TICA International Cat Show
Paws'n On the Sunny Side VI
Portland, Oregon - January 2011
International Cat Show
Held at the end of the month, January 2011
Holiday Inn @ Portand Airport - Conference Center
All-In-One Show Hall & Hotel
Free 24/7 Airport shuttle service
TNCC - The New Culture Club - Cat Show Spectator Guide
Helping you understand the "Cat Show Scene"
Whether this is your first visit to a cat show, or you are a seasoned ‘fan’, TNCC hopes that you will find this general informational guide helpful!
Let’s start by covering the ‘rules’ of the Cat Show Scene!
THE TOUCHING RULE
The cats are beautiful! And what is more natural than reaching to pet a pretty kitty? While enjoying the show, please do not pet the cats! Germs and viruses can easily be spread with a simple loving touch. Please ALWAYS ask the cats’ owners before reaching to pet the cat!
THE RIGHT OF WAY RULE
Show halls are often busy places, full of people, like you, enjoying the day at the show. Please remember that Exhibitors often will be in a hurry to go from one ring to another, or to get their cat to a judge. Please be aware, and let anyone who looks to be in a hurry through easily.
THE JUDGES
While visiting a cat show is a relaxing event for you, please remember that the people who bring their cats to the show work very hard to prepare their cats for their moment of ‘fame’. Many judges will talk about the cats they are handling.
Feel free to have a seat, and listen! While near the Judging Area, please do not speak loudly, or do anything that may distract the Judge, or the cat being judged.
CAT OUT!!
Hearing cries of “Cat Out!” in the Show Hall means that someone’s kitty has gotten away. Please, do not try to catch the cat if you see it; this will only scare kitty even more. Just stand still, do not attempt to open any of the doors, or exit the Show Hall, until you hear the “Cat Caught” announcement.
Now that we have covered the basic ‘rules’, let’s move on!
THE BASICS OF THE JUDGING
Each Judge will handle each cat that is in the Show Hall to be judged.
The cats are broken into classes
~ Kittens,
~
Cats (unaltered, adult = 8 months and up),
~
Alters, and
~
Household Pets.
Usually a judge will work through one class at a time, beginning with the Long Hair breeds, moving alphabetically through them, and then moving in the same fashion through the Short Hair breeds.
WHAT ABOUT ALL THOSE RIBBONS? AND, WHO WON?
Judging happens in phases:
~ First, all the cats in one class are handled by the judge (again, the classes are Kitten, Cats, Alters, and Household Pets).
~ Each Judge looks at each cat, and ranks them first per their breed.
The cats will get points for color (which is to say that, in breeds that can be more than one color, the black cats are judged against the black cats, and the brown against the brown...and so on), then they are judged by division (basically this means pattern: solid, tabby, etc), and then the judge will give them an overall rank, typically from 3rd, then 2nd, and Best of Breed.
After this, the owners come and take their cats away.
IS THAT IT?
No! After the Judge has seen all the cats in that class, they will call a Final.
A Final consists of the 10 Kittens, Cats, Alters, or Household Pets that the Judge feels are the best representations of their respective breeds in the show hall.
Most judges will call one final for each class. They will then rank those 10 “Best of the Best” from 10th on up to Best.
A cat has as many opportunities to win “Best in Show” as there are Judges in a TICA Cat show.
OTHER FUN AT TNCC'S CAT SHOWS
Food Drive For the Oregon Food Bank
TNCC and the Oregon Food Bank - partners in the community.
Every year, TNCC's shows support the OFB with donations of (people) food as well as a percentage of the cash proceeds from the money collected from the Gate (that would be you, coming to the show!).
FREE Cake, Coffee, Tea -
Served all day, every day! The coffee and tea are always available, and the cakes are announced, cut, and served throughout the weekend!
Cat Adoptions From Chapple Hill & Purrfect Pals
Chapple Hill & Purrfect Pals are local, non-profit, no-kill shelters. They will offer cats for adoption, as well as fun trinkets and kitty supplies for sale to benefit their shelters. They will also be raffling off some exciting items, with all proceeds going to help this wonderful shelter!
Cash Prizes
All of the Exhibitors (people showing their cats) at the TNCC shows have a chance to win cash prizes for the Spectator's Choice! As you move through the Show Hall, make note of your favorite kitties, and, when you have seen all that there is to see, be sure to fill out the card that you will be given when you arrive, with the number of your favorite kitty (you may have to ask the kitty's owner, or it will likely be on a card, by the kittys' benching area). At the end of each day, the votes are tallied, and winners are announced at the end of the day's show!
