It's not just every day that you can see a Scottish Fold, Egyptian Mau and Devon Rex all in the same place. Next Saturday and March 21 you can, along with Manx, American bobtail, ragdoll, ocicat and many other breeds of purebred cats.

The event is the annual show sponsored by Western Pennsylvania Cat Fanciers'. Like last year, the show will be at the Iceoplex at Southpointe, 114 Southpointe Blvd., Canonsburg.

About 350 cats from all over the country are expected to compete. As many as 40 breeds could be there, because that's how many are recognized by The Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc., which bills itself as the world's largest registry of pedigreed cats.

Show spectators also can expect to see plenty of the more recognizable breeds, including Siamese, Persian and the ever-popular American shorthairs, which look much like the "regular" cats that many people keep as pets. The show cat shorthairs just happen to have their lineage and pedigrees documented over many generations.

One of the best things about cat shows and dog shows are the vendors who sell unique, interesting and handmade items that you cannot find in chain pet stores.

Artist Cheryl Kirsch of North Huntingdon will be there with many cat-themed items, including silk scarves, note cards, ceramic mugs, tote bags, key chains, and prints and paintings.

A lifelong cat lover, Ms. Kirsch started devoting more time to her art after she retired from elementary school teaching in 2006. If you look at her website -- www.AngelCatArt.com -- you'll see that her art reflects two loves of her life -- angels and cats.

Usually the subjects are kept separate, but Ms. Kirsch admits you'll find the occasional cat-with-wings in her artwork. She travels to three or four cat shows each year to sell her wares. Cat show exhibitors and spectators often ask her to do custom artwork of their cats. Ms. Kirsch has four Maine Coon cats of her own, and you can see some of them on her Web site.

Cat shows are nothing like the dog shows you may have seen on television. Unlike dogs, cats will not prance around a ring. The cats are examined, one at a time, on a table. The most interesting judges give a running commentary on the cats, including history of the breeds.

Speaking of judges, we have a local cat celebrity. Hope Gonano of Marshall has been a CFA judge since June. So far she has judged long-haired cats at about a dozen shows and is working to earn approval to judge short-haired cats as well.

Ms. Gonano has been breeding Persians and exotics for more than 20 years. She and some of her cats were featured in a March 2003 Pet Tales column. Her cats can't compete in this show because she'll be judging.

When cats at a show are not being judged, they lounge in tents, crates and elaborate beds in rest areas. That may be the best place to see them and to learn more about cats in general, and specific breeds in particular.

Cat owners and breeders are generally eager to talk about their cats except for when they're doing last-minute grooming and preparation prior to judging.

Show hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. next Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. next Sunday. Tickets are available at the gate. Cost is $7 for adults and $5 for children over the age of 5. Younger kids get in for free.

Next weekend is also the grand opening of the newest free-flight space at The National Aviary on the North Side.

The new Grasslands exhibit allows guests to enter a natural environment inhabited by finches, doves, plovers and other species native to grasslands around the world.

Aviary hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays through Saturdays, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Go to www.aviary.org or call 412-323-7235 for further information.

Admission is $5 for adults, seniors and children older than 2 while construction and renovations are under way. The new Helen M. Schmidt FliteZone Theater and rooftop Sky Deck and cafe are scheduled to open in the fall.