Author: Glen

Beauties and the Beasts

Gopher State Cat Club
98th and 99th Back-to-Back Championship and Household Pet Shows
April 28-29, 2018

Hopkins Pavilion
11000 Excelsior Blvd
Hopkins, MN 55343

Contents

What’s Going On Here Today? 3
Why Are All the Cats Getting Blue Ribbons? 4
Look at That Gray Tiger Striped Cat: A Guide to Cat Colors and Patterns 8
Frequently Asked Questions 13
How Do I Show My Cat Next Year? 13
How to Give Your Cat a Pill in 11 Easy Steps 16
Show Hall Etiquette 20

Gopher State Cat Club was one of the original clubs chartered by the American Cat Fanciers Association in 1955. We held our first show in Hopkins and were delighted to return to Hopkins starting in 2008.

Gopher State Cat Club is an affiliate of the American Cat Fanciers Association P.O. Box 1949, Nixa, MO 65714-1949 http://www.acfacat.com http://www.youtube.com/ACFAcats Visit Gopher State Cat Club and American Cat Fanciers Association on Facebook, too.
For more information about ACFA cat clubs and shows in Minnesota and nearby states, see http://www.acfanorthcentralregion.org

Welcome!
to the
Gopher State Cat Club 98th and 99th Annual Shows

What’s Going On Here Today?
This weekend the Gopher State Cat Club hosts two one-day cat shows. Cat fanciers (breeders and owners) from around the United States and Canada have paid to enter their cats and kittens. Ten licensed judges from the American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) have come to Hopkins to judge the cats. In addition, some cat fanciers have come with their non-competing cats specifically to talk to spectators. You’ll find them beside signs identifying “pet-me” cats.
Cat fanciers enter each of their cats in one of five classes.
Judging rings 1, 2, 3 and 4 are Allbreed rings, whereas ring 5 is Specialty on Saturday and Allbreed on Sunday. As the name implies, in the Allbreed rings, cats of all breeds are judged against one another. In the Specialty ring, judging is divided into longhaired and shorthaired cats.
(That’s as far as the subdivision goes. Unlike dog shows which have, for example, a subclass for “working dogs,” there’s no subclass for “working cats.” I wonder why.)
The ring clerk calls cats to the judging ring by number, and owners put their cats into cages behind the judges. Judges place each cat on a judging table, where they score each cat using the written standard for its breed. Judges learn the standards for each breed during long years of training and apprenticeship.
After the judge has judged a cat, he or she hangs a set of ribbons on the cage to show what the cat has won. This continues until all cats in the class have been judged.
After all cats in a class have been judged, each judge chooses his or her top cats for final awards. In the Allbreed rings, 10 cats receive finals; in the Specialty ring, 5. Finals are a great time for spectators to see the top cats and learn about the breeds from the judges.
Why Are All the Cats Getting Blue Ribbons?
The judges appear to hang a blue ribbon on nearly every cat. How in the world can they all be first place? That is a very good question and one many people ask. To earn a blue first place ribbon, a cat, kitten, or alter has to be the best of that color, gender, and breed.
For example, let’s say that when the judge evaluates the Maine Coon Cat adults, we have only one male brown tabby Maine Coon. That cat, by default, gets a blue ribbon, because it is the best male brown tabby Maine Coon. If only one female brown tabby Maine Coon is entered, she will also get a blue ribbon. (It’s slightly more complex than this, as explained later.)
If there’s more than one male brown tabby Maine Coon Cat adult, the first place winner gets the blue ribbon, the second place gets a red ribbon and, rarely, there may be a third place winner that gets a yellow ribbon.
Next the judge awards a ribbon for the Best of Color. In our example, we have two brown tabby Maine Coon Cats (one male and one female) that have each received a first place blue ribbon, but only one can win the Best of Color ribbon. The cat the judge chooses as Best of Color gets a black ribbon. The Second Best of Color gets a white ribbon.
After the judge has evaluated all the Maine Coon Cats of every color, the cats the judge sees as the Best of Breed and Second Best of Breed get ribbons indicating this.
Once the judge finishes judging all the cats of a breed, he or she proceeds to the next breed and repeats the process. The winners of Best of Breed and Second Best of Breed have the best chance of being recalled to the ring later for finals where the top cats receive badges.
You may notice that some cats receive a red, white and blue ribbon known as a “winner’s ribbon.” Cats earn these ribbons as they begin the path toward winning a Grand Champion title. It takes four winner’s ribbons to become a Champion. Becoming a Grand Champion requires earning more winner’s ribbons and finals. Grand Champions don’t receive winner’s ribbons because they no longer need them.
Now let’s go back to that complexity we deferred for later. At the first stage of judging, Grand Champions only compete against other Grand Champions, Champions compete against other Champions, and the rest (called Opens) compete against other opens. Thus if there are three male brown tabby Maine Coon Cats, one Open, one Champion, and one Grand Champion, each of them would win a blue ribbon as the best within his breed, sex, color, and competition category.

