Cat Fanciers' Association Cat Show Review

While attending the Cat Writers' Association Conference in Houston, Texas, I had the extreme pleasure of attending my very first cat show.  I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical at first.  Now I'm a cat show addict!

Welcome to the show!

Unlike the famous Westminster Dog Show, the cats are not put on a leash and paraded around in a circle.  Instead, each cat is placed into a metal cage behind the judge's table.  The cages have numbers that are specific to each participating cat.  One by one, the cats are removed from the cages and judged individually to see who will be the best in breed.

This cute kitty is waiting to be judged.

The judge in action!

As I toured the room with a fellow CWA attendee, I was surprised at how friendly all of the show participants were.  Nothing at all like what numerous comedy films portray.  The cat owners loved talking about their fancy felines and even encouraged petting and photo taking.

Taking a nap between judging.

I really wanted to hug this cat!

That face!

Striking a (grumpy) pose.

I fell in love with this Maine Coon!

Pick me, judge!

Being a show cat is hard work!

Snuggle time.

Would you believe that this cutie only has one coat of fur?

I love the look of these cats.

A gorgeous Bengal ready to pounce!

Can you see the eyes of the snuggling cat?

Patiently waiting.

My favorite cat that I met is Aharon.  He is a Norwegian Forest Cat.  His owner, Leah Dow, shared Aharon's journey from being mistreated to being best in show.  

Aharon was a former show champion who eventually went to live with an elderly couple.  When the couple divorced, a local rescue group discovered that Aharon had been living in a cage outside in the Texas heat!

Leah remembers how happy Aharon was when she and her husband adopted him.  She even showed me videos of Aharon zooming around his new home.  Leah said that she was surprised when she was given Aharon's papers and awards certificates during the adoption process.

Now, Aharon is living the life of a true champion.  He dazzles judges with his stunning good looks and charms them with his calm demeanor.  I would definitely vote for this king cat!

Aharon is ready to win!

I had a wonderful time attending my first cat show.  I met so many wonderful people as well as fabulous felines.  To learn more about the Can Fancier's Association, please visit their website at:  cfa.org.

El Gato Coffee House and Cat Cafe Review

When the MC for the Cat Writers' Association Conference announced that attendees would get to  visit El Gato Coffee House and Cat Cafe, I was thrilled.  Having visited Mauhaus Cat Cafe in St. Louis, Missouri (where we adopted Sven), I was anxious to see what El Gato had to offer.  They did not disappoint!

The building is painted a bright, eye-catching green.  Upon entering, I found myself in the official El Gato shop.  This is THE place to go for all of your El Gato merchandise needs.  I purchased two shirts and a sweatshirt.  I'm definitely a proud cat mama!

El Gato Cat Cafe in Houston, Texas.

The official logo and food truck of the cafe.

Stepping into the cat room, I gasped.  Window seats contained hidden compartments for cats looking for privacy.  Doors had small round cut-outs for additional relaxation space.  The ceiling supports an intricate system of wooden walk-ways and bridges for cats on the move.

This kitty enjoys people watching.

Cat-shaped cut-outs are adorable and functional.

Can you spot the cat hiding behind the door?

Toothless claims his spot on the wooden bridge.

Jackson Glaxay would be proud.  This cafe is catified!

A back room boasts a gorgeous wall mural dedicated to those who helped make El Gato a reality.  The artwork is truly stunning.  This room also houses a mini library that is filled with feline friendly books for readers of all ages.

A stunning mural tribute to those who helped bring El Gato to life.

El Gato is proud of their feline residents.  They even have their photos hanging on the wall.  A separate poster includes photos of the resident cats that call El Gato their home.

Meet the El Gato family!

The resident cat lineup.

This gorgeous muted calico is so sweet.

Attention diva!

Domino was unsure about all of the cat crazed people.

Striking a pose.

I fell in love with this Maine Coon!

The perfect snuggle face!

