They may be one of our favourite household pets, but we weren't always so fond of felines.

Before the first ever cat shows took place in the 19th century, pussies were viewed as mere pest-controllers and the Victorians would never dream of cuddling up to them.

But the inaugural Championship Cat Show at the Crystal Palace, London, in 1871 ensured that the upper-classes treated moggies as adorable pets – not just mouse catchers.

Cats were viewed as pest-controllers by Victorians until cat shows were started to show breeds, pictured Fulmer Zaida, an early champion cat born in 1895 that won over 150 prizes

A cat show held at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, London, 1900, shows upper-class women holding them on a leash

That day just 56 moggies were shown but popularity of cats began to sore and in 1895 the USA caught on with the first national cat show being held in New York's Madison Square Garden.

Harrison Weir, a cat enthusiast, is credited with creating cat exhibitions and laying the foundation for how we treat cats in Britain today.

He wrote: 'Long ages of neglect, ill-treatment, and absolute cruelty, with no kindness have made the cat self-reliant.'

'The dog may be regarded and petted, but is generally useless; the cat, a pet or not, is of service.

Early cat shows changed our perception of felines, left a poster from 1883, and right, Miss Frances Simpson's cat Cambyses. A 14-year-old Miss Simpson attended the very first cat show at the Crystal Palace in July 1871 and became a life-long cat enthusiast that day

Cats were lined up for judging during a cat show, Harrison Weir, a cat enthusiast, is credited with creating cat exhibitions

Judges work at the Richmond Cat Show circa 1900, London, with the judge awarding prizes to different breeds

Owners with their cats at the very first cat show held at the Crystal Palace in London

These early cat pictures show how cats became pets and were loved after a turnabout in attitudes

Weir believed that the cat was 'an object of increasing interest, admiration and culture beauty.'

He attracted an upper-class crowd to his feline shows, which turned out to be an astute move.

Weir created a set of points and standards by which the cats, divided by breed and size, would be judged.

For the first cat show Weir appointed himself the adjudicator and his judging process wowed his aristocratic crowd.

So much so that more cat shows were put on across the country. And in 1887 Weir founded the National Cat Club, it's inaugural show attracted over 320 cats.

Cats soon began to lose their Victorian reputation as dirty and wicked. Lady's Realm magazine wrote an opinion piece in 1900, saying Weir had 'done wonders for the amelioration of pussy.'

A prize Blue Persian with a long, fluffy coat belonging to Mrs Wells circa 1895

Miss Frances Simpson and her cat Cambyses pose for a picture together

udges work at the Richmond Cat Show circa 1900 watching as the pets parade around the ground

Mrs. Peter Brown and her prize cat at the Richmond Cat Show circa 1900, London

Cages at the Richmond Cat Show, circa 1900, are numbered with hundreds of cats competing

Portrait of the officials from the Northern Counties Cat Club circa 1900

A newspaper report detailing the very first cat show held at the Crystal Palace 1871