Kathy Black with her blue tabby Persian,
Catillak Blue Danube of Foxykats

SHOWTIME

Cat Shows Are Fun

By Lynn Harris

Home
Feature Stories
Vet's Voice
Bird Beat
Fe-Lines
Aunt Debe
Agility Tips
Miss Behavior
Dogs-The Right Stuff
Archives

Oklahoma City:
Event Calendar
Adoption Outreach

Animal Welfare
OKC Animal Welfare
Favorite Links
Let's Go Shopping

About Us
Authors' Bios
Advertising Info
Writer's Guidelines

Subscribe
Okla. Distributors
Contact Us

A few months ago, I took a rare break from my computer and visited my first ever cat show. I grew up around dog shows, so I'm familiar with that routine. But cat shows, I found out, are a bit different. For one thing, cats don't walk around in a circle. I think it's that independence thing.

When you enter the show hall you see aisles of tables with cages on them. Some are decorated wire cages and some are fancy tent-type enclosures. Each of these cages houses one or more cats of varying breeds. You'll see a lot of Persians, Maine Coons, Siamese, Orientals, etc. And if you're lucky there may be a few of the rarer breeds. At this show there was a Singapura, which I had heard of but never seen before.

At most shows you're free to walk through the benching area. You can talk with the breeders/owners about their cats, but don't get in the way if they're hurrying to get to the rings-they have the right-of-way. And don't touch or pet a cat, unless you have permission from the owner. No one wants you to get bitten or spread diseases among the cats.

Occasionally, you might hear someone yell "Cat out!" and all the doors to the hall swing shut. This means someone's feline has gotten loose. Stand back and let the show people deal with it.

Around the perimeter of the hall are the show rings. Each ring is an individual show, presided over by a different judge. A semi-circle of cages surrounds a center table for the judge. Each cat is taken out for examination, and it can be quite entertaining as the judge looks at the cat's coat, body and head conformation and perhaps plays with it for a moment. Most judges talk about what they're looking for in the particular breed. Every cat is judged in every ring, according to the breed's written standard (except for the Household Pet class). When the judge makes his decisions, he'll generally take the winners out, announce which award(s) they've won and explain why.

Many shows have a Household Pet class for non-pedigreed felines, like your family pet and pedigreed cats that can't be shown in championship classes for numerous reasons. Anyone can enter a healthy and people-friendly cat in this category. It must be neutered or spayed and must not be de-clawed. These cats are judged on looks and personality only (there's no standard). They don't win titles but usually receive nice ribbons.

Once a judge has examined all the cats, his top picks (usually 10) are called back to the ring for finals. In an allbreed show, these will be both longhair and shorthair breeds. In a specialty show, it will be one or the other. The judge will award the cats in first through tenth place.

The scoring system and titles are much too complicated to go into here. If you want to know more about how cats are judged, visit the Web sites for two of the cat registries, Cat Fanciers' Association, www.cfainc.org or The International Cat Association, www.tica.org.

If you've been thinking of getting a pedigreed cat, visiting a show is a good way to get an idea of which breed will fit in with your family. You can tell a lot about a breed's general personality just by observation. Watch them in their cages. Some are laid-back, taking it all in stride. Others may be playing rough and tumble games with a cage mate or busily shredding the cage curtains.

Even watching how the owners carry their cats to the ring is a clue. Some are rushing to the ring with felines draped casually over one arm while others are tightly clutching the cats to their chests. How the judge handles the different breeds is another clue. Does he have to keep his hand on the cat at all times? Or can he put it on the table and it will stay put. Does he play with some breeds and not with others?

Obviously, each cat is an individual and may be more or less active than another in the same breed. But, it can give you a general idea. Then talk with the owners. Most are glad to share information about the personality and health concerns of their particular breed. And they might have pet kittens for sale.

Before you leave the show, be sure to visit the vendors' booths. There, you'll find all kinds of cat toys and supplies. Many have great cat related gifts for humans too, such as sweatshirts, posters and stuffed toys.

If you like cats, I highly recommend attending a cat show. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will go again.

Back to Archives

Persian
Carla Bizzel with Champion
Harwood Celebrate of Mabuhay,
a red/white Persian male

Exotic
Champion Shanoo's Venus, a
brown tabby and white Exotic,
owned by Mike McAfee


	© Copyright 2000-01 Ashworth Publishing LLC (OK PetGazette) No part of this Web site may be reproduced, transmitted or stored in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior written permission from Ashworth Publishing LLC (OK PetGazette)