Cat show

On a cat show are purebred cats presented by breeders and owners, and awarded after an evaluation by an expert jury. Cat shows are visited not only by the exhibitors (cat breeders) but also by cat lovers who appreciate the wide variety of cat breeds that can be seen there. Cat shows are usually organized by cat breeding associations. The exhibitions are held in specially rented halls.

history

Cat shows have been around for more than 100 years. The first national cat show took place in March 1881 at Bunnell's Museum in New York City . 140 cats were exhibited. There had been a few smaller shows in New England before that, tracing back to about 1870, but the 1881 show was the first of the “Grand Palace Shows” that were famous in London.

Awards and titles

In Germany, in contrast to some other countries, no cash prizes are awarded for the winners. The awards are only used to evaluate the cat according to the breed standard. First, the cats fight for their title, called points in technical jargon . The language of the awards and titles is French, as the international umbrella organization Fédération Internationale Féline was founded in France in 1949 as an amalgamation of the French, Belgian and Italian breed breeder associations.

• CAC - The first award a cat can win is the CAC ( Certificat d´Apitude de Championnat ). CAC means something like "contender for a title". Cats that have been awarded the CAC three times receive the title of Champion . The CAC points must be awarded by three judges.
• CACIB - The next title to be achieved is the CACIB ( Certificat d´Apitude de Championat International de Beauté ), a candidate for an international title. If a cat has been awarded the CACIB three times, it receives the title International Champion ( Champion International ). Again, the points must be awarded by at least two judges from other countries.
• CAGCI - International Champions compete in the CAGCI (B) class and fight for the title Great International Champion ( Certificat d´Apitude Grande de Championat International de Beauté ). The requirements for this and all other higher titles vary from club to club. Depending on the club, 3 to 6 entitlements are required, a fixed number of which must have been gained abroad. Some clubs also recognize 3 domestic entitlements instead of one foreign entitlement.
• CACE - ( Certificat d´Apitude de Championat Europe d'Europe ) - fight for the title European champion
• GCACE - ( Grande Cerfificat d´apitude au Championnat d´Europa ) - fight for the title of Great European Champion
• CACM - ( Certificat d´aplitude au Championat Mondial ) - fight for the title of world champion, at least one of the title entitlements must have been acquired on another continent

Basis of evaluation

Overview of a cat show

The basis of the evaluation is the breed standard . Through the precise evaluation of a qualified judge, the exhibitor gets an exact picture of the extent to which his cat complies with this standard - the higher the number of points and the title, the closer the cat comes to the ideal described in the breed standard. These evaluations are an essential criterion for the breeder to assess the breeding value of his cat.

Typical course of a cat show

For the exhibitors, a cat show starts in the early morning hours. All cats to be exhibited will be checked by a veterinarian at the entrance , because only healthy cats may be exhibited. The event is then open to visitors later (usually from 9 a.m.). At the same time, the judges usually start evaluating the cats, the so-called judging . Each cat must have been to a judge who is trained for the corresponding breed at least once to get its rating. Each judge can nominate a cat in the respective category for the Best in Show . The judging of the cats lasts until approx. 2–3 pm. The results are then evaluated and the stage show is prepared. In the so-called stage show, the best cats of their breed and color (Best in Variety) are awarded and the daily winners are determined in the corresponding categories. The cat breeds are usually divided into the following 3 categories:

• Short-haired cats
• Semi long hair cats (semi long hair)
• Longhair cats

If a large number of cats of a breed or breed group are registered, the categories can be divided. z. B. It is possible to subdivide the shorthair cats into British Shorthair and other Shorthair. Often the so-called Forest cat breeds in their own category separately from the other semi-longhair cats.

There are two different ways to determine the winners of each class.

• The public judging

All nominated cats of the corresponding class are called on stage and the judges in front of the audience choose the winner of the respective class.

• The non-public judging

Here the nominated cats are judged again in camera and the class winner is then presented on the stage.

Every winner of a corresponding class receives the Best in Show award . The Best of Best winners are then determined from the winners of this selection, and from these, the absolute daily winner Best over all .

At most cat shows, so-called special shows are held, for example for a certain breed or cross-races for a certain color.

At some exhibitions, participation in the so-called ring judging is also offered. When judging the ring, the cats are not presented individually to the judge, but rather in a group by a judge who is allowed to judge all classes. There are three different rings:

• Potent adult cats
• Castrati
• Young animals

In contrast to normal judging, which is not public, the judge explains the strengths and weaknesses of the respective cat to the audience.

Rights, duties and behavior at cat shows

This article or paragraph presents the situation in Germany . Help us to describe the situation in other countries.

The health of the individual animals is the basic requirement for participation in a cat show. Cat shows are always monitored by the responsible veterinary office and a veterinary control at the entrance is mandatory. This is used to prevent rabies and of course the spread of other diseases. The following things are mandatory:

• Vaccinations against cat disease, cat flu and rabies

The vaccinations must be at least 4 weeks old. The maximum age of the vaccination is determined by the entry in the vaccination certificate. Depending on the vaccine, this can be 1–3 years. In the case of kittens, if the vaccination is less than 4 weeks old, a current health certificate from the responsible official veterinarian must be presented, which must not be older than 10 days.

