Cat and kitten exhibitions in Moscow: rules of participation, titles and preparation + Videos from exhibitions

In Moscow, cat shows are held almost every weekend.
Usually such shows are held according to the same scenario - the jury chooses the best kitten, the best junior, and the most beautiful adult pet. At such exhibitions, visitors can not only admire animals, but also purchase them. You can also get acquainted with the most original and popular cat breeds, communicate with famous breeders, and get advice from specialists on raising and choosing a pet.

They will be happy to help you find a kitten with the best pedigree. At the exhibition you can purchase a carrier, tray, food, toys and other necessary things for your pet. This is an unforgettable sight for cat lovers: you can pet some cats, play with someone, or even take a photo.

Who should not go to exhibitions?

If a cat has dirty fur, running eyes, bald patches, if the animal is weakened, etc., it simply will not pass veterinary control.
Accordingly, the case will not be submitted for examination at all. As for cowardice or aggressiveness, such animals at best receive a low score, or are even disqualified. Also, lactating or pregnant cats should not be exhibited. It is also not recommended to bring cats that are in the heat stage to exhibitions. Owners of pet class cats should know that in the felinological world there are no Cinderellas. And if the breeder honestly admitted that the animal you are purchasing has a noticeable flaw, then it would be naive to count on a high rating at the exhibition and obtaining permission to breed. Of course, you can sign up for an exhibition with such an animal, and pass the examination too, but you can’t expect high marks. And if you like exhibitions, then you can simply come to them as an ordinary spectator. But if you decide that you also want to participate in the show and receive titles and cups, then simply buy yourself a show or breed class kitten at the exhibition.

What documents should I provide?

In order for a participant to be registered and enrolled in the appropriate class, he needs:

• veterinary passport, which must contain all notes on vaccination (against rabies and major infectious diseases). It should be remembered that vaccinations remain valid for a year. But at the same time, you need to remember that a vaccination done less than 30 days before the exhibition is also not considered valid;
• a certificate of castration or sterilization, which is issued by the veterinary clinic where the castration/sterilization procedure was carried out. Also, this certificate can be obtained at any other veterinary clinic, where the doctor can make the appropriate conclusion;
• Form No. 1 (veterinary certificate), which can be issued at any state veterinary clinic and which, unfortunately, remains valid for only three days.

Modern cat shows

At modern exhibitions you can see a wide variety of breeds that have been collected under the roof of one pavilion. This was not always the case. At the very first cat exhibition in 1871, which took place in London, at the Crystal Palace, only Siamese cats and Persians were presented among purebred animals. And all the other participants in the competition were the most ordinary mongrel cats and cats. The organizer of the exhibition, Harrison Ware, said that this exhibition is necessary in order to show humanity that not only purebred animals are worthy of love, affection and care, but every cat is simply obliged to receive all this from its owner. The standards by which the best cats were selected were prescribed by the organizer of the exhibition himself. The winner, or rather winner, of the exhibition was a fourteen-year-old cat named The Old Lady, who, by the way, belonged to Harrison Ware. As for domestic cat exhibitions, they began to be held in the late eighties of the twentieth century. And, to be precise, the seventeenth or eighteenth of May 1987 is considered the birthday of Russian felinology. These days, the very first Russian cat show was held in Moscow at the Bitsa Sports Complex. Moreover, all cats, if you do not take into account the Persians, which were brought from the Czech Republic, did not have pedigrees. The experts were people who were not professionals in this field. They simply tested the contestants on all points of the standard, which was translated from German. Gradually, felinology began to develop in Russia, exhibitions were organized, and Western professional experts were invited. Later, professional Russian judges appeared. Modern cat shows require that almost all animals taking part in the competition provide a pedigree. The exception is for beginners. Many breeds are closed to beginners. However, there are also those (natives of the Russian Federation) who are open. These include breeds such as Kuril Bobtail, Siberian, and European Shorthair. Breeds that are open to beginners are those that were brought from their natural habitat (for example, the short-tailed cat from the Kuril Islands). Then the owner of such a cat has the right to exhibit his pet or pet in the beginner class, where the animal will be given a pedigree. Naturally, this pedigree will be incomplete. Only their fourth generation descendants will be able to obtain a complete pedigree. However, this can only happen if the pioneer cats produce offspring that meet all the standards of their breed.

