Can a cat named Sid the Kid shoot and score with the judges?

[Bravo Zulu]

Sid the Kid, a Maine coon cat, poses for a portrait.

Sid the Kid enjoys the attention.

Sid the Kid Crosby will be at the Iceoplex at Southpointe next Saturday and March 22, and the admission fee is only $7 for adults and $5 for children.

This Crosby is not the amazing hockey player. This Crosby is a cat competing in the Western Pennsylvania Cat Fanciers cat show.

Champion Catgo's Sid the Kid Crosby is a Maine coon cat owned by hockey fans Ralph and Alice Schepp. Although he's only 10 months old, this cat has already earned the title of "champion" and is working toward the next title, which is Grand Champion.

Back home in South Fayette, the Schepps forgo the fancy title. Crosby cavorts with another Maine coon called Fredo (Luvdalot's Our Little One Alfredo) and a 14-year-old former stray named Mitchell.

"I've had cats all my life," said Mrs. Schepp, "but Crosby is my first show cat."

Crosby's at-home lifestyle is the same as Fredo's and Mitchell's. All are much-loved pets, and I've never known show people to care less about a cat that doesn't have what it takes to catch a judge's eye.

Mrs. Schepp was just looking for another pet, but Crosby's breeder, Marilyn McBane of Avalon, convinced Mrs. Schepp to show the beautiful boy.

The result has been an enjoyable hobby "and we've met so many nice people," Mrs. Schepp said.

Fredo greeted me and the Post-Gazette photographer with almost dog-like friendliness, and the kittenish Crosby soon warmed up. Maine coons are typically people-oriented and playful. Many of them will play fetch with their toys and their people. They generally get along well with dogs, children and other cats.

It's arguably easier for a novice to get involved in cat shows as opposed to dog shows. At cat shows the cats don't prance on leashes or obey complicated commands. Not that there aren't tricks of the trade, especially in the area of proper grooming for the show cat.

You really have to go to a show to see for yourself that cat shows are informative and amusing. The cats are basically presented to the judge on a table. He or she examines and handles the felines and decides which is the best representative of its breed.

Some cats purr and preen for the judges. Others hiss and spit, although those would be in the minority.

A cat show is the place to go to learn more about cats in general, and the purebred breeds in particular. At this show, there will be as many as 400 cats. You've probably seen Siamese cats and Persians. At shows you can see the Norwegian forest cat, Tonkinese, Sphnyx, ragdoll and many more breeds, including the perennially popular American shorthair.

Different breeds have different personalities, and the breeders and owners at cat shows are generally happy to educate the public. So stop, chat and ask questions but not mere minutes before they are ready to appear before the judges. Don't pet a cat without first asking for permission and don't stick your fingers into the crates and tents where the cats rest when they're not competing. Be sure to check out the vendors selling toys and treats for cats and cat-lovers.

Now here's some background on the ancestors of Crosby and Fredo:

Maine coon cats are beautiful with coats that are long, thick, glossy and water-resistant. Their tails are very bushy, and in their most common color -- a raccoon-like Brown tabby -- they bear a vague resemblance to raccoons. There is no truth to the myth that the breed originated when wild cats and raccoons mated, for that is biologically impossible. The breed did originate in Maine and has been around for more than 150 years.

Maine coons are very big. Crosby is 16 pounds and still growing, while Fredo is 20 pounds.

They come in a wide array of colors. Crosby is white and black and brown. Fredo is a creamy golden beige and white. But they have fancier descriptions than that in the cat world. Crosby is a brown classic tabby with white, and Fredo is a cameo classic tabby with white.

Go to www.cfa.org, which is the Web site of The Cat Fancier's Association Inc. There's information about all the breeds and a "tips for spectators" page.

Venues for cat shows and dog shows are hard to find, so kudos to the Iceoplex for letting the cats in. The cat show will not be on the ice. It will be held in the soccer portion of the complex in Cecil, Washington County. The show will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. next Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 22.

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