NAMED: Toowoomba’s top cats revealed for 2023 Carnival of Flowers

Whether they are playful and sweet or social and sassy, we love cats for their unique personalities and now we can officially reveal Toowoomba’s top-tier felines of 2023.

Whether they are playful and sweet or social and sassy, we love cats for their unique personalities and now we’re looking to find the region’s cutest felines.

In 1976, The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers had an impressive event program packed to the brim with the Champion Cat Show proving to be a popular choice.

To reinvent this touching tradition, we asked readers to nominate and vote for the cat they thought deserved to claim the title of The Chronicle’s 2023 Carnival of Flowers Cat.

With more than 50 sweet and crazy cats put forward, we can now reveal who you chose as a winner and our top 10 placements.

1. Kiki

Coming out in the number one spot in our online poll was Kiki who received 16 per cent of the votes.

Owner Sarah McKibbin who adopted the cat from Brisbane-based rescue group Best Friends Felines in late 2021, said Kiki was “a typical Siamese”.

“Adoption day remains my most heartfelt memory of Kiki – she meowed the whole car ride home,” Ms McKibbin said.

“I wasn’t sure if she liked me, but I woke up the next morning to find her snuggled under the bed covers next to my feet.”

Kiki is described as intelligent, social, affectionate and vocal “about absolutely everything”, while the three year old cat’s favourite hobbies include sitting on her mum’s car bonnet, walking on her harness or cracking the code of treat puzzles.

After Ms McKibbin ran a successful campaign for Kiki to be named Toowoomba’s top Carnival Cat, plans are already underway for her cat’s next challenge and hopeful appointment.

“Kiki for Prime Minister?” she said.

2. Ginger Bread

Whether they are full or empty, Ginger Bread’s favourite pastime is sitting in grocery bags – irony which is not lost on his owner who said the Scottish Fold looks like a loaf of bread.

Born in December 2022, Ginger Bread was the largest and final kitten to arrive in his litter, following the birth of his siblings Party Pants, Sugar, Tortie, Maggie and Rat – who was also voted in the poll’s top 10.

“As soon as I saw Ginger Bread’s little face I knew he would be coming home with me … and his sister Party Pants too,” owner Chantelle Davis said.

“Ginger Bread is the most kind hearted and playful boy out there – he believes anything living and breathing is his friend and would love to play with him.

“He was called Gingey as a newborn to help identify him … plus he often looks like a bread loaf when he sits.”

The male cat also loves to play with feathers, wrestle with Party Pants and nap on toilets, but his owner said Ginger Bread’s big eyes, feet and heart were some of the qualities she adored most about her pet.

“I particularly love when he sings to me, gallops over to greet me and sleeps in funny positions or spots,” Ms Davis said.

“Once we could not find Ginger Bread and we were getting quite stressed as he usually comes out when his name is called … we eventually found him asleep in a pillow sandwich.”

3. Klaus

Few cats can say they have a growing social media presence but Klaus the five year old Manx is on his way to becoming ‘Insta famous’.

The Reimers family adopted the ginger-coated boy when he was aged eight weeks and he quickly became part of the family alongside their other pet cat.

Owner Gabrielle Reimers said Klaus and all the family pets were named to honour their German heritage.

“Klaus loves a photo and loves gardening … especially sitting with the clivias,” she said.

“His favourite things are his toy zebra, mini soccer balls, fluffy bed rug, the veggie patch and any small branch from the garden.”

Describing Klaus as mischievous, energetic, talkative, protective and goofy, Ms Reimers said the public could follow her cat on Instagram at klaus_thegingermanx.

4. Grayson

When it comes to the adoption of Grayson during the height of Covid-19, Vicki Strong described it as the best decision she had ever made.

“I had no intention of getting a cat but was scrolling Facebook one day, and his breeder had a picture of him and he was available,” she said.

“I’ve previously adopted lots of strays, but fell in love with him instantly, so I applied to adopt him on a whim and they approved me within a week … it was like it was meant to be.”

The British Shorthair male who is also known as Grayson Reginald Stanley George when he’s in trouble, is a great companion and often watches the AFL and tennis.

Ms Strong said she loved Grayson’s “teddy bear” looks and said while he was initially a confident cat, he had quickly turned into a mummy’s boy.

Almost three years old, Grayson loves the outdoors and judging his mum from the confines of his large cat tower.

“I took him in to work one day to proudly show him to my workmates (but that was a) big mistake,” Ms Strong said.

“He slipped through his harness, ran under my boss’s desk and wouldn’t come out voluntarily … he definitely disgraced himself that day.”

While Ms Strong opted to keep his name as Grayson, she said she added Reginald, Stanley and George as a tribute to her late dad and grandfathers.

5. Rat

Brave at heart, Ratsy who is also known as Rat, was born weighing just 56g in December 2022 and was not expected to survive due to her small size.

