Preparing your cat for a Show

Linda · **Posted:** Sun Jan 07, 2007 12:23 am

Hi Elaine,

I have never shown but do plan to show Nova my new baby this year. I'm interested in any hints and tips people have.

Have you shown before Elaine?

wildside · **Posted:** Sun Jan 07, 2007 8:15 am

Hi Linda,

yes we went to two shows last year. The first cat we took was 4 a month old female. She behaved really well but in the 3rd ring she managed to push her paw through to the other pen and got it trapped when she pulled back. She got so upset after that and missed out been shown in 2 rings.

The other girl we took later on was 8 months old. She was puuring was she was vetted in and and happy in her cage but was so freaked out by all the other cats there. It was such a shame as she'd managed to pick up 50 points in her first ring. But she was not a happy girl :cry:

This time I'm taking a 4 month old boy and I'll do my best to bomb proof him before we go :wink:

The shows are a great way for meeting people that share the same interests.

filthy_gorgeous · **Posted:** Sun Jan 07, 2007 12:15 pm

hi all

i find it depends on the day what frame of mind whatever cat is being shown is in !
i am always preparing weeks in advance.
evertime someone comes round getting them to pick them up, put on a table top (like vetting in) go all round them with the loves etc then look in there ears ,mouth if they are brave enough lol tummy etc. that is always fine.
i take them out in the car alot so they are used to that. they always always "speak a lot" when they are in the car anyway so i will talk back ! lol
i trim claws regularly myself but a few days before the show its a trip to the real vets for a trim all for the handling/new surroundings etc and i find this is all part of good interaction for the cat.
i show 4 cats at different times and are all under this "routine" lol
then.... in saying this go back to the beginning of the post , on the day things could be very different!
i have had days where everything goes brilliantly from start to finish including results

other times i have had days where it all goes pear shaped! hissing and spitting at the vet vetting in. hissing at the neighbouring penned cats...oh the memories and fun times there.

also the judges!! bengals being bengals know what they can get away with and if "a" judge is not too familiar with the breed they will play up too.
i know judges placings are that one persons own opinions but i do think they should have own/breed bengals themselves etc to know how the breed can behave at times.this is my own opinion and i am not being slanderous in any way.

Heidi · **Posted:** Sun Jan 07, 2007 5:29 pm

wildside · **Posted:** Tue Jan 09, 2007 11:54 am

Hello Heidi,

Thanks for your advice

We took the boy out in the car on Sunday for a short ride and also treated him to some Felix in his carrier that he really enjoyed.
The next step is to take him round the town. I'll put him an harness on so we can take him out of his carrier for people to stroke him. We use Tri-Gene around the home and on the hands of visitors. I've just used up a bottle of catnip so I'll make a solution of Trigene up in the catnip bottle to take with us when we go round the shops.

I think I'm the one more nervous about the whole thing.
TalkIng of nervous I could give him a few drops of Valarium before the show....and some for me too :lol:

I'll do what you said about having different people come around and handle him and stretch him out. I've been putting him outside for a couple of hours during the day in a pen next to a couple of our girls. They do quite a bit of spraying. Thought this will get him used to different cats. I'm going to put him next to our stud boy today....Who is a real stinky boy :shock:

I'll do all I can but unfortunitely his mum hates been shown so I do hope he doesn't take after her

I really appreciate your advice Heidi...BIG THANKS

Preparing your cat for a Show

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