Home Website Updates About Oz Catz About Ocicats Ocicat Kittens Our Kittens Grown Ocicat Queens Ocicat Studs Kitten Products Information Contact Oz Catz

Showing your Ocicat

Up

Have fun and show your kitten / cat at a cat show, even it is desexed

Your Show Entry Form

Showing your Ocicat is a good fun way to publicise the breed to other breeders and to the general public.
Your kittens need to be at least 12 to 14 weeks old (depending on the cat registration body associated with the show) to be shown.
Check out the show program of your cat registration body - usually published on the website. 
Choose the show you want to attend.
Obtain and complete the show entry form and 

Send it, together with your entry fee in plenty of time before 'entries close date' to the show manager - usually 5 to 6 weeks prior to the date of the show.


Breed Groups within the Show

Each cat show comprises a series of separate shows within the main show. This is because all cats entered in the show are separated into Groups - usually Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4. 

Group 1 cats usually include -

Persian
Exotic
Birman
Norwegian Forest Cat
Turkish Van
Ragdoll
Maine Coon and
Siberian

Group 2 cats usually include

Siamese
Oriental
Foreign White
Balinese
Foreigh White Longhair and
Oriental Longhair

Group 3 cats usually include

Abyssinian
Australian Mist
Bengal
British
Burmese
Burmilla
Burmilla Longhair
Cornish Rex
Devon Rex
Japanese Bobtail
Korat
Manx
Munchkin
Ocicat
Russian
Selkirk Rex
Scottish Fold
Scottish Shorthair
Singapura
Somali
Sphinx and
Tonkinese


Group 4 includes -

 household pets - both longhair and shorthair


Ocicats are included in Group 3, so look for this on your show entry form

Classes within the Groups

Each of these Groups is then sub-divided into Classes. For example, cats that have achieved Grand Champion status or titles, etc. can be judged against other similarly titled cats, male and female, etc.

For adult cats in Groups 1, 2 and 3, there will be classes (for males and females) of - 

Untitled
Champion
Grand Champion
Double Grand Champion
Silver Champion and 
Gold Champion

For neutered adult cats in these groups, there are similar title classes

For Group 1, 2 and 3 kittens, their classes are simply according to age and sex - 

under 4 months
under 6 months
under 8 months and
under 9 months

Kittens become adults after 9 months of age.

Sometimes, there are also -'side-classes' such as 'personality', 'type', 'coat and colour', etc.

Show Rings

Each cat show comprises a series of 'Rings' in which your cat will be judged.

Each Group will have up to 4 Rings and therefore 4 separate judges. For example, if your Ocicat is entered in Group 3, and in the Class - Untitled Adult, it will be judged -

firstly within its class of 'Untitled Ocicat Adult Male', 
then against all the Ocicats in the show, 
then within the whole of Group 3 by the judge in charge of Ring 1. 
And then judged again by each of the judges in each of the classes

Completing your Entry Form

Most show managers are very helpful for beginners completing their first show entry forms, so don't be embarrassed to ask.

Preparing for the Show

Ensure your cat is up-to-date with vaccinations, worming, and flea treatments. You will most likely need to produce current vaccination certificates to the vet before your cat can enter the show rooms.

Clip all claws before you go to the show, usually the day before the show is best.

Clean the ears.

If your cat requires it, bathe him the day before, ensuring he doesn't get chilled before he is properly dry. Alternatively, a good brush will often suffice for Ocicats as their coats are very short and they require little grooming.


At the Show

Arrive at the Show Venue in plenty of time so as not to get stressed - your stress will be imparted to your cats!!

Collect your entry forms from the show steward at the entry door

Proceed to the Show Vet to have each of your cats inspected and be sure to bring your current vaccination records for each cat as these will need to inspected as well.

When you have the vet clearance, find your cat's show cage - they are set out in Groups and then in Adults or Kittens

You will need to provide cage curtains and a cage pillow or blanket. Each show will have regulations regarding colours for the cage curtains. No identifying marks are to be left on your cat's cage prior to the judging, so that judging remains impartial.

Give your cat a gentle brush to settle him down and then put him in his show cage, ready for the judges.

Judging can either be 'Open Style' in which case the audience can watch the judging and hear the judges comments about each cat. Alternatively, it can be 'Closed' and judging is conducted with the owners and public waiting outside the venue for the conclusion of judging.

Sit back and enjoy your Ocicat being judged.

Judging your Cat at the Show


Your Ocicat will be judged in each of the Rings by each of the Ring Judges within -

the class, e.g. female kitten under 8 months, and
the breed, e.g. Ocicats, and
the Group, e.g. Group 3, and then

the Show - against every other cat at the show

Getting your Cat Titled

Whilst your Ocicat is still a kitten, i.e. under 9 months of age, it can only complete against kittens is not able to be titled.

However, as soon as it becomes an adult, it can be awarded titles.

Every Judge in every Ring in which your entire adult cat competes can award your cat a Challenge Certificate. This indicates that in the judges' opinions, your cat is a very good specimen of its breed.

Champion Status -

Once your entire adult cat has been awarded 4 Challenge Certificates under 4 different judges, it qualifies for the status of 'Champion'. 

You can then forward these certificates together with an application and a small fee to the cat registration body to which you belong.

Your cat then enters subsequent shows as a titled cat and is judged against other Champion cats.


Grand Champion Status -

Once Champion status has been achieved, another 6 Challenge Certificates will qualify him for the title of 'Grand Champion'


Double Grand Champion Status -

Then, another 6 Challenge Certificates qualifies him for 'Double Grand Champion'


Silver Champion Status -

Then, another 10 Challenge Certificates qualifies him for 'Silver Champion'


Gold Champion Status -

Then, another 10 Challenge Certificates qualifies him for 'Gold Champion'

 Ocicats  by  Oz Catz 

www.OzCatz.com                nolakim@optusnet.com.au

Last modified: October 02, 2008