kitten, Blue Ruin III., the Howard Challenge Trophy. The Beresford Challenge Cup was withheld, as the winners were not eligible to compete.

In Chinchillas the championship went to Zaida, owned by Miss Gertrude Willoughby, Lady Willoughby's daughter, and who is a member of the committee of the National Cat Club. Zaida was in superb bloom, and she also won the challenge cup for best Persian in the show, and the win was a popular one. A similar win for best smoothc,at was awarded to that unbeatable tabby Ch. Xenophon, belonging to Mr. Sam Woodiwiss. Mrs. Martin's Lambkin Queen, and Mrs. Oliver's Danefield Silver Mist were much admired in the Chinchilla section. In the Orange or Cream Miss W. Beal won the championship with the well-known cat Romaldkirke Admiral, Mr. A. E. Driver scored fresh triumphs for the tortoiseshell Queen Elizabeth, and Miss Sangster's Royal Yum Yum was again. successful. In Silver Tabbies Miss A. Leake won the championship, and Mrs. Herring's novice, the Duke of Lee, was much admired, as also Miss Gertrude Willoughby's Fulmer Patty, which took third. In Brown Tabbies, Miss Southam's Birkdale Ruffie , the champion of last year, was champion again this. In Neuters, that wonderful cat Blue Boy was just beaten by Albion Joey, and in Tabbied Neuter class Miss G. Raby's Thibet was one of the most handsomely marked ones.

The kitten classes were not only interesting but contained very healthy specimens. Among the first winners were Mrs. Little's Lady.Joker and Sir Scamp, Miss Peters' Furina and Furro, Mrs. G. S. Carter's Mousie and Scamp, Mrs. Wellbye's Silver Jessamine and Silver Daisy. Mrs. Crowther's Meg Merrily, a tortoiseshell kitten, was first in a class of seventeen competitors, and was subsequently sold, and Mrs. Dunderdale's Chinchilla Mowgli had many offers, which were refused.

The long-haired brace prizes fell to Miss Beal, Mrs. Finnie Young. and Mrs. Martin; the teams to Miss Beal, the Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison, and Mrs. Herring. The best white and championship winner was the King of Pearls, the best black being awarded to Mrs. Morrison's Satan, which, on the application of its owner, had full right to the title of champion awarded to him at the general meeting of the N.C.C. held on the second day of the show. Mrs. McLaren Morrison, Mrs. Levers's', and Mrs. Brodie won the prizes in Siamese, and Mr. Sam Woodiwiss exhibited a grand lot of blue short-haired cats, while Mr. Sydney Woodiwiss and Miss Jay accounted for championship and other prizes in the Manx division. The classes for short-haired English were very badly supported, and except for the exhibits of Mrs. Morrison, Mrs. Oliver, Mrs. Herring, Mr. Towburton, and Mr. Sam Woodiwiss, were a very indifferent collection. The Duchess of Bedford's four beautiful silver prizes were won by Mrs. Oliver with Danefield Tony, for best Englishc,at in the show which had not won a prize previously, Mrs. Hislop for best pair of English kittens, Miss Knight for the best Neuter, and Mrs. McLaren Morrison for the best adult Siamese.

Messrs. Spratt cannot be too highly complimented on the capital food they supply for the cats, and the boiling of the milk was generally approved. The sanitary arrangements were admirably carried out by the Sanitas Company, of Bethnal Green. The committee and hon. secretary of the National Cat Club deserve the highest praise for the care they bestowed on exhibits, and for the excellence of all the arrangements; and every exhibitor will be glad to hear that the Club has secured the Palace for their annual show next year. An illustration of some of the prize-winners will be found in the centre of the paper.

[CRYSTAL PALACE CAT SHOW] Justice, 23rd October 1897
At the National Cat Show held at the Crystal Palace last week, the cats were fed upon “carefully prepared food, composed of pepsinated puppy food, boiled beef, and mutton.” And yet 60,000 London children are unable to obtain a cup of tea and crust of bread before leaving home each morning for school!

CRYSTAL PALACE CAT SHOW Gentlewoman, 30th October 1897
The kitten sales at the National Cat Club Show, held recently at the Palace, were very numerous, and as much as £90 was taken, in sums varying from 5s. upwards.

