Posted: November 26, 2009, 3 a.m. EST
Gorilla, with, from left, Eric Valencia, Paolo Carnevaletti and Justin Pelletier, was the big winner at "Catlanta." Photo courtesy Chanan Photography, Richard Katris© |
Kuorii Gorilla of Cuzzoe, a black
Persian male owned by Justin Pelletier and Eric Valencia of Raleigh, N.C., won Best in Show at the CFA International Cat Show in Atlanta.
Gorilla, called “Go Go” at home, was the winner out of 630 entries at the cat show, held Nov. 21-22. Gorilla’s black coat glowed and his copper eyes glittered as CFA president Pam DelaBar held him aloft and proclaimed him overall winner of the show.
“He’s just a youngster at 8 months but he is a superb example of the Persian breed,” DelaBar said. “He has massive bone structure, a round and smooth head, plus gorgeous color and coat.”
Six cats – three longhair and three shorthair – competed for the overall award, with three judges consulting to choose the winner.
Gorilla has just completed a successful kitten career and this was the first show at which he was eligible to compete as an adult. His breeder is Paolo Carnevaletti of Italy.
Other finalists were:
Best Longhair Kitten
Kourii Chiquitas of Cuzzoe
Black Persian female
Best Shorthair Kitten
Purrtek’s Syrah
Platinum mink Tonkinese male
Best Shorthair Cat in Championship
Grand Champion KCDancers Eye-of-the-Tiger
Silver tabby and white American Shorthair male
Best Longhair Cat in Premiership
Grand Premier Highlander Tony Bennett of Wenlock
Brown tabby Maine Coon neuter
Best Shorthair Cat in Premiership
Grand Premier Mar-chu Electra of Karleton
Sable Burmese spay