Verona will host the Esposizione Internazionale Felina «I gatti più belli del mondo» on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November, with more than 150 cats expected each day at the Palaexpo of Veronafiere. The show returns under the aegis of E.N.F.I., and the schedule is built around competition, family participation and a close look at the breeds on display.
That is why the search around Cat is active now: the exhibition is close, the venue is fixed, and the program is already taking shape. Visitors will see cats judged by an international jury on beauty, posture and color within their categories, while an overall winner will be announced at the end of the evaluations. They will also be able to vote for the cat they like best, adding a public vote to the official judging.
One of the faces of the event is Naomi, a five-month-old female Scottish Fold from the Veronese cattery Adam & Elly, with a Black Golden Shaded Point coat. Her presence fits a Saturday program that will be devoted to kittens and sterilized cats, with a special focus on Scottish Fold. Sunday, by contrast, will be dedicated to adult cats, giving the two days a clear division that should help visitors move from one stage of feline development to another.
The exhibition has deep roots in Verona. It was born there in 1978 thanks to Costanza Daragiati, and it has kept a local identity even as it has grown into an international appointment. Giuseppe Rea described it as a positive closeness for families and young generations, while Alessandra Ravelli said the event is not only a competition but also a chance to get to know animals better, with attention to welfare and the positive role they can play in people’s lives.
That mix of contest and education is the point that gives the show its edge. Cat City, an interactive installation created by Leaderform, will let children observe scenes of feline daily life through peepholes and openings, and they will receive the Passaporto del Cat Explorer to stamp along the route. The result is an exhibition that asks visitors to admire the cats, but also to think about how they live and how people live with them.
With the opening set for Saturday and the final round on Sunday, the only number still left open is the full total across the two days. More than 150 cats are expected on each day, which means the count will comfortably run into the hundreds even before the first judge starts to look at coats, stance and color in Verona.