Aside from an amazing facility and adorable cats, El Gato has the friendliest staff around.  The owner is beyond sweet and was kind enough to keep El Gato open late just for the CWA attendees.  I made fast friends with one of the cat caretakers as we bonded over our love of all animals, especially cats.  Before I knew it, we were sharing photos of our furry babies and swapping stories.

If you are ever in the Houston area, I would highly recommend that you make El Gato Coffee House and Cat Cafe one of the stops on your to-do list.  From petting cats to making new friends and sharing a snack, El Gato has it all.  Be sure to check out their official website at:  www.elgatocoffehouse.com

Don't forget to follow their social media channels!

Packing with Pets

I am beyond excited to be attending my very first BlogPaws conference in Kansas City, Missouri!  We are even taking our tripawd pooch, Penny, along.  She loves to travel.

Being the major organizational planner of the family, I actually started packing last week.  To me, planning ahead is crucial to having a successful and stress-free trip.  There is nothing worse than realizing halfway into the trip that you have forgotten something important.

Below are my top five tips to packing with pets:


1. Invest in a collapsible water dish. Not only will this save room in your suitcase, but the dishes are lightweight and portable making them the perfect solution for both indoor and outdoor use.  Many even come with a carabiner that you can clip onto your dog's leash or even your belt.  My husband and I are very wary about allowing our pups to drink from communal water bowls.  While I'm sure that those who provide such bowls have the best of intentions, these can quickly become a breeding ground for diseases.  You won't know how often the bowl is being cleaned or if the other pooches who are partaking are up to date on their vaccinations.  Play it safe and bring your own dish.


2.  Pack enough of your pet's food to last for the duration of the trip.  Many hotels boast that they offer five star dining for our furry companions.  The problem?  Suddenly switching up a dog's food can wreak havoc on their tiny tummies.  My husband and I experienced this first hand.  We were changing foods and despite my best efforts, Matt was convinced that if he just started feeding our pack the new food, everything would be fine.  Most of our pups handled the sudden change with ease.  But not our Dachshund, Hope.  I came home from work to find 12 different spots of doggy diarrhea throughout our house.  And this lasted for several days.  If you are looking to change your pet's food, be sure to slowly mix in the new food with the old over the course of several weeks until you pet's tummy has had a chance to adjust.  You don't want to have diarrhea in your car while traveling!


3.  Speaking of poo, don't forget the poop bags!  I can't tell you how many times I've seen fellow pet parents allow their dogs to poo in a public place and then walk away leaving a very unpleasant surprise for someone else to discover later.  Not only is this rude (and messy to clean up when it gets on your shoes) but it is very unsanitary.  Some pups like to snack on poo.  Imagine what would happen if your dog found a "snack" at a rest stop along your travels.  This could lead to a host of health issues if the pooping pooch is not current on vaccinations as well as heart worm preventatives.  Skip the trip to the animal hospital and pick up that poo.

4.   Don't forget the pet sunscreen!  Whether you plan to spend most of your time at the beach or on hiking trails, your furry companion is just as susceptible to sunburn as you are.  On both cats and dogs, their snouts as well as their ears are most likely to feel the burn.  My husband and I found a pet sunscreen that comes in stick form, almost like lip balm.  And don't forget about your pet's paw pads.  This tender area of the foot can also be scorched by the searing sun.  Beat the heat and enjoy cooling off with a treat.

5.  Always pack a copy of your pet's most recent medical records.  Some pet-friendly events even make this a requirement in order for your pets to be granted access to the event.  Rabies tags alone are not always deemed as valid proof of your pet's good health.  Since my husband and I have a rather large pack, I keep two separate binders filled with their medical records:  one for the dogs and one for the cats.  Each section is labeled with the pet's name so that I can locate the records quickly.  Having a copy of the most recent records on hand will be especially useful if (heaven forbid) your pet should become sick while on the road.  This will save the new vet precious time that would be spend calling your vet's office for the same information.  Be sure that the records include proof of a health examination as well as rabies and other booster vaccinations.

Safe travels and remember to enjoy the journey!