It's Show Time!!
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| Showing & Showmanship |
/ SPORTSMANSHIP AND SHOW ETIQUETTE
I have to say there are inherent problems when you put 200 cats, 100 women and a
few brave men in a closed show hall for a weekend. Add to this venue raising kids,
menopause and maybe it isn't kitties' weekend to show well. There is no show venue
quite like cat showing. Usually you have some distance and space or at least the out
of doors when showing other animals. It can get stressful. At the end of the day
between running to the show rings, general stress-excitement and talking to lots of
people, it is a bit of a workout.
We could often be a bit kinder to one another. When setting up be sure not to use
more than your space allows. Offer to help a neighbor if you see them struggling with
something that really needs an extra set of hands. Introduce yourself to your
neighbor and say something kind about their kitties. We all live for these nice
comments. Try not to clog up the alleyway which is always too small anyway. Don't
swipe every chair in the area, so you can have a crowd of people. People showing
need some place to sit also. Store your show items under the table. If you need more
space and see some open nearby, ask the people who have cages above if you can use
it. If your cat is a male be sure to line the cage with plastic and bring something to
neutralize the smell when cleaning. If your cat makes a "poop" in the litter box,
remove as soon as possible. Bring a little air freshener for this, as the whole alley will
smell like cat "poo". Clean up after yourself in the area, don't leave trash and food
plates lying around.
Try to keep an eye on when your numbers are coming up in the rings. They really
hate giving that "3rd" call. If you are late for a ring and a judge has been waiting, be
sure to apologize. Pick your cat up promptly when the class has finished. The show
gets held up while they search for owners to pick up cats. They need to keep cages
clear to keep the rings running.
I had been surprised at the lack of unity when showing a cat breed sometimes, not
just Pixie bobs. People were very quiet, there were little congratulations to the
winner. Everyone just quietly picked up their cat. I usually congratulate the winner if
they are in the area; this is common sense and promotes camraderie. Anytime the
breed wins, we all win. Especially in the finals. I will watch for not only my cat, but
my competitor's cat's finaling. I don't want them to miss being there with our breed.
This includes extending the courtesy of keeping an eye out for their cats in the rings.
We all get sidelined or talking to people about our cats and miss a ring call. I try to
find the breeder if they are missing a call to a ring. Placing a cat first, because the
other breeder missed the ring is really not a win to me. I have even taken the missing
cat up to the ring sometimes if I can't find the breeder. This is for breeder's I know
well and they don't mind me handling their cat. So it is something you should ask
about if in doubt. Always thank a judge if you are lucky enough for your cat to final.
Showing should be a place of learning too. Ask questions from other cat breeders
and the judges when appropriate. After a class has been judged and finals done, you
are allowed to ask the judge about what they thought of your cat. It is best to have
your cat in hand, they see so many in a day and you are not supposed to talk to
them about the cat before judging. Judges often only judge one day, but are there
for both. This is a good time to get an opinion under less pressing time constraints.
Again, thank them for their opinion. Even if you disagree. Other breeders can give
you information on everything from diet to bathing, grooming to travel and showing
tips.
Your cat should be clean and groomed. All nails clipped shor. Ears, eyes and nose
clean. Don't make the mistake of bringing a cat with questionable health to a ring.
The judges will not like it, won't place you and the other breeders resent you having
an ill cat near their cats. If your cat has a condition that is not contagious get a note
from your vet. I once had a young female approach her first heat cycle, her teats got
very large. She looked like a lactating female. Not every judge picked up on it, but
for the ones who did I had the vet's note.
I have to say there are inherent problems when you put 200 cats, 100 women and a
few brave men in a closed show hall for a weekend. Add to this venue raising kids,
menopause and maybe it isn't kitties' weekend to show well. There is no show venue
quite like cat showing. Usually you have some distance and space or at least the out
of doors when showing other animals. It can get stressful. At the end of the day
between running to the show rings, general stress-excitement and talking to lots of
people, it is a bit of a workout.
We could often be a bit kinder to one another. When setting up be sure not to use
more than your space allows. Offer to help a neighbor if you see them struggling with
something that really needs an extra set of hands. Introduce yourself to your
neighbor and say something kind about their kitties. We all live for these nice
comments. Try not to clog up the alleyway which is always too small anyway. Don't
swipe every chair in the area, so you can have a crowd of people. People showing
need some place to sit also. Store your show items under the table. If you need more
space and see some open nearby, ask the people who have cages above if you can use
it. If your cat is a male be sure to line the cage with plastic and bring something to
neutralize the smell when cleaning. If your cat makes a "poop" in the litter box,
remove as soon as possible. Bring a little air freshener for this, as the whole alley will
smell like cat "poo". Clean up after yourself in the area, don't leave trash and food
plates lying around.
Try to keep an eye on when your numbers are coming up in the rings. They really
hate giving that "3rd" call. If you are late for a ring and a judge has been waiting, be
sure to apologize. Pick your cat up promptly when the class has finished. The show
gets held up while they search for owners to pick up cats. They need to keep cages
clear to keep the rings running.
I had been surprised at the lack of unity when showing a cat breed sometimes, not
just Pixie bobs. People were very quiet, there were little congratulations to the
winner. Everyone just quietly picked up their cat. I usually congratulate the winner if
they are in the area; this is common sense and promotes camraderie. Anytime the
breed wins, we all win. Especially in the finals. I will watch for not only my cat, but
my competitor's cat's finaling. I don't want them to miss being there with our breed.
This includes extending the courtesy of keeping an eye out for their cats in the rings.
We all get sidelined or talking to people about our cats and miss a ring call. I try to
find the breeder if they are missing a call to a ring. Placing a cat first, because the
other breeder missed the ring is really not a win to me. I have even taken the missing
cat up to the ring sometimes if I can't find the breeder. This is for breeder's I know
well and they don't mind me handling their cat. So it is something you should ask
about if in doubt. Always thank a judge if you are lucky enough for your cat to final.
Showing should be a place of learning too. Ask questions from other cat breeders
and the judges when appropriate. After a class has been judged and finals done, you
are allowed to ask the judge about what they thought of your cat. It is best to have
your cat in hand, they see so many in a day and you are not supposed to talk to
them about the cat before judging. Judges often only judge one day, but are there
for both. This is a good time to get an opinion under less pressing time constraints.
Again, thank them for their opinion. Even if you disagree. Other breeders can give
you information on everything from diet to bathing, grooming to travel and showing
tips.
Your cat should be clean and groomed. All nails clipped shor. Ears, eyes and nose
clean. Don't make the mistake of bringing a cat with questionable health to a ring.
The judges will not like it, won't place you and the other breeders resent you having
an ill cat near their cats. If your cat has a condition that is not contagious get a note
from your vet. I once had a young female approach her first heat cycle, her teats got
very large. She looked like a lactating female. Not every judge picked up on it, but
for the ones who did I had the vet's note.
FTLOP
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