How much fun is a cat show? (Silly post, I know.)

leslie301

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OK, so I've been posting a gazillion questions about possibly showing my Bengal, Rowdy. I know that this seems like a silly post, and you are all probably wondering when I'll shut up about the cat shows already, but it is a legitimate question.


I started to "get serious" about the cat shows and found the one in our area which would be the only one we could attend this year, more than likely. It was a little bit more expensive than I thought.... just as a total cost. We're newlyweds so a $300 weekend is a big deal to us!

My husband loves our kitties, but I wouldn't call him a cat-a-holic by any stretch of the imagination. He's worried that we'll spend this money on a "vacation" and that he'll be bored out of his mind the whole time.

I know that some people are REALLY into showing, but I was wondering about the folks who aren't. Have any of you tried it and decided that it wasn't for you? Or is it one of those things where once you go then you see how much you love it? Do you find that you get bored during the day or do they keep you pretty occupied?

I'm definitely interested in showing my Bengal, I'm just worried about making a long trip and spending a lot of money only to end up with an angry husband and a disgruntled kitty!


Please take a peek at my poll...
 

kitytize

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It really depends on the show. If there is a lot of vendors or your cat is winning a lot it is quite fun. The more people you get to know the funner it becomes. I really like one days better. I usually only go once a month as that is all I can afford. I have been to shows where we did not win anything and there were no vendors to shop around in and it was boring. You can bring books to read, cards to play, or hand held games. My husband actually likes showing better than I do, he really likes the competition. I go more for learning about my breed and meeting other breeders than winning. And it can be addicting if I had the money I would show a lot more.
 

snosrap5

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I've attended 2 shows and loved both!! If I could have I would have stayed from sunup to sundown.

BUT my husband is a one look kind of guy! He loves our cats and enjoyed looking at the different breeds but once he had his look he was done. The pace just wasn't fast enough for him.
I thought the pace was pretty fast myself!

I enjoyed watching the bengals being judged but nothing else really held his attention.
 

goldenkitty45

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Actually if you only have one cat to show, it can become boring sitting around waiting to go to another ring (if you only have 3 rings in a day).

Now its a great place to make friends, learn about different cats, watch the judging, and hopefully your cat wins something
But you should have a book or something to bring in case you have free time.

First show my DH went to (Ling's show) he was bored out of his mind and admitted it..........but he wound up falling in love with the Ocicat breed...and so is history. He still will take a book/magazine or paperwork to do. But he usually splits with either taking Charlie to the ring or bringing him back. I don't think he'd like to go more then what we do now - every few months or once a month at the most.

He is considering setting up a vending spot for what he does work-wise and see if he can get any interest in the product; so that will keep him a lot more busy showing people.
 

persi & alley

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Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

Actually if you only have one cat to show, it can become boring sitting around waiting to go to another ring (if you only have 3 rings in a day).

Now its a great place to make friends, learn about different cats, watch the judging, and hopefully your cat wins something
But you should have a book or something to bring in case you have free time.

First show my DH went to (Ling's show) he was bored out of his mind and admitted it..........but he wound up falling in love with the Ocicat breed...and so is history. He still will take a book/magazine or paperwork to do. But he usually splits with either taking Charlie to the ring or bringing him back. I don't think he'd like to go more then what we do now - every few months or once a month at the most.

He is considering setting up a vending spot for what he does work-wise and see if he can get any interest in the product; so that will keep him a lot more busy showing people.
Am I correct in assuming that a "real" cat show is nothing like the CatMinster show that I see on TV? This is the only exposure I have had with a cat show. I would still like to go to one even though I have no plans at all on showing Persi. Don't fixed cats have to compete in a different category? See, there you go, that shows how much I know about shows!
 
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leslie301

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Thanks for the input, guys... That's kind of what I was thinking. I know it was a "silly" post, but I wanted to hear the good, bad, ugly, and indifferent. I think we've decided to go ahead and give the show a try. My husband has promised to be "agreeable" and he'll just go find something to do if he gets too bored.
I think it will be a fun adventure, I've really appreciated all the support that I've gotten from you guys... all the tips, tricks, suggestions, advice, etc.

Am I crazy for not having heard of the CatMinster show on TV? Maybe I don't watch enough tv....... But considering that I've never seen the show and I've never been to a "real" show, I'd be in for a surprise regardless.


