The 9-month-old Queenstown rescue cat, who survived a vicious hawk attack when he was only a few weeks old, was on Saturday crowned New Zealand Cat Fancy’s "supreme exhibit" and "best in show" in his category in Wellington, while also picking up the Dominion Cat Club’s supreme and best in show awards, and being named runner-up in the best domestic short-haired cat/kitten category.
Entered by his adopted "humum", Lee Waite, of Queenstown, the show also marked Russell’s first "overseas" trip — flying from Timaru to Wellington, in VIP seats at the back of the ATR, where he proved the cat’s pyjamas with flight crew.
His original foster mum, Kingston’s Lydia McCarthy, said there were "a few tears" from Ms Waite on Saturday afternoon after Russell was judged — primarily on looks, temperament and presentation — and found to be exceptional.
In May, at his first show, he won three "best in show" awards and two runners-up, and last month he was named "supreme exhibit" in his second show, both held in Christchurch, which put him in the running to be named "cat of the year".
Russell was found on farmland near Kingston early last December and taken in by Ms McCarthy who nursed him back to health from near-death.
Dehydrated and emaciated, he initially could not walk or hold his head up, had no function in his left front-foot, damage to discs in his back and a suspected herniated diaphragm.
While he still had some neurological issues, was profoundly deaf and had limited eyesight, the ginger tabby had since made a remarkable recovery and he was now feline better than ever.
Ms McCarthy said she still kept a close eye on Russell, who had a couple more shows coming up, including one in September in Tauranga and one in Dunedin in October.