Preparing a cat for an exhibition

The exhibition should be taken seriously, so it is better to plan everything carefully in advance.

List of required things

Prepare or purchase from a specialized store everything you need to participate:

• performance cage;
• a curtain with which you will hang the cage;
• cat litter;
• toilet and filler;
• a bowl for food and a separate one for water;
• food and water;
• disinfectant;
• toys;
• comb.

It is recommended to choose a cage made of metal with multi-colored inserts made of specially selected fabric. You can sew the curtain yourself using your cat's favorite fabric. She will be able to hide her pet from neighboring competitors and keep the cage warm.

Cat show in Moscow “Vozrozhdenie-2014”

Before hanging the curtain and laying down the rug, thoroughly clean the cage with a cat-friendly disinfectant.

Preparing the appearance

The cat should also be prepared for the exhibition. To receive an award, the animal must look and feel 100%!

If you have a long-haired pet, take care of its appearance six months before the start of the exhibition, but if you have a short-haired one, 3-4 months will be enough. You should bathe your cat at least twice a month, using a conditioner after bathing. Brush your cat as often as possible, gently clean its ears and trim its claws.

Providing food

It is not recommended to feed your pet before traveling. It is enough to feed him the day before the exhibition. You can feed your cat upon arrival, but it is best to do this after participating in the exhibition. But the animal should not need water, so constant access to it should be provided.

History and organization of exhibitions

Caring and ambitious owners began presenting their beloved cats at exhibitions 140 years ago. The first cat show took place in 1871 in London. After this, domestic cat lovers began to hold exhibitions of their pets in other countries of the world. In 1895, America's first cat show took place. It was held in New York, and in 1924, cat shows were first organized in Germany and France.

The exhibition is always organized by a club (society) of cat lovers. To participate in the exhibition, you must submit an application and pay a fee. In addition, each animal will need its own cage for presentation. If your pussy does not yet have its own cage, then you need to contact the exhibition organizers.

The organizers of the exhibition can provide your pet with their existing cages for the duration of the show, just agree with them about this in advance. It is best to drape the walls of the cage with curtains, and put a blanket on the bottom of the cage. This is necessary to keep your pet calm and maintain hygiene standards. The color scheme of curtains and blankets will help highlight the color of your animal.

The second and most important point is preparing your pet for the exhibition . A cat entered into the show must be healthy and have high-quality, well-groomed fur. To do this, you need to think about her diet in advance, switch the cat to a nutritious balanced diet, constantly monitor her health and coat condition, and also conduct training in preparation for the exhibition.

Four days before the exhibition, the cat must be washed, and the powder that you use for cats must be thoroughly combed out, wiped over the ears and corners of the animal’s eyes. Take a wool brush, napkins and a garbage bag with you to the exhibition (just in case). The cat you are presenting must be of a calm disposition so that the judges can inspect it carefully.

Pregnant (1 month or more) animals and lactating cats and kittens less than 8 weeks old are not allowed to participate in the exhibition. Cats that have diarrhea, a runny nose, or suffer from scabies, as well as cats with fleas, are not allowed to participate in the exhibition. Under no circumstances should you dye an animal's fur, otherwise the judges will be forced to disqualify your pet. If the animal is not sufficiently prepared for the exhibition, this will always affect the results.

At an exhibition, a cat either takes a prize or it doesn’t. The owner must be prepared for this in advance and, in any case, regardless of the results of the exhibition, he must remain completely calm. It is immoral to take out your dissatisfaction on a cat. She is not to blame for anything and is still worthy of her master’s love!

