CFA Cat Show Rules
A cat show is composed of a
number of separate, concurrently running, individual shows held in the various
judging rings throughout a show hall. Each show is presided over by a different
judge,
who presents his or her own awards independent of the
decisions of other judges. Hence, a cat which is chosen Best in Show by the
judge in Ring 1, may not always be given the same
award by the judge in Ring 2.
Every cat entered in the
show is evaluated by each judge, and judged according to a
written standard
for its breed (with the exception of the
Household Pet Class, for which there is no written standard). The standard is part
blueprint because it describes the ideal specimen for the breed, and part
constitution because it can be revised by the members of the
breed council. A breed standard is precise enough to allow
judges to evaluate cats accurately, and flexible enough to leave room for
differences in interpretation between judges of keen eye and good intention.
Individual shows can be
classified as either allbreed or specialty. In an allbreed show all cats,
regardless of coat length or type, compete for various awards. In a specialty
show only those cats of similar coat length (or type) compete for awards.
After a judge has examined
all the cats in the allbreed competition - or all the cats of similar coat
length (or type) if he or she is doing a specialty show - it is time for
finals: the curtain call wherein the judge presents the top ten cats in show.
The moment every cat breeder lives for is that moment of exhilaration when your
cat is held aloft and proclaimed "Best Cat in Show"!
The judge is assisted in
the ring by the
Ring Clerk, whose responsibilities include
calling the cats to the ring, recording the awards as given by the judge, and
supervising the
ring stewards.
|