The Event of the Year!
- ngaio Crawley
- Jul 18
- 3 min read
The 2026 Cat of the Year Event is taking place on the 25th July in Cape Town. The Western Province Cat Club Committee has been working extremely hard behind the scenes to ensure that our 80th Anniversary COTY is a spectacular event.
The sentiments which inspired the Logo in the words of Adri Swart, the Show Manager.
"With SACC Cat of the Year 2026 falling under the sign of Leo, we are celebrating our feline companions for the stars they are.
Bold, charismatic, and effortlessly regal, cats share many qualities with their majestic cousin, the lion .
Join us as we honour their beauty, spirit, and star quality in an evening inspired by the heavens above."
The Main Sponsor is the one and only Royal Canin with it's very strong core belief.
More than 50 Years of Health Nutrition
Since 1968, Royal Canin has been dedicated to making nutrition the first medicine for cats and dogs. This commitment reflects their purpose of creating a better world for pets.
Every pet is unique, and so are their nutritional needs. Their full range of wet and dry foods is designed to provide precise nutrition for cats of all ages, coats, and breeds.
Please visit their Facebook page Royal Canin SA or website for more info
All prestigious events deserve a prestigious venue- and this year COTY has scored the jackpot!
The iconic Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel in Cape Town, aka "The Pink Lady" nestled in breathtaking gardens in view of Table Mountain is the venue for our Event. This historical landmark is the right setting for a magical night with our stars- the 78 best cats in South Africa!
What many people don't realise is the amount of work involved in hosting COTY!
Finding sponsorship: The SACC Treasurer, Jan van Rooyen, does the negotiating with the Main sponsor on behalf of the club which hosts the event. All other sponsorship is found by the hardworking committee members of the club- and if they have "contacts" it really is the cherry on the top.
Finding Judges: This can be a trying exercise because many of SACC's Judgs are also exhibitors who campaign their own cats for COTY. According to our rules - 50% of official judges must be from SACC. But the exhibitors also enjoy a visiting judge from another organisation or another country. But finances are always limited and the Rand doesn't stretch as far as it used to!
Venue and Dinner: The venue must be found and negotiations begun to work out a menu which is different and tasty but keeps within budget- this is difficult because we want everyone to enjoy the COTY experience without having to remortgage their homes! It is great if someone has a "contact" who can facilitate this.
Rosette Sales: Rosettes are designed and made by the committee's choice of manufacturer but it is customary to "sponsor" rosettes. It is the perfect way to advertise your cattery or give a shout out to your favourite breed or favourite cat/breeder- there is always a demand to sponsor rosettes but someone has to go from show to show doing this- it doesn't happen by itself!
Official Photographer: The person has to be approached and a fee worked out- being the COTY photographer is very demanding because photo taking starts on the Friday afternoon, all day Saturday and then Saturday night at the Gala Dinner plus all the editing which takes place after the event- this is a huge undertaking! And often the "models" have their own agenda when it comes to sitting still!
Scorekeeper and Auditor: Again another specialised job where attention to detail is paramount. SACC has a brilliant program for capturing judges' scores and ensuring that "tied" places are eliminated but you still need a human to input the data.
Show team: Without the hard work of Adri Swart and the Western Province Cat Club Committee - there would be no COTY 2026! Thanks guys!
So as you can see, a relatively small group of people make the magic happen for our exhibitors and their wonderful cats!
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