A cat show is, first of all, an amazing show where we get to know beautiful representatives of various breeds of cats, enjoy communicating with animals, learn and learn a lot of new and useful things about our favorite cats.

Inter-show cat care

It’s worth explaining right away that caring for an animal (this means washing the cat, combing it, cleaning the ears, trimming the claws) is called grooming by professionals. Victory at the exhibition is impossible without all of the above manipulations. This applies not only to long- or semi-long-haired animals, but also to short-haired cats.

Grooming is divided into inter-show grooming (grooming in between outings) and directly at the show. These types of care differ in the use of fundamentally different drugs. But, one way or another, one jar of shampoo and conditioner is not enough here. Remember that animal fur varies in texture, fullness, density, color, thickness of hair and undercoat, its length, as well as the age of the cat.

All these factors must be taken into account when choosing cosmetics. Although professional grooming products are not cheap, the results are worth it.

Inter-show grooming is, first of all, bathing. The animal's fur is freed from dirt and fat (and at the same time from parasites, worm eggs, fungal spores), and the skin is freed from dead particles of epithelium. Thanks to this, the regeneration of the coat occurs faster after moulting. Particular emphasis should be placed on bathing during periods of shedding to speed up the process of coat renewal. Since the appearance of the cat is not particularly important between exhibitions, simpler shampoos can be used for bathing, but still with natural oils and a light base.

The cat needs to be washed a week before the exhibition, and inter-show grooming involves washing once every 2-3 months. However, frequent washing deprives the cat's fur of protection and leads to the appearance of dandruff, so lubricate your pet's fur with special creams every day.

You need to brush your cat at least once a week. Combs can be chosen according to your discretion and wallet. Combs are not suitable for British Blues - they use massage combs and brushes with natural pig bristles to polish the hair. Slicker brushes are absolutely not suitable - these are exclusively Persian utilities.

As a matter of fact, this is all inter-show grooming. These are simple operations, the whole point of which comes down to weekly repetition. However, they significantly save time, and most importantly, nerves before the exhibition, when the wool can only be slightly refined, and not urgently resuscitated.

Secrets of care a week before the competition

When starting to actively prepare for an exhibition, do not expect to use the same means as you would at home. The competition places completely different, high demands on the animal’s condition. Always remember that you do not need to achieve a momentary result at any cost, but take a serious approach to the issue. After all, most exhibitions last two days, and the abundance of powders and gels on the first day will glue the wool together stronger than cement. You need to be especially careful with incompatible drugs - powder and oils, gels and lotions. In breeds where the volume and thickness of the coat are of particular importance, the cleanliness of the coat before the exhibition is of key importance. The cleaner it is, the better it holds volume. Therefore, a week before the competition, wash your pet.

The structure of a cat's fur is such that with prolonged use of oils, it becomes saturated with them and after bathing in regular shampoo it still looks greasy. To prepare for the exhibition, there is a special type of detergent - for deep cleaning. It is used if the cat has thick hair. Immediately after it, you should treat your hair with a structuring shampoo. But if your pet’s fur is a little “liquid,” structuring may squash it a little and the desired effect will be lost. Here, as a supplement, you can use tinting or, conversely, clarifying shampoos. But, again, their effect must be checked in advance. If the coat is hard, you need to use softening shampoos or conditioners.

The main thing is that it does not disharmonize with the effect of the shampoo. The modern market offers a lot of different conditioners - with oils, plant extracts, with plant silk, with a structuring effect, to add volume, shine or enhanced nutrition. Each series includes three or more different conditioners, which you need to choose based on the structure and characteristics of your pet’s coat.

After your pet takes a bath and dries, you need to apply “makeup” before going on the catwalk. For cats participating in exhibitions, there are many “decorative cosmetics” in the form of gels, mousses, styling varnishes, antistatic agents and other things. Before purchasing such products, it would be a good idea to consult with a professional in order to achieve maximum effect. In this case, your cat will compete with dignity with other animals presented at the exhibition.

