From Visitor to Competitor: Birch & Bramble at the WCF International Cat Show 2026

We arrived at the WCF International Cat Show in Taytay, Rizal, on September 12–13, 2026 planning to visit friends and enjoy a weekend with the cat community. We left with a new queen, our first show memories together, and much more to reflect on than we expected. 🤍

Organised by the Philippine Feline Club, the event became an unexpected milestone for Birch & Bramble. A casual visit turned into a competition weekend when we welcomed Muning PH Wewet, now known to us as Winona or Wewet, into our cattery family.

Meet Winona, our newest queen

Meeting Winona in person made an already enjoyable day even more special. Her soft fawn and cream colouring, white markings, and sweet expression immediately caught our attention. We are grateful to Rod of Muning for entrusting this beautiful girl to Birch & Bramble. 🐱💜

There was one unexpected twist: she was already entered in the show. Rather than simply taking our new baby home, we continued her competition. Just like that, we were learning about our newest queen from beside the show ring.

Winona’s results from the two-day show

For a young kitten still developing, Wewet gave us plenty to celebrate. Here are the results recorded from her first weekend with us.

September 12, 2026

• Excellent 1 / CACP under Judge Eva Kalman
• Excellent 1 / CACP under Judge Cornelia Hungerecker
• Nomination for Best in Show
• 9th place out of 23 cats in the Kitten WCF Ring

September 13, 2026

• Excellent 1 / CACP under Judge Kaai du Plessis
• Nomination for Best in Show
• Participation in the Kitten WCF Ring

That brought her weekend to three Excellent 1 / CACP evaluations and two Best in Show nominations. For a competition we had not planned to join, it was a meaningful start to her journey with us. A nomination is a proud milestone in its own right; it is distinct from winning Best in Show.

What we learned beside the judging table

The results are lovely keepsakes, but the judges’ observations are just as valuable. Winona’s reports highlighted her developing muscular body, rounded head structure, cheek and chin development, rounded eyes, and coat texture.

She is still young, and we look forward to seeing how she matures. These evaluations give us specific details to study and help us understand her development in relation to the breed standard.

For us, showing is part of an ongoing learning process. It sits alongside the wider responsibilities of breeding: understanding pedigrees and genetics, arranging appropriate health screening, observing temperament, and providing consistent daily care. A show evaluation adds perspective; it does not replace those commitments.

Celebrating fellow breeders and familiar faces

Spending time with friends was the reason we came, and it remained one of the weekend’s highlights. Behind every cat in the ring are everyday routines, careful preparation, and people who care deeply about the animals they raise.

Congratulations to our fellow breeders, exhibitors, and fur parents who participated and received recognition. We enjoyed sharing in those moments and having the chance to exchange ideas beyond our own cattery. 🖤

Meeting cats beyond our own breed

British Shorthairs fill much of our everyday life, so a show is a welcome opportunity to appreciate the wider feline world. Meeting a much larger cat up close was a memorable change from the round faces and plush British Shorthair coats we know so well.

Different breeds bring different structures, coats, and personalities. Seeing that variety in person is one of the pleasures of spending a weekend with the cat community.

A small habit with a practical reward

The weekend also gave us an opportunity to appreciate Royal Canin’s recycling initiative. We save empty Royal Canin food packaging at the cattery for collection through the programme instead of placing it straight into our usual waste.

We were delighted to receive a cat food storage container and a cat bowl with a weighing scale as incentives. Both are useful additions to our daily routine, and the programme gives us another reason to keep collecting packaging. 💜

We came to visit. We left with Winona.

Looking back, the weekend gave us several new beginnings at once: welcoming a queen, entering the ring together, learning from international judges, and making memories with fellow cat lovers.

Thank you to the organisers, judges, exhibitors, and friends who helped make it so memorable. And welcome home, Winona “Wewet”. We look forward to watching you grow and sharing the next chapter of your life at Birch & Bramble. 🤍

Follow our cattery journey: Meet our cats and find our social accounts through Birch & Bramble’s official links.

British Shorthairs, Beautifully Raised.