LONDON FULL OF CATS – The Inter Ocean, Nov 1, 1897
Fanciers Have Just Concluded Their Annual Show.
LONDON. Oct. 18. — Special Correspondence. — Nowhere In the world are cats so numerous and so petted and pampered as in London. They haunt area steps, splendid warriors, and sleek mothers with their families. They promenade the garden walls, and the more aristocratic Persian and Angora survey the life of the street from the cushioned window-sill of Mayfair and Belgravia. In the poorer quarters the "cat's meat" man goes his rounds, vending bits of cooked horse-flesh strung on skewers and at his guttural cry: "C-a-a-at's—s’meat—s'meat, s’meat,” his furry friends come running out of the tenements, purring and arching their backs and rubbing about his legs; but this only when the man is their own tried and trusty friend; a substitute being regarded with distrust and suspicion. Many of the cats in the street wear bells and collars, or at least a neck ribbon, tied in a bow, and, among self-respecting folk, who reverence the morning tub for themselves, Tab and Tom are combed daily with a coarse comb.

Prom my window I used to see a rebellious feline receiving his morning combing, to which he submitted only after a spirited struggle, with much kicking and biting. In Cadogan Gardens a smoke-gray Persian used to lie, in the windowsill of one of the best-known houses, during the absence of the family out of town, at the close of the season. She seemed to revel in release from the thralldom of cushions and combings, and her silvery fur grew dally blacker and blacker, with the "smudges” from neighboring chimney-pots. She gently waved her plumy tail and surveyed the passing policeman with languid, yellow eyes, and altogether had quite caught the air of a grand dame "slumming."

At the door of a little shop not far from there I saw a pair of splendid coal black cats with coats of silk. A woman with a baby in her arms stood in the doorway between them, and I stooped to pat one of them, when the owner remonstrated:

“O ma'am, don't touch ‘im; 'e’s very nawsty, ‘e bites. You can stroke t'other one." So the caress was transferred to "t'other one.” who bore it submissively. With all this universal interest in cats, then, it may be imagined that a great cat show at the Crystal palace is a characteristic London feature, and thousands, young and old, rich and poor, go out to the exhibition to see the beautiful animals. Women, it must be acknowledged, are in the majority, and foppish guardsmen who come in force to the various dog shows are sparsely represented. Yet there are men who have a devoted affection for cats, and when they do manifest such a feeling are quite as doting as women. The annual cat show, which was held last Tuesday and Wednesday, was this year unusually successful. There were in all 464 entries of all kinds, including Persians. Siamese, Manx, tortoiseshell, tabbys, black, Maltese, and the ordinary varieties. Many were of most aristocratic lineage, and their pedigree was duly given in the catalogue, with the prizes they had won. There was the general exhibit and a special department devoted to "cats bred by workingmen" — an English touch, rather amusing to the democratic American.

The president of the National cat club, under whose auspices the exhibition was held, is the Duchess of Bedford, who has one of the largest collections of valuable cats in the kingdom. The vice presidents are her Grace, Lily. Duchess of Marlborough, the Countess of Warwick, the Lady Granville Gordon, Hon. Mrs. M. L Morrison, Mme. Henriette Ronner, the Countess of Sefton, the Lady Hottifield, Hon. Mrs. Brett, Mr. Sam Wodiwiss, Mr. H. W. Bullock, and Mr. Isaac Wodiwiss. The president of one of the important committees is Mr. Louis Wain, one of the best black-and-white artists la London, who devotes himself entirely to cats. The exhibits were divided into seven classes: Open classes — open to both prize winners and to what are technically termed "novices” — those that have never competed for prizes; novice classes, neuter classes, for gelded cats; kitten classes — single entries to be over 3 months and under 8 months; kitten brace any age; team, for three or more cats over 6 months.

There were innumerable prizes, including the National Cat Club cup, valued at 10 guineas, for the best short-haired cat; another of equal value for the best long-haired cat; the Beresford challenge cup, valued at 25 guineas, for the best blue long-haired cat (male); an Indian silver bowl for the best Persian female bred by an exhibitor, while the Crystal Palace company gave thirteen prizes. There were also varieties of medals and diplomas, and many of the pens — as the cages were called — bore a card with "Commended” or "Very highly commended." One hundred and fifteen prizes were given by individuals, four of considerable value by the Duchess of Bedford, who offered a silver saucer for the best English cat in the show that had not previously won a prize; Mme. Ronner’s book for the best brace of kittens; a pair of silver muffineers for the best neuter, and a silver saucer for the best adult Siamese.

