Cage to the stage for SPCA kitten

When SPCA kitten Gypsy put her best paw forward to find a home, her new owners had no idea she was a star. In early June, Meg Cole decided it was time to get her nearly two-year-old daughter, Ella, a pet. ‘‘She loves animals. I grew up with pets myself and in a rental property I wasn’t able to have a dog so ... I just wanted a pet for her to grow up with.’’ She said it wasn’t a matter of choosing the kitten, ‘‘Gypsy chose us really’’.

The green-eyed, black ball of fluff was the only one who went to the front of the cage.

‘‘She meowed and rubbed all over Ella’s legs and it was like; ’Oh well she’s not scared of Ella so she must be the one’.’’

A couple of months later Cole’s sister who enters her burmese cats into competitions suggested Gypsy should try her luck in the Nelson Cat Show run by the Nelson Cat Club.

On the day of the competition, Gypsy won Best Domestic Cat in five out of six rings, meaning she impressed all but one of the judges.

Gypsy also won Best Personality.

Cole said some of the judges brought their own special awards to the show. One of the American judges had an award for temperament which Gypsy also won.

‘‘At nearly five months old I guess she’s still a kitten so she’s still pretty playful and she’s very inquisitive.’’

When Gypsy wasn’t trying to impress judges she was at home being a ‘‘relaxed cat’’.

‘‘She’s really good with my twoyear-old. She never puts her claws out.’’

Gypsy may be harmless but she does enjoy stalking the Pukekos out at her home in the Glen.

‘‘I don’t think she’s got much chance of catching them. Hopefully she won’t bring a Pukeko home, I wouldn’t be impressed with that,’’ Cole said.

The SPCA re-home more than 300 cats annually.

SPCA feline manager Carmen Torrance said there were several beautiful, mature cats looking for a home whose older owners could no longer care for them.

She said one had been at the centre for a couple of months.

‘‘It’s quite stressful for them to be here.’’

Mature cats are being offered for adoption at half price for anyone interested.