TICA show in Texas

duchess15 · Feb 2, 2008

There is a TICA show coming up next weekend in Waco, TX. I plan on going to talk to potential bengal breeders again, but this time I will be taking notes and pictures if possible.

Are there any specific questions I should ask the breeder? What should I look for in the breeder to know they are a good breeder? Years experience? Thanks for any advice.

goldenkitty45 · Feb 2, 2008

Are you looking for pet or show?

General questions:

When to you let the kittens go? (age)
How do you socialize the kittens?
What is included in the price of the kitten (spay/neuter, shots, health guarentee)
Do you have references?
How long breeding/showing?
How many litters a year?

If you are looking for show you would want to know how many champions/grand champions (better) are in the first 3-4 generations.

What colors/type do you want - marble, spotted, etc.

duchess15 · Feb 2, 2008

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

Are you looking for pet or show?

General questions:

When to you let the kittens go? (age)
How do you socialize the kittens?
What is included in the price of the kitten (spay/neuter, shots, health guarentee)
Do you have references?
How long breeding/showing?
How many litters a year?

If you are looking for show you would want to know how many champions/grand champions (better) are in the first 3-4 generations.

What colors/type do you want - marble, spotted, etc.

I may want to show, but I have decided as of yet. That is also what I want to find out more information about. What is an average number of shows you attend? I know the more you attend the more points you can score. What are the costs for showing?

I'm looking for a brown spotted first. I will want to add a marble later on. Thanks for the questions. I will write them down.

goldenkitty45 · Feb 2, 2008

Ok if you "think" you want to show, I'd look into a show quality kitten rather then just a pet. That way if you do want to show, you will have a quality kitten. If you just buy pet, then you won't be able to show it.

Most of my rex kittens were very much show potential (only had 2 pet quality kittens in 6 litters) - but most were not shown cause the owners didn't want to show. However, they had a quality kitten if they changed their minds.

Breeders are always looking for potential show people cause they cannot keep all their quality cats

Tell the breeders you are looking to show in the alter class. I recommend picking a male for showing as they seem to take to the shows better - he'll be neutered, so it won't matter. But in my experience in showing over 30 yeas, the males like showing a lot more then females.

I'd also pick up a catalog at the show (they should have a few that you can buy) - this has the cattery info on the Bengals. I'm sure Nial would be glad to help you out in picking out a nice cattery to work with. He's more familiar with the breeders/catteries then I am. And be sure to take some cattery business cards if you can - they have the breeders info on them to contact later.

You want to get on their waiting list. The more info you can give them as to what you are looking for (instead of saying - "well anything you have will be fine") - the better chances you have in working with the breeder.

You can give them a few choices, but try not to be too general.

The next Ocicat I will get will be male, and one of three colors - chocolate-silver, cinnamon-silver, or cinnamon. And it will be a show alter too. I don't want any females, any other colors. I will contact breeders who are specializing in those colors with their cats.

Good luck and have fun.

Costs for showing depend on the association, distance to travel, hotel, entry fees. I show in CFA and ACFA - both average about $45-50 per cat to enter. But that includes 6-10 rings. The more rings in a show the higher the entry fee, but its not that much - maybe 2-3 dollars.

This season (May 2007 - April 2008) we will be in 10 shows (CFA/ACFA) - I have 3 more to go to before end of the season. You can show locally or if you cat does well, its worth doing a little traveling for those points and Grand Championship. Start out local and go from there.

goldenkitty45 · Feb 2, 2008

One more thing - Bengals can only be shown in ACFA or TICA shows - they cannot be registered or shown in CFA shows as they will not accept any cat that has been bred to the wild cats (bobcats, ALC, Savannah, Servels, etc.)

duchess15 · Feb 2, 2008

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

Ok if you "think" you want to show, I'd look into a show quality kitten rather then just a pet. That way if you do want to show, you will have a quality kitten. If you just buy pet, then you won't be able to show it.

Most of my rex kittens were very much show potential (only had 2 pet quality kittens in 6 litters) - but most were not shown cause the owners didn't want to show. However, they had a quality kitten if they changed their minds.

Breeders are always looking for potential show people cause they cannot keep all their quality cats

Tell the breeders you are looking to show in the alter class. I recommend picking a male for showing as they seem to take to the shows better - he'll be neutered, so it won't matter. But in my experience in showing over 30 yeas, the males like showing a lot more then females.

I'd also pick up a catalog at the show (they should have a few that you can buy) - this has the cattery info on the Bengals. I'm sure Nial would be glad to help you out in picking out a nice cattery to work with. He's more familiar with the breeders/catteries then I am. And be sure to take some cattery business cards if you can - they have the breeders info on them to contact later.

You want to get on their waiting list. The more info you can give them as to what you are looking for (instead of saying - "well anything you have will be fine") - the better chances you have in working with the breeder.

You can give them a few choices, but try not to be too general.

The next Ocicat I will get will be male, and one of three colors - chocolate-silver, cinnamon-silver, or cinnamon. And it will be a show alter too. I don't want any females, any other colors. I will contact breeders who are specializing in those colors with their cats.

Good luck and have fun.

Costs for showing depend on the association, distance to travel, hotel, entry fees. I show in CFA and ACFA - both average about $45-50 per cat to enter. But that includes 6-10 rings. The more rings in a show the higher the entry fee, but its not that much - maybe 2-3 dollars.

This season (May 2007 - April 2008) we will be in 10 shows (CFA/ACFA) - I have 3 more to go to before end of the season. You can show locally or if you cat does well, its worth doing a little traveling for those points and Grand Championship. Start out local and go from there.