Why is the club organizing an exhibition?

The exhibition organizers have many goals:

• breeding show of animals. When experts give a cat any rating, they do it not only to disappoint or make its owner happy. Thanks to these assessments, worthy producers are selected. As a result, the breed improves, mistakes made by breeders are identified, and a more precise direction is given to the further development of the breed. In essence, the expert plays the role of a mentor who determines the quality of the potential bride and groom;
• popularization of the breed itself. The development of the breed and an increase in the number of producers is only possible if as many people as possible know about the existence of the breed: both amateurs and professionals. And if you visit any major exhibition, you will always be able to see among the representatives of well-known breeds a representative of some rare, already recognized or not yet recognized, breed. And if the animal interests anyone, it will always be possible to get information from the mouth of the owner of the rare cat.
• instilling in people a love for cats. The bulk of visitors to such exhibitions are ordinary people, since there is no entrance fee to such events and it is not at all necessary to be a participant. Often, adults bring their children to exhibitions, where they view cats as animals in a zoo and can also communicate with cat owners. Children especially enjoy the kitten exhibitions. And this helps people learn to love these animals.
• advertising. It brings great benefits to cats. After all, on the inserts you can learn about all the new trends in the zoological industry, you can purchase new food, magazines, etc.

Organizers of cat shows

And the organizers of the exhibitions are felinological societies. As a rule, the most popular of them are foreign organizers: Federation Internationale Feline (FIFe), World Cat Federation (WCF), Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA), The International Cat Association (TICA). As for Russian organizations, there is only one single International Felinological Association (IFA). At the same time, animals are judged according to different schemes. For example, in Europe refereeing takes place according to the WCF, FIFe, and IFA schemes. In this case, the animal, for examination, is placed on the table and examined in turn. A special sheet is created for each participant, which indicates how well the animal meets the standards of its breed, and all its advantages and disadvantages are recorded. This sheet is called an evaluation sheet. At the end of the show day, all judges vote to select the best cats. In America, judging (CFA, TICA) is completely different. Here there is an open, ring-based examination: all the advantages and disadvantages of a particular exhibitor are voiced out loud by the experts. After the cats are judged according to the standards, they are given by experts a certain number of ribbons, or pennants (scores that mean, for example, the best in color or the best in performance of the breed). All animals that take part in this round take part in the finals: the first ten receive certain prizes and certificates. It should be noted that an animal that has collected a certain number of diplomas, based on a score sheet (if we are talking about the European system) or ribbons (when refers to the American system) receives a certain number of points. These points determine whether the animal will be able to receive a special certificate, which gives the right to cats and female cats to take part in breeding. All systems for obtaining a particular title are strikingly different from each other. For example, the lowest title is awarded to animals that have taken part in several exhibitions in their home city. But in order to be awarded the highest title, you should visit exhibitions in other cities, and even in other strange ones on other continents. It should be noted that in different felinological organizations the requirements for standards differ, but not by much: in any case, not to to such an extent that the breed was changed beyond recognition. However, such organizations have one single goal - the development of this industry and the improvement of cat breeds. Thus, each person visiting the exhibition does so with his own specific goal. Of course, it all depends on who you are going to the exhibition as. For example, ordinary visitors, as a rule, go to an exhibition to admire beautiful animals, and owners of breeding cats go for ranks, titles and awards. Some people want to get a pet or pet, while others want to adopt kittens.

How can I find out about the location of the exhibition?

To clarify the situation in your area, you need to contact your local felinological club.

In this regard, owners of domuses (this is what felinologists call cats without a pedigree) are very lucky. Unlike owners of purebred cats, they don’t have to bother with choosing a judging system, an expert, a felinological organization and other issues that are quite difficult for a layman to understand. All you need to do is find out the schedule of exhibitions, which can be done at your local felinological club or on the Internet. Then you need to call the organizers of the exhibition and ask whether applications from participants are accepted for the “domestic cat” class. A class is a group of cats that are similar in one way or another, so the exhibition will include classes such as kittens, breeders, purebred castrati and others.

