By Sally Voth -- Daily Staff Writer

WINCHESTER — To look their best in front of the judges, show contestants traveled with brushes, hair dryers, mousse and make-up. They came in a variety of sizes and colors. Some had long hair, others had short hair. When not competing, they spent most of their time locked in cages, being spoon-fed baby food as a treat.

The Cat Fanciers of Washington's 62nd annual Allbreed Cat Show was held Saturday and Sunday at the Sportsplex south of Winchester.

Denise Lawson, of Portsmouth, could be seen putting the finishing touches on her male Persian.

"Comb, little bit of make-up," she said. "It's a white powder. It's clown make-up is what it is. It covers things like tear stains."

Solomon, Md., resident Josey Lippeld was trying to keep her Himalayans cool in the sweltering arena by having them lie on ice packs. A makeup bag one cage over from her kitties' contained hair mousse, among other grooming tools.

Participants share tips at the shows.

"We always try to help each other — grooming, good shampoos, good conditioners, removing eye stains," Lippeld said.

It was her 4-month-old cat's first competition.

"She seemed to be very comfortable in the show hall," Lippeld said. "It's a nice hobby, and you get to meet a lot of very nice people. I enjoy the spectators, talking to them. [They] have been very, very nice, very inquisitive about the cats. They all seem to have a sincere interest on upkeep and health issues, and that's good."

Beverly Dart, and her daughter, Mariane, 8, came to the show from Fairfax.

"I think it's really cute," Mariane said of the Turkish Angora kitten she was holding. "It's nice to see all the cute cats, and it's really nice to pet them all."

Mother and daughter came to the show last year, too.

"Had such a nice time, we came again this year," Beverly Dart said. "Just love to visit the kittens and the cats."

The Darts, who have two Maine Coon cats, were admiring Jan Moury's Turkish Angora kitties.

A jar of baby food could be seen in one of her cages.

"[They eat baby food] only at the show hall," said Moury, of Annapolis, Md. "Give them a treat that they don't get at home."

She brought three $800 kittens to sell at the show, and the kitten Mariane was holding was the only one left late Saturday afternoon.

Another mother-daughter pair in attendance were Elizabeth and Lisa Geerman, from Columbia, Md., who have four Siamese cats. Elizabeth, 12, said she'd been showing her colorpoint shorthair for three years as a hobby.

"Basically, you have to bathe them and brush them" to get them ready for competition, she said, and a cat with a good personality is a must.

"She enjoys it," Geerman said of her daughter. "I always wanted a Siamese, so I got a Siamese. My daughter wanted to take them to the show. It's just a fun thing to do."

Besides the competition, show attendees could adopt homeless cats and even do a little shopping. Vendors sold cat-themed goods, including dishes, T-shirts, calendars, jewelry and artwork.

* Contact Sally Voth at svoth@nvdaily.com