Ben Madilynn
Farrugia, who runs the Wild Valley Bengals cattery out of her home, came across the breed while looking for a hypoallergenic pet as her daughter recovered from leukemia. After bringing one home, the family fell in love, and now own nine.
“You can’t get just one,” said Farrugia, who dresses like her cat, in a jaguar (or Bengal) printed coat and cat-ear headband. She walks her cats every day, including – in pairs – to the local cafe.
“They love you, and you’re their person and nothing else matters. They’re just beautiful.”
Across the road, at the Dog Lovers Festival, the mood was more energetic, with a diving competition, paw-kour (a canine version of parkour), and dog fashion show.
Mia Bermudez, whose labrador, Moose, was the first competitor in the parkour competition was reasonably happy with her pets’ performance.
Dogs large and small were at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos
“I think he did OK,” said Bermudez. “He had fun and that’s all that matters.”
The festivals will continue on Sunday morning, with 40,000 visitors expected over the weekend.
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