A 1.5-year-old male Russian Abyssinian cat, winner of the "Best Cat in the World 2025" award, made a sensational appearance once again at the “Golden Paw” competition held in Moscow, Russia.
Darlen Fleur Dalmore Black, a 1.5-year-old male Abyssinian cat from Russia, who recently earned the title "Best Cat 2025" from the international World Cat Federation, made a striking appearance again at the "Golden Paw" contest in Moscow, Russia, last Friday.
Darlen claimed the top prize after competing in over 40 international cat shows and outperformed nearly 1,500 rivals to achieve the highest score this year. This success reflects the stringent standards for the Abyssinian breed, with judges assessing overall body balance, ear position and size, head structure, muscle tone, eye expression, and coat color consistency. Additionally, the cat's movement and temperament during the contest influenced scores, as cats must demonstrate confident and friendly behavior.
Dariya Grusinova, the breeder and one of the owners of the farm where Darlen was born, revealed that achieving such a perfect cat is challenging. Even breeding two beautiful cats does not guarantee offspring with balanced traits, as genetics can vary in ear size, head proportions, or small details. The most important factor is the overall harmony of all features.
Darlen’s personality reflects the distinctive energetic traits of the Abyssinian breed, known for its constant need for movement. The owner noted that this world champion male cat has no behavioral issues, but sometimes experiences bursts of energy, running around with wide-open eyes and a raised tail, which is a breed hallmark.
Currently, Darlen lives at the breeding farm as a stud. Although he has no kittens yet, the breeder plans to mate him with other cats on the farm to continue developing the Abyssinian breed to maintain its world-class standards. This victory not only reinforces Darlen’s reputation but also highlights the success of Russian cat breeding on the international stage.
,AP
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