As has been said, she was one of the most enthusiastic patrons of the show, and her private collection is rivaled only by that of Lady Marcus Beresford, who has sixteen that are said to receive their portion of milk every morning at the same hour, each In separate saucers, which are carried to them in a tray by a special footman assigned to this duty.

An entrance fee of 3 shillings and 6 pence was charged for each cat, which the rules required should be securely packed in a basket and which was fed and cared for during the exhibition.

Some of the regulations were not observed. One particularly, which forbade placing cushions in the cage. Owners were permitted to take their cats home at night, provided they were returned before the exhibition opened the following morning; in the event of neglecting this requirement the prize they may have taken was forfeited. A deposit of £1 was also required, as a guarantee that the privilege would not be abused. The exhibitions was held in the main building in the wing beyond the great organ. In order to secure greater warmth, many of the delicate creatures having been removed from their cushions before comfortable drawing-room firesides, a heavy canvas was spread above the cages, forming a sort of ceiling. The cats were shown in what was described as pent – stout, roomy, wire cages filled with clean straw; in one or two instances the forbidden cushions, for some good cause, had been smuggled in, and one large tortoise-shell was curled up on a soft pillow of yellow silk, whereon was embroidered her name, Tib.

Many of the cats had become reconciled to their strange surroundings, and were sleeping soundly; others were surveying the passing throng with supercilious indifference, careful, however, to keep well in the back of the cage, out of the reach of prodding fingers. In each cage was a sauce of curious, crumby-looking substance, which was “poultry meal," and a favorite food for cats, as dog and puppy biscuits are for their natural enemies; in addition to the poultry meal there was a sauce containing milk or water. As to the matter of drink, there seemed to be a difference of opinion, and a number of the pens bore cards on which was concisely inscribed: "Water only." or, "Water, not milk.” the "not" being twice underscored.

The long-haired cats were remarkably beautiful and varied in color, black, white, gray, and tortoise-shell; their large, bushy tails and their yellow eyes recalled Mme. Ronner's famous pictures. The finest in this class were four shown by Mrs. McLaren Morrison (the vice president), Sultan, Christmas Rose, White Heather of Kepwick, and Lotus II. Strangely enough all these fine cats were of unknown origin, but nevertheless they compared favorably with those whose forbears were known and recorded.

The tortoise-shells were beauties — their glossy fur showing great richness and variety of color, brown, black, white and yellow. The black cats were also very handsome, and the prices of those offered for sale varied from £500 ($2,500) to £1. The highest-priced animal, whose value was equal to that of a thoroughbred horse or a registered Alderney, belonged to Mr. J. Rothery. Its name was Totty, its birthday Nov. 5. 1896, and It was bred by the exhibitor; its aristocratic parents were respectively Champion Tommy and Queen Daisy. There was but three days' difference between the age of Totty and the £1 cat, whose name was Gipsey, one of whose parents was unknown, the other bearing the somewhat lengthy name of Nebuchadnezzar.

The mothers, with their young families, were probably the most interesting part of the show. The litters rarely exceeded three, and one poor, hollow-eyed creature looked quite, worn out with the labor of nourishing two fat rascals almost as big as herself, who boxed and scratched and otherwise maltreated her in very rough sort of play; one milk-white lady was not only registered to the anomaly of two coal-black kittens, but seemed surprisingly proud of them, purring sonorously as they curled between her paws.

There was a good collection of tailless Manx cats; they had rather a rakish air, and were plain gray and black striped. They are often savage fighters, and are frequently irreclaimable bullies. The Siamese, although they may have had the greatest sweetness of temper, certainly belied their looks; the prevailing color was dun or fawn, with the darkest seal brown muzzle, ears, and paws, the ears terminating with tufts; these cats had pale blue eyes. One of these, Fulmer Banjo, belonging to Miss Gertrude Willoughby, was valued at £50; the average price of Siamese cats seemed to be about £20, while kittens rated at £5 10 shillings each.

