Westminster Dog Show Welcomes Cats for the First Time

  • A Manx rolls over for the camera at the American Kennel Club’s Meet the Breeds event in New York City. For the first time, cats shared space with dogs at Piers 92 and 94 on Feb. 11, 2017.
    Robin Schwartz for TIME
    1 of 14
  • Attendees react to Chance, a Sphynx at the American Kennel Club’s Meet the Breeds event on Feb. 11, 2017.
    Robin Schwartz for TIME
    2 of 14
  • A Bengal kitten held by owner Anthony Hutcherson from Maryland, at the American Kennel Club’s Meet the Breeds event on Feb. 11, 2017.
    Robin Schwartz for TIME
    3 of 14
  • A Bengal cat tests out an exercise wheel at the American Kennel Club’s Meet the Breeds event on Feb. 11, 2017.
    Robin Schwartz for TIME
    4 of 14
  • British shorthair, Toby, with owner Micah Silver at the American Kennel Club’s Meet the Breeds event on Feb. 11, 2017.
    Robin Schwartz for TIME
    5 of 14
  • The feline agility course at the American Kennel Club’s Meet the Breeds event on Feb. 11, 2017.
    Robin Schwartz for TIME
    6 of 14
  • A Savannah, owned by Pam Flachs at the American Kennel Club’s Meet the Breeds event on Feb. 11, 2017.
    Robin Schwartz for TIME
    7 of 14
  • An Oriental Shorthair owned by Pat Muise at the American Kennel Club’s Meet the Breeds event on Feb. 11, 2017.
    Robin Schwartz for TIME
    8 of 14
  • Andromeda (left), a Seal Point Thai with Truffle , a Chocolate point Thai, at the American Kennel Club’s Meet the Breeds event on Feb. 11, 2017.
    Robin Schwartz for TIME
    9 of 14
  • Sphynx cats with owner Emily Greene at the American Kennel Club’s Meet the Breeds event on Feb. 11, 2017.
    Robin Schwartz for TIME
    10 of 14
  • An American Bobtail at the American Kennel Club’s Meet the Breeds event on Feb. 11, 2017.
    Robin Schwartz for TIME
    11 of 14
  • Phillipe, a Sphynx owned by Emily Greene at the American Kennel Club’s Meet the Breeds event on Feb. 11, 2017.
    Robin Schwartz for TIME
    12 of 14
  • Chelsey, a Peterbald owned by Jackie Rose at the American Kennel Club’s Meet the Breeds event on Feb. 11, 2017.
    Robin Schwartz for TIME
    13 of 14
  • John Paul, an Exotic Shorthair at the American Kennel Club’s Meet the Breeds event on Feb. 11, 2017.
    Robin Schwartz for TIME
    14 of 14
By Madeline Farber

It seems that it’s no longer just a dog’s world at the Westminster Dog Show.

For the first time ever, cats appeared at the show — after the Westminster Kennel Club recognized the Bengal cat as one of 2017’s newest breeds. The club also announced three new dog breeds, AM New York reports.

The cats debuted at the multi-day event called “Meet and Compete” on Saturday. The event was in a partnership between AKC Meet the Breeds and the Masters Agility Championship.

“It makes it interesting,” Gail Miller Bisher, a spokeswoman for the Westminster Kennel Club, first told AM New York. “It’s a celebration of dogs — and now cats — but it needs to be a little bit of everything for everybody. That’s what we like about it.”

You can check out the photos by renowned animal photographer Robin Schwartz above and follow her at the 2017 Dog Show on Instagram @timelightbox .

More Must-Reads From TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com.

You May Also Like
Next Up: Editor's Pick
The 25 Defining Works of the Black Renaissance
EDIT POST