Bengal

bad_kitty2001

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I think I am going to get the mink bengal girl. I think she is adorable and she was the one I was initially drawn to. I have already thought of a show name for her. What do you guys think of "Fractal Feline's Khalua n Cream"? I think it goes well with her color. Here are the pics that Marie had sent to me of the baby girl. Marie hasn't emailed me recently. She is due back from her trip though, so maybe I will hear from her tomorrow. Let me know what you think?
 

missymotus

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She is very cute, I'm not sure about those pointy ears for a show cat though.
 

goldenkitty45

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Love the name - hope she is a nice show cat for you. As an alter, they probably will not hold the pointed ears against her too much.
 

ferriscat

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I'd be a lot more worried about the side bars. . . when judges are trying to decide who is the best amongst a large class, they begin to nit-pick on flaws just so that they can make a choice. I think Nial brought this up earlier. I am concerned that the pattern would count against her. . . I'll be the first to say that I don't know the Bengal Standard very well, but having shown patterned cats, you have to have something really special type-wise in order to overcome problems with the pattern.

But she is cute and you seem to be drawn to her. She looks like she'll be a sweetie for you!
 

ferriscat

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I just looked at the pointy ears. . . are they actually that pointy or do they look that way due to tufts? If she has tufts, you might be able to do some creative grooming in order to round out the shape.
 
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bad_kitty2001

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Marie did say that there are longer hairs on the tips of her ears that could be trimmed and look instantly better.
 

wellingtoncats

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Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

Love the name - hope she is a nice show cat for you. As an alter, they probably will not hold the pointed ears against her too much.
Are you judges kinder to alters in the States? I know we judge them equally here!
 

missymotus

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Originally Posted by WellingtonCats

Are you judges kinder to alters in the States? I know we judge them equally here!
Same here, apart from mentioning that a neuter boy won't have the cheeks of an entire. Apart from that, they are judged the same.
 

ferriscat

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Originally Posted by WellingtonCats

Are you judges kinder to alters in the States? I know we judge them equally here!
I think judges here are more willing to forgive a little bit of weight or mushiness in an alter as opposed to in championship--but not always. The competition is generally tougher in Championship, as the best of the best are kept for breeding. In my area, we tend to see many more cats (often 2x as many) in Championship as opposed to the alter class at any given show. However, I've heard it can be different in other associations.

Many things come into play, like the particular breed, where you are showing, and what flaws a particular judge is willing to forgive in a breed (eg-- bad eyecolor in a breed that doesn't allot points for eyecolor in their standard is easier to forgive than in a breed where the eyecolor is 25% of their standard!)

Some judges obsess over ears, others profile, condition, or pattern. You can't count on judges forgiving flaws when a cat competes as an alter, because if you do you're apt to be disappointed. But there are circumstances where an alter is rewarded when they wouldn't see anything had they competed against the intact cats.

The bottom line is that if you're going to compete to win, bring nothing but your best. Showing cats with obvious faults is time consuming and costly because you can't always count on lucking into a final. I speak from experience here!
 

missymotus

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Originally Posted by FerrisCat

The competition is generally tougher in Championship, as the best of the best are kept for breeding
Not always, often breeders just don't have room to keep another kitten/cat so they are petted out. And most pet owners do not show.
I know many breeders who are heart broken over rehoming excellent quality kittens but they just can't keep them all.

Most judges comment on the wonderful quality of the alter class and will even say "what a shame you're neutered"
 

ferriscat

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Originally Posted by missymotus

Not always, often breeders just don't have room to keep another kitten/cat so they are petted out. And most pet owners do not show.
I know many breeders who are heart broken over rehoming excellent quality kittens but they just can't keep them all.

Most judges comment on the wonderful quality of the alter class and will even say "what a shame you're neutered"
While they can't keep them all, what they do keep... there's the rub! Excellent is not the best
I've competed in all categories, and I've got to say, nothing prepared me for the quality of the competition I faced in Championship.
 

missymotus

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Originally Posted by FerrisCat

Excellent is not the best
No cat is perfect, which is why I chose to say excellent quality. And yes, do know breeders who've petted out 'the best'.
 

goldenkitty45

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Some judges are a bit lienent in the alter classes in minor things. For example, one judge told me that she would penalize Jack a little more as a kitten with his one unbroken necklace then she would as an adult alter. But she's the only one to mention it.

Most times the judges are remarking that the quality in the alter classes are better then some in the championship!
 

kai bengals

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I have found that showing in Alter class is even tougher than Championship!

About the bengal kitten: If you like the kitten, buy her. Her show career will be short compared to how long she will be your pet. If she appeals to you, then that should settle it for you. She's still a baby, her ears may turn out just fine as she grows. Some judges will mark points off for her rib bars, some will mark points off for her ears if they stay that way.
Some judges don't put females up, some don't like the seal mink bengals.

If she handles well and is playful, that will work in her favor as I do think she is a very nice kitten.

Good luck, I know you'll be very happy with her whether she is a show stopper or not!
 
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