• The cat must be absolutely free of vermin (fleas, mites, etc.).
• Pregnant cats and cats in heat are not allowed to take part in an exhibition.
• In purebred cats of course is still a valid pedigree duty.

In order to also protect the animals from infections, it is frowned upon if you try to touch or stroke the cats in the cages.

Title - overview

The following titles or categories are available (selection):

• GR. European Champion (or GR. Continental Champion ): These cats are exhibited in order to receive the title "World Champion". You need 3 international points of the WCF, in 3 countries under 3 judges, of which one country has to be in another continent in order to receive the CACM.
• GR. Europa Premior (or GR. Continental Premior ): These cats are exhibited in order to receive the title "World-Premior". You need 3 international points from the WCF, in 3 countries by 3 judges, one of which must be in another continent in order to receive the CAPM.
• European Champion (or Continental Champion ): These cats are exhibited in order to receive the title "Grand-Europa-Champion" or "Gr.Continental-Champion". You need 3 international points in 3 countries from 3 judges to receive the GCACE.
• Europa Premior (or Continental Premior ): These cats are exhibited in order to receive the title "Grand-Europa-Premior" or "Gr.Continental-Premior". You need 3 international points in 3 countries from 3 judges in order to obtain the GCAPE to obtain.
• Grand Int. Champion : These cats are exhibited in order to receive the title "European Champion". To get the CACE you need either 9 international points in 3 countries by 3 judges or 11 international points in 2 countries by 6 judges.
• Grand Int. Premior : These cats are exhibited in order to obtain the title "Europa-Premior". For this you need 3 international points in 3 countries from 3 judges in order to receive the CAPE.
• Int. Champion : These cats are exhibited in order to obtain the title "Grand Int. Champion". For this you need either 6 international points, in 3 countries from 3 judges or 8 international points in 2 countries from 4 judges to receive the CAGCIB
• Int. Premior : These cats are exhibited in order to obtain the title "Grand Int. Premior". For this you need 3 international points, in 2 countries by 3 judges in order to receive the CAGPIB. CAGPIB
• Champion class : These cats are exhibited in order to obtain the title "Int. Champion". For this you need 3 international points, in 2 countries by 3 judges to get the CACIB
• Premior class : These cats are exhibited in order to receive the title "Int. Premior". For this you need 3 international points, in 2 countries by 3 judges to get the CAPIB. CAPIB
• Open class from 10 months : These cats are exhibited in order to receive the title "Champion". You need 3 international or national points from 3 judges to get the CAC. CAC
• Neuters - from 10 months : These cats are exhibited in order to receive the title "Premior". To do this, you need 3 international or national points from 3 judges to receive the CAP. CAP
• Kittens 6-10 months : These cats are exhibited in order to obtain the title of Junior Champion. For this you need 3 international or national points from 3 judges to get the CACJ. CACJ
• Young animals 7-10 months
• Kitten 4 months - 7 months
• Litter class : The litter class is at the age of 4 months
• Novices: breed classification : A cat can only be exhibited once in the novice class. The signatures of two judges are required. The cat must be rated "Excellent" in order to be registered.
• Color determination class : Here you can have the color determined if you are not sure.
• House cats can earn the title of "Best House Cat".

literature

• Christine Klinka: We exhibit our cats - everything about cat shows, from beginners to professionals . Müller Rüschlikon, Cham 2001. ISBN 3-275-01391-2 .
• Dagmar Thies: Exhibiting cats - everything about cat shows . Franckh, Stuttgart 1981. ISBN 3-440-04948-5 .

Web links

Commons : Cat shows  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Calendar of international cat shows on the Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe) website
• Calendar & Show Reports from international cat shows on The International Cat Association website (TICA)
• Calendar of international cat shows on the World Cat Federation (WCF) website
• Calendar of cat shows on a private website (includes appointments under the umbrella organizations FIFe, TICA, CAT and others)

Individual evidence

1. ^ Cats on Exhibition . In: "New York Times" of March 8, 1881. Facsimile (Retrieved November 20, 2008.)
2. ^ History of the BKH .: Archived copy ( memento of the original from October 30, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
3. ↑ CFA Yearbook 1992/93 .: Archived copy ( memento of the original from January 23, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
4. ↑ History of the FIFe ( Memento of the original from November 12, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (English, accessed November 20, 2008.) 
5. ↑ City of Wuppertal .: http://www.wuppertal.de/index1.cfm?http%3A//www.wuppertal.de/rathaus_behoerden/sich_ord_katzenausstellung.cfm  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
6. ↑ Title at exhibitions: http://neva-sibirer.de/aktuelles/ausstellungen/  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.