Cat Shows
Cat Show Fever
Several years ago, I traveled to my first cat show with my new Toyger kitten, Jazzy. Needless to say, I caught "cat show fever." I fell in love with my fellow exhibitors, the judges, and the adrenaline rush as I waited to see if my kitty had been chosen in the "Top Ten." If you've never been to a cat show, here's a little information about it.
Usually, the show will consist of 6 to 12 rings, depending on the size of the show, and lasts about two days. Each ring has a separate judge, and each cat entered can show in every ring. The cats are judged according to each cat's breed standard in their appropriate category, such as:
Kitten Class (ages four to eight months old) Champion Cat Class (ages eight months and older) Alter Class (purebred cats who are spayed or neutered) Household Pets Class (any mixed breed)
In the first round of judgi(ng, the cats or kittens are judged against others of the same breed. Then, in the second round, each judge chooses and displays the numbers of the top 10 cats they decided, amongst all the different cat breeds exhibited. The adrenaline then hits us, exhibitors, as we wait to see if our kitty's number made the final cut. If it did, we again bring our kitty to the ring and wait through another stress-filled few minutes. The judges start with cat number 10 by announcing their 10th best cat. Then they announce #9...8...you get the picture. When your kitty is potentially 1st or 2nd choice, ...oh my! Now you know why I say I caught "cat show fever!"
LOVE to get ribbons!! Cats earn their championship titles with the ribbons and points earned in the rings.
For more detailed information, click the TICA link below.
Click on any picture for more information.
To Show or Not to Show?
Most of the Toyger cat breeders that we work with and mentor show their kitties. Showing is an integral part of cat breeding. Only cats representing the proper breed standards are going to become champions. And what breeder wouldn't want to breed champions?
Yes, there are expenses for entry fees, travel, show cages, etc., but in the end, we derive great satisfaction from presenting most of the Toygers in our cattery as titled champions. Our cats are all champion quality, or we won't select them for breeding , but sometimes, they can't receive titles due to the available shows close enough to attend. COVID-19 put quite a damper on all of us, and it still impacts show availability.