Before entering your cat in a
show, you must make certain that it is clean and healthy. The cat should be free of
internal and external parasites, all shots should be up to date, and the cat should test
negative for Feline Leukemia Virus.
After the bath, you should
concentrate on cleaning the inside of the ears, using cotton swabs. Cleanliness is
particularly important for household pets, and the judges can spot a dirty ear right away.
The day before the show, all
the cat's claws should be clipped, front and back. It is only necessary to clip the
tips, so that they are not sharp.
The Entry Clerk is the person
who will make sure that your cat is listed in the judges books and in the show catalog,
and that you will be provided with caging space at the show. If you are having
trouble filling out an entry form, the Entry Clerk can help you. If you are showing a
Household Pet for the first time, you may want to send the entry clerk a description, or
even a photograph, of your cat so that it will be classified correctly. The entry clerk
will need to know the color, pattern, and whether the cat is longhair or shorthair.
In general, if your cat has long fur on its tail, then it will be classified as a
The show flyer will indicate
the fees for one-day and two-day entries, extra caging space, and so forth. Usually,
your check for the entry fees should be made payable to the cat club, not to the entry
clerk, but follow the instructions on the flyer in any case. After the Entry Clerk
has processed your entry you will receive a confirmation by mail or e-mail. If you
have not received a confirmation within two weeks of mailing your entry, or more than one week before the show, you should
contact the Entry Clerk immediately to make sure that your entry was received.
If you wish to have your cage
near someone else's at the show. Put that person's name in the "benching
request" space on the entry form. The show management cannot guarantee that all
benching requests can be honored, but they will make every effort to arrange the floor
plan to satisfy as many requests as possible.
AT THE SHOW
There is usually a
"benching chart" provided at the Entry Clerk's desk. This is the floor plan that will show you where
your cage is to be set up. If there is a problem with your cage, do not change cages
or move your cage without approval from the show manager.
If you arrive late--that is,
after the posted hours for checking in--you must still check in. In this case, once
you are finished at the Entry Clerk's desk, you should go to every ring clerk and tell
them that your cat (give them your entry number) is now present in the show hall.
The benching cages are made
of wire on the top and all sides, but with an open bottom set on a wooden platform.
All cats entered in the show and all kittens brought to the show must be kept in these
cages. Show rules do not permit cats or kittens to be kept in carrier cages in the
show hall. Show rules also specify that no more that two kittens or one cat may be
kept in a single-size benching cage.
A single-size cage is
approximately 22"(w) x 22"(d) x 25"(h). You should bring a litter box
small enough to fit in this space and still allow room for your cat. If your cat
will feel cramped living in a space this small for two days, then you should get a double
cage. A double cage for one entry will be 44" wide.
You are required to bring a
covering for the top and sides of your benching cage. The covering must be adequate
to prevent your cat from seeing or coming in contact with the cats in adjacent cages.
Generally, you will want to have a covering for the bottom of the cage, to make it
more comfortable, and the covering may hang over the platform to provide a covered area
for your supplies. Cage coverings can be elaborate, but may also be as simple as a
large flat bed sheet, attached to the cage by clips.
All cats must remain in the
show hall during posted show hours, so you should not plan to leave early under any
circumstances. Cats are not permitted to remain in the show hall overnight.
Since there may not be a guard at the show hall overnight, it is wise to take any
valuables you have in the show hall with you for the night. You can leave the
curtains on the cage, so there is very little setup that you will have to do on Sunday
morning.
Free cat litter will usually
be provided by the club. You should bring your own:
*
Litter box.
*
Dishes for food and water.
*
Cat food.
*
Cat toys.
*
Cage curtains, and coverings for top and bottom of cage.
*
Clothespins or binder clips for securing the cage curtains.
*
Brushes and combs.
*
Chamois cloth (some shorthair cats).
*
Cornstarch baby powder (some longhair cats).
*
Cat bed (if desired).
*
Nail clippers.
*
Cotton swabs.
*
Paper towels.