A Queenstown rescue cat is proving, despite the odds, anything is pawsible.
Russell, a ginger tabby, has just been named "supreme exhibit" in his second cat show, in Christchurch, and is now in the running to be named cat of the year.
Not bad for a cat so badly injured in a suspected hawk attack vets wanted to put him down.
Found on farmland in Kingston early last December, Russell — only a few weeks old — was initially unable to hold his head up, had no function in his left front leg, damage to discs in his back and a herniated diaphragm.
He was also profoundly deaf and had limited eyesight.
But with an extraordinary amount of TLC from Queenstown Cat Rescue volunteer Lydia McCarthy, of Kingston, little Russell, now 7 months old, has made a remarkable recovery.
Back in Christchurch with Ms Waite last Sunday at the larger Canterbury All Breeds show, he was awarded the judge’s choice by Kit Fung, of Hong Kong, reserve best in show and supreme exhibit, beating all other domestic and champion pedigree cats.
Ms McCarthy said in the domestic section, judges were not looking for physical perfection, but focused more on things like a cat’s temperament, grooming and character — which Russell had in spades.
The judges did not know about his background.
Russell’s next outing was likely to be at the Southern Cross All Breeds Cat Club show in Dunedin, on October 1.
Ms McCarthy joked between now and then she and Ms Waite would be going all out with his show cage, adding "sequins and fairy lights" to ensure it was fit for a pageant king.