Sometimes local clubs organize exhibitions dedicated only to outbred cats, which attract a fairly large number of participants and spectators. But, unfortunately, such events have recently become much more rare.

What do you need to participate in the exhibition?

Any cat that meets the conditions of one of the registration organizations can take part in the exhibition.

Age

Usually, if a kitten has reached 3-4 months, he is gladly accepted as a candidate. But kittens that are younger than this age are accepted only with the kitten’s mother as part of the litter. There is no age limit for an animal to participate in an exhibition, but it is not recommended to take a cat over 10 years old to such events.

If you are going to use your pet for breeding, remember that in this case they will only be able to evaluate it from 10 months. Until this age, a cat can participate in exhibitions, however, after 10 months, any pet that is recognized as suitable for participation in breeding is presented to the exhibition again.

Health

It is very important that the cat is completely healthy:

• Vaccinated against rabies, panleukopenia, calicivirosis and rhinotracheitis no earlier than a year and no later than one month before the exhibition.
• Dewormed with a broad-spectrum drug.
• The cat should not be injured by people or other cats. An animal that shows a minor injury, such as a scratch, bite, or abrasion, may lose several precious points when judged by the experts. And if there are significant injuries, the pet may be completely removed from participation in the competition.
• The animal must not have congenital defects - strabismus, bald spots, blindness, cleft lip, etc.
• A pregnant cat is only assessed until it is noticeable in appearance - approximately 5 weeks.
• Nursing cats are also taken to exhibitions. However, noticeable signs of lactation can significantly reduce the score.
• Neutered and spayed cats can only take part in classes that are available to them.

So, if your cat meets all of the above requirements, think about whether the animal will be able to visit such crowded places. Often unsociable and shy cats, when surrounded by a crowd of unfamiliar people and animals, loud noise and strange smells, experience very severe stress. And, most likely, there is no point in wasting your time and money in this case. After all, if a contestant hisses or scratches an expert, he will be disqualified.

XI International Cat Show “Grand Prix Royal Canin”

If you are convinced that your cat is the future star, start collecting documents and preparing the cat for the exhibition. Now you must realize that you are taking on some responsibilities and financial costs.

Required documents

1. Veterinary passport. Each animal, regardless of whether it is purebred or not, must have its own veterinary passport, which must contain records of all injections and treatments for parasites.
2. Certificate of form No. 4. For the exhibition, you should issue a certificate of form No. 4, which is issued on the basis of a veterinary passport and a clinical examination of the cat - an assessment of the appearance of the animal.

Additional documents if you are planning to travel to an exhibition out of town

Certificate form No. 1. The certificate will indicate the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the area of ​​your residence.

These certificates must be issued at a state veterinary clinic.

Additional documents if you are planning to travel to an exhibition abroad

You need to obtain an international veterinary passport.

If your cat is purebred, you will need to have documents with you confirming this:

1. contract of sale,
2. kitten birth metric
3. pedigree

Basically, such documents are drawn up and issued immediately after purchasing a purebred kitten.

For the first time, it is better to participate in an exhibition that is located near you.

The Supreme Cat Show is the world's largest cat show, held annually in Birmingham. 2010

Other little things

It is advisable to fill out the form and submit an application for participation at least a month before the opening

It is very important to fill out the form correctly: indicate the exact gender, age, breed, coat color, nickname, etc.

In case any questions arise, the telephone number and name of the administrator should be indicated on the first page of the form.

It is recommended to check the cost of a cat show in advance. Usually the amount ranges from 600 to 2200 rubles. depending on the rank of the event. You may need to pay the exhibitor fee in advance.

