SHOWING A CAT

Showing  A Kitten or Cat Brochure

What takes place at a Cat Show?

The show day begins with Vetting In, usually between 7.00am and 8.30am.  All exhibits must pass an inspection by one of three qualified Veterinary Surgeons.  If an exhibit is found to be suffering from any disease it will not be permitted to enter the show hall, and must be removed from the precincts of the show.  The Rule is "One out, All out" on a contagious disease, so if an exhibitor has brought along 3 exhibits to the show, and one is vetted out, that exhibitor is not permitted to bring any of the exhibits into the show.

After Vetting In has taken place, time is then spent by exhibitors setting up their cats, with plain unmarked white cotton curtains and bases being used in all cages.

Judging commences at 9.00am, Exhibits are evaluated by each Judge, and judged according to a written Standard for its breed. A breed standard is precise enough to allow Judges to evaluate cats accurately, yet flexible enough to leave room for differences in interpretation between judges of sharp eye and fair intention. After the completion of judging, all exhibits then remain on exhibition until 4pm, when it is then time to pack up and go home.

A Cat Show can be an "All Breeds Show" a "Breed Specialty Show" or a "Specialty Colour Show".  In an All Breeds Show all cats compete for various awards.   In a Specialty Breeds Show only those cats of that breed, colour and pattern compete for awards. In a Specialty Colour Show only cats of that particular colour group compete for awards.

Shows are conducted as either a "Closed Show" or an "Australian Open Style Show".  When judging commences at a Closed Show, the owners of the cats leave the hall and judges move from row to row, judging the cats assigned to them.  Once judging is completed and all awards are placed on the cats' cages, exhibitors and members of the public are allowed back into the hall.  The element of surprise is there as it is not until the owners return to their cats that they find out the results.

At Australian Open Style Shows, the exhibits are set out in Bays, with seating  provided for exhibitors and the public.  The Judges move from bay to bay to complete their judging assignment, and provide a commentary on the exhibits as each one is judged.  At Open Shows, the results are known as they happen.

Both styles of Shows can consist of either 1, 2 or 3 Rings.  The Rings are run concurrently throughout the show hall, with each Ring being presided over by a different Judge.  Each of the Judges present their own awards independent of the decisions of other Judges.  So an exhibit which is chosen "Best in Show" by the Judge in Ring 1 may not by given the same award by the Judge in Ring 2.