I think I'll enjoy seeing the different breeds and all the beautiful kitties. My husband is insanely competitive so I'd think that he'd end up enjoying it. He just can't get over the "crazy cat lady" idea.


Pardon me for being so full of insecure questions- I'm just new to all this and I enjoy hearing about it from so many experienced people. Actually, when I think about it, it is pretty silly, isn't? If I like seeing kitty pictures and talking to kitty people online... wouldn't it be even more fun in person? I suppose it's a no-brainer (although chatting on TCS is free and I can do it in my spare time without disturbing DH)


lol... thanks to all of you.
 

epona

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I've enjoyed the ones I've been to as a spectator, but then I haven't had to stay there all day from well before the public arrive to the close of the show. I think I'd definitely want to take a book or some puzzles with me if I had to be there that long, even at a big show there are only so many vendor's stalls and cats to look at! And of course Nate behaves like a fractious toddler after about an hour (typically, he's the one who raises the idea of actually entering cats for a show
)

But I say go for it - it's not as if you have to spend every weekend doing it if you decide it's not for you, and it will be an experience!

I may be convinced to try it myself one day
 

goldenkitty45

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Persi,

The shows consists of 4 catagories (these are US ones - the foreign ones have different ages in competition).

Kitten Class - for pedigree kittens ages 4-8 months.

Championship Class - for pedigree cats (not spayed/neutered) 8 months or over.

Alter or Premier Class - for pedigree cats that are spayed/neutered and over 8 months old.

Household Pet Class - for mixed or pedigree that can't be shown in Champion/Alter classes (those without papers). The requirements are the cat has to be spayed/neutered if over 8 months old and cannot be declawed. In ACFA and TICA HHP's can be declawed but its not encouraged. CFA will not let ANY cat be declawed in any class.

I've never seen CatMister so I don't know if its the same or not.
 

starryeyedtiger

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I've been to a CFA show before (our rescue had a booth at the time) and we all had a blast!!!
 

abymummy

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Catminster or rather the CFA Internationals is a completely different "type" of cat show as opposed to regular CFA shows.

A normal CFA cat show would have maximum 450 cats split into the 4 classes - Kitten, Adult, Premier and HHP - here, cats are awarded points towards Championship, Grand Championship, Premiership, Grand Premiership and quite importantly points towards Regional/Division/National Wins.

The International on the other hand, while following the 3 Pedigree Classes, does not allocate points towards National/Regional/Division Wins. Further, the show has more than 600 entries and to be a best of breed is a major accomplishment. The ultimate goal in the Internationals is to be "Best in show" which is a completely different judging system over the norm.
 

abymummy

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Originally Posted by Leslie301

I think I'll enjoy seeing the different breeds and all the beautiful kitties. My husband is insanely competitive so I'd think that he'd end up enjoying it. He just can't get over the "crazy cat lady" idea.


Pardon me for being so full of insecure questions- I'm just new to all this and I enjoy hearing about it from so many experienced people. Actually, when I think about it, it is pretty silly, isn't? If I like seeing kitty pictures and talking to kitty people online... wouldn't it be even more fun in person? I suppose it's a no-brainer (although chatting on TCS is free and I can do it in my spare time without disturbing DH)


lol... thanks to all of you.
***WARNING!!! CAT SHOWS ARE EXTREMELY ADDICTIVE!****

Let me put my 2 cents in... and tell you of my experiences


My very first cat show as an exhibitor was a right royal disaster!!!!


It was an away show (5 rings) and being a serious noob the following happened:

1. I forgot to bring the litter boxes and litter for the hotel room
2. I forgot to bring the cats' vaccination cards, thankfully, the vetting in vet is MY vet!
3. Reecie didn't final at all and I almost missed the one and only final that Stevie had finalled in! Thank goodness for friends who ran out of the show hall looking for me!


I didn't regret at all not finalling all rings. The difference in being a spectator in a show vs. being an exhibitor is huge!

Then I got pushed into show management - wooo what stress that is...I do not recommend show management to anyone faint hearted.

After about 8 shows as an exhibitor (already addicted by the 2nd one) the ultimate "reward" happened to me - I got my very first Best Kitten. Let me remind you that Asia (excl. Japan) is still very young in terms of cat shows. We, as a Division haven't hit 100 rings yet. So, to have my very own breeding awarded such a distinction over some very awesome cats was very much a big deal to me. And then Bulan went to HK over April - and because of those shows became 17th Best Kitten in Asia!