"Ugly brutes.” said an unsympathizing man, halting before the cage of a huge male — that is, huge for a Siamese, for they do not, attain the size of Persians or Maltese, and the cat glared at him aa if it would like to "fly at him,” as the English put it, and avenge the insult. A brindled animal also looked with great disfavor upon his careless critic. "He looks like a poacher cat; I'm sure he's a poacher," was the comment of a lady who paused to observe the fierce eyes of another cat nearby, and he certainly did look as if he preferred his meat au natural, rather than cooked and served in the daintiest saucer. A pretty child discovered a likeness to a well-beloved Danny, her pet, presumably, who had not been torn from his secluded hearth to help swell the entries of the cat show. "But I'm glad that it isn’t Danny," she remarked with a sigh of relief. The kittens, big and little, seemed to take the show as an excellent joke, and were ready to make advances to any one disposed to notice them; one ball of blue fluff squatted on its haunches and played with a straw, with which a schoolboy gently tickled its pink nose, thrusting out a pair of little paws that were like two pink raspberries.

The crowd which the exhibit attracted was as interesting as the cats themselves; it was good-tempered, thoroughly Interested, and, thanks to the "working classes’ “ entries, aa mixed as any crowd could well be. One of the most interested and critical of the visitors was a clergyman in the straight-breasted coat and low-crowned hat of the Established church; he seemed to know as much about cats as he knew about the creed, and he compared, and commented, and discussed the good and bad points of the various prize winners with authority and intelligence. There were titled ladies in tailor-made gowns and Bond street hats; lower middle class matrons with roughened hands, dropping their h's right and left, smart club men, school girls and boys, several of these making remarkably clever sketches of the cats in water color or pencil — rather a difficult feat in the pushing and crowding of the passing line of lookers on. Altogether it was a most interesting sight, and one well worth visiting, and those who had taken the trouble to go the long distance in the muggy weather considered themselves well repaid.

* * *

The Blackheath Gazette of 15th October, 1897 reported on this second annual show National Cat Club show. The entries were apparently less numerous than the previous year, but there was an all-round improvement in the quality. The following local exhibitors gained prizes or other honours :—
Babb. R. T. 46, Kingswood-road, Penge, VHC smoke.
Battle. Mra. 42, Belvedere-road, Upper Norwood. VHC tabby cat, working men’s sectlon.
Bedward, F. G, 12, Belvedere-road, Upper Norwood. VHC open class.
Bedward, Mrs. 12. Belvedere-road, Upper Norwood. HC long-haired cat.
Brigden. P. Crown-hill Norwood, HC Manx.
Carnall Miss K. 20, Avington-grove. Penge. VHC pair of tabby kittens.
Chidley. Miss F. E. Gipsy-hill. VHC short-haired kitten.
Coleman, J. 113. Wells-road. Sydenham. Third prize short haired cat, working men’s sectlon.
Cornaby. Miss C. 126, Anerley-road, Anerley. First prize, class 69.
Davies, Mrs A. 5 Beardell-street, Westow-hill, Upper Norwood, HC short haired kitten.
Dempster, Mrs M. 17. St. Hugh’s-road, Anerley. Third prize black cats, VHC name class.
Denman. Mrs. C. Barnagore Villa, Longton-grove, Sydenham. Third prize class 26.
Eagle, R. 22 Palace-road, Norwood. HC short haired cats. Fuber, Miss B. 13, Queen Adelaide-road. Penge. Reserve.
Gibbard, Mrs J. 17 Hanover-street, Sydenham, VHC short haired cats.
Harrow. Mrs. H. 13 Hanover-street, Sydenham. Reserve.
Henley, A. F. 24. Palace-road, Upper Norwood. First prize, short-haired kittens.
Hobson, Mrs. 47, Barnfield-road, Gipsy-hill. Second prize short haired cats.
Hunt, Mrs W M. Linden Dean, Woolstone-road Catford. VHC blue toms, HC silver tabbies.
Lowcook, G, 19, Barnfield-road, Norwood, third prize, silver pairs, first prize short-haired kittens.
Little, Mrs R. Stoke Lodge, Beckenham. First prize pair of tabby kittens.
MacGregor, Mrs R. Rockmount-road, Upper Norwood, third prize class 63.
Page D. 47, Barnfield-road, Gipsy-hill. Third prize class 74.
Pentelow. Mrs. 22, Peak-hill, Sydenham. VHC silver tabbies.
Pickenden, G. 47, Barnfield-road, Gipsy-hill. C class 74. Powell, W H. 58. High-street, Sydenham, VHC long haired cats.
Powell, Mrs W H. 58. High-street, Sydenham, VHC long haired cats.
Randall, Mrs S. Oakbank, Crystal Palace Park-road. Third prize, white cats.
Roper, Dr E. Kent House, Beckenham. First prize kitten.
Schwindt Master. 180, Maple-road. Penge. First prize long haired cats.
Scott, Miss F. 19, Spa-hill, Upper Norwood. Second prize, short haired kittens.
Shaw, Miss M. Centre-park, Upper Norwood. Third prize smoke.
Stevens, Mrs. 16, George-street, Gipsy-hill. HC tabbies.
Waghorn, Miss. 13 Queen Adelaide-road, Penge. Third prize black cats.
Watkins, WJ. 94 High-street, Sydenham. Second prize class 64.
Wilcher, Mrs A. M. Waterworks, Sydenham-hill. VHC tabbies.
Williams, S. G. 107, Oakfield-road, Penge. VHC class 74.
Wood F. 9, Millpond-cottages, Dulwich Common. Reserve.
Young, Max. “Queen’s Hotel," Upper Norwood. HC class 25.