In addition to personal data in the form, you will need to select the appropriate exhibition class, which is divided depending on the exhibition system in which your pet will take part.

How to receive a reward?

When obtaining any title, competition may arise between animals of the same breed, sex, color and exhibition class. For example, several British shorthair blue cats claim the CAC title and then the CAC title (candidate for champion) and the excellent I rating are given to the best of them, and the rest receive the excellent rating.

Outbred cats can take part in the exhibition along with other cats and deservedly receive their reward. But the owner needs to understand that this requires daily training of the animal and proper care of it.

If you have any problems or questions, you do not need to solve them yourself, but rather contact the exhibition organizers.

The most important thing is that your cat trusts you and then she will behave calmly in front of a large number of people. This is also a kind of entertainment for the cat. In the normal rhythm of life, we pay too little attention to our pets. And in order to get your attention, cats are ready to do anything, including going to an exhibition.

Remember, preparing a cat for an exhibition is a troublesome but rewarding task.

How does an expert evaluate a cat?

Pedigree cats are compared to a standard - a description of the ideal representative of the breed. But domestic cats are so different: a respectable long-tailed cat with luxurious red fur does not at all look like a graceful short-haired tortoiseshell cat. How to determine which of them deserves the “golden” cup, and who will get a consolation prize? To make a choice, the expert uses a special table of points, which are awarded or deducted for each of the following points:

general condition, weight-to-size ratio; well-groomed, beautiful coat, healthy shine, correct texture; for patterned cats, it is important that the stripes or spots are clearly “readable”; harmonious build, naturalness; character (an aggressive cat that hisses at an expert, tries to bite or scratch him, will never get a high rating).

The more points the cat scores, the higher the chance of winning. Titles are not awarded to pets, but they receive honorary titles “Best Domestic Cat in Show”, etc., and owners receive memorable diplomas, cups, rosettes, all kinds of prizes and a sea of ​​positive emotions. We wish you victories, and most importantly, good mood and pleasant impressions. Your cat – healthy, loved and happy – is already a winner, despite the judge’s decision.

What to take with you to the exhibition

Exhibition tent

Cat costume

We have already written about the need to purchase an exhibition tent. And now we want to give you specific recommendations for choosing it. So, choose the color of the tent... to match the color of the fur of your cat

If the color of the tent successfully matches the color of your animal, it will definitely attract attention to you. As for the shapes of tents, they can be rectangular and semicircular and even square

But the most convenient ones are square and rectangular ones; on the roof of such a tent you can install advertising for your cattery if you are breeding cats. True, be prepared for the fact that you will also need men’s hands, since it is simply impossible to assemble such a tent and stretch the fabric onto the frame while holding a cat in your arms.

Once you have chosen such a tent, think about how you decorate it - curtains, ribbons, lace, cat furniture - all this will help you be the center of attention.

Animal cage

We mentioned above that it is better to refuse the metal cages that the exhibition organizers offer you, if possible. Buy your own cage for the exhibition. If the organizers insist, then be sure to disinfect the “stranger” using special products such as Chlorhexidine or Mixim in order to kill possible germs and reduce the risk that your cat will become infected with some kind of feline disease. To ensure that the cage does not look so bare and dull, and does not resemble a solitary cell, put a mattress or a cat bed in it, and hang beautiful curtains on its sides. This will create not only an aesthetically pleasing effect, but will also increase the level of safety for your animal, protecting it from drafts and curious exhibition visitors.

Tray and filler

When going to the exhibition, take care of the cat litter - it is better to choose a folding version, also take some litter and a scoop for cleaning, and of course, remember a couple of garbage bags, they will come in handy if something happens. To ensure that the tray is not too conspicuous, choose it to match the color of the tent.

Food and food bowls

Take the animal’s usual food and water and pour it into familiar bowls. Treating your animal with gift food options, which are often distributed to exhibition participants, is not worth it. All experiments with new products are best done at home.

