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"In a country where cats are still served as foods and stray cats being mistreated are popular, the event is a chance to raise awareness among people," said Nguyen Dieu Hong, one of the attendees.
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"Cat is not a sign of bad luck as many Vietnamese think and should be filled with love." Over the course of a day, judges poked and prodded the animals, felt their fur, stroked their tails, looked at their teeth and tested their agility.
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Seven cats won "best of class" awards and one, Timosa Sumo, won the heart not just of judges but of the public, which applauded him enthusiastically.
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The blueish grey cat is of Scottish Fold breed, but owner Dinh Chau Hieu Tam said it was not just his beauty that made him a crowd favourite. "He spreads the love to everyone," Tam said. "He is my furry son. I just love him and am proud of him so much."
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A participant wearing a protective facemask carries her cat Mochi, a highland fold breed during Vietnam's first national cat show in Hanoi.
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A participant poses with his cat Burny, a British longhair breed during Vietnam's first national cat show.
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A participant poses with her cat Uslada, a British shorthair breed during Vietnam's first national cat show.
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A man wearing a protective facemask carries his kitten on his back-pack during Vietnam's first national cat show in Hanoi.
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A participant carries his cat during Vietnam's first national cat show in Hanoi past spectators wearing protective facemasks amid concerns of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.
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A participant wearing a protective facemask carries her cat during Vietnam's first national cat show in Hanoi.
Image Credit: AFP
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A judge holds a cat during Vietnam's first national cat show in Hanoi.
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