Visiting a cat show is so much fun. Just think about all the felines you will see! If you’ve never been to a show, find out how it works and what to expect.

If you’ve never been to a cat show, you are missing out. Visiting a CFA cat show is a great opportunity to see amazing felines.

But how does a cat show work? And what can you expect while you are there?
That’s what we are going to talk about in this article.

Brief History Lesson

Cat shows can be traced back to 1871. During that year, a national competition was held at London’s Crystal Palace.

The first American cat show took place in 1895. It was held in New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

Now, you can find cat shows all over the place. They are conducted by these organizations:

• Cat Fanciers Associations (CFA)
• Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF)
• International Cat Association (TICA)

How a CFA Cat Show Works 

Participating cats are judged according to their breed standard. Each breed has its own, unique standard. The closer a cat reaches that standard, the better.

There are seven possible categories a cat may be placed in:

• Championship
• Premiership
• Provisional
• Kitten
• Miscellaneous
• Veteran
• Household Pet

Each class has its own set of qualifications. Those qualifications determine which cats belong in each class.

The Household Pet category is the most subjective one. According to the CFA, “There is no written standard for Household Pets… They are judged instead for their uniqueness, pleasing appearance, unusual markings, and sweet dispositions.”

All classes are judged in the judging rings. Each ring has a different judge, allowing for multiple shows to happen at the same time.

When they aren’t being judged, cats must wait in a benching cage. Each kitty has its own cage.

These cages are provided by the CFA. But some exhibitors prefer to bring their own.

What to Expect When Visiting a Cat Show

Now you have a basic idea of how a CFA cat show works. But what is it like to visit one?

For starters, it’s loads of fun. That’s because you are surrounded by cats.

You will get to see some breeds you’ve never heard of before. You might even get to see some new breeds that aren’t officially recognized yet.

What if you want to see a specific breed? Just find out when and where it will be judged. This is your best bet for catching it.

While evaluating the cats, the judge might speak to the audience. So, be sure to have your listening ears on. You don’t want to miss any interesting information.

You can also walk around the benching area. You probably won’t be allowed to pet the cats. But you can enjoy looking at them.

You might even be able to snap a few photos.

And whatever you do, always give exhibitors the right of way. They need to get to the judging ring on time!

In Conclusion

Showing cats definitely isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes a tremendous amount of time and effort.

But as a spectator, you can just relax and enjoy the experience. The best part is, you get to look at cats all day.

Doesn’t that sound like a cat lover’s dream?