Passionate owners and magnificent moggies gather at Christchurch's annual cat show

An annual cat show took place in Ōtautahi Christchurch on Sunday where the finest of cats and their passionate owners were competing for prizes.

Cat shows are a fur-midable business.

"It has to have a panache about it. It has to adhere to our standard of points," one judge said.

It was a room full of moggies with every type on offer. Some with purr-sonality, some a little shy and others with cat-itude.

"He's just a poser. He's been on TV before, he knows his stuff," one owner said.

You won't meet a bigger cat lover than the owners of these ones on show.

"I have 11," one said.

"They don't answer back, they're not like dogs," another remarked.

Although it turns out some are like dogs. Many think of dogs as the loyal animals in the animal kingdom but some of these guys will give them a good run for their money.

"He behaves like a dog at home. He wants to be with you, follow you around," an owner said.

In fact some cats watching this at home might have to step up.

"They follow you around in the garden and help you with your chores," the owner added.

One fine specimen named Wally is the current national champ and Wally is accustomed to being pampered, including being allowed to sleep on the bed.

The cats, themselves, were more reserved with Newshub. One showed how much he liked his prize by clawing the ribbon.

But many were simply exhausted by being the finest cats on show.