LONDON'S CAT SHOW. The Scranton Republican, November 3, 1897
he fashionable society of London was largely occupied last week in discussing the merits of cats. There was a big exhibition of felines at the Crystal Palace, and the dudish swells turned out in crowds to view the wonderful aggregation of mousers. Cats of all breeds known, except the wild cat, the catamount and other specimens of felines ferocious, were comprised in the aggregation, the whole of which was not worth a dollar. But although the show possessed no earthly value, still thousands of aristocratic and well-dressed persons made it a point to see the exhibition, many, no doubt, attending every day because they had nothing else to do. To the majority of people nothing seems more useless than a cat show, and yet even that wretched function serves a purpose. It provides entertainment for a class of idle-minded persons on whose hands time hangs heavily and whose lives are of just about as much account as are those of cats, neither conferring any particular benefit on mankind in general. But then it takes all kinds of people to make up the world, and the idle and do-nothing aristocrats of London must have entertainment they can appreciate, and so once a year they give a cat show, when every fashionable tabby in the city is carted off to a place of public exhibition to be gazed at by the stupids of high-toned society.

CRYSTAL PALACE CAT SHOW Gentlewoman, 4th December 1897
HE Kennel Club Show and the exhibition of the National Cat Club are largely described in The Ladies' Kennel Journal, which comes out in black, as a token of respect to the late Duchess of Teck, president of the L.K.A. The photographs of prize-winning cats make delightful pictures. Especially do I like Mr. Sam Woodiwiss's Xenophon, in spite of the fact that longhaired varieties seem to be most in favour.

1897 BRIGHTON CAT SHOW

BRIGHTON CAT SHOW Mid Sussex Times, 16th November 1897
Lovers of “pussy” will have an opportunity of seeing 250 of the finest specimens on Wednesday and Thursday (this week) at the Brighton Aquarium. The interest attached to the well-filled tanks, and a most amusing play as well, makes this institution one of the best wherein to spend a pleasant evening.

BRIGHTON CAT SHOW Mid Sussex Times, 23rd November 1897
At Brighton Cat Show last week, Miss Molony, of Lindfield, secured the first prize of 15s in the class for any variety of long-haired cats with “Lindfield Prince Charlie.” This lady gave a prize of a carved walnut inkstand for the best long-haired smoke male, and it was won by Miss Stisted, of Gipsy Hill.

1897 REGIONAL CAT SHOWS

CAT SHOW AT EDINBURGH. Dundee Courier, 1st January 1897
The Scottish Cat Club yesterday opened its first show in the Central Halls, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh. The entries, which numbered 150 in all, embraced animals from all parts of Scotland and various parts of England. Among the prize-takers, were Mrs Graham, Broughty Ferry, and Mrs Tindall, Broughty Ferry.

