By Nick Newling
Traditionally enemies, the city’s cats and dogs – and their passionate owners – were cordial neighbours on Saturday, as the Cat Lovers Festival and Dogs Lovers Festival took place in their respective corners of Sydney Olympic Park.
And when it comes to Bengal cats in Sydney, there are only two names you need to know: Bambi and Barbie.
Bambi Edwards, an esteemed cat judge of 50 years, adjudicated the festival’s championship show on Saturday morning. The 84-year-old whisked cats one by one from a neat wall of cages, placing them on trestle tables in front of an audience of outstretched mobile phones.
Cat-judge Bambi Edwards demonstrates the ideal “wedge” shape of a Norwegian forest cat’s face.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos
Holding a tortoiseshell Norwegian forest cat – a “tortie bicolour”, in her parlance – Edwards demonstrated the key qualities she looks for in the breed, drawn from a 100-point written standard.
“There are points for wedge,” she said, indicating the triangular shape of the breeds face. “You want a nice smooth wedge.”
She also assesses ear placement, eye colour and shape, a sleek torso, as well as a lengthy tail. Unfortunately, the individual she inspected was a little stumpy in that department.
“[It’s] too short. She needs to be able to wrap it around her little face to keep her warm in the snow.”
Edwards, who lives in Cronulla with her 15 cats, a mix of Burmese, Siamese and orientals, also showed off a Bengal cat, owned by breeder Barbie Farrugia.
Barbie Farrugia shows one of her nine Bengal cats at the Cat Lovers Festival at Sydney Showground.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos
Farrugia, who runs the Wild Valley Bengals cattery out of her home, came across the breed while looking for a hypoallergenic pet as her daughter recovered from leukemia. After bringing one home, the family fell in love, and now own nine.
“You can’t get just one,” said Farrugia, who dresses like her cat, in a jaguar (or Bengal) printed coat and cat-ear headband. She walks her cats every day, including – in pairs – to the local cafe.
“They love you, and you’re their person and nothing else matters. They’re just beautiful.”
Across the road, at the Dog Lovers Festival, the mood was more energetic, with a diving competition, paw-kour (a canine version of parkour), and dog fashion show.
Mia Bermudez, whose labrador, Moose, was the first competitor in the parkour competition was reasonably happy with her pets’ performance.
Dogs large and small were at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos
“I think he did OK,” said Bermudez. “He had fun and that’s all that matters.”
The festivals will continue on Sunday morning, with 40,000 visitors expected over the weekend.
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