Rescue cats among those at Spokane cat show this weekend

When the “On Safari 2016” cat show hosted by the Evergreen Cat Fanciers kicks off Friday at the downtown DoubleTree Hotel, there will be some rescue cats showing up on the catwalk.

Show manager Elaine Hawksworth-Weitz said the show donated space for local rescue organizations to bring in cats available for adoption. The Community Cat Coalition from Western Washington is expected to bring rescue cats to participate in the show itself.

“A big part of our mission is to help the rescues,” said Hawksworth-Weitz. “It is typical to have rescue cats available for adoption at the show.”

Janet Dixon of SCRAPS said she was delighted to get the invitation to bring some cats to the show. She even found herself put in charge of a cat fashion show scheduled for Sunday and plans to enter a couple of shelter cats into the contest.

Cuteness comes in second to a calm, laid back attitude for cats in that particular competition.

“We’re working right now to find some costumes and find some cats with the temperament to have costumes put on them,” she said. “We don’t want blood.”

Hawksworth-Weitz said its normal for between five and 10 cats to be adopted at a show, but a show in Portland last month sent 22 cats to new homes.

“We anticipate a large spectator base,” she said.

And odds are, those spectators are going to like cats.