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Training your cat for Show
It is possible to do a little training to prepare your cat for showing to make the whole experience a little less stressful and more enjoyable.
Firstly , once you have chosen your potential show cat, handle it as much as possible from an early age. Groom it gently as early as possible and give the cat it's first bath at about 6 weeks of age. While grooming run your fingers thru' it's coat, hold it up in the air, run your hands from top of head to tip of tail. Feel its head and open it's mouth to accustom it to having it's bite checked. Stand it up on a table or kitchen counter and do a mock judging , running your hand over it's entire body and opening it's mouth to check its' bite.. Encourage any visitors or strangers to 'judge' your kitten on a table or counter. Encourage it to walk down the length of table or counter from one person to another. Use a 'teaser' or toy to entice it. This will teach it that it is fun and ensure it does not just collapse on the judges table. Reward the cat with a snack or titbit or a bit of catnip.
Secondly make sure the cat associates a carrier with good times. Leave your carriers around for the kittens and cats to sleep in - it saves a fortune on fancy cat beds anyway. Occasionally close the door of the carrier on the kitten for a few minutes and reward it when you let it out. When they are comfortable in the carrier take the kitten for a ride around the block, talking and reassuring it all the time. Graduate from short drives to maybe a visit to the mall or shopping centre so it becomes accustomed to crowds and noise. Take a spray bottle of disinfectant and a hand towel and allow strangers to touch the cat - after you have cleaned their hands with the aforementioned disinfectant. Reward it when you get home. Too often the only time a cat is in a carrier is for unpleasant things - visits to vets for example.
Accustom it to being caged for short periods. The first time can be after it's bath when you can put it in a puppy or kitten pen for a final drying with a fan heater perhaps. Talk and reward constantly. Use toys and 'teasers' to play with it in the cage - anything to make it a pleasant experience. Reward with a snack in the cage.
All the constant handling will make your cat a happy
and relaxed cat on show day.
American Shows
From: Nekosong@aol.com
How USA judging works... We have 3
different classes, kitten (4-7 months), adult (8 months up) and alter. They are
completely separate from each other, not like european where best of breed
can be any of the above. Longhair cats include the usual, persians, etc, AND -
shorthair variants such as Exotic Shorthairs. Shorthair cats include the usual
shorthairs, AND - longhair variants. So Longhair Japanese Bobtails, longhair
Scottish Folds, Longhair Manx, etc. are judged as shorthairs. (At least in CFA,
our largest organization.) In Championship (and Premiership) class, you start as
an open, must receive 6 'winners' ribbons, which means that you are best of that
breed, color, sex. When you receive your six winners ribbons (usually one show)
and pay the fee, you are awarded Champion (or Premier) titles. Finals - we have
1st through 10th best cat (kitten, premier) in each ring unless less than 35
cats/kittens/premiers are entered, then we have 1st through 5th best. All breed
Championship and Premiership rings (both longhair and shorthair competing
against each other) also have Best & 2nd best Shorthair champion, best and
2nd best longhair champion, best and 2nd best all breed champion. These finals
are limited to champions, opens and Grands are excluded. It is possible for a
cat in the finals to receive 3 different rosettes, i.e. 4th best Champion, Best
Shorthair Champion, Best Champion. Specialty rings are either shorthair or
longhair, so the 'best & 2nd best champion' receive only one rosette. So, in
an 8 ring all all breed show, a top upcoming champion could go home with 24!
rosettes, and if this happened, he would probably be a one show Grand Champion.
Yes, it happens, I had two half-sisters both of which granded in the same show!
... Charlene
Taken from sac@ts mail list at www.egroups.com
For South Africans
SACC GUIDE TO CAT SHOWS AND SHOWING
1. THE SOUTHERN AFRICA CAT COUNCIL (SACC)
SACC is the larger one of two associations governing the cat fancy in South Africa. Through its central office, the SA Cat Register, it runs the registration of pedigreed cats, breeders and catteries, stud males, etc. It consists of nine affiliated cat clubs, approximately 15 breed groups, 3 judges’ panels and a number of show manager’s forums and steward’s forums.
2. WHY CAT SHOWS?
SACC has a Standard of Points (SOP) for all recognized cat breeds. The SOP describes various type and colour features of all the recognized breeds. All reputable cat breeders are striving to breed cats that are as close as possible to the SOP for the specific breed. For this reason breeders participate in shows where they can compete with other breeders to measure the progress of their own breeding programs and to obtain reports on their cats from qualified judges. Awards (towards titles such as "Champion") are given to cats that meet the SOP to a specific degree. Cat shows are also the showcase of the cat fancy and allow visitors to see the various pedigree breeds and meet reputable breeders.
