A cat show can be a stressful situation. If not handle with etiquette and good sportsmanship, it will spread bad elements in the fancy like hatred, jealousy, bad mouthing, back stabbing, wrongdoing (breaking the show rule) etc. I think it might be useful to describe some of the etiquette of the cat fancy. Maybe there are some folks out there who need an initial lesson or a reminder about what constitutes proper conduct in the show hall. Seniority is not everything… you will have to obey and observe the show rule and etiquette to get RESPECT. Although we can find some of it in the CFA Show Rule, but there are still a lot more unwritten….
This is the start of a list that probably should have a lot more items on it. And in no particular order:

1. When approaching the show ring with your cat: take a few seconds and see how the judge is working; which side is s/he going to with cats being judged. Go in the other side with your cat, unless your cat's number is up on the same side as the judge is working. In that case, WAIT until the judge goes back to the table before caging your cat.

2. Examine your cat's eyes, butt, and paws for crumbs BEFORE you leave your benching area. The judging cage is not an appropriate place to clean your cat.

3. If your cat vomits, sprays, pees, or poops in the judging cage, it is YOUR responsibility to clean it up. Remove the cat as soon as physically possible. Work with the ring clerk to move your cat to an empty, clean cage, if possible. Use the steward's towels and spray (after asking politely to borrow them) and clean the soiled cage. If your cat's output has oozed into a neighboring cat's cage, you must notify the exhibitor and have them remove their cat so you can clean that cage. Remove any soiled materials from the ring. Do not put them in the judge's waste bag, or in the steward's waste bag.

4. Keep your elbows in. Be aware of your surroundings. Let people with cats get past you. Don't deliberately let your cat go face to face with another cat. Even the calmest cat in the show hall can get riled up by getting into a confrontation with another cat.

5. After you put your cat into the judging cage – remove yourself from the ring area behind the judge’s table.

6. If you remain in the audience at the judging ring until your cat has been judged, given awards, and excused, BE QUIET. Remember that the judge can hear people talking who are standing behind the spectator chairs. CFA Show Rules are quite clear about spectators talking (and judges hearing) about individual cats. It should not happen.

7. It's OK to leave your cat in the judging ring if you have other cats to be shown or if you just gotta go. However, if your cat or kitten might misbehave, thru fear or bad temper, you ought to be close by so that you can assist the judge in giving your cat the best possible show experience.

8. If the judge asks for the handler's assistance with a cat and you are that handler: go quickly into the ring and DO WHAT THE JUDGE ASKS YOU TO DO. The judge may have you only take the cat from the judging cage and put it on the table. The judge may want you to keep one hand on the cat to keep it calm. The judge may want to put the cat back in the cage, or the judge may ask you to put it back. Do not make excuses about the cat's behavior. Do not chat with the judge. Don't call the cat by name. Chirp, hum, whisper, say "good boy" and let the kitty know it's safe and that it's OK. Stay out of the way as much as possible so the judge can examine the cat.

9. Be a good exhibitor. Do unto other exhibitors as you would have them do unto you. Leave their stuff alone, unless they've told you that the peanut butter cups are for everyone. Put your name on your stuff. Keep your purse, cell phone, camera, laptop, and/or hand held devices in a secure place or don't complain when they disappear.

10. When you agree to watch a group of cages for exhibitors who are away for a while, stay there, or find a replacement.

11. When you set up your cages in the morning, and take them down at the end, keep your junk out of the aisle so that people can get thru. Don't clip or tape your curtains to someone else's cages without permission. You get the space under YOUR cage space for storage and nobody else's.

12. Not exactly etiquette - just common sense and courtesy and concern for your cats' health: If your cats are sick, stay home. If your cats are sick, get medical attention for them. You might be surprised to know that all cats do not routinely have winky eyes or snotty sneezes. Chronic head tilts aren't cute; they indicate a serious sinus or ear problem. Healthy cats shouldn't have runny poops or diarrhea.