LIVERPOOL DOG, POULTRY, PIGEON, AND CAT SHOW The Field, 2nd January 1897
Liverpool Dog, Poultry, Pigeon, and Cat Show, Jan. 26, 27 and 28 . . . Schedules now ready. A. McKenzie, Hon. Sec. 8, Great Charlotte-street, Liverpool.

LIVERPOOL DOG, POULTRY, AND PIGEON [AND CAT] SHOWLiverpool Courier and Commercial Advertiser, 27th January 1897
The seventeenth annual Liverpool Dog, Poultry, Pigeon, and Cat Show, in the North Haymarket, opened yesterday . . . For the first time for seven or eight years a class for cats has been introduced and that the move was a judicious one is evident from the fact that 50 entries have been obtained. [Only results for dogs and poultry were given.]

CHICHESTER POULTRY AND CAGE BIRD SHOW Chichester Observer, 6th January 1897
I glad to find that the Annual Chichester Poultry and Cage Bird Show promises to be the most successful of any yet held at the Corn Exchange. [. . .] The cat show as usual will be a department much frequented by the ladies who yearly crowd to see them.

DOG SHOW AT GRANTHAM Sheffield Independent, 14th January 1897
The sixth Grantham Dog. Poultry, Pigeon, Rabbit, Cage Bird, and Cat Show was opened yesterday, when no less than £28O was offered in prizes, exclusive of special awards. There was very large entry, no less than 1100 exhibits being staged in 140 classes. [. . .] Competition in the cat classes was keen, the winner, shown by Mr. W. H. Potter, of Leamington, being the holder of the Crystal Palace Challenge Cup. The judges were - rabbits and cats, Mr. J. H. Roberts.

EDINBURGH KENNEL CLUB DOG AND CAT SHOW Edinburgh Evening News, 16th January 1897; The Scotsman, 18th January, 1897
The quarterly general meeting the members was held last night, Mr J. D. Brown presiding. It was unanimously agreed to hold a dog and cat show in the Waverley Market on and 20th May next. With a few amendments last year's classes were adopted. In the cat section the same entry money, prize money, and classification as last year were adopted.

THE ARBROATH DOG SHOW. Arbroath Herald and Advertiser for the Montrose Burghs, 11th February 1897
The Arbroath Canine Society hold their second dog and cat show on Wednesday in the Corn Exchange. The entries are expected to be more numerous than last year and there will be a full display of all the varieties in the canine and feline species. The secretaries, Messrs Robertson and McLeod, have been very busy during the past few weeks making preparations for what is now becoming one of the principal local events of the year. The local entries this year are very numerous and as the prizes are exceptionally good the competitions will doubtless be very keen and interesting.

CARNOUSTIE DOG AND CAT SHOW. Dundee Courier, 29th March 1897
On Saturday the Carnoustie Canine Club held their first exhibition of dogs and cats the Y.M.C.A. Halls. About 200 dogs and cats were shown, and the two halls were fully taken up in providing accommodation. During the day there was a very good attendance of the public, and in the evening the halls were thronged The judges were:—For dogs, Mr D. J. Thomson Gray, Dundee, and for cats. Mr John Anderson, Dundee. The entries for cats were not numerous, but some fine animals were exhibited.
Cats (Open). - Persian, Female - 1 Miss M. P. Parker; 2 Mr Wood; 3 Miss Mary Ogilvie.
Smooth, Male - 1 Mrs Angus Wyllie; 2 Mrs John Donald ; 3 Mrs Angus Wyllie.
Kitten, Any Variety - 1 Miss J. B. McDonald; 2 J Page; 3 J. Page.

DUNDEE DOG AND CAT SHOW Arbroath Herald and Advertiser for the Montrose Burghs, 15th April 1897
At the the Dundee Dog and Cat show last week Mrs A. Wyllie, Arbroath, won the third prize for toms and Tibbies (short haired), and third for geldings (long or short haired). Mrs John Donald was second and special in the latter class.

