Local actor-DJ Dennis Chew recently entered his one-year-old toyger cat named Woody in the Universal Cat Association Singapore's inaugural cat show. Despite having no expectations, Woody managed to win eight rosettes at the competition held at Suntec City on June 7. Chew adopted Woody from a local breeder in 2024, and the rare toyger breed was the only one of its kind in the competition among 60 other cat breeds.

A toyger is known for its distinctive coat resembling a tiger's stripes and can cost between $13,000 and $35,000. Judges from China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand assessed the cats based on various attributes like physical appearance and temperament. Woody was named the best cat in the Shorthair Specialty category by Malaysian and Singaporean judges and placed third and fifth in the All Breed category by Chinese and Thai judges.

Chew mentioned that Woody's grumpy behavior may have affected his ranking, as the cat was stressed by the new environment and long competition hours. Despite this, Chew is excited about future competitions and is grateful that Woody gets along well with his other cat, Furby, a four-year-old British shorthair.

Woody and Furby, both sterilized, licensed, and microchipped, have a close bond and are very sociable, contrary to the typical aloof cat stereotype. Chew shared that the cats read his moods and provide comfort when needed. He also recalled his past experience with an abused breeder dog named Coffee, whom he cared for before finding a new home for her.

Chew enjoys the companionship of his cats and appreciates the joy they bring him. He spends an average of $200 monthly on their grooming, litter, and food, and has no plans to expand his fur family beyond Furby and Woody.