Cats may have nine lives -- and some seem to have just as many personalities.
Those personalities were on parade Sunday at the annual Ozark Mountain Cat Fanciers show.
American shorthair Eagle Rock Imagination flattened herself and made a noise at judge Maureen Krzeszewski, but snuggled contentedly in the arms of owner Joan Klarner moments after being named best kitten.
"She's a fuss-budget," said Klarner, who traveled from Rockford, Ill., for the show. "She is a doll at home, but shows are different."
Krzeszewski, an American Cat Fancier Association judge, had two small scratches on her forehead Sunday afternoon -- a testament to the fickleness of cats.
She dismissed it as an occupational hazard.
"I enjoy judging and meeting the people and the cats," said Krzeszewski, who traveled from North Carolina for the event. "It's always like seeing old friends."
Others who brought cats to the show also logged many miles for their feline pursuit.
Don and Marti Obara came from Omaha, Neb., to show five cats.
Wearing a shirt that read "Around here the cats are in charge," Don Obara held a Devon Rex cat named Goblin but admitted that his favorite cat is their Oriental shorthair.
"Zoe is a daddy's girl," he said, smiling while the cat rubbed her cheeks against the inside of her expansive carrier. "Orientals are like that. They pick a family member."
There were 117 cats entered in the weekend show, said show manager Renee Evans.
Some participants came from as far away as Texas and Florida to show their cats.
"You get started on this and you can get hooked," Evans said.
The cats seem to enjoy it too, owners say, although many say their cats are tired by the end of a two-day event.
Phyllis Goodell and Jill Hoffman came from Kansas to show their cats together.
Hoffman's cat, a Russian Blue named Zander Blue, stretched out in his carrier but stood up eagerly when Hoffman unzipped the front.
"He'd rather be doing a walk-around," Goodell said, laughing.
The next area cat show will be in Branson at the Lion's Club on March 21-22.