WAKEFIELD AND DISTRICT RABBIT SOCIETY. OPEN SHOW Wakefield Express, 8th May 1897
Last Saturday the first open show in connection with the Wakefield and district Rabbit Society was held in the Music Saloon, and was a thorough success throughout [. . .] The class for cats showed a very second-rate lot, none of which looked like winning in good company.
Class 22: Cats, any variety – 1st and special, H. Surguy; 2nd, P. Robinson; 3rd, G. Towlerton; reserve No 7, A.E. Banfield.

DOG AND CAT SHOW, GREAT EXHIBITION IN HULL Hull Daily Mail, 13th May 1897
Mr Clive Wilson opened the show of the Hull District Canine Society, of which he is president, at the Central Hall, Pryme-street, this morning. The show was upon a big scale, the entries numbering upwards of 250, being about twice as many as were obtained at the previous open show. [. . .] The judges were : [. . .] E. Welburn (terriers and cats). [cat results not given]

EDINBURGH DOG AND CAT SHOW Edinburgh Evening News, 15th May 1897
Edinburgh Kennel Club's Fourth Dog and Cat Show will be held in the Waverley Market, Edinburgh, on May 19th and 20th. Entry Fee, 5s. Entries closing to-day. Joseph Plant, Hon. Sec. 5, Queen St, Edinburgh.

WEST HULL AND DISTRICT FANCIERS’ SOCIETY SHOW Hull Daily Mail, 21st May 1897
The Committee of the West Hull and District Fanciers' Society have now well nigh completed arrangements—so far as the schedule is concerned —for their Jubilee Show. About 60 classes for poultry, pigeons, rabbits, cavies, cats, and cage birds have been arranged for. There will be an open class for cats, so there should be a good show of pussies. Numerous special prizes are offered members. The schedules will be ready by the close of this month. The judges will be: Poultry, Mr R. Smith ; pigeons, Mr Capes ; rabbits, cavies, and cats, Mr T B Mason; cage birds, Mr Calam.

HALIFAX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY SHOW Hull Daily Mail, 21st May 1897
I see, by the schedule the Halifax Agricultural Society, that the classes for Rabbits, cats, and Cavies have been greatly enlarged. Exhibitors will note that the date has been changed from the last week in August to July 10th.

KINGSTON-UPON-HULL DOG AND CAT SHOW Hull Daily Mail, 21st May 1897
In commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee the Kingston-upon-Hull Canine Society, will hold an open dog and cat show on Jubilee Day in their Recreation Ground, Boulevard (adjoining the Sports' Ground). This is one of the best arranged schedules ever put before an exhibitor. It will be ready Tuesday next. The prize money and special prizes, cups, shields, etc., amount to upwards of £200. [. . .] Messrs Booth, Gould, and Fleming have been appointed as judges. Any further information may be obtained from the secretary, Mr J. W. Woodmancy, 160, Hessle-road, Hull.

LOSTWITHIEL SHOW Western Morning News, 28th May 1897
Cage Birds, rabbits, Cavies, and Cat Show at Lostwithiel on June 9th and 10th.

OAKHAM DOG, CAT, AND RABBIT SHOW. Grantham Journal, 17th July 1897
The schedule for this annual exhibition, held in connection with the Flower Show on the August Bank-holiday, has been issued by the Hon. Secretary, Mr. F.G. Pascall.

NATIONAL CAT CLUB IRELAND SHOW Gentlewoman, 7th August 1897
The Marchioness of Dufferin has joined the National Cat Club, and hopes at the first show held in Ireland under National Cat Club rules to exhibit her Blues.

LOCAL SUCCESSES AT NORTHLEACH SHOW Swindon Advertiser and North Wilts Chronicle, 14th August 1897
At the Northleach Dog, poultry, Rabbit, and Cat Show, held on Friday last [discusses dogs and poultry, but no mention of cat classes.]

WORSLEY AND DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Manchester Evening News, 28th August 1897
The annual show of the Worsley and District Agricultural and Horticultural Society was opened this morning in the Park at Worsley. . . . Special prizes are also offered for cats. The North of England Cat Club offer their silver medal for the best cat exhibited by a member and registered under the club.

