Thread: First cat show

Originally Posted by harrymc

I think then my next show visit will be to a GCCF show, there is one at the NEC Birmingham in November, can't wait for that one

I'm really curious to see what you make of GCCF - aside from looking at some stunning MC's, I didn't like it at all, but I might just have been unlucky; the people weren't especially friendly (although that doesn't mean they were UN-friendly), and the cats were couped up in the show pens all day. Plus it was a baking hot day and all of them seemed to be breathing way to fast for my liking. Cats were stunning though, which made it worth the trip!

Tigga Tower is my cats best friend,it has three beds & a hammock on it & when they all charge at it we don't have to sit with our eyes covered praying it doesn't tip over on them...
Does have to be their main xmas present for the next couple of years though !
Well done with coming away with just a brush,if I leave with just a few catnip meeces hubby thanks his lucky starts for getting away so lightly....

Originally Posted by FreyjaRoMaine

I'm really curious to see what you make of GCCF - aside from looking at some stunning MC's, I didn't like it at all, but I might just have been unlucky; the people weren't especially friendly (although that doesn't mean they were UN-friendly), and the cats were couped up in the show pens all day. Plus it was a baking hot day and all of them seemed to be breathing way to fast for my liking. Cats were stunning though, which made it worth the trip!

Have to say that we had this exact discussion today about this valid point. For me personally I don't think I would show Harry for the reasons you say. When we were at the show yesterday an announcement came over the loud speaker to ask the owner of a cat to return to his cage as he was in distress. I can't imagine it's something the cat would enjoy, it's the owners that get the pleasure from it. That isn't to say of course that it isn't lovely to see all the cats, after all where else would you get to see them. This also isn't a dig at anyone that does show their cats, I'm saying it's just not what I want for Harry who is for me purely a pet.

I feel the same way you do. The TICA show was much more fun, although a bit manic. The cats spend the day in their own pens around the edge of the judging rings so they only spend a short amount of time in the judging pens. And you stick around whilst the judges do their thing, where as GCCF you're all booted out. Much more relaxed, and apparently FIFe goes one stage further with you handling the cat for the judges. I think Freyja would get on with FIFe so we're giving it a go in Edenbridge, purely for kicks - like you, I got my MC to be a member of the family as opposed to a show piece, but her breeder is confident that she'll do well so I'd like to give her a chance. If she likes it, we might do it again; if she doesn't, I'll revert to spectator only!

Yes I would say that would be a good move. Let me know how you get on, is the show soon ?

We have found both FB & TICA to be much more relaxed & that in its self makes it seem friendlier but I also think it is because you are allowed to stay with your cats all the while, you tend to get there & make friends with your neighbour even down to sharing any goodies you take along & everything seems much more nicer for both cat & owner.We always have fans to put on our cages if it is too warm but I know once at a GCCF show we were told to remove them & it was a boiling hot day so several of us said we would withdraw our cats & in the end were allowed to keep them on,don't know if that rule has been changed but you don't have to worry at either of the other two.Luckily most of the halls the FB use are sports halls so there is AC being pumped round.Did go to one show where it had gone wrong & it was so cold we even went & bought extra blankets for the cats to cuddle up into,can you imagine MC's tucked up....Also at FB & I think TICA when your cat gets the required certificates or points to become champion etc you have to move up into the next class,so at FB if you do a two day show & on the first day your cat gets its last certificate for that level you have to go & report it & the next day you would start working for the next level up, it might have changed now at GCCF but you did used to be able to put your cat in for a certificate that they already held. In the FB once your cat has reached the top you can enter for Prize of Honour that then entitles that cat to have the chance of being nominated & go for Best in Show which is great if you have a cat that you want to continue showing. We have done that with our Merl but now he goes along occasionally just to be on exhibition & lay in his chair all day having the fuss & cuddles that he has become accustomed too & he luvs it....not something he could have done at a GCCF show.

Humpf, you didn't say hi to me... we were there all day... I hope you appreciated seeing the feline god that is Riley, he is not fluff pot at the moment which is a pity but come winter he has a wonderful coat, trouble is most of the shows here are in the summer months... West Country is in Jan tho at Hutton Moor... lovely show; but it seems to get hot so early and then out falls the coat grrr.

I would like to go to a show but would not worry about not seeing the judging as I have been to crufts the last couple of years and my friend and I have a quick nose around the trade stands where I go to say hi to some of the people I know through work then its the discover dogs areas for the rest of the day where I fall in love so many times. I dont know if cat shows have that sort of area as I would need to make friends with most cats I saw!

Originally Posted by Helen & John

I would like to go to a show but would not worry about not seeing the judging as I have been to crufts the last couple of years and my friend and I have a quick nose around the trade stands where I go to say hi to some of the people I know through work then its the discover dogs areas for the rest of the day where I fall in love so many times. I dont know if cat shows have that sort of area as I would need to make friends with most cats I saw!

Yes it's a shame that you can't 'talk' to the cats and see them in a much larger area where they can walk about or play with a toy. Most of the cats at a show are bored silly and confined in a small pen, alseep or hiding under a blanket, so you don't really see them at their best. But it is better than not seeing them at all. I must admit I fell in love with a solid black oriental - forget the exact name of the breed, but he looked like a Siamese cat, but was glossy black all over ...... stunning!