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Here Kitty Kitty ...and Real Estate

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 311291

Last weekend I did something even my best friend would never expect: I went to a cat show. A what? Yes, a cat show. The Cat Fanciers Association had their gathering at the Pikesville Armory, and so off we went.

Erica's catMink TonkineseYou know by now that I love my front yard aviary and my squirrel feeding stations (also called bird feeders), but I don't have other pets. Once in a while we host Erica's cat, but she's getting on in age and sleeps most of the time (the cat, not my daughter!)

At the show, I soon found my favorite cat – mink brown, but of course, and she was sleek and beautiful. The breed is a Tonkinese, and if I were ever tempted to take home a feline, this would be the one.  

It was fascinating to watch how much preparation owners went through to show their cats. They had what looked like full beauty salons! Combs and brushes and sprays and powders – you name it and some cat was being groomed with it. Even noticed one cage had its own air conditioner...a portable fan gently blowing on the pampered pet.

Some owners looked stressed before the judging...the judging that would determine if the cat won a ribbon or just went home.    Some cats were calm through the judging, others did not like it at all – I watched one judge get scratched, hissed at and this one little furry animal  became so wild the judge threw this kitty back in the cage. The judge checked for injuries (his not the cat's) and then placed a blue ribbon on the cage. Guess personality was or was not judged....what do you think?

Tonkinese and ownerTonkinese Hmm – sound familiar? Kind of like getting ready for a listing appointment, isn't it? Lots of combing through records for comps, brushing up on your presentation, and generally getting yourself ready to meet your prospective judges sellers.

 How well have you prepared? Do you WOW the seller with your knowledge, your confidence, your marketing?  Do you wind up with the First place ribbon-meaning you got the listing. Hopefully you don't scratch, get scratched, hiss or growl but personality is a big part in this real estate arena.

 

Cats are also smart about resting when they can. Even with activity all around, cats curled up and slept when they weren't getting ready for judging or actually in competition. Another lesson we could learn.

 It was a purrfectly delightful day.

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Posted by

Margaret Rome
HomeRome Realty
Broker/Owner/RealtorĀ®

Baltimore, Maryland


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Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

We have cats...and you can learn a bunch from them...my dearly departed chiropractor said...if we all would stretch like a cat does when they get up from a reclining position, there would be far fewer muscle aches and pains....Ours are of course, well mannered....Cosmo can "hold your hand" as he tries to do while I lie across the bed working on the laptop...maybe he knows I am cradling a mouse !

Mar 18, 2009 01:21 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Margaret, I love the parallel drawn between the show and anxious sellers and listing agent. Very good. When they are done working with you I am sure they are purring.

Mar 18, 2009 01:26 AM
Dean Moss
Dean's Team - Keller Williams Realty Partners Chicago IL - Chicago, IL
Dean's Team Chicago IL Real Estate Team

Great tie in, Margaret!

Sue and I saw a dog show recently - just a local one, not the big one.  As you know, we have two Pekingese - and they are just "pets."  Wouldn't have the time to make them "show dogs," or the inclination.

But it is amazing how much preparation is involved.

Thanks for sharing, and inspiring!  Hi to Lee.

Got back from Floyd's Speakers Academy in MI last week - an incredible experience!

DEAN & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO

Mar 18, 2009 01:36 AM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

I like the analogy too Margaret although I don'tthink you will ever find me at a cat show:)

Mar 18, 2009 02:34 AM
Marian Goetzinger
Pine Knoll Shores Realty 252-422-9000 - Pine Knoll Shores, NC
Crystal Coast Real Estate NC

Margaret,  I was intrigued by the title and then...  Cute.  Interesting seque. 

Mar 18, 2009 02:34 AM
Terry Chenier
Homelife Glenayre Realty - Mission, BC

Margaret,

I have cats also; they pretty much do what they want-not like dogs.

Mar 18, 2009 03:36 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I just love where you took this post Margaret.  Fabulous correlation. But besides the in depth tie in, I also enjoyed the pictures.  I am a huge cat fan.  Thanks for a great read.

Mar 18, 2009 05:45 AM
Josef Katz
Digital and Direct Response Marketing - Manhattan, NY
{Marketing Maestro}

Would you believe I am not a cat person...

Regardless what you are showing (cats, homes, products etc) it all comes down to good preparation and then marketing.

Mar 18, 2009 08:15 AM
Connie Harvey
Pilkerton Realtors - Brentwood, TN
Realtor - Nashville TN Real Estate

Great tie-in Margaret! I guess I never thought of going to a cat show. For some reason I don't think of cats wanting to "perform" for people. Dogs yes. Cats? Hmmm... I don't know. :)

Mar 18, 2009 08:33 AM
Mara Hawks
First Realty Auburn - Auburn, AL
Inactive-2012 REALTOR - Homes for Sale Auburn Real Estate, AL

I'm not really a cat person. I just have 2 cats that have sort of grown on me...one was my daughter's and the other was a stray. I prefer dogs and tame sellers. Thanks for the CATchy images and catfood for thought!

Mar 23, 2009 01:51 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Oops....Late  responding to all the  wonderful commenters. Here goes from the latest backward.

Mara,You always make me smile with your catchy comments. Our daughter has a cat and there are several cats outside my home.....think because of my bird feeders.

Connie, Those cat were not performing....think more that the owners were performing for their pets.

Josef, Preparation and marketing, that's what it comes down to.

Tammy, So glad you enjoyed. The actual cats were soooo much prettier than my photos. Cats do not pose.

Terry, Yep, they seem to do what they want

Marian, Thanks for stopping by.

Bill, Never say never. I went to the show!.

Dean, Great speaking with you last week.

Gary, One our goals is to have purring clients.

Sally and David, Adorable comments....going to streeeeeech now.

Mar 23, 2009 02:19 AM
Diane Aurit
LKN Realty, LLC - Mooresville, NC
Lake Norman Real Estate

Margaret, I just stopped by to say hi and found a subject dear to my heart.  We have 5 cats.  4 Bengals (Spotted like leopards) and one Abbysinian.  They are amazingly entertaining.  My kids each have a rescue cat so I guess we are one of those crazy cat families:)

Mar 23, 2009 10:26 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Diane, So are there photos of your 5 cats on any of your posts? Glad you stopped by. 

Mar 23, 2009 12:54 PM