On average, I show 3-4 cats at any one time (except for the HK shows).

IMO? Cat shows as an exhibitor can be boring because of the waiting BUT at the same time exciting, invigorating, stressful. You will make some of the best friends you never thought you'd have and you make "enemies" - ie. people you just know you have to beat. As a exhibitor your competitive juices start flowing! As a breeder, my competitive nature goes into OVERDRIVE!!!
I have friends bemoaning the fact that their one and only show cat has granded and they have nothing to show...
 

urbantigers

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My experience of visiting cat shows purely to watch (I'm not an exhibitor) is that they're great fun, but it does depend on the show as they vary a lot in size.

For a few years the only cat show I'd been to over here is the supreme cat show. This is a huge show and there is so much to see and do it's a bit overwhelming. what with looking at the cats, watching some judging and going around the trade stands - it's hard to get everything done. You could spend all day just shopping.

Other GCCF shows over here are different and vary in size. They are only open to the public in the afternoon, and exhibitors have to leave the hall for a couple of hours in the morning while their cats are judged. There's not as much to see as the judging - apart from best in show - is done by judges going around the pens. But the larger ones do have some good trade stands where you can buy food, toys and litter cheaply. It's an enjoyable couple of hours but you couldn't spend a day there.
 
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leslie301

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Haha... Sounds like you had some funny stories Abymummy! Although I would imagine that they weren't quite so funny at the time.


I think it is going to be quite a fun little adventure. If it's too stressful- no big deal- we just won't make a habit of it. From the sound of it I think it will be something I'll enjoy, though. My bank account won't let me get too addicted, but I think that I'd be able to go to one or two per year if I decide that it's something I'll get into!

I know that Nial is going to the Raleigh show in July. Is anyone else??
 

goldenkitty45

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Not sure if its you or someone else, but I know another member is showing her Bengal kitten (1st time) and Nial will be helping them out
 
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leslie301

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It's me... I'm so needy, aren't I?!!! haha

I was 100% sure that I was going at first. But then my husband got out his calculator and started adding up the costs and he gave me the skunk eye.
At that point I decided to re-evaluate and make sure that it was a good idea and something that wouldn't get me in trouble with DH. I talked to him about it last night and he said that he would oblige me at least once (and then we'd go from there).
 

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I'll be at the Raleigh show, too. I'm so excited. I'll be bringing a new HHP to this show. I have high hopes for her.
 

goldenkitty45

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Caution Star!


I hope she does well, but I will tell you that its better to go to a show with a new cat and NOT expect anything out of him/her other then to see how they behave in the ring and do they like it or not.

If you go, expecting wins and don't get any, you will be disappointed.

Which kitty are you showing? Pictures?
 

persi & alley

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Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

Persi,

The shows consists of 4 catagories (these are US ones - the foreign ones have different ages in competition).

Kitten Class - for pedigree kittens ages 4-8 months.

Championship Class - for pedigree cats (not spayed/neutered) 8 months or over.

Alter or Premier Class - for pedigree cats that are spayed/neutered and over 8 months old.

Household Pet Class - for mixed or pedigree that can't be shown in Champion/Alter classes (those without papers). The requirements are the cat has to be spayed/neutered if over 8 months old and cannot be declawed. In ACFA and TICA HHP's can be declawed but its not encouraged. CFA will not let ANY cat be declawed in any class.

I've never seen CatMister so I don't know if its the same or not.
Thank you for your (as usual) informative answer.
 
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leslie301

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Starfish-

It will be great to see you at the show!
I hope that your kitty does well, but I agree with the advice that we shouldn't expect to win any ribbons the first time around. My main "goal" will be to have my kitty happy, healthy, and enjoying the show. If we can accomplish that for a first attempt, I will give myself a ribbon! haha
Now if the judges would like to surprise me with a little something extra, then that will be icing on the cake.

Actually, I don't know what will make me happier... if Rowdy behaves or if my husband behaves!!!
Hopefully both boys will make me happy.

Have any of you guys done the cat agility thing before? If so, what was that experience like? Do we put the kitties on leashes or do they wander free??
 
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