HUNSTANTON DOG AND CAT SHOW Lynn News & County Press, 28th August 1897
The second annual dog and cat show was held at Hunstanton on Wednesday and Thursday, In a marquee erected in the Esplanade grounds [. . .] Prizes were offered in two classes for cats, one being set apart from the long-haired and the other for the short-haired, but unfortunately there was only one cat entered in each class.
Any variety of short-haired cats. – 3, Miss K. Martin, Norwich.
Any variety of long-haired cats. – 3, Mrs. E. M. Taylor, Burnham Market.
Best cat in show - Mrs. E. M. Taylor.
[Note: only 3rd prizes were awarded due to not enough entries in each class.]

DOG, POULTRY, PIGEON, GAGE BIRDS, AND CAT SHOW Weymouth Telegram, 14th September 1897
The Martock and District Fanciers' Association's first open show of dogs, poultry, pigeons. cage birds, cats, rabbits &c.. was held on Thursday in connection with the bazaar. There were over 160 entries, and from a fancier's point of view the show was a Complete success, the whole of the committee having worked very hard to attain this object.
Cats – 1, Miss Philbrick; 2, Mr Watts; 3, Miss Adams; vhc, Mrs Hebditch, Mrs Baldwin, Messrs Wilton, Collings, and J. and O. Milson.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY BAZAAR. LOCAL CAT SHOW. Harrow Observer, 19th November 1897
On Tuesday and Wednesday a successful bazaar was held in the Public Hall, in aid of the funds of the Church Missionary Society [. . .] In the upper room of the Hall, a cat show was held for which the entries were numerous and the exhibits of a class considerably above those usually seen at a purely local show of this character. Mrs. Tremlett and Miss Kirkpatrick were in charge of the show and worked indefatigably and well for its ultimate success. Numerous prizes were offered. Mrs. Balding, who has had considerable experience in judging cats, having officiated in that capacity at the Crystal Palace Show, made awards as follows:
A silver medal, given by the National Cat Club, for the best cat in show, was taken by "Rufus," a fine 8 year old long haired tabby, shown by Mrs. Bolton. The special prize given by Mrs. Grove Annesley also was awarded to Mrs. Bolton's exhibit.
A special prize, offered by Mrs. Balding, for the second best exhibit, was awarded to Miss Kirkpatrick, for a black kitten of an excellent pedigree.
In class 1, for long haired whole coloured cats, the first prize, given by Miss Kirkpatrick, fell to Mrs. Grove Annesley; the second prize, given by Mrs. Charles, was won by Mrs. Mayhead, and the third, the gift of Miss E. Kirkpatrick, was awarded to Miss Kirkpatrick.
In class 2, for long haired cab, with markings, Mrs. Bolton secured the first prize given by Mrs. Charles, and Miss Kirkpatrick and Mrs. W. Egerton Hine, followed as second and third.
For short haired cats, class 3, the first prize, given by Miss Charles, was awarded to Miss Gill, the second to Mrs. Deans, and the third to Mr. W. E. Smith.
In the fourth class, that for any variety kitten, the first prize again fell to Miss Kirkpatrick, the second to Mrs. Tremlett, and the third to Miss Seawill.

CAT SHOWS Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 9th December 1897
A Cat Show has formed part of three or four important bazaars recently, and it has always been the most paying feature all of them. The possessors of handsome cats gladly lend them for the purpose, and all anxiety on their account is removed the fact that' the charge and feeding of the pets is always entrusted to some well-known canine and feline caterers, who take the utmost care them.

GLASGOW DOG SHOW. Edinburgh Evening News, 15th December 1897
The fourth annual Glasgow Dog, Poultry, and Cat Show was held to-day, and established a record for Great Britain regarding the number of separate classes.

DOG SHOW IN GLASGOW. Glasgow Herald, 16th December 1897
The fourth annual dog, poultry, and cat show, organised by Mr A. G. Dippie, [. . .] was opened in the Grand National Hall yesterday, and will be continued; to-day. Both in regard to quality and number of exhibits the show is highly successful. Indeed, so far as the number of classes available is concerned, it is claimed that the show establishes a record for Great Britain. [. . .] There are over 100 cats on view, and the display of poultry is also large. A number of special prizes are offered for competition, and: there are premiums to the amount of £200. There was a large attendance when the show opened yesterday, and everything promises that it will be one of the most successful exhibitions of its kind that has been held in Glasgow. Judging started between 10 and 11 o'clock. The following are the I principal prize-winners:- [cat classes not listed]