Class	Numbers	Description
Kittens	001-090	Pedigreed kittens 4-8 months)
New Breed or Color	091-099	Pedigreed cats being considered for acceptance into ACFA
Adults	100-199 / Longhairs / 200-299 / Shorthairs	Pedigreed cats over 8 months that can produce kittens
Alters	300-399	Pedigreed cats over 8 months that have been neutered or spayed
Household Pets	400-499	Cats or kittens 4 months or older that do not qualify for the other classes

Thanks to Chelsa Bigelow for donating to the raffle fund!

Look at that Gray Tiger Striped Cat: A Guide to Cat Colors and Patterns
If you ask exhibitors what color their cat is, you may get some strange answers. The cat may look like a gray tiger striped cat to you, but its owner tells you it’s a blue classic tabby. Cat people may seem to speak in a strange language known only to them, but we are happy to teach you our language.
There are two parts in our description of a cat’s color: the actual color of the fur (color) and where that color appears on the body of the cat (pattern). We always use the color portion of the description and may or may not need to add the pattern.
While some color descriptions are easy to understand, others are not exactly what you would think. For example, we don’t have gray cats in the show world; we call them blue. In most breeds that allow blue, they appear more like a slate gray with a hint of blue thrown in.
Common Colors
Some cats carry a recessive “dilute” gene that changes black to blue and red to cream.
Common Patterns
Tabby: This is the tiger-striped pattern we all know and love. According to geneticists, all cats are tabby cats underneath any other pattern that exists. Even a solid white or black cat can be seen to have a shadow of striped markings in their fur when inspected under intense sunlight. The tabby pattern comes in so many varieties that we have to subdivide it.
Classic Tabby: The dark colored stripes are broad, dense and clearly defined. If you look at the cat from the side, it looks like the bull’s-eye of a target or a swirled pattern. Across the shoulders, the pattern looks like a butterfly. Many breeds have the Classic Tabby pattern.
Mackerel Tabby: The tabby markings are thin vertical stripes on the sides; they resemble a mackerel fish. Sometimes the stripes are broken into long spots.
Spotted Tabby: The markings are spotted, usually round or thumbprint spots, in a random pattern on the sides. The only stripes are bars on the legs or “necklaces” on the chest and neck.
Ticked Tabby: This is the only tabby pattern that has no stripes or spots on the body and no “M” marking on the head. The hairs are banded in alternating colors or shades to form an overall pattern like the fur of a wild rabbit. The ticking gives the coat a salt and pepper look.
Solid: A solid color cat has just one color everywhere. Solid color cats are described simply by using the color name.
And White: An “And White” is a cat in any color plus white, such as a black and white, blue and white, or tortoiseshell and white.
Van: A Van is mostly white with some other color on the head and tail and up to three spots of color on the body. This pattern is not very common.
Pointed: This is the pattern of all Siamese and Birman cats, but it occurs in many other breeds as well as in mixed breed cats. Pointed cats have dark colored faces, ears, tails and feet with a lighter color on the rest of the body. The most common pointed colors are seal point, blue point, red point, and cream point.
Smoke: This is another uncommon pattern. The cat appears to be one color, but if you stroke the hair backwards, you see all white on the underside. The top part of each hair has color and the bottom part is white. Black smoke is the most common of the smoke patterns.

