142 lata temu w Londynie, w Krystalnym Palacie, odbyła się pierwsza na świecie wystawa kotów. 13 lipca 1871 roku w londyńskim Krystalnym Palacie zorganizowano pierwszą na świcie wystawę kotów. Organizatorem był Harrison Ware – znany ilustrator zwierząt.2 zdjęć

142 years ago
At the Crystal Palace in London, the world’s first exhibition dedicated to cats was held

On July 13, 1871, the first ever cat exhibition took place at the Crystal Palace in London. It was organized by Harrison Ware, a renowned wildlife illustrator and expert on felines.

Ware developed the concept and rules for the exhibition, establishing standards for cat breeds for the first time and introducing classifications based on color and coat length. A total of 170 cats of 25 different breeds, as well as one injured animal – a wild Scottish cat that had lost a leg in an accident, were displayed at the show.

The judging panel consisted of Ware himself, his brother John, and amateur biologist Reverend John MacDonald. The next day, all London newspapers reported on the success of the exhibition, and pictures of cats soon surpassed reports on high-society scandals in popularity among readers.

In 1887, the first cat enthusiasts’ club was established in England – it is still active today under the name “National Cat Enthusiasts Club”. Later, the “International Federation of Cat Enthusiasts” was founded.

Since 1987, the study of felines has also begun to develop in Russia. Today, there are dozens of clubs in Moscow alone, and hundreds more across the country. These organizations conduct scientific research, determine the characteristics of different breeds, register kittens, organize exhibitions, and reward the most beautiful cats.