13. Be very cautious about asking a judge about your cat (Why didn't you like it? Why did you dump it? Shall I run it for a national win? What's wrong with it?) Most judges don't want to hurt your feelings. When they hung the ribbons, they gave you their opinion of your cat. A few might be willing to give you a precise explanation of your cat's faults, but don't count on it. If the judge takes the time to talk about the various cats in a judging session, listen to what the judge DOESN'T say about your cat, and you'll have a pretty good idea of what the judge didn't like.

14. Don't forget Thumper's Rule: If you can't say something nice about someone, don't say anything.

17. Be considerate of your fellow exhibitors. Clean up after your cats, particularly if they produce smelly poops in their litter pans. Do NOT dispose of this waste until you have sealed it into plastic bags. I recommend that you include a handful of ziploc-type bags in your show gear for this purpose.

18. If you are showing a whole male and he is known to spray, have the common courtesy to tell the ring clerk so that your male can be placed in a cage on the end where he cannot spray into 2 or 3 other cages. If he does spray, you will need to clean it up. Do NOT spray the cage with odor killer without the knowledge and permission of the ring clerk.

19. Do not walk in front of the judge’s table when the judge is examining a cat on the table. Clerks should also avoid that area.

20. Remember ALWAYS that your cat doesn’t care if it wins or loses. It doesn’t care if it gets a rosette.

So... there you have it... 20 cat show etiquette tips that if followed will make for a happier, more enjoyable show experience for everyone in the show hall.

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Catizzadi Persians
www.catizzadipersians.com
www.felinemalaysia.com
http://catizzadi.blogspot.com/

Very informative and clear.

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If there is a will there is a way

In a situation like above........the judge would clearly know who is the owner of the cat before the judging.......is this ok ?

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xxxxx Saribaiduri @ sedap nama tu aku suker xxxxx

Let's Stand Together And Celebrate Our Domestic Cats Day- 31/12/2008 !

If it's any comfort, various Aust and FIFe shows have 'owner present'. Doesn't make any diff to a seasoned judge - ownership isn't going to influence a decision.

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Lesley (Tasmania)

gudd info..

but i kabur2 la .. english tak berpa nak pandai...

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www.protonclub.com
www.kitten.com.my

Ok noted Lesley, thanks.

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xxxxx Saribaiduri @ sedap nama tu aku suker xxxxx

Let's Stand Together And Celebrate Our Domestic Cats Day- 31/12/2008 !

As I said earlier, junior or senior is not the issue here. Show Rule and Etiquette is the core of everything. However being a new exhibitor or new comer in the cat fancy, there are indeed a lot of things we need to learn and experience. Don’t ever expect a fast reward. And don’t blame others if you’re not successful with your cats.

We always hear a lot of comments about being a new exhibitor, and being (or not being) very successful. Comments can be ranged from "they're jealous of my success" to "judges use only the cats shown by known exhibitors".

I've to admit that sometimes newbies don't get the respect that they (and/or their very fine cat) might deserve. I've come up with a few reasons this might happen. This is not a comprehensive list. NOT ALL newbies are unsuccessful. NOT ALL oldies get all the finals.

So let's just approach this with an open mind and you can all see if you see yourself in one or more of these scenarios. NOTE: I am using the word "newbie" to include new exhibitors, new breeders, wannabe either of those, and maybe some spectators. Remember that some newbies have been in the cat fancy for decades, but are still repeating that experience without learning anything new.

1. Asks a lot of questions, and ignores the answers. Then asks the same questions again, having not listened to the answers the first three (thirty, three hundred) times. This happens from the time the newbie thinks about getting a cat to the time the newbie either figures it out or leaves the cat fancy in a huff, trailing invectives all the way.

2. After 3 cat shows, whether the cat is successful or not, has become an EXPERT on either that breed or all breeds of cats. Becomes the unwelcome mentor (or cheerleader) of everyone in that benching area.

3. Draws attention to self and self's cat in the judging ring: waving toy, discussing cat in carrying voice, making a production of putting cat into judging cage and taking it out. This, of course, is not limited to newbies.

4. Believes that criticizing the competition, particularly in breed, particularly in front row of judging ring, is not only OK, but will enhance the judge's awareness and admiration of one's entry.