Black	Blue (light or dark gray)	Red (true red shades or yellow-orange colors)
White	Chocolate (a milk chocolate color)	Cream (off-white or white that’s slightly yellow)
Brown	Tortoiseshell (black and red hairs mixed together; the tabby pattern— described below—in the red sometimes makes it appear that there is a third lighter color.)	Tortoiseshell and White (black, red and white appearing as solid patches, sometimes referred to as Calico)

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How are household pets judged?
A: Competition in the other three classes emphasizes conformance to a breed standard, but since there are no breed standards for household pets, each one may have its own unique look. Each judge can evaluate household pets by whatever criteria he or she wants, but winning household pets are typically healthy, well-groomed, friendly, and playful.
Q: Can I join a cat club?
A: Yes! All cat clubs are looking for enthusiastic new members to participate in the club’s activities. Gopher State Cat Club members who are at this cat show will be delighted to help you learn what’s involved and invite you to be a guest at our next meeting.
If you’d like to talk with someone after the show, you can call club president Carol Jordan at 952-938-0740.
How Do I Show My Cat Next Year?
If you leave your name and address at the admissions table today, we will mail you an entry form for next year’s show. The entry forms and show flyers are usually available two months before the show date. Check our web site, www.acfanorthcentralregion.org, to learn more about cat shows and download a flyer.
The show flyer has all the basic information regarding cost, entry deadline (also known as the “closing date”) and an entry form. Most ACFA shows now give you the option of entering online, through eclerkshows.com, which you may find more convenient, but don’t hesitate to call the entry clerk if you have questions.
But wait! There’s more!
On a show weekend, your cat will spend six to eight hours a day inside a strange cage. Hundreds of visitors will peer into the cage and talk with you about your cat. At least four times a day you (your pet’s trusted human) will take it to a judging ring and place it into another strange cage where it will be on display and taken out by another stranger to be judged. If you are fortunate enough to earn finals, your cat will make more trips to the judging rings.
Some cats love the attention, others tolerate it and some hate the entire experience.
Your household pet or purebred cat must be at least four months old to enter. The American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) allows household pets to be shown even if they have been declawed.
Although there is no veterinary inspection when entering the show hall, all cats are expected to be current on their vaccinations at the time of the show. At least six months prior, but not more than 12 months prior, is considered current on vaccinations. The show flyer will indicate which vaccinations are expected. You will need to monitor to be sure there has not been an infectious illness in your cat or other cats in your household within 45 days of the show. If you have entered and a cat at your house falls ill within the 45 day window, please contact the entry clerk to withdraw. If it is not past the closing date, fees can be refunded.
Each club holding a show sets their own fees. You can enter for one or both days. The fee is slightly higher for two days. Shows may have as many as 12 rings in a weekend, and the price is usually higher for the larger shows. The fee per cat goes down when you enter more cats.
Each full cage has a divider inside that can be pulled into position to separate the cage into two compartments. Your entry fee includes only one half of the cage. If you are bringing only one cat, you will want to pay the additional amount to get the other half of the cage. By paying for the other half cage your cat will not be sharing space with an unfamiliar cat.
If you enter two cats, each gets a cage compartment as part of the entry and you end up with the entire cage space that your two cats may share without pulling the divider into place.
Show officials expect all cats to be transported to and from the show hall in carriers, not in your arms. We do not want you to lose your pet because it becomes frightened and jumps out of your arms on the way into the building.
You will also need cage curtains. You must cover the top and three vertical sides of your cage with some type of fabric. This provides your cat with privacy and a sense of security. It also prevents the cats from seeing one another. If they can’t see each other they do not hiss and spit at their neighbors all day.
An inexpensive way to cover a cage is with sheets or bath towels from home. Cages are 22 inches wide, 22 inches tall and 54 inches long. You will also want to bring a towel or rug for the bottom of the cage for your cat to sit on. A cat bed also helps your cat settle in and get comfortable.
A Few Days Before the Show
Clip your cat’s claws. This is always the first order of business, before giving your cat a bath. Trimmed claws will prevent you or anyone else from being injured.
Give your cat a bath. Grooming counts! It is best to give a bath a few days before the show so that static buildup is minimized and a natural flow of the coat returns by show time. The bath tub or sink is the best place to bathe your cat. If you have access to a hand-held sprayer attachment, this is the best way to get enough pressure to rinse all the shampoo out of the coat. Avoid shampoos that include conditioner, which can make your cat’s coat feel oily, and RINSE, RINSE, RINSE!
Dry your cat in a way that’s appropriate for its hair length and type. If you have a shorthaired cat, towel drying is probably all you need. On the other hand, if you have a longhaired cat, you may need to use a blow dryer to get your cat’s hair dry and straight. Be cautious, though. A cat who isn’t used to a blow dryer may be frightened by the sound. Sometimes it helps to have a second person cover the cat’s ears while you use the blow dryer. If you don’t have a helper, you may be able to dry your cat by putting him in his carrier while you use the dryer. In any case, be careful not to let the dryer get too hot while it’s close to the cat’s skin. The goal is to get the cat’s hair dry enough to keep the cat from getting chilled and to assist with grooming.
Make sure eyes and ears are clean. Q-tips can be used on the ears, but it helps to have someone to hold the cat.
Show Day Has Arrived
Stop at the admissions table as you enter. Give your name, and club members will mark you and your cat present. Club members will give you a copy of the show catalog. (It is included in the price of your entry fee.) There is a label on your catalog with your name and your cat’s assigned number for the show. Remember your number, as that is how your cat will be called to the rings.
If you have any trouble, just ask fellow exhibitors or one of our club members. We want your first show experience to be fun, and we are available to help in any way we can.
How to Give Your Cat a Pill in 11 Easy Steps
1. Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat’s mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.
3. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.
4. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of 10.
5. Retrieve cat from curtain rod, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.
6. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with its head just visible from below spouse’s armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force cat’s mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.
7. Check label to make sure pill is not harmful to humans, drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse’s arm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.
8. Retrieve cat from neighbor’s shed. Take last pill from foil wrap. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.
9. Call Fire Department to retrieve cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat.
10. Get spouse to drive you to emergency room; sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye.
11. Arrange for vet to make house call.

