What to look for in a potential HHP

[kaitlin snider]

Hi all!

I'm getting ready to look for my first cat (as an adult - my family had lots of cats when I was a kid).  I've done a bit of conformation showing with my dog and spectated (but not shown) at a couple of cat shows, and I'd really like to try some TICA shows.  I'm thinking of spending some time at the local cat rescues and shelters, and looking for a cat that might do well in the HHP class.  I live in a major city, so there are LOTS of rescue cats from which to choose! I know that, in general, I should look for a beautiful cat that is outgoing, friendly, and playful; that I should avoid shy cats or ones that tend to bite or are hard to handle.  However, is there anything anyone would add to that?  I know that the judging of HHP is very subjective and will definitely vary from judge to judge; that said, are there types or colors that tend to do better (or worse) in the HHP class?  Finer oriental type vs. a stockier "American" type vs. the more moderate "moggie" type?  I'm a sucker for classic tabby markings, so I may look for a classic tabby bicolor or mitted.  I know I want shorthair (my dog is an English Cocker, with long hair and a breed-specific trim - I don't want to deal with intensive grooming for two animals if I can help it!)  Other than petting the cat, picking it up, and bringing a few toys for it to play with, are there any sorts of "temperament tests" that one might do if you were looking for a potential HHP cat?

The alternative is to get a show neuter from a good breeder.  Right now I'm leaning towards finding a good HHP-potential cat from a rescue; it's much more affordable, it will allow me to give a home to a cat that really needs it, and I don't run the risk of letting a breeder down if I do a couple of shows and decide it's not something I want to continue.  However, it does mean that I'm getting more of an unknown in terms of temperament (my family fostered rescue dogs before, so I know that a five-minute meeting with an animal can be a bit deceptive; temperaments may shift when the animal settles in to a new living area).  I also won't be getting the built-in mentor relationship that would come from getting a show neuter from a good breeder.  Does anyone think I should change my mind and go for a show neuter instead?

Thanks very much!!

Kaitlin Snider

 

[red top rescue]

I have done both!  I started with a show neuter (way too many years ago to count) and was very happy with him and enjoyed showing.  I only showed CFA because that's the only shows that were available to me at the time.  Much later in life when I was involved in rescue, I often showed the rescued cats who were flashy and had the right temperament and it often found them new adoptive homes.  My absolutely best household pet show kitten was a pudgy grey tabby and white kitten found on the street by a friend, he loved everyone, loved being shown, was totally bombproof and gorgeous as well.  Visit everyone who has ads for "free kittens" that have been raised with kids and dogs and you will probably find the perfect temperament.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but flashy gets the attention of most judges, as does unusual.  Whichever way you go, good luck, and always remember, winning is not important, you are really showing for the fun of it!

 

[GoldyCat]

Like Red Top Rescue I've only shown in CFA, but have friends that show in TICA. HHP showing in TICA sounds more complicated that CFA because they have different classes for kittens, cats, longhair, shorthair, etc. I'm not sure if they have separate color classes. The process for showing a registered cat is going to be about the same.

As to whether a purebred cat or HHP would be a better show cat, it really comes down to the individual cat. If you're looking at rescue cats I would look for a cat who is not only friendly with humans but who does well in a noisy environment with a lot of other cats.

My Premier (CFA's term for neuter) started out loving the shows. Then one show another cat hissed at him and he hissed back and it was all downhill from there. He still loves being in the show hall and all the attention in the benching area, but he starts growling as soon as I carry him to a judging ring, growls at the judges, and doesn't stop until I take him back to his own cage.

I've shown several HHPs, but currently have only one who behaves herself well enough to show. She's 8 years old and has been a Regional Winner the last three years, but that doesn't mean every judge loves her. There are 5 judges who have never, or very rarely, used her in their finals. (I'm skipping the show where all five of them are judging the same 6-ring show :tongue2. Other judges will use her and put her in the top 3 of their finals almost every time. There isn't any one "type" of cat that every judge likes, so I would say go with the cat that you like best.

The main thing to remember is that all cats must be clean and well groomed whether they're longhair or shorthair. Believe me, judges can tell immediately if a cat hasn't been bathed and groomed.

It might help you to go to some shows and watch the judging for both breed and HHPs before you decide which way you want to go.

