It may have been one of the coldest stretches of the winter, but Valentine’s Day weekend was purr-fect weather for a cat show.

The arctic climate didn’t deter 4,500 feline fanciers from attending the annual International My Stormy Valentine cat show Feb. 13-15 at the Lucas County Recreation Center in Maumee.

Organized by the Great Lakes Cat Consortium Inc. and the Glass CiTICAts Cat Club (the local affiliate of the International Cat Association), the show featured 250 felines in its annual competition, from the lovable mixed-heritage household cat to the treasured pedigree breeds, including the slender Siamese, the round-faced Persian, and the ancient Abyssinian, originating from Egypt and boasting a flecked tabby coat.

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Jamie Christian, president of the nonprofit Great Lakes Cat Consortium, said the show spotlighted more than 35 recognized breeds.

Named for its occurrence during nippy Ohio weather, the event attracted cats from across the globe, including Mexico, China, and Japan, Mr. Christian said.

Some new and distinct breeds drew attention: Motzie, a 10-year-old Savannah cat, holds the Guinness Book World Record for second tallest cat, measuring 16.75 inches from the shoulder; and the wolf cat, a Lykoi breed, has a unique hair pattern that gives it a werewolf appearance.

From tip to tail the cats in competition were appraised by 20 judges for their unique characteristics and breed-specific qualities. The competition began behind closed doors on Friday, and opened to the public on Saturday and Sunday.

Cat scores are tallied as part of an ongoing competition at various shows, held from May 1, 2014, to April 30. The International Cat Association will declare the finalists at a banquet ceremony in Austria on Labor Day weekend, Mr. Christian said.

Unlike the recent Westminster Kennel Club Show for dogs, cat shows are rarely televised. But Mr. Christian said that could be on the horizon, even though cats are not trotted around a ring and weighed on their agility like dogs. He said there is enjoyment in watching the judges evaluate the mousers. Some talk about the cat and play with it, providing spectators curious tidbits on the personality of a given animal.

One of the all-breed judges, Bill Lee, said a pair of women watched him judge for more than four hours.

“I explain what we are looking for in a breed, or I describe a cat’s gorgeous presentation in grooming,” he said.

What is that special something that makes a competitor the cat’s pajamas?

Every breed has a written standard of what it should look like, from the shape of its eyes, to the coat texture, and length of its tail relative to its body, Mr. Lee explained.

Mr. Lee, who has been judging cats for more than four decades, said his favorite part of the show is the “differences in breed and seeing the differences in personality.”

“What I like the most about cats is their individual personalities. Kind of like people with their different personalities. ... Most of them enjoy the show, some are laid back,” he said.

Contact Natalie Trusso Cafarello at: 419-206-0356, ntrusso@theblade.com, or on Twitter @natalietrusso.

First Published March 1, 2015, 5:00 a.m.