Cat Breeds Recognized by ACFA

Abyssinian
American Bobtail Longhair
American Bobtail Shorthair
American Curl Longhair
American Curl Shorthair
American Shorthair
American Wirehair
Australian Mist
Balinese
Bengal
Birman
Bombay
British Longhair
British Shorthair
Burmese
Burmilla
Chartreux
Cornish Rex
Cymric
Devon Rex
Egyptian Mau
European Burmese
Exotic Shorthair
Havana Brown
Himalayan
Japanese Bobtail Longhair
Japanese Bobtail Shorthair
Korat
La Perm
Longhair Exotic
Maine Coon Cat
Manx
Nebelung
Norwegian Forest Cat
Ocicat
Oriental Longhair
Oriental Shorthair
Persian
Peterbald
Pixie Bob Longhair
Pixie Bob Shorthair
RagaMuffin
Ragdoll
Russian Blue
Russian Shorthair
Scottish Fold Longhair
Scottish Fold Shorthair
Selkirk Rex Longhair
Selkirk Rex Shorthair
Siamese
Siberian
Singapura
Snowshoe
Somali
Sphynx
Tonkinese
Turkish Angora
Turkish Van

You can find descriptions and photos of each of these breeds at
http://www.acfacat.com/breed_synopsis.htm
on the American Cat Fanciers Association web site.

Show Hall Etiquette
Ask the owner’s permission before touching any cats.
Because disease and illness can be passed on from cat to cat through human contact, the owners are protecting their cats by not allowing you to touch. Some owners, including the pet-me cat owners, will let you touch their cats after using an anti-bacterial sanitizer.
Remind your children not to run in the show hall or shout, squeal or make other loud noises.
Sudden movements and loud noises can upset some cats.
Sit in the chairs in front of the judge’s table or stand behind them.
Do not enter the ring to look at the cats, and ask the judge or clerk questions only when you will not interrupt their concentration.
Ask exhibitors about their cats when they aren’t rushing to get a cat into a judging ring.
Exhibitors will be more than pleased to tell you about their cats. However, please allow them some time and space if they are grooming a cat or taking one to a judging ring.

#

#