Thanks for the info!

I did not know about the catalog, but will be sure to look for it this coming weekend. I picked up some business cards the last time I was there and checked off the breeders I liked just by how they treated their cats and if I liked them as a potential breeder.

I was leaning towards getting a female bengal first because lexi has been having a hard time adjusting with our current cats. She's very laid back and the lastest to join our household so I think that is what the problem was. Once I move I will just be taking her so she will be the dominant one. However, one of the breeders I liked has a huge male bengal, but he was quiet, friendly, and very laid back.

I know that showing is something I would enjoy doing, but I want to be sure I an financially able to do so. Is there a place where I can get costs on cages, cat tents, all supplies necessary for cat showing?

I know I want a brown spotted and marble, and maybe show both. I haven't decided if I will start with one and then add another at a later time. I think it is probably best to start off slow and see how things go. I just am not sure on the gender. I have heard mixed opinions on both genders and how to be able to have a decision after this show.

So the price per cat $45-50 includes 6-10 rings for the whole show? Do you get to pick what rings they are entered into? Are there any other fees I should be aware of?

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

One more thing - Bengals can only be shown in ACFA or TICA shows - they cannot be registered or shown in CFA shows as they will not accept any cat that has been bred to the wild cats (bobcats, ALC, Savannah, Servels, etc.)

I have read where showing an alter is the best way to learn about a breed inside and out. That would be where I would start. I know that bengals can not be shown in CFA shows and that is fine with me.

Thanks for all your help so far. You have been so helpful and I have also been talking to Nial. I think the more advice I have to go on will only give me a better chance of finding an honest and caring breeder.

goldenkitty45 · Feb 2, 2008

The cost covers all the rings. In ACFA and TICA shows you can show one day only or both days. The cost is a little less for a one day show. And you would put the cat in all the rings for that day you are showing - you don't just pick out one or two.

You might want to start with a one day show to see how you and the kitten survive

ACFA has a max of 5 rings per day. TICA sometimes has 6 in one day which I feel is a bit much to handle for any cat - especially a kitten. I took Spooky (my rex) to a TICA show only cause it was local and I was going for more points in the Rex Society for unofficial scoring awards. Spooky was never registered in TICA. It was 6 rings per day (12 total). Spooky had never gone more then 5 rings a day and he was a "seasoned" show cat - been showing since 4 months old and was an adult at the time. Well he was so worn out doing 6 rings in a day that I never put him in another TICA show!

The clubs provide cages - you bring the towels/curtains to cover 3 sides of the cage plus the top and bottom. Show flyer will give dimentions of the cages. Unless you will be showing a lot then I would not invest in one of the portable show cages.

I just recently got one - they are expensive tho. Some shows were selling them for about $150. Look online - search "cat show cages". I got mine online on sale for $89 plus shipping - total of about $110. If you plan on showing more then a few times a year, then invest in your own cage.

For Bengals, I would pay for an extra 1/2 cage so you have a full size cage to accomodate the cat and litter pan with some room for playing and stretching.

duchess15 · Feb 3, 2008

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

The cost covers all the rings. In ACFA and TICA shows you can show one day only or both days. The cost is a little less for a one day show. And you would put the cat in all the rings for that day you are showing - you don't just pick out one or two.

You might want to start with a one day show to see how you and the kitten survive

ACFA has a max of 5 rings per day. TICA sometimes has 6 in one day which I feel is a bit much to handle for any cat - especially a kitten. I took Spooky (my rex) to a TICA show only cause it was local and I was going for more points in the Rex Society for unofficial scoring awards. Spooky was never registered in TICA. It was 6 rings per day (12 total). Spooky had never gone more then 5 rings a day and he was a "seasoned" show cat - been showing since 4 months old and was an adult at the time. Well he was so worn out doing 6 rings in a day that I never put him in another TICA show!

The clubs provide cages - you bring the towels/curtains to cover 3 sides of the cage plus the top and bottom. Show flyer will give dimentions of the cages. Unless you will be showing a lot then I would not invest in one of the portable show cages.

I just recently got one - they are expensive tho. Some shows were selling them for about $150. Look online - search "cat show cages". I got mine online on sale for $89 plus shipping - total of about $110. If you plan on showing more then a few times a year, then invest in your own cage.

For Bengals, I would pay for an extra 1/2 cage so you have a full size cage to accomodate the cat and litter pan with some room for playing and stretching.

I hadn't realized that the club provides cages, at what cost? I assume by club you mean whatever organization is sponsoring the cat show?

I hope to be able to learn as much as possible at this show. I was so asorbed with all the cats that I just took it all in. Once I get all my notes together along with pictures, I will PM Nial and see what he thinks.

Is there a major difference between the rings if you show only one day compared to both?

goldenkitty45 · Feb 3, 2008

The cost of using the wire cage in the show is included in your entry fee - no "extra". When you get to the show you will see the difference in the wire cages that are used in the rings and at the benching. Most people now have portable cages they bring with them.

You would have the same number of rings both days - just different judges. Now some may have (say in a 10 ring show) - 4 rings of AB and 1 ring of Speciality. AB (allbreed) is where both long and shorthairs compete for the top 10 cat awards. Specialty is where you only compete against longhairs or shorthairs and the judges award their top 10 in each class. AB is worth more points then SP.

If you choose to go one day - you pick which is better for you. Some have to work on Saturday and may only be able to show on a Sunday. But for a first time, it might be better for you and the cat to get a taste of what goes on rather then to commit to the entire weekend.

TICA show in Texas

duchess15

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