Show results and a decision

Jack had another Oci premier to compete against (a 8th month old tawny from out of the same catter that Charlie was from). While Jack got one ring of BOB and a final in another ring (10th Best Cat), we have decided that its not worth our time/money to pursue Jack's grand in CFA.

The judges really don't like the other colors of the Ocicat other then the tawnys or chocolates as both of these would have the darkest spotting. I can now understand Jack's breeder's frustration in trying to get the judges to look at good cats in other colors. We agreed both Oci's were nice, but the judges would just remark on how "wonderful and dark" the spotting was on the tawny.

Jack has excellent contrast for a cinnamon - in ACFA its always remarked on how his constrast is from both the international judges and our ACFA judges. So I'll just concentrate on showing him in ACFA and taking him as far as we can till I get another Ociat.

CFA screwed my Cornish Rex (who was one of the best rexes, especially in coat) after he made his Grand Premier - they would totally dump him in the rings after he Granded! Spooky went back to ACFA where he finalled in almost every ring and taking both regional/national awards for breed and over all (best year was 10th Best Alter in the country) and where I felt more appreciated in showing a good cat. I know very well Jack is better then Charlie was but if the CFA judges don't want to judge fairly then I don't need to give them my money.

Sad, but why support something where they don't supprt you.

On top of that, this club I went to may not have a show next year - they lost a lot in vendors this year and cat count was down 30-40 cats from last year's show. If they fold and don't put on another show, that only leaves ONE CFA show (in September in the area). And that show is smaller anyway cause of the show hall.

So that would leave ONE CFA show to go to - certainly not worth us even showing there any more. I figured it out - in one season we can go to 7-9 ACFA shows in a 4 state area!

We'll be getting a chocolate silver Ocicat as our next one. The breeder I'm going to are good friends of ours and we've met in person too - her choco-silvers have a dark chocolate spotting on them which shows up nicely. But I won't bother showing CFA with the cat - only ACFA. She used to show in CFA, but recently transferred all her cats to ACFA and only shows there (again due to the CFA politics).

I like them too, but hubby doesn't want another chocolate. He's ok with chocolate-silver but I asked him if he wanted chocolate after Charlie died, and he says no.

ACFA judges them on the BREED - and they seem to like the variation of colors. I guess the biggest problem about CFA is that for so many years (10-15) the only ones they saw were mainly chocolates. And since the breeders had more chocolates being picked, they really didn't bother much with the other colors. There are a few on the east coast that are doing their best to present more of the colors but its an uphill battle right now - not one I want to join in (as a non-breeder with limited shows).

It was the same for the Turkish Angora breed. For decades the TA's were "white" and no colors were shown. The breeders frowned upon having non-white Turks in the show ring and the judges barely handed out ribbons if they did show up. Its only be the last 10 yrs that you do see color TA's and some of them are granded.