When Smiley the clown meets Purr the cat

Seventy furry felines competing to win the hearts of foreign judges at this weekend's International Cat Show, are hoping Hungary's Clown Theatre Foundation will not steal the spotlight.

This year's show, being held today and tomorrow at the Coastline Hotel, Salina, is offering more than the battle of the purring beauties, going one step further to keep the crowds entertained.

The Malta Feline Guardians Club has invited the Clown Theatre Foundation to fly over for the show to entertain all the children at the cat show on both days. The club has also arranged for the foundation to visit hospitals to spark some joy in children's lives.

The foundation is a charity organisation, which started in 1996 in Budapest, Hungary. Their main aim is that the clowns attend one medical unit per week.

Since the members of this organisation are volunteers and the purchased presents originate from sponsors' donations, the programme and the gifts will be free.

Doctors, parents and especially children greatly anticipate these visits. According to hospital specialists the clowns' performance helps to distract children's attention from their circumstances and contributes to their healing process.

While in Malta they will be collecting donations from the public to be able to perform similar programmes in other countries.

The cat show, which opens today from noon till 10 p.m. and tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., will see the participation of different feline breeds from Persians to Chinchillas, Thai, Siberian and domestic.

Two international judges, one from Spain and one from the US, will be judging the cats. A steward from Italy will also be present.

Tomorrow, apart from the Hungarian clowns, entertainment will be provided by the popular team of Mini Bugz with the characters of Dossy and Kartanzja.

Every person attending the show will be given a one-day spa membership; a booklet full of information on the show and the MFGC, and a Posy Pearls litter bag. Gifts are subject to availability. Children under the age of 10 get in for free. Apart from this, over Lm100 worth of prizes can be won every hour including several weekend breaks.

www.maltafelineguardiansclub.com