Where else can
you go and
guarantee 100%
of the people
will be as in
love with cats
as you are? A
CAT SHOW!
Whether you go
as
an
exhibitor
or as a
spectator, cat
shows have a lot
to offer. There
are many
beautiful cats,
the excitement
of the
competition, the
camaraderie, and
lots of shopping
for cat
paraphernalia.
As a pet owner,
you may wonder
“Why should I
care if a
breeder shows?”
Everyone who
owns a pedigreed
animal should
care if breeders
show. Showing
cats is one of
the most
important tools
to make a
breeder the best
he/she can be.
True fanciers
care about the
trifecta:
health, type and
temperament.
Shows are an
unbiased way to
ensure the
breeder is
maintaining and
striving towards
proper type.
Some shows have
seminars about
health and
genetics and
health clinics
for HCM
scanning.
The premise of a cat show is to ensure the cats are in good condition, excellent examples of their breed and have no disqualifying structural faults. All pedigreed cats are judged by an expert that has been trained on all breed standards. This is an official document written by the breeders to define the breed’s look. This standard is what makes each breed distinct and different from any other breed. It is what keeps a Persian looking different than a Russian Blue; a Sphynx from looking like a Peterbald; a Birman from looking like a Siamese. While not every cat needs to be show ring perfect, every breeding should start off with that as the goal so the unique look of the Sphynx is not lost.
The shows are
the best place
for breeders to
expand their
knowledge.
Understanding a
breed standard
without seeing
the cats
visually in
person is almost
next to
impossible. In
my 10 years of
showing, I have
noticed there is
usually a huge
gap in type
knowledge
between those
that do show and
those that do
not. There is
simply no
replacement for
seeing cats in
person and
hearing the
experts talk
about the cats
in the final
when they
announce their
picks for best
cats and why.
Internet photos
are not always
accurate or show
the presence of
the cat. Imagine
the first time
you saw a wild
animal like a
tiger, elephant,
or a
monkey in person.
The
physical
presence and
being in the
same space is
as the animal
is an
experience. Yes,
photos can
capture the
beauty of many
things, however
being in the
same physical
space has such
an impact.
These events
also test the
cat’s
personality
under duress.
For those that
have shown, most
have experienced
taking a Sphynx
that is “oh so
sweet” at home;
but then the cat
unfortunately
acts like a wild
tiger at the
show. It is an
important goal
is to have
a
Sphynx
amenable to
handling while
at the show.
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Watching other
breeds get
judged and
commented on is
surprisingly
educational as
well.
Visualizing what
a Sphynx is not
supposed to look
like is
extremely
helpful. This
sounds odd, but
seeing the round
forehead of a
Persian whereas
a Sphynx is
supposed to have
flat forehead;
high ears on a
Cornish Rex
while a Sphynx
ears are on the
corner of their
head; or the
oval eyes on a
Devon while a
Sphynx eye is
supposed to be
lemon-shaped.
A Persian
breeder let me
feel her cat's
domed head and it
was remarkable
how different it
was than a
Sphynx head. It
these "little"
experiences
adding up that
help us learn.
Cat shows are a
good place to
meet people and
make friends
with those who
have extensive
experience with
cats. Sharing
experience and
knowledge will
help make people
better pet
owners and
breeders.
For pet owners,
I highly
recommend
attending local
shows.
First, it is a
great way to
meet local
breeders in
person and
make connections
if you are
considering
purchasing a
kitten or cat.
Secondly, it is
a great way to
purchase quality
handmade items
such as top
quality cat
trees, cat beds
and toys. The
quality and
prices are
usually better
than those at
chain pet
stores.
Some pet owners
may want to take
it one step
further–and
show!!! If you
own a show
quality cat, it
is fun and
rewarding for
pet owners to
show their
Sphynx.
It is an
excellent way to
bond with your
cat and meet
others who share
your interest in
felines. Unlike
the dog-world,
TICA offers a
competitive
class for spayed
and neutered
pets. Watching
your cat in the
ring can be so
rewarding and
fun. If
you have a
serious interest
in showing, you
should contact a
breeder who does
show fairly
successfully so
that breeder can
assist you in
selecting one
that will do
reasonably
well at
the shows.
Cat shows
help the local
community and
rescues. At most
cat shows, there
are booths with
adoptable
rescues, items
for sale that
benefit the
rescue.
A few
years ago, I had
the pleasure of
meeting Kendall
Yahr at a
Midwest TICA
show. Not only
is Kendall a
proud Sphynx
owner, she was
representing a
purebred rescue
booth at the
show. They
rescue all types
of purebreds,
including
approximately 15
Sphynx a year.
Kendall enjoys
going to cat
shows and said
this:
"Being at the
cat shows helps
our purebred
rescue in
several ways.
Our biggest deal
is that the
people who might
be looking for
purebred cats
are more likely
to be at a cat
show. Many would
prefer to
"rescue" an
animal over
buying one. The
cat shows help
us get our name
out there, help
us raise much
needed funds,
and allows us to
keep an open
dialog with
breeders. Many
do not actually
think that any
of their cats
could ever end
up in a shelter
type
situation...only
they can, and
do.
For me, I like
the fact that I
can talk to the
breeders at
these shows, and
show them that
"rescue" does
not mean that we
all think
breeders are
bad. We are not
raiding
catteries, bad
mouthing
responsible
breeders, or
trying to take
business away
from them. I
refer people to
the responsible
breeders I know
because of these
shows.
For sphynx
owners and
breeders, shows
are events that
are educational,
social, fun and
exciting. It is
one of the rare
places where all
the people are
obsessed with
felines. I have
been showing for
10 years now and
I love it.
It has
benefited me
immensely in
knowledge and
long lasting
friendships. Go
ahead… attend a
show… you may
soon be addicted
as many of us
are!
Lou Ann Vennettilli , Sphynx Breed Secretary for the Canadian Cat Association, states it is important to show for a few different reasons:
-It helps establish connections with other breeders.
-It helps you to see if you are on the right track in your breeding program since you can see how your cat competes with others and what the judges think of your type.
-It helps you to make contacts for future sales since I do like to meet the people that I place my kittens with.
-It helps your association and the clubs by giving your support.
MYTHS THAT PREVENT PEOPLE FROM SHOWING:
The cat shows are too political and unfair. If you have a cat that meets the standard and you are persistent, your cat will do well. One weekend your cat may do well and get some finals, the next it could be different competition and your cat gets awarded less finals. It is important to remember that this is a journey and not to focus too much on one show. If your cat gets few awards or none, you may want to talk to an experienced breeder who does well at the shows or a judge to ascertain why. As much as I hate to admit it, it is naïve to say there are absolutely no politics at cat shows. However having a good show cat and persistence will overcome this.
My cats will pick up diseases and germs from cat shows. At the shows, precautions are taken by the judges washing the table and their hands between each cat. Generally, most cats at the shows are healthy and are required to be healthy. You can also take precautions by having hand sanitizer for people if they want to pet your cat. Wash all your garments and show materials immediately when getting home to minimize risk of germs. If one sees a sick cat, take photos or video and report it to show management.
I can learn all I need from yahoo groups or the internet. A photo can be deceptive and is not the same as seeing cats at the show. Being popular on facebook does not equate to quality.
I do not have time to go to the cat shows. We make time for what we really want to do. To be immersed in the shows, you do not need to go more than 4-6 shows a year. A true fancier makes some time to participate in shows.
