A cat lover’s dream Cat show comes to Stillwater

Stephanie Landaverde News and Lifestyle Editor

Southern Comfort, a Persian cat, is now over halfway to her grand championship title after competing at the “Catch a Dream” cat show on Saturday.

The cat show came to the Payne County Expo Center and ran from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cheryl Zink, the entry clerk, said 112 cats registered for the show but about 10 cats were absent.

“A lot of people don’t realize that cat shows are a thing that you can go to and that you can show cats,” said Southern Comfort’s owner, Carissa Altschul. “But pedigree cats are really amazing.”

Altschul has been attending cat shows her entire life; her mother started attending cat shows seven years before she was born.

More than 200 people came, said the volunteer who checked in visitors, Raymond Waldrop.

There were six judges, and they judged pedigree cats based on the standards of perfection for its breed. For the household cats, the judges were able to pick what they liked, and there were more awards to give out, like “best stripes” and “prettiest eyes.”

Each cat competed six times, and judges picked their top 10 finalists in four categories: championship, premiership, kittens and household pets. Winners received rosettes, ribbons and points toward end-of-the-year wins.

Galveston, a Norwegian Forest cat, also placed at the event. Galveston won “Best Premier” and “Best Longhair Premier.” His owner, Rebecca Koester, said the main preparation that goes into a cat show is grooming.

Galveston has attended cat shows before and won awards before. He has placed top 25 in his region, and last year, he placed finals in 12 out of 12 rings, Koester said.

Mika, a gray and white tabby, represented the Oklahoma Humane Society. The organization also brought adoptable cats to the event.

Saray Suarez, a student at the University of Oklaho - ma, attended the show. Fair had never been to a cat show and decided to attend after seeing it online.

“I’m a crazy cat lady,” Suarez said. “I want to see all the different types of cats.”

Suarez said her favorite cats were the Oriental cats.

“They’re very vocal,” Suarez said. “And they’re very weird looking. They’re like an alien.”

The event had vendors selling food, cat care items and cat toys, and art. Also in attendance were two Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine alumni, Justin Thomason and Sasha Thomason, with equipment to detect hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Owners had the opportunity to check their cats for $250.

Koester said she thought the show was presented well. Although Galveston wins awards and does well at cat shows, she said the best thing about cat shows is finding friends in like-minded people.

“I think if people don’t think they like cats, they just haven’t met a cat,” Koester said. “Because I mean, how can you not love a cat?” news.ed@ocolly.com

On Jan. 2, during Monday Night Football, Kellington and the rest of the Buffalo Bills athletic training staff were spotlighted when Hamlin collapsed from cardiac arrest. Kellington and his staff immediately administered care and were successful in implementing their emergency action plan.

For game days, the host team provides a copy of the emergency action plan early in the week. Kellington and Nate Breske, the Buffalo Bills head athletic trainer, receive it first, share with the staff and then review it. The head athletic trainer and head team physician meet for a 60-minute meeting. About 30 staff members meet in a secluded area of the stadium to go over everyone’s roles and responsibilities as well as ensure everyone can identify the code leader.

“So that’s one of the most important aspects of in player health and safety is having a good solid emergency action

“Damar’s parent’s were extremely helpful to all of us, just giving us permission that in their heart of hearts, they knew he was going to be fine,” Kellington said. “And as a parent myself, I hope I’m as as strong as they are, if anything was ever to happen to my kids.”

Kellington said having an automated external defibrillator (AED) accessible at all levels of sports is important. The AEDs are not very expensive and there are many resources to help schools pay for them, Kellington said. However, many schools may lock them up after school hours makes them inaccessible at a time when many events happen.

Kellington’s quick actions on Jan. 2 led to him being the commencement speaker at OSU’s graduation ceremony on May 13.

“I hope that they are ready for the next chapter of their life, understanding that their experiences here at Oklahoma State has prepared them for the future and that they are ready,” Kellington said as a message to the class of 2023.