Question about HHPs

Do judges primarily award cats with unique coloring, or do they ever go for a more "typical" color if the cat has other good qualities?

Bunny is entirely black, so no unusual coloring. However, I think she has good "type", whatever that means for an HHP. Everyone who sees her says she's gorgeous. Our vet called her a "beautiful specimen" as soon as I pulled her out and just watched her for a while.

Is there any chance she could win in HHP, even though she's very plain colored?

GO FOR IT! Absolutely. Unusual markings do stick in the memory, but so does a downright beautiful cat of any colour, and if you have had favourable comments about your cat from your vet and from others, then it's worth a go, as long as you think she won't be stressed out by the experience.

As far as judging HHP goes, I think personal taste of the judges comes into it more than it would with purebreds, simply because the cats aren't being measured by a set standard of points, so in that sense it's more arbitrary and a judge that likes tabbies may pick a tabby over a black cat - but then a judge that fondly remembers a black cat they had as a pet as a child may well prefer yours!

Seriously, if others have commented that she's a wonderful looking cat then you don't have a lesser chance than anyone else due to her colour. If I were judging I think if there were a beautiful black cat with a lovely glossy coat I would be more likely to notice that one as I have a most definite soft spot for blacks/blues/black and white - basically monochrome cats are my favourites

Oh yes, the more important thing is good grooming and in proportion in body size. Many solid, plain cats get awards. It may help if the plainer ones are more show off with playing on the table; yet some judges like that "I'm above all that" attitude. You never know what will be picked

Mitten was a plain blue tabby/white - not flashy at all. I remember his first big win - against 55 other HHP's! Back then they judged all the males and then all the females and picked out the top 5 males/5 females and awarded these 10 cats with an extra "final". The judge took Mitten out of the cage, stood him on the table, petted him and put him back. I was kinda disappointed cause she never really looked at him at all (IMO); while she played with others.

Come final time, he took BEST male and then BEST overall HHP! The judge loved his "don't care" attitude and the fact he was her fav color (she was a RB breeder) and Mitten apparently reminded her of one of her childhood cats!

So she didn't need to make him perform at all

As an ex HHP judge I like the red tabbys and calicos best, but if your cat was nice and shiny and well behaved, I'm sure he'd be in my final too.

Thanks! She's a ham, so I'm sure she'd do something adorable, like nose-nuzzle the judge as soon as she got picked up. I wish I could get pictures of her, but taking pictures of a black cat is hard. If I use the flash, she closes her eyes. Her eyes are perfectly round and very expressive. If I don't use the flash, she's just a black spot with two golden dots.

One other question: she has thin fur in front of her ears, on the backs of her ears, and below her chin. Would she get docked for this? I've noticed other cats that have that, so I'm pretty sure it's not diet. It just really shows on her because she has black fur and white skin. Is this genetic? Do purebreds have this too?

The only cat I know that doesn't have it is Puppy. However, he's a fluffball, and his fur is the same color as his skin.

Some colors show the "thinning" fur more then others - its natural in those areas. Take a look at sable burmese and you will see what I mean

Try her in a show and see what happens. As long as she's spayed and not declawed, you can show her.

Originally Posted by bab-ush-niik

Thanks! She's a ham, so I'm sure she'd do something adorable, like nose-nuzzle the judge as soon as she got picked up.

I wish I could get pictures of her, but taking pictures of a black cat is hard. If I use the flash, she closes her eyes. Her eyes are perfectly round and very expressive. If I don't use the flash, she's just a black spot with two golden dots.

One other question: she has thin fur in front of her ears, on the backs of her ears, and below her chin. Would she get docked for this? I've noticed other cats that have that, so I'm pretty sure it's not diet. It just really shows on her because she has black fur and white skin. Is this genetic? Do purebreds have this too?

The only cat I know that doesn't have it is Puppy. However, he's a fluffball, and his fur is the same color as his skin.

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I have similar problems photographing Sonic even tho he's a blue because his coat colour doesn't stand out well against my dark carpets and furnishings! The bits that do show up well are where his coat has reflected flash, honestly you do everything you can to make sure your cat's coat shines like satin and it makes it impossible to take decent photos of him

As far as the sparse fur goes, yes it is normal to have thinner fur in those places, Sonic's skin really shows through between his ears and eyes.

IMO blue cats photograph best on green or purple backgrounds Its a very hard color to work with on pictures. I've seen some nice blue tabbys that changed color on the wrong background.

Maybe I should take Riley to the show!

What color is best to photograph black cats?

Black looks good on almost every color. For color pictures I like medium to light red. Blues would look good, or gold to match eye color. White or cream would be good.

The only thing about the black cat/red background is that if its done in black & white photo - it will not come out as the "red" will be black. But you don't find too many black/white photos.

However in a cat yearbook (association) if the cat was photographed on red and you send in the picture and its printed in black/white - that's where you have the problem.

This is the photographer that took Charlie's prof pictures - take a look at the cats and background. When you go to the gallery, Charlie is on the first page

http://www.prestonsmithphoto.com/



If you enter Riley, check with the entry clerk or show manager if a photographer will be present - not all shows have them.

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

Black looks good on almost every color. For color pictures I like medium to light red. Blues would look good, or gold to match eye color. White or cream would be good.

The only thing about the black cat/red background is that if its done in black & white photo - it will not come out as the "red" will be black. But you don't find too many black/white photos.

However in a cat yearbook (association) if the cat was photographed on red and you send in the picture and its printed in black/white - that's where you have the problem.

This is the photographer that took Charlie's prof pictures - take a look at the cats and background. When you go to the gallery, Charlie is on the first page

http://www.prestonsmithphoto.com/



If you enter Riley, check with the entry clerk or show manager if a photographer will be present - not all shows have them.

Click to expand...

Charlie is very photogenic isn't he!

I think Sonic would look great against a green background to really bring out his eye colour but I don't have anything green in my flat at all! I have to buy new curtains for the bedroom tomorrow (due to Sonic and his slight separation anxiety problem, but my fault for having full length curtains that are long enough for him to squat over the hem ) so while I'm in the shop I might try to see if there's anything green in the sale bin to use as a backdrop!

The main problem I find with getting a good photo of him though is how shiny he is - it's great when you see his lovely coat in person, but in photos the shine 'overexposes' his coat and makes it look silvered - which makes for a nice almost metallic-looking cat photo, but doesn't show his true dark steel-blue coat colour at its best!

This photo is typical of the problems we have taking ones of Sonic. Would have been a lovely pic, but taken in the evening so with flash with him looking away - and the reflection from his fur has overexposed the whole photo!

Ok try these:

Get a green towel (medium to dark) to put him on.

Turn off the flash and just put all the lights on in the room.

Or tape a small piece of tissue (kleenex) over the flash to help mute it.

yeah, i have to refrain from using a flash with stoli. but if you look in the fur pictures thread i think photographed fairly well on blue...but definitely not as well as other colors.