by Caro Williams

Created on: March 19, 2009

Preparing for a cat show, especially if you are new at the game needs much careful thought.

Thought one should be to put your cat first, last and everything in between. It isn't a toy and a show isn't a game. Puss must be happy at all cost. Stating that, it can be an enjoyable event, but you must not forget that it will be very hard work mentally and physically.

The type of fur your cat has will govern the amount of preperation. Always give yourself a week or two to get Puss's coat knot free and in as good a condition as possible. Long haired cats require more work usually and it is no good a few days before the show date hurredly yanking at the poor cat.

Cat Shows are presented differently in each country. Some require that a white blanket is put at the base of the cat pen and a white drinking bowl is attached to the side. Most important a white litter tray and some litter. Usually no food dish will be allowed so that each pen is identical and that the judge will not know the ownership of the cat. Other types of show the cat is brought to the judge and the penning is not an issue and can be decorated. Whichever show you attend make sure you know whats expected, there is nothing worse than running round on the morning trying to borrow the appropriate equipment. Get this sorted a couple of weeks before if you can.

It is usual to shower or bath your cat for the show. Remember white paws get very grubby if Puss is allowed outside. Each cat has a coat individual to itself. I have shown two long hair cats and each had a different coat although they were brothers. One got bathed on a Thursday for Saturday show with horrendous results. His coat was flyaway and he looked awful After much trial and error I found Tuesday to be the best day and his coat settled by Saturday. The other got bathed on Thursday and looked super. You can't tell. However, what I would say is that it is always worth having a trial run a few weeks before if you can, especially if Puss hasn't been bathed or showered before. I have one cat who was a stray and decided to try him in a show. I'd bathed him once when we first took him in and he didn't like it one little bit. Second time was when he decided to fall in the garden pond one Christmas Day. He didn't murmur that bath time so cats do take to it. It is always easier to start as kittens if you can and think you may want to show. The choice of cat shampoo need not be too expensive. I always use Baby Shampoo for cats with no skin problems. Shampoo

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