Posted: October 16, 2009, 3 a.m. EDT
A Bombay cat named Barack Obama will be competing for the CFA Iams Cat Idol crown.
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New York City will play host Oct. 17-18 to one of the biggest cat events of the year, the Meet the Breeds show at the Jacob Javits Center.
The event, co-sponsored by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) and the American Kennel Club (AKC), will showcase 160 AKC registered dog breeds and 41 CFA registered cat breeds in booths decorated to depict each breed's country of origin, historical purpose and function, and attributes as a family pet.
Those attending the event will vote for the winner of the CFA Iams Cat Idol, also known as the CICI.
Among the cats coming to New York to compete for the title of CFA Iams Cat Idol will be Barack Obama, the
Bombay cat, two
Turkish Angoras who co-starred with Cillian Murphy and Lucy Liu in "Watching the Detectives," Beau, the 2-year-old
Cornish Rex who makes personal appearances for Iams, and Dandelion (Dandy), a flame-point
Birman who was the face for the New York City campaign for animal adoption week.
Also for the first time, the CFA will be teaming up with the AKC to teach New Yorkers about the origins and characteristics of each of the AKC's 160 breeds and CFA's 41 registered breeds. The following topics will be covered:
- What are the origins of the Egyptian Mau?
- What is the only state to have an official cat?
- How long does it take to bathe a Sphynx?
- When did the Russian Blue come to America?
"We are thrilled and delighted to co-host the first ever CFA-AKC Meet the Breeds event right in the middle of Manhattan," said Pam DelaBar, president of the CFA, who noted that the event “promises something for everyone."