Nursery advertising sign

If you are engaged in breeding cats and you have your own cattery, do not miss this opportunity to advertise it. Order a special sign in advance, where the name of your cattery, the breed of cats you breed, and your phone number and website address, if you have one, will be clearly visible.

Road beautician

Don’t forget also about your travel cosmetics bag and its useful contents - texturizer spray for wool, a comb, cotton swabs and cotton pads, wet wipes for cleaning wool, disinfectant, business cards for your nursery. It will be much more convenient if you can hang such a cosmetic bag around your neck.

First time at the exhibition: tips for beginners

This article describes general information on how to prepare not only British cats, but also cats of other breeds for an exhibition. It's no secret that at many Russian exhibitions poorly prepared, shedding, overfed and even unhealthy animals are presented. And it is very disappointing when a representative of such animals demonstrates them as an excellent breed type.

It seems that their owners paid $1,000 for the kitten and now believe that for that price the animal should prepare itself for the exhibition event.

But seriously, there is very little literature that gives competent advice for preparing a cat for an exhibition. Many periodicals have published materials on the training of only Persian cats, which is why owners of other cat breeds begin to think that they can take their pets to an exhibition at any time.

Many owners, deprived of information, follow illiterate advice or use the described preparation of Persian wool on their animal of another breed - many experts are faced with powdered Angoras and combed Siberians!

In addition, local felinological organizations do not inform owners that poor preparation for the exhibition can lead to deprivation of the title or cause a lack of nomination in Best in Show. And in the end, they begin to make claims to the experts and ask that during the examination they give priority to the type of animal, regardless of behavior, tearing and quality of fur. The texture of the coat refers to the same full-fledged breed characteristic as the type of animal, and you can “earn” about 5-10 points on it. If the wool is improperly prepared, it is impossible to determine its quality, which means that the animal is deprived of its 10 points, and the title accordingly.

By and large, each breeding center or club should provide consultation to its members on the issue of both the daily care of the animal and the issue of exhibition preparation of any breed that is available in this organization. Whether such consultations are paid or free depends on the club, but they must conduct them without fail. Also, clubs should have contacts of permanently practicing grooming specialists, and if the owner of the animal does not have the opportunity or simply does not want to prepare the cat for the exhibition himself, then he should have the opportunity to use the services of a groomer.

Physiological condition, health and conditioning.

The health of an animal presented for exhibition must be confirmed:

1. Documents from the veterinary clinic about vaccinations performed (certificate, veterinary passport)

2. External examination by a veterinarian, which is carried out before registration of the participant on the day of the exhibition.

Vaccination.

When holding an exhibition, Russian sanitary and epidemiological authorities usually require proof of rabies vaccinations. The exhibition organizers have every right to request proof of vaccination against many other diseases (microsporia, panleukopenia, etc.), as well as a veterinary certificate that the animal does not have internal parasites.

A veterinarian who examines animals at an exhibition is required to record the absence of fleas, ticks and other external parasites, as well as other external signs of disease, for example, fungus, lacrimation, nasal discharge, etc.

However, chronic diseases that are in remission cannot be identified during such an examination. Remember that it is in your interests to present a healthy animal at an exhibition, because... an exhibition is stressful for animals and it is likely that this stressful situation can provoke an exacerbation of diseases.

Consequence of injuries.

Before the exhibition, you need to make every effort to protect your pet from injuries such as abrasions, scratches, bites that the animal may receive during mating or fighting.

An animal that shows obvious signs of minor injuries risks losing 5 points. And if there are significant injuries, the animal may be disqualified altogether. If there are serious injuries that have left a mark on the appearance of the animal - a broken tail, wounded ears, eyes - this will not affect the animal’s breeding career in any way, but will be an obstacle to its exhibition career.

If you are a member of a felinological organization in which, in order for an animal to participate in breeding work, it must receive a breeding assessment at an exhibition, know: such an assessment is usually obtained at an exhibition held at the level of your club. The organizing committee