Cat Shows :
An Introduction
Cat shows are an opinion of how close an animal is to the standard.
While this might be droll it keeps things in perspective. While showing
is competitive it’s also a chance to travel and spend time with your
cats. There are good and bad sports in all walks of life but also there
are many more who just enjoy spending time with their
animals and with other people who like cats.
A cat show has an individual judge whose opinion
may differ from another judge at the same show or at other shows. The
standard is the ideal
– if there were such a thing as the perfect cat it would be what the
standard says. Of course there is no perfect cat, so the one as close
as possible to that standard is the key. This is where opinion can come
into play.
All breed shows can include all cats while a
specialty is one of the best of the best of an individual breed. Having
a best cat in show is a source of pride for a breeder who has worked
hard to produce beautiful and healthy cats, selecting the best queens
to be mated to the best matched toms.
Cat shows have several competitive classes,
including
• the kitten class,
• championship,
• premiership,
• provisional,
• miscellaneous and household pets.
Kittens
are 4-8 months of age and compete with the same breed, sex and color,
with the best of those going to best of color then best of breed. All
of the kittens then compete for Top 10 kittens where they
are not judged against each other but how close they are to that stated
standard.
For example if the Persian is, in the judge’s opinion, 90% to the
standard and the Russian Blue 95% the RB would be placed higher.
At
eight months they advance to the championship class or if altered the
premiership class. This is considered the ‘open’ division, and again
grouped initially by sex and color the best of each complete for best
of breed and a chance to advance, naming the best 3 animals of each
breed. After six winners ribbons the cat can compete against other
champions for a Grand Champion title.
The Cat Fancier’s
Association also has classes for household pets, judged on appearance,
markings and disposition. These should be over 8 months, must be
neutered or spayed but may not be declawed.
The
camaraderie in getting to know other cat breeders and the challenge of
breeding outstanding cats is a reward from showing that is beyond just
the ribbons and awards. Getting up early in the morning, traveling to
the show, getting motel rooms and dealing with getting the cats to
their respective classes is not something that is done
for profit as surely there is not enough profit to be
made.
Because
it is opinion and comparison a winner may or may not be the best animal
but good sportsmanship counts. Smile, congratulate the winner and
remember although the judge might not have rewarded your
cat today that can change. Also the judge doesn’t live
with the cat – you do! Keep the animals you like no matter show placing
and strive to do better.
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