Can somebody maybe explain how the shows work? What can you win? Is there a jury and how do they pick the "best"? What should the "Best" look like? And my main question is how long is a show and is it a stress for the cats?

_________________
~Genevieve~

Those are a LOT of questions and they are not easily answered! Read the first post in this topic and Google "cat show criteria". I have seen a booklet online that described everything. Showing cats is extremely time consuming. Your kitty has to be perfect in order to participate or win! You best bet may be to attend a cat show and see what goes on there. There is judging, of course. The criteria for points covers everything. And your kitty has to be up for participating as there is a ton of waiting around.

What you really need to do is just go to one. Just go, leave your cat at home of course, but just go and enjoy the festivities. Then you'll understand how they work.

_________________
The little monsters 3

Yeah definitely go to a few. There is usually a season or circuit. I used to go to them as a form of entertainment and look at all the beautiful cats. There is just something great about being in a space with that many amazing show cats. Plus they usually sell cat supplies and toys so you can bring home your kitty something special.

Thats a great idea!!! I will see when and where these shows are and go to watch. I guess you pay entry fee to go watch?

_________________
~Genevieve~

I know to show your cat, you pay an entry fee. I don't know if there is an admission fee for people to just go and view. If there is, I'm sure it's very inexpensive. We've had cat shows here in Nashville and I've never been. The whole key to showing your cat is to hope for Championship status. And then Double Champion, Triple, Quadruple and then Supreme Grand Champion. You can also be a Regional Winner. It can take some time and lots of cat shows. Raiden's grandfather was a Supreme Grand Champion by the time he was one year old. You have to get 6,000 points to reach that status! There are also Outstanding Sires who have fathered 15 or more Champions. Do a ton of research before you start on this. Your kitties also have to be calm and able to handle all the noise and other cats and strangers as the judges will be handling your kitties and they are not allowed to bite them. There is a lot of traveling involved as well.

In South Florida there is always a fee to attend a cat show. The admission fee and corporate sponsors along with the fee the cat exhibitors pay cover the cost of renting the facility, newspaper advertising, etc. I have no idea if the winners get a monitory award or just the status of winning which would help boost their offspring prices down the road. Local papers here usually have a $5 off coupon for a discounted admission fee.

I thank you all for the info! Wow it sounds very interesting about the points. I dont think i will start doing show but i am definitely going to go watch a show to see what its all about. I guess I can talk to cat owners there to get some info.

_________________
~Genevieve~

I don't know how accessible the cat owners are to talk with. I found this link very interesting with a lot of information:

http://www.tica.org/showing-cats

_________________
The little monsters 3

After reading this forum, I was scrolling through the TV guide and saw "cat show" and set it up to record. The description was something basic like "local cat show and all aspects reviewed"

Later when I went to watch the recorded show I discovered it was a Car Show!! My eyesight must be slipping!

Oh Jill!!!! LOL LOL LOL

Brian, you've made some excellent points. Breeders are the ones who enter most of the cats -- because the price increases when you have champions in the lineage -- mother or father. Babies may not be show cats, but the CH in front of names is impressive, especially SGC RW (Supreme Grand Champion / Regional Winner). Raiden did not inherit is grandfather's or father's genes -- more like his mothers. He's not a show cat by any means and would never spend the time and money to travel and show him. I remember an episode of My Cat From Hell where they were showing a cat and the cat just didn't want to do it any more and they finally decided to let the cat be. For an individual, it's not about the CH in front of the name because it means nothing unless you're planning to breed the kitty. You have to show them in the "altered" category if they have been fixed. And if you get a CH, then you want to get the GC, DGC, TGC, QGC, SCG, etc. Which can take some time and lots of cat shows. There is only one champion per category! And your cat has to win every time. They do give ribbons for second or third place, I believe!