The little fighter not only overcame these devastating odds but has gone on to live happily and healthily.

Owner Michelle Davis said whether it was bread and rice or cheese and corn, the Scottish Shorthair’s favourite hobby was eating food – or “anything edible really”.

“Rat in general is just funny to watch … she walks like a munchkin, acts like a raccoon and flops onto her back whenever she can,” Ms Davis said.

“When she was born she looked like a rat – so Ratsy she became.”

Great genes appear to run in the cat family with Rat coming from the same litter as her brother Ginger Bread – the ginger Scottish Fold.In addition to her social, placid, affectionate and sweet nature, Ms Davis said Rat was also wonderful with children, slightly uncoordinated and “friggin’ cute”.

6. Herman

An aversion to water comes with the territory of most cats but little Herman the Mainecoon has always been a water baby.

Whether he’s playing in a water bowl or fountain, the one year old cat can often be found creating a water trail throughout his owner Ebony Surawski’s house.

But unable to resist his “fluffy charm” the cat owner cannot help but laugh at her pet’s quirky antics.

“I had always wanted a Mainecoon, so I found a breeder and put my name down to adopt one,” she said.

“Herman is polydactyl so he has extra toes on each foot and already weighs nearly 8kg.

“It’s always hilarious when it’s bedtime and he will try to lay on our chests, nearly suffocating us with his size.”

Despite his large size, Ms Surawski said Herman was a gentle giant and loved playing with her other rescue animals including lambs and foster puppies.

Due to his large size, Herman was named after Herman Munster – a fictional character who is one of Frankenstein’s monsters and played by actor Fred Gwynne, in sitcom The Munsters.

7. Poppy

Happy to share her abode with all kinds of animals, Poppy not only lives on an acreage property with her human family, four other cats, three chickens, five guinea fowl, two ponies, one lorikeet and chihuahua pup too.

“She loves doing her ‘rounds’ every morning and engaging and playing with them all,” owner Desleigh Hughes said.

“Poppy has an adventurous spirit and climbs trees, jumps across rooftops and growls at strangers, yet is inside to sleep on mum’s bed every night.”

The Hughes family adopted the Domestic Short Hair when she was only a few weeks old and their friends found her living in their back shed in Nobby.

Believed to be a feral kitten at the time, the family took her in and after showering her with love and warmth, the now three year old pet has settled right at home.

Ms Hughes said she believed Poppy’s ‘endearing’ eyes is what drew the public in, the owner personally loved the cat’s ‘crazy’ and ‘demanding’ meow.

“It’s loud and has a pitch that gets your attention,” she said.

“Everyday is full of funny moments with Pop.”

8. Oddie

While superstitions have always labelled cats as bad luck, Samantha Carmichael could not disagree more after her cat Oddie has brought her nothing but love, joy and positivity.

Believed to be a Domestic Shorthair, little Oddie was found as a stray kitten at just four weeks of age.

“Oddie has been with us ever since – he’s a mostly loving, sometimes evil, indoor lap cat,” Ms Carmichael said.

“He was called Oddie because he wasn’t the cutest kitten … he was a very strange looking, little sick thing.”

Now almost three years old, little Oddie loves to play with his laser pointer toy and Ms Carmichael said she loved “his little tiny meow” the most.

9. Coco

When Coco first entered the lives of Kristy Stark and her family, the Domestic Shorthaired cat assisted the family who were grieving the loss of another pet at the time.

Empathetic to others and their feelings, Ms Stark said the two year old cat recognised when her family were feeling down and will sit close by, purr or curl up for a cuddle in response.

“Someone advertised her on Facebook and we had recently lost our previous furbaby and the kids really wanted another pet, so we picked her up that afternoon,” Ms Stark said.

“Coco makes our family so happy and always gives us a laugh … she was meant to be in our family.

“She really is one in a million.”

Smart, affectionate, snuggly and quirky, Coco was named after the children’s television show Cocomelon.

A quick learner too, the Stark family have successfully taught the clever kitty how to play Hide and Seek, fetch, sit, high-five and fist bump.

10. Harry

Destined for great things, Harry the Manx was named after the Duke of Sussex – Prince Harry.

When Tiana Morriss first met Harry, he was being fostered by her boss and after falling in love with the sweet-natured feline, Ms Morriss said she had no choice but to adopt him.

“He’s just a beautifully natured cat and loves to cause trouble as ginger cats usually do,” she said.

“I love rescuing cats that really need a home and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Cheeky, adorable and full of personality, Harry loves to be cuddled especially in the early hours of the morning and enjoys being dressed up in outfits by his loving owner.

“He’s very sooky, loves a good snuggle and dribbles when he gets too smoochy,” Ms Morriss said.

“There’s never a dull moment with him and he’s a crazy boy (who) loves to run a muck.”

Food-orientated Harry is also known to become vocal when hungry which his owner said was “all the time”.