Arabian cats on show at International Cat Show Dubai 2013

Dubai: Cat breeders from across the UAE participated in the ninth edition of the International Cat Show Dubai 2013, which opened on Friday at Jumeirah Lake Towers.

Organised by Pet Secure, a pet insurance company in association with the World Cat Federation (WCF), the two-day feline contest gathered 26 cats of different breeds, which were subjected to professional judging by WCF officials.

Pet grooming, fur patterns and aboriginal and artificial breeds are all factors that are being observed by the judges.

The participants will also receive certificates of WCF for the cats’ original breed and points for championships.

“The competition includes judges from the World Cat Federation and the highlight today is the presentation of the Arabian Mau cats which were officially announced in 2012 as an international breed by the WCF,” said Petra Mueller, President of the Middle East Cats Society and full member of the WFC.

Petra also told Gulf News that while local and wild cats found in the UAE are considered street cats, some have now been officially announced as a new breed.

“The WCF has accepted these local cats as a breed and they are now known as the Arabian Mau,” she said.

The event, which wraps up on Saturday, will include competitions within several breeda of different cats and an overall prize for the best cat.