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Pet Exhibitors
Note: Because this article is lengthy and contains valuable information you may wish to retain, we recommend that you print this page.
Salt City Cat Club thanks you for your interest in entering your cat in our cat show. This guide has been prepared to assist first time exhibitors (that’s you!) in getting ready to show your household pet. Always remember, the cat fancy and cat shows are for all cats, purebred and household pets alike. You can be as proud of your cat as the purebred cat owner is of theirs. Unless your cat is extremely shy, very easily frightened, or doesn’t like people and won’t allow anyone to handle it, chances are that it could win a ribbon.
Household pet competition is for kittens (four to eight months old) and adults (eight months and older). All cats in the adult category must be neutered or spayed.
To register, you must complete an official CFA entry form and mail it, along with a check for the necessary amount (see the show flyer) to the entry clerk that is listed on the show flyer. Be sure to enter by the closing date listed on the show flyer. You can also ask to be benched next to someone you know.
Your entry fee will get you one cage (approximately 22" x 22" x 22"). If you pay the extra fee (as noted on the show flyer) you can get a "double" cage, which gives your kitty extra room to move around.
You must have a carrier to transport kitty from your car to the show hall. The sturdy plastic variety is recommended, not cardboard. These carriers can be found at most pet shops, or department store pet departments. Remember to line the bottom of the carrier with something soft for kitty to lie on. If he doesn’t travel well, and you expect a mess, bring replacements and a plastic bag to store the dirty ones in.
You must have cage curtains to be eligible to show your cat. These are used to line the inside and cover the top of your cat’s cage. Most exhibitors also cover the outside (cage size will be listed on the show flyer). If you don’t care to make special curtains, something like an inexpensive sheet and/or bath towels and safety pins will suffice. Just make sure whatever you have covers the top and sides completely, and that you have something to fasten it to the cage with. You must also bring something to put on the bottom of the cage. A large bath towel or small rug will do.
Other items you might want to bring include your cat’s favorite toy, a small bed, small litter pan, dishes, grooming supplies (comb, brush, cotton balls and swabs, cat-safe disinfectant and paper towels). It is always wise to bring your own cat food and water. Usually the show will provide litter, and will say so on the show flyer if they do.
Claws must be clipped, front paws and back (your cat cannot be declawed). This should be done before you leave for the show hall. If you have never clipped your cat’s claws before, ask for advice from your vet or from someone who has.
Bathing your cat prior to the show is recommended, especially longhaired cats. Even though cats do a good job of taking care of themselves, showing household pets is really a beauty contest (unlike purebreds which are judged by standards), so you want kitty to really look its best for the judges. Bathe it a couple of days prior to the show.
Arrive at the show hall at least one hour (preferably more) prior to the start of the show. This allows you to get your cage set up properly, and to get kitty relaxed and used to the environment. When you arrive, you must check in at the front desk. They can tell you where your cage is located, give you a show catalog and judging schedule. Kitty will be assigned a number, which will be listed in the catalog and posted on your cage.
Show etiquette is extremely important. Listen carefully to all announcements. When it is time for your cat to be judged, its number will be called over the loudspeaker. You should then quickly proceed to the show ring and place your cat in the cage which has its number of the top. Be courteous to others who might be entering the show ring before you and let them get their cat in the cage first. Do not identify yourself to the judge unless the judge speaks to you first. When the ring clerk takes the card above your cat’s cage and lays it flat down, you may proceed to the cage to pick up your cat and take it back to your benching cage.
Petting cats other than your own is not allowed unless you have asked the owner for permission and they agree. This is to prevent the spread of germs from one cat to another.
Each judge holds their own show, so there are actually several shows going on at once. The rings are the area in which a particular judge will be handling and judging the cats. Each judge will judge every cat in the show hall once (unless they are a Specialty Judge). Since each show is presided over by a different judge with different opinions of your cat, a cat which is chosen for a particular placement in one ring may not always be awarded the same place for another ring. The rings are numbered and clearly marked with the judge's name, so when you hear your cat being called to "ring #1", you will know exactly where to go. These individual shows can be classified as Allbreed (where all breeds and all coat lengths of cats are judged against one another) or Speciality (where cats that have short hair are judged against other cats who have short hair, and cats that have long hair are judged against others that have long hair).
So how does your cat win ribbons? As mentioned above, when your number is called, you will bring your cat to the ring. The judges will then look at your cat to determine how healthy it looks, how well it is groomed, and its temperament or how well it behaves. The judge will award a merit award to all household pets who reflect good health and vitality. After the judge has examined all household pets, he or she will determine how they rank the cats. Depending upon the number of cats in a particular show, they can award ribbons for 1st to 10th place standings. The winning numbers will be announced over the loudspeaker. When you hear your cat's number being called for a "final," take your cat and proceed to the ring as instructed under etiquette. The judge will then identify each cat and tell what ribbon it has won.
Showing a cat is a great way to meet and interact with others who love cats. We hope this will be the first of many shows for you. We wish you and your kitty the best of luck.
Salt City Cat Club of Syracuse, Inc. is a CFA (The Cat Fanciers' Association) affiliated club. This guide for new exhibitors is not all-inclusive of everything you need to know. It is recommended that you contact CFA at 908-528-9797, P.O.Box 1005, Manasquan, NJ 08736-0905 to purchase a copy of the Show Rules. You can also ask them for a copy of the publication called "Cats Centerstage," a guide to CFA cat shows, which contains additional information on showing and scoring. A lot of information about what to expect at a cat show and how to enter a cat can be obtained from the CFA web site on their Show Entry Information page. Also available is a link for the online show entry form.
Another option to consider is attending a cat show and asking if you can spend some time with an exhibitor showing a household pet. This will provide you with some practical experience and give you a better idea if your cat would be a good candidate for the show ring.
The members of Salt City Cat Club look forward to having you attend our show! Click on the following links to obtain a copy of our show flyer and an official CFA entry form.
Please download the cat show flyer (link below) as soon as possible and read it carefully, observing also the entry deadline date--no entries will be accepted after that date. Also, feel free to contact us if you would like help with completing the cat show entry form or if you have any other questions.