Although shows are largely about pedigreed cats and measuring the progress of breeding programs towards meeting the requirements of the SOP laid down for the breed in question, classes are also provided for non-registered household pets. You therefore do not have to own a pedigreed cat to enter a show.
Shows are organized by the various cat clubs. A total of approximately 23 SACC shows take place country-wide annually.
3. BUILDING UP TOWARDS THE BIG DAY
3.1 Eight to four weeks before the show - entering your cat for the show
Should you wish to participate in a cat show, either in the registered or non-registered section, your first step would be to find out when the next show will take place in your area and to obtain an entry form from the show manager of the club holding the show. The closing date for entries normally varies between 2 and 4 weeks before the date of the show. You could also become a member of the various cat clubs, in which case you will receive regular newsletters and show entry forms.
An entry form normally consist of 5 pages, being:
a page containing general information such as the date and venue of the show and names and contact details of the show managers - for your information only
a page summarizing the most important show rules - for your information only
a page summarizing the fees payable - to be completed by all exhibitors
an entry form for cats entered in the registered classes - complete this form is you are entering a registered cat (You will find all the information regarding the cat’s registration details (e.g. registration number, parents, breed number and date of birth) on the "Certificate of Registration", issued by the South African Cat Register to the breeder of your cat when it was initially registered.)
Alternatively, an entry form for cats entered in the pet/domestic/unregistered classes - complete this form if you are entering an unregistered cat.
Fill out the applicable pages of the entry form and send those, together with a certified copy of the cat’s inoculation certificate as well as the relevant entry fees, to the show manager, who will process your entry. The show manager will issue a receipt for the fees paid and return the copy of the inoculation certificate to you soon thereafter. If in doubt, please contact him/her to confirm that your entries have indeed been received. (If you are uncertain about which class to enter your cat in, do not hesitate to contact the show manager to discuss this.)
3.2 Five to one days before the show
Approximately a week before the show, you will receive a so-called "notice to exhibitors" from the show manager. This will contain information such as your cat’s entry number, time of benching and directions to the show venue.
Preparing your cat: It is often a good idea to give your cat a bath before the show. This should happen anything from one to four days before the show, depending on the breed. Clean the eyes and ears with slightly damp cotton wool. Be sure to get exact grooming instructions and tips from the breeder of your cat. Remember that a show is a beauty contest – therefore your cat should look it’s very best on the day of the show. Be careful not to apply tactics such as dying or cutting hair, as such practices are prohibited by the show rules and may lead to disqualification. Injuries such as the results of a recent fight (e.g. an open wound after an abscess) or operation are a no-no. Allow these time to heal before attempting a show.
Keep in mind that the preparation of your cat shortly before the show merely adds the "finishing touches". Good health and a glossy coat starts with continuous good nutrition and regular grooming to remove dead and old hair.
3.3 On the big day
Very early until approximately 08H00:
Feed you cat a small meal in the morning. Also take some food with to feed it towards the middle of the day.
Check again that the eyes and ears are clean. Do last-minute grooming if required (especially long haired cats).
Take your cat to the show in an escape-proof cat carrier box.
Arriving at the show venue: Present the notice containing your cat’s number at the door, in order to enable the show staff to "book you in".
Some clubs have a "vetting-in" procedure at the door: A vet will briefly check your cat – mainly to detect any transmittable parasites or conditions that may threaten other exhibits. Should an exhibit be found to have any of these, it will unfortunately be disqualified and the owner will be requested not to take it into the hall. This is done to protect other exhibits against possible hazards. (Most clubs do not have this procedure any more.)
Find the cage with your cat’s number on it. Cover the bottom with a blanket (a baby’s nappy, blanket or towel work very well). Put the litter tray that you will find on top of the cage, inside*. Check the final grooming and put your cat in the cage. Check that it is securely closed. Do not give it water - the stewards will attend to this once judging is finished. (* Some clubs do not provide a litter tray, but request instead that the exhibitors provide this themselves. Should this be the case, it will be clearly stated in the notice to exhibitors.)
Some clubs request all exhibitors to leave the hall after benching. Judging then starts and takes place with only the show officials and judges in the hall. Many clubs, however, encourage exhibitors to stay around and watch their cats being judged. You may also listen to the comments of the judges on the exhibits. However, while judging is in progress, you should not identify yourself as the owner of the cat to the judge. Should you do this, it could lead to disqualification in terms of the show rules.
When judged, your cat will be taken out of the cage by the steward and presented to the judge. The judge will assess it and write a report. In most cases the report is placed in an envelop on the cat’s cage immediately thereafter. Rosettes will be handed out once the results have been processed by the show manager, or in some cases, immediately by the judge.
You will notice that the stewards and judges clean their hands with a disinfectant after handling each cat. This is to prevent the spread of any undesirable organisms (such as upper respiratory tract infections or ringworm) that may be present between cats. The cages are also cleaned with disinfectant before the show.
