Superstars vs. Wallflowers
So just what makes a cat a ―showcat?
That question can be debated 101 ways til‘ Sunday and there would still be no concrete, by the book, answer. Breeders and exhibitors alike dream of that unique show kitty who will come along and light up the judges‘ table, earning high praise and racking up points & rosettes for their owners.
The perfect specimen would not only meet the written ―standard to a tee, but would come with a winning showman personality that tells the world (and judges) that they are numeuro uno! Ahhhh if only it were that simple…..but we are dealing with cats, and cats are by nature, first and foremost, cats! No matter how much we want them to be a Superstar, we must never forget their feline nature. As exhibitors, it is sometimes hard for us to understand why our beautiful kitty won‘t share the same personality we see at home with the judges and spectators. Instead of playing, rolling around and purring, like they do at home, they hiss, wiggle and cower instead, our poor Wallflowers.
Some of the best breed examples never make it into the show world. Preferring to either be pampered beloved pets or parents to the next generation. They may exemplify the ―standard but the show hall is just too busy, too loud, too smelly and too fussy for them to handle it. The flip side is that some winning cats, who may not meet the standard to perfection, simply have that special ―Je ne sais quoi that sets them apart; an ―it factor if you will.
These cats usually stand out in a show and while you can‘t always put your finger on what makes them so special, there is no denying their show presence. They charm their way into our hearts and we love them for it. Having had both  ―Superstars and ―Wallflowers (and a few in-between), I can tell you that there is no set formula in determining or predicting how each cat will handle showing. Some take right to it, some instantly hate it and others learn to enjoy and/or tolerate it over time. And then there are those that start out loving it, but after awhile they lose their zeal for the spotlight entirely. What‘s up with that? What is the winning formula? Every exhibitor would probably tell you something different. Besides carefully planned litters, many breeders (and exhibitors) start ―show training with their cats at an early age.
Siamese & Oriental exhibitors will start stretching their little ones as part of play sessions, Persians learn to sit still while being brushed and combed, Cornish Rex kittens learn how to show off that proper ―tuck, Ragdolls learn to be, well, ragdolls! Oh, the list could go on for what different people do to ―train their cats for the marathons we call cat shows.
Will any of these things work to guarantee a top show cat? Not likely, but it may help prepare them for their first step into the judging arena. Getting your potential show cat used to different smells and sounds early is also recommended.
By placing our cats into such a non-cat like environment, we are asking a great deal from them. Thus, most exhibitors tend to pamper their show kitties in the most indulgent ways. Baby food, special beds & pillows and fancy toys for the show, are just a few things I‘ve seen. I don‘t know if our cats appreciate all the fuss we put forth to insure their happiness, but as the keepers who love them (and ultimately wanting to show them off) we gladly will do anything to reassure them that showing can be fun!
Showing CAN be fun, for felines and humans alike, but we must always listen to our feline friends for their input too. Bring those Superstars out for our enjoyment and let the shy Wallflowers stay home and soak up some rays.
CFA, The Cat Fanciers Association, has a great new program for new ex-hibitors called ―NewBee (http://www.cfainc.org/mentor/index.html) and you can find some great tips and helpful hints by visiting their website and joining their online community.
If you are a Sphynx enthusiast that would like to enter the world of ―Cat Showing‖ and have ques-tions, you are welcome to email them to me at Sphynx.Newsletter@gmail.com and I‘ll do my best to answer them for you or refer you to someone who can!
Cyndee Gauses is a breeder living in the state of Georgia, USA
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