The cat world will spend the weekend looking for its top dog.

The Western Hemisphere's largest show for felines, the Cat Fanciers' Association International Cat Show, happens in Atlanta on Saturday and Sunday.

More than 750 cats representing all 41 recognized breeds are expected to compete for the title Best in Show.

The reigning champ is a black Persian male named Santos, from France, and while there are favorites going in, there is always a sleeper or two, said CFA president and judge Pam DelaBar.

"I have seen cats come up and make the top five and nobody knew about them," she said.

Melissa Horn and her 11-year-old son Chandler, from Lancaster, Pa., are entering two cats in the show: Mezetique Fresco, an 8-month-old seal-point Sia-mese that last month won a CFA-Iams Cat Idol contest in New York, and Daz, his lilac-point half-brother.

The Horns think Fresco has a chance at the top prize.

"He is a friendly, social guy," Melissa Horn said in a telephone interview as Fresco climbed onto her shoulder, purring into the phone. "He will capture your heart."

Cats will compete in three categories: kitten (pedigree, 4 to 8 months old), championship class (pedigree, not spayed or neutered) and premiership (spayed or neutered pedigree).

Many other competitions include a class for household pets, but the international show does not.

Last year, 75 cats from outside the United States were entered in the competition, including cats from Japan, the Philippines, Kuala Lumpur, Sweden and Finland, DelaBar said.