5. Uses negative body language when one's cat doesn't get final, Best of Breed (BOB), Best CH, or Winner Ribbon. Directs that unhappiness at the cat all the way back to the benching area, which is observed by the judges, other exhibitors, and spectators.

6. Hysterically scream when the cat makes into the final, get BOB, get Best CH or get Winner Ribbon, as if the whole show belongs to them. Especially when they “think” their cat beat somebody’s cat. This unpleasant cheerleading act is purposely to gain support and to draw everybody’s attention to their “great success”.

7. Hangs around experienced, successful (and very busy) breeder-exhibitor in the mis-guided belief that if one stands next to glory, glory will come on down! Cannot figure out why this close association does not result in more finals.

8. Tries EVERY (and I mean EVERY) bathing formula and suggestion solicited and given -- sometimes (often) in combination -- and then cannot understand when cat's coat is dry, oily, clumping, falling out, or full of static. Blame is assigned elsewhere for this problem. Oh, yes. Some of these bathing experiments happen for the first time on the night before the show.

9. Speaking of assigning blame....Blames everyone else when the cat or kitten is not behaving well at the show, having not show-trained the cat at all. Blames the judges for not picking their cat, having not handled the competition and knowing nothing about the physical condition, physical structure, or temperament of any of the competing cats.


I could go on, and I'm sure I missed a lot of ways that newbies shoot themselves in the foot rather than go to the effort to quietly learn about their cat, their cat's breed, and the cat fancy.
It isn't about paying dues. It isn't about paying a lot of money for a cat with a particular cattery name on the front. It isn't about knowing that your cat is a really good example. It isn't about being seen with a certain group. It isn't about impeccable grooming, if the underlying cat is not properly constructed.
Some of it is about etiquette, which is sometimes overlooked when we bring a new person into the fancy.

The bottom line here is that if you do everything right - good cat, well-groomed, well-nourished, well-behaved, and well-presented - you still cannot be guaranteed to get what you want. As long as our cats are judged by others than ourselves, we are subject to another person's OPINION about our cat on a given day at a given venue. And, much as we'd like to, on those occasions, we cannot grab a judge by the lapels and FORCE them to see, recognize, and honor what we see in our beloved cats.

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Catizzadi Persians
www.catizzadipersians.com
www.felinemalaysia.com
http://catizzadi.blogspot.com/

utterly comprehensive observation of what the real cat fancy is..........and very contextual............

Catizzadi you have my respect for these opinions............

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Cattery Russmania Norwegian Forest
Best CFA NFC Cattery in Asia 03-08
www.russmania.com

Back-to-back Cat of the Year / Premier of the Year in CFA ID - Asia in 2 consecutive years

GC, DW Russmania Antonio Gaudi (Cat of the Year in CFA ID - Asia & 4th Best Norwegian Forest worldwide, 06-07)
GP, DW Russmania Bohemian Rhapsody (Premier of the Year in CFA ID - Asia, 07-08)

Proud Mother - GC, DW Heavenly Joy av Josdalsbreen, DM (CFA 3rd Best Norwegian Forest worldwide, 07-08)

i think the saddest part is either the fact that these people do indeed exist.. not only that.. they go on to influence others with their behavior. And instead of one unbecoming individual. A whole club exists.

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Matreshka Sibirskaya Koshka www.matreshkasiberians.com

Yeah!! The sad part is it is indeed true & we can see this kind of behavior in our very show hall nowadays. There is no need to scream or behave hysterical when your cat win, it’s not like you are watching a soccer match whereby you have loaded $$$$ on your betting. There is no need to behave cocky when your cat win over someone else cat & no necessity to irritate other. The worst thing is some of this ppl never learn there are many time this ppl feel like they won the whole show the moment their cat win in the 1st ring & their sad part is their cat never see tht winning again in all the other rings, just imagine what a slap they just gave themselves. I hope to see true sportsmanship in our cat fancy with good show etiquettes.

2005-2006 International Division Asia/Latin America Best of Breed Maine Coon
GC,Himedaruma Mt Takao of Felis Wonder (Best Maine Coon)
GC.Embellie Nuage of Felis Wonder (2nd Best Maine Coon)