Although most cats cope well with showing and behave beautifully, their temperaments differ (just like humans do) and some do not cope well. Should the stewards and judges be unable to handle a cat, it might be disqualified. But the only way to know how your cat will handle being shown, is to give showing at least a try.
You will often find a number of vendors selling many cat-related items at their stalls at a show. This is a good time to get hold of grooming tools, toys, scratching posts, cat litter and in some cases cat food.
Breed groups also have exhibitions at shows to promote their breeds. Shows are generally a good place to meet reputable breeders of the breed(s) that you might be interest in and to get (most of) your questions answered.
Shows normally finish somewhere between 16H30 and 17H30. At that time you may put your cat back in it’s carrier box, take you cage blanket and all those lovely rosettes and other prizes and head for home.
4. JUDGING PROCEDURES AND CLASSES AT A SHOW
Registered cats: All registered cats are judged in accordance with the Standard of Points set for the specific breed. Judges are unaware of the identify of the cats that they are judging, with only the number of the cat and relevant detail such as sex and age made available to them at the time of judging.
Pedigreed cats are judged against the others in their class, in order to determine placings (1st to 4th), and secondly also against the SOP, in order to determine eligibility for a major award. (Major awards are certificates that count towards a title such as "Champion".) Registered kittens between the ages of 4 and 9 months are entered in the kitten classes. Kittens are not eligible for major awards.
Once a cat reaches 9 months of age, it may be entered in an open class, where it is eligible for a "Challenge Champion" certificate (CC). If it obtains three CC’s awarded by 3 different judges, it is entitled to the title "Champion". Thereafter it may compete in a Grand Challenge class, against other cats that have also obtained the title. In this class it will be required to achieve a higher score out of a maximum of 100 than in the open class, in order to be eligible for a Grand Challenge Champion certificate (GCC). Should it be awarded 6 GCC’s from different judges, it obtains the title Grand Champion. From here it may be entered in the Supreme Challenge class, where it is eligible for Supreme Challenge Champion certificates (SCC’s). In order to be awarded an SCC, a cat must, in the opinion of the judge, achieve a score of at least 92% against the SOP for its breed. Six SCC’s from 6 different judges would earn a cat the title of Supreme Champion.
Pedigreed cats that have been neutered are shown in classes similar to those provided for the entire cats. They compete for the title Premier (similar to Champion in the case of an entire cat), Grand Premier and Supreme Premier.
Pedigreed classes are judged by qualified judges. A person qualifies as a judge in a specific grouping of breeds after undergoing rigorous training, passing a theoretical exam (based on the Standard of Points), a practical exam and probation judging under the supervision of a qualified judge. Students in a judge’s course are often experienced breeders.
Non-Pedigreed cats: Unregistered cats are shown in the pet classes. They are not eligible for major awards towards titles, but are instead judged on health, looks, presentation and temperament. Cats over the age of nine months that are entered in this class have to be neutered. These classes are normally judged by a celebrity invited by the show manager.
Best on Show: At the end of the show, each judge nominates his/her best kitten, neuter and entire adult in each of the following groupings of breeds: Persian/Exotic, Medium Hair, Foreign, Siamese/Oriental and Pets. These cats then compete against each other in a public judge-off for the Best on Show awards and prizes (e.g. Best Persian/Exotic Kitten or Best Siamese/Oriental Adult, etc).
5. FURTHER INFORMATION AND ENTRY FORMS
General information on the activities of SACC clubs may be obtained from the office of the SA Cat Register (Tel 011 - 6167017), the SACC web page (http://www.sacc.ad.co.za ) or the AnimalTalk , Cats Life or All About Cats magazines.
Specific information on shows may be obtained from the show managers of the various clubs. The clubs and contact details are as follows:
Gauteng:
Cat Fanciers Club of SA (CFC): Ingrid de Wet (Tel: 011 - 8494870)
Rand Cat Club (RCC): Clare Coutinho (Tel: 011 - 3622582)
Capital Cat Club (CCC): Su Jacobs (Tel: 082 373 5976)
Transvaal Cat Society (TCS): Helen Griffiths (Tel: 011 - 7925940)
Western Cape:
All Breeds Cat Club (ABCC): Pauline Nel (Tel: 021 - 9033668)
Western Province Cat Club (WPCC): Gill Burman (Tel: 021 - 561278)
Eastern Cape:
Eastern Province Cat Club (EPCC): Elaine Michel (Tel: 041 - 512943)
KwaZulu-Natal:
Persian Cat Society (PCS): Kaai du Plessis (Tel: 031 - 7670633)
In addition, some breed groups hold championship shows under the auspices of these clubs.
A good link is:
http://home.earthlink.net/~featherland/off/showing.html
