Print edition: 
Cats, cat toys, cat rescue groups and cat fans gathered Sunday at the Cotillion for the final day of the Cat Fancy Show.
For more than three decades, the show has annually attracted a variety of perfectly groomed cat breeds. This year, the show brought 180 cats and their owners.
"We always host this the first weekend in February," said Mary Beth Wegerle, co-manager of the show. "And it really has become a tradition."
The license plates in the parking lot told the story: Cat owners and their cats had traveled from Arkansas, Missouri, Texas and Iowa.
The show featured 20 of the 40 breeds of cats recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association.
Among the more quirky were the LePerms.
Camille Drake of Childress, Texas, brought D, her LePerm,
a personable curly-haired cat that looked and felt like it had received a fresh perm. Drake assured visitors it was born that way.
"She's very different," Drake said.
Sheli Irwin of Kansas City cradled in her arms Luke Skywalker, a Cornish Rex that had an other-worldly appearance. With his paws that looked like hands, Luke kept reaching out to people who walked by.
"We always come to the Wichita show," Irwin said.
And although April Ivy of Wichita is allergic to cats, on Sunday she took extra allergy medication and volunteered to wipe down the judging tables after each cat had been shown. She hoped to raise money for her child's softball team.
"I like the tabbies," she said. "I didn't realize they got that big."
Last year, the show drew more than 1,500 people. This year, Wegerle said, the number was closer to 900.
Weather may have been a factor in the attendance, she said. Last year, the temperature was warmer and a winter storm wasn't looming.
