Sphynx Breeders/Enthusiast Newsletter - ARCHIVES - Vol. 1 Issue 2 - Owner Section: "Go GREEN" with Eco-Friendly Cat Products

A cat show is a rare opportunity to see dozens of beautifully groomed cats, not only of the more common breeds, but also some of the rarest in the world: like our beloved Sphynx. If you love cats, friendly competition and just having fun, you'll find spending a few hours at a cat show to be interesting, educational and entertaining!

One can easily find out about upcoming cat shows in magazines such as Cat Fancy, or you can visit some of the major cat association's websites, such as www.cfa.org or www.tica.org for a listing of shows that might be coming to your area). There is usually a cat show every weekend of the year in some part (or many parts) of the world.By bringing your love and natural curiosity of cats to a show, you are guaranteed to have a wonderful time.

Here are a few tips to make the visit more comfortable and productive for you and your family:

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Show halls are notorious for being too hot or too cold, no matter the outside temperature.
Wear something light and carry a sweater with you. This way you are covered!
Carry a sack, backpack or big purse. You're sure to run across freebies or buy toys & treats to take home to your cat. You may also meet a breeder you want to talk to after the show and while many do carry business/info cards, sometimes they do run out and having a pen and paper on hand is essential.
Be aware of the demands on exhibitors. Most exhibitors don't mind answering questions and talking about their cats to the general public, but not in the tense moments before their cats will be judged. Your first question to any exhibitor should be: "Is this a good time to ask a couple of questions about your cats?" They'll let you know, and if it's not, they can tell you when to come back for that chat.
Please never bother an exhibitor who has a cat in their arms.
They are almost certainly headed to or coming from judging.
Please step aside if a person has a cat in their arms: Cat show etiquette, and common sense, demands that a person carrying a cat has the right-of-way at all times in the show hall. If you are down a narrow benching area and see an exhibitor coming with a cat, please allow them to pass quickly. They are not avoiding you to be rude, they are on a mission with their cat!
Please be respectful of the health and safety of the cats. Always ask before touching a cat. Many breeders do not allow touching as they are very concerned about the spread of disease. The only people who normally touch any cats at a show are the people who brought them and the judges, who are careful to sanitize their hands and the judging platform after each cat they handle. If an exhibitor does invite you to pet a cat, you'll likely be asked to wash your hands before and after with a hand sanitizer. This is a small price to pay for the experience of touching a cat in perfect show condition. Also, please don’t stick toys, hands or other objects into the cages where their precious cats are housed during the show. This can also spread germs as well as cause stress to the cats and put your own fingers at risk of a nip or two.
Watch at least one final and/or class being judged. Unlike dog show judges, who rarely share their thoughts with the spectators (or even the exhibitors), cat show judges consider education an important part of their job. They freely discuss the good and not-so -good points of each breed as they handle the cats. Many are not only articulate and knowledgeable, but witty as well and more than willing to share their valuable insight into each breed with the public. After the judging is over, most are happy to answer a question or two from the gallery.
Speaking of galleries (the area you are allowed to sit in while the cats are being judges), please be mindful of others that may also be trying to hear what the judge has to say. Crying babies, phone calls and other loud noises should be taken away from the “gallery”.
Please DO NOT take pictures using a camera with a flash while the cats are being judged. Most exhibitors, cats and judges love to have their pictures taken, but the flash of the camera can and has been known to spook a cat that is on the table. This can have devastating effects on the cats and may potentially end their show career.
Bring money. Nearly every show has vendors on hand that sell cat-related merchandise. You often find not only free cat-food samples, but also hand-crafted toys, scratching posts and cat trees direct from the people who make them. Some of the merchandise is more for cat lovers than for the cats themselves like: clothing, jewelry, artwork, books. Neat stuff for both you and your cats!
Many cat shows also provide booth space for breed specific and local feline rescue groups. These groups certainly deserve your support. If you're spending big bucks on cat toys or cat-themed goods for yourself, be a sport and drop a couple of dollars in the donation jar to help out those animals who aren't as lucky as yours or the beautiful show cats you've been enjoying.

Once you’ve attended a cat show (or two or three), you may decide you’re “hooked” and want to start planning on crossing the line from “spectator” to “exhibitor”. New exhibitors are always encouraged to start off by showing a spayed/neutered cat of their breed of choice in the “Premiership” class. Premiership class gives you a great way to enjoy showing (no stresses that come with intact cats), learn about the breed & standard, as well as get to meet many other exhibitors and breeders. If you decide showing may be for you, there are several great sites to learn more about starting out.

Now that you’ve gotten some helpful information, we hope you will ENJOY THE SHOW!