With the agility and fearlessness only felines seem to possess, this curly-coated cutie soared over Loh Wai Leong’s head and landed – almost gracefully – on the sofa chair next to him.
“I don’t know why, but she loves to fly around,” said Loh, a pet food distributor, with a chuckle. “She may be small, but she’s extremely playful and active.” But, as Loh, 33, admitted, Akiko doesn’t always stick the purr-fect landing.
“Cats usually have great aim when they jump … they’ve got that instinct. But what they sometimes forget is their own size,” Loh explained. “So when Akiko tries to land, she often knocks over whatever’s on the table… or spills something.”
Unfortunately for Loh, Akiko has pounced more than once onto his meticulously built construction toys. “When she jumps up, everything comes crashing down. And breaks,” he sighed.
It’s hard to believe this chaos-causing furball was once a timid kitten. Akiko, a Selkirk Rex, joined Loh’s family last year when she was just four months old, brought in from a breeder in China.
Back then, she was a shy little kitten who preferred to pause and observe rather than pounce and play. But within weeks, her inner mischief-maker emerged. And that playful streak has made her a star on the cat show circuit.
Most recently, Akiko cat-walked away with the Best Kitten (International) title at the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) International Cat Show 2025 in Orlando, Florida. “When the judges bring out teasers or climbing poles, Akiko’s playfulness really shines,” Loh said proudly.
And while her playful antics win over the judges, it’s her sweet nature that truly wins hearts at home.
Her name, “Akiko”, came from her lovely round eyes, which reminded Loh of a sweet Japanese lady. But behind those big, beautiful eyes and her lush, curly fur is an even softer side – her affection.
“Most cats are independent and not very clingy. But Akiko’s different. She’s a sweetheart,” Loh shared. “She loves to cuddle with us, especially when we’re sleeping. She’ll jump onto the bed and snuggle right next to us.”
This side of her became even clearer during their travels for competitions. “When it’s just the two of us in a hotel room, she’ll follow me everywhere and curl up next to me. I learnt so much about her personality during those trips,” Loh said.
Like a purr-oud cat dad, Loh makes sure Akiko is well-prepared for each show. To keep her calm after flying, they arrive a few days early so she can explore, relax, and maybe knock a few things over in the hotel room.
“I also make sure her fur is in top condition – the curlier, the better. I spritz just a bit of mist water to help,” he said.
At the end of the day, trophies are just the cherry on top. “Win or lose, I’m happy with all the hard work we’ve put in. She’s family to me,” Loh said, already planning her next treat of raw beef. After all, every queen deserves to be treated like purr-royalty.
This story was written by Dinesh Kumar Maganathan @ FMT Lifestyle. Read more pet stories here.
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