 

[red top rescue]

One thing I will mention here is that showing in CFA, the Household Pets get awards of top 5 or top 10 with rosettes, but they don't accumulate championships like the purebred neuters do.  For that reason, I think it is a lot more fun to show HHP in CFA because there isn't that cut-throat competition that inevitably shows up in the world of showing ANYTHING (model horses, for instance!  Brutal!)  I'm not sure how it goes today, but in the old days of HHP showing in CFA, every single cat brought home at least one flat ribbon.  I think they gave every cat a blue and a best of color, even if there were two the same color.  The HHP classes were considered fun, and they were fun for the judges too, because they had no standard to follow and they could just pick the ones they liked.  In TICA, that was not necessarily the case.

When I last showed TICA with HHP cats, they accumulated points just like the purebreds did, and you could progress in steps (accumulated points) from Master (the equivalent of Champion)  to Supreme Grand Maste.  I had a couple of cats do that), and the points were tallied in various show regions and you could also have a Regional Award if you were among the highest scoring cats in  your region.  This changed the whole nature of the HHP showing, and in my opinion in took a lot of the fun out of showing HHP ct.  I felt bad for the owners that were showing for fun, for one time, and they would come home with no ribbons at all (if you didn't make top 10 and get a rosette, you got no other ribbons).  In short, it became just like showing purebreds and brought out a competitive side in people that I didn't like. 

The other major difference is that in TICA you actually register your household pet cats if you want to get titles.  Purebred cats that dont fit the show standard for their breed, like long tailed Manx cts and straight eared Scottish Fold cats can be shown, so there were some extremely gorgeous cats to compete with rather than the usual assortment of interesting moggies.  The judges could not resist the perfect huge jewel like eyes and the clear color and super coats of some of the long nosed (i.e. NORMAL nosed) Persians and it got harder and harder for the rescue cats I generally showed to be noticed.  My little PIGLET cleaned up even against the purebreds, but he was just a special dude, and I still felt bad for the non-show people who won nothing with their sweet tabbies and blacks.

So for YOUR decision between a purebred neuter and a HHP to show, you need to look at your own personality.  Do you just want to show once in awhile for fun, to hand out with other people showing the same type of cat, and to celebrate their wins along with your own?  Choose HHP in CFA shows.  (Unfortunately, a lot of CFA shows no longer included HHP classes back then, I think due to the extra expense involved.  I am not sure how they are now.  Do you want to show regularly, travel to shows, start following judges who like your cat, start accumulating points for those titles?  Then you need to get a cat who is likely to win, and you may well find those at shows!  You can meet some breeders, they may have some fine cats who are retiring from breeding but still very young and would do great in the neutered purebred classes.  By all means go to some shows and watch the classes, watch the judging, explore the whole world of showing cats before you choose your show cat because otherwise you will be disappointed if you don't make finals (top 10 or top 5) on a regular basis.

Let us know what you decide and send us photos of your show cat when you get him or her.

 

[GoldyCat]

One thing I will mention here is that showing in CFA, the Household Pets get awards of top 5 or top 10 with rosettes, but they don't accumulate championships like the purebred neuters do.  For that reason, I think it is a lot more fun to show HHP in CFA because there isn't that cut-throat competition that inevitably shows up in the world of showing ANYTHING (model horses, for instance!  Brutal!) 

Actually starting this show year--May 1, 2015 through April 30, 2016--HHPs in CFA are being scored by CFA and can win titles of GH (Grand HHP) and HRW (HHP Regional Winner). It's still not nearly as complicated as TICA.

 

[red top rescue]

My instant response is, "There goes the neighborhood!"   On the other hand, that will probably mean CFA will have more shows that include the household pets.  I hope they make sure everyone still gets at least a flat ribbon, even it it is yellow or green. 

 

[GoldyCat]

My instant response is, "There goes the neighborhood!"   On the other hand, that will probably mean CFA will have more shows that include the household pets.  I hope they make sure everyone still gets at least a flat ribbon, even it it is yellow or green. 

Each cat/kitten gets a red & white merit ribbon. Most people don't take those ribbons after the first time. I have a couple that I took for cats that I knew I wouldn't be showing again.

 

[kaitlin snider]

Unfortunately, when we went to the landlord yesterday for official approval we were told no cats.    I'd thought for sure we would get a yes - I was wrong.  Thanks again for all of the advice, and I'll keep it in mind when I eventually do get a cat!

 

[red top rescue]

It sounds like you need to move first!  In the meantime, google TICA and CFA and fin out when and where their shows are and go to some.  You will have a great time and learn a lot.