Lincoln State Cat Club celebrates 50 years of supporting the cat fancy

Lincoln State Cat Club is celebrating its 50th anniversary with its annual cat show Feb. 27 and 28 at Harper College in Palatine.

"For anyone who loves cats, our 50th anniversary show will be the place to see the best of the breeds in the Midwest compete for 'Best in Show' among eight rings, talk with the breeders, listen to and ask questions at the education ring and shop for anything cat at more than 20 vendor booths," said LSCC President Dayle Marsh.

The purpose of the club from its inception on May 24, 1959, has always been to promote the purebred cat and to educate the public on proper cat health and care.

Over the years, the club has donated more than $77,000 toward feline health projects by the Morris Animal Foundation and made additional monetary and in kind donations to several local cat-centric groups including Tree House Animal Foundation, Aunt B's Bed and Breakfast and Kay's Animal Shelter (See sidebar for more information on health studies sponsored and full-list of donation recipients).

Visitors to the show will see 225 purebred cats, from the nearly furless Sphynx to one of the largest of the breeds, the Maine Coone, watch the judges interact with the cats and stop by the Showcase of Breeds to see each breed up close and speak with the breeder/owners about each breed's personality, physical characteristics and to get a reference to a reputable local breeder. The education ring is also a popular with visitors, offering scheduled seminars by local experts that in the past have included veterinarians, animal behavior counselors, groomers and others associated with feline care.

The show has ringside seating, where a judge handles each of the cats in the competition and reviews the specific characteristics of the breed so the novice understands what makes one cat a better specimen of a specific breed than others.

Vendor booths include professional grooming supplies, cat accessories, such as cat trees, beds, toys and for the cat fancier a variety of cat-inspired jewelry, clothing, home décor and more.

Harper College is at 1200 W. Algonquin Road. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $8 per person, with children under six years of age admitted free. There is free ample parking.

For more information and for a coupon for $1 off admission, go to lscats.org.