Thread: First cat show

Hi all, wow what a great day ! it was how I expected really. Every breed of cat imaginable, although a lot of siamese and orientals. My only slight disappointment was the lack of MC's, there were probably only about 10 -12, but maybe this is normal anyway ? There were quite a few Norweigen Forrest Cats though.

We came away with a few bargains, I got a new carry box and various toys, Harry thought it was Xmas last night !! It's definately given me the bug, and won't be my last show. I'd love to show Harry, from what we saw at the show I think he would have done well, but then of course I'm biased and wouldn't know what the judges are looking for.

Wish I could go again today !!!

Interesting about lack of MC's,where have they all gone,at FB shows they used to have the biggest class but apparently at the next show there is not too many of us.Still great to see all the other breeds though isn't it.I love going to shows to catch up with all the friends we have made & hopefully pick up some bargains from the stalls....

I figured you'd get the bug, I know I have! It's funny about the MC candidates - at the TICA show I went to a couple of weeks ago, there were two MC kittens and three MC adults, which really surprised me. I got a much better feel for MC's at the GCCF Maine Coon Cat Show in July, although I would never enter Freyja for GCCF, she'd hate it. A real eye opener to see that many MC's in once place though!

At the TICA Show, there were fewer orientals and siamese, but oodles of bengals - not sure how or why it works like that but every other cat seemed to be a bengal!

Originally Posted by FreyjaRoMaine

I figured you'd get the bug, I know I have! It's funny about the MC candidates - at the TICA show I went to a couple of weeks ago, there were two MC kittens and three MC adults, which really surprised me. I got a much better feel for MC's at the GCCF Maine Coon Cat Show in July, although I would never enter Freyja for GCCF, she'd hate it. A real eye opener to see that many MC's in once place though!

At the TICA Show, there were fewer orientals and siamese, but oodles of bengals - not sure how or why it works like that but every other cat seemed to be a bengal!

Ha ha, I certainly did get the bug

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

Maine Coon Guild show is the same with FB,at Worthing last year & the year before there
were between fifty to sixty MC's being shown but then it is a special for that breed you would expect to see more of them. Last year a couple who were interested in the breed looked up the different sites & found out that FB had the MC special within the next couple of weeks so they came down over three hours on a motorbike to have a look & find out about breeders. Don't forget when you go to a GCCF show members of the public can't get in until later than at Tica & FB,think it used to be 12.

I went to the Lincolnshire/Humberside cat club joint show in Doncaster, and there were quite a few MCs there, including my breeder who was showing her stud cat and one of her females. MCs were quite well represented, I'd say about 15 MCs were there, just as many in fact as other breeds.

The stands were good, nearly spent £150 on a Tigga Tower! But managed to control myself and just came away with a little brush.

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 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!

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!