I wanted to make this a different thread from the one about Saki's first show just to make sure it doesn't get missed.

As you will know if you read the other thread Sakura went for the Judge in one of the rings and then for my husband James. The Judge remarked that once they don't like it, they never like it. Is that true?

Although the next two judges handled Saki well and she calmed down a bit she was still complaining pretty loudly at me and hissing at all the other cats she saw. From experience do you think it is possible for her to get used to it especially if I use Feliway?

And does anyone have tips or advice or experience to share please?

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Shantra

Hi

Sorry to hear that sakura didnt have a fun time at the show
Sometimes cats can have a "bad day" at a show and it can be possible that is all it was a bad day.

One of my girls Calli was also like this at one of her shows so i decided to take her to one more show to see if it would happen again which it did so i then knew showing was not for her and wasnt willing to put her through the stress any longer.

If i was you try some feliway and take Sukura to another show and if it happens again it maybe that showing is not for her.
and it maybe best to give her a break and try again sometime in the future if you really wanted to show her , i dont think if they dislike showing then thats it i think its down to stress and how each cat copes with it and some cats hate showing when they are kittens but once an adult love it !!

We had that with Calli she loved shows as a baby but once an adult she wasnt keen.

Good luck with it and let us know how you get on if you do decide to try another show.

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Shantra

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Shantra

Thanks for writing in such detail Ren. You know all the time she was in her pen she was just fine, totally her normal Sakura self. Carrying her up the corridor to the side of the hall where it was quiet was no problem either, she had her head up in the air looking around interested in where we were going. But certain other.... ohhhhh wait a minute here...

I was about to say that the sight of certain other cats just set her off, but I am forgetting that she was in a hall with 'entire' males and females.. could that be it? The smell or sound of females in heat (there were some) or the males set her off?

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Shantra

That could certainly be it...they do tend to wind each other up when they are hormonal & she could have reacted to that.
Because I have mine seperated in different areas, when I am show training I will set up the puppy crate in an area with cats they don't know. So that they get used to being penned & to being in an area surrounded by unfamiliar cats. It does seem to help.
I wonder if you have a friend nearby who has cats, maybe you could take Saki over now & again, in a strange environment & with strange cats, but with the security & safety of her own pen or large carrier...hopefully after 2 or 3 times & knowing she is always going back home with you, she may start to get used to it.

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Shantra

I think it's only the GCCF shows where you don't have to move your cat around Julie, & they are only in the UK

Aww never say never though!
I'd love to see a show in America one day

Hey! She is coming to me first in Illinois!

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Shantra