Jason Bittel and photographer Dina Litovsky share a behind-the-scenes look from 2025 Cat Fancier’s Association International Cat Show and Expo, which took place October 11th and 12th in Cleveland, Ohio. Organized by the Cat Fancier’s Association, the show drew nearly 10,000 people and 550 cats.
Source: National Geographic, October 20, 2025. Link. The CFA allows owners to compete across 45 different cat breeds and in three general categories. Each cat is placed on a pedestal between two scratching poles and evaluated against a written standard. Categories include everything from its head shape and size to the ears, eyes, and tail. Color, markings, temperament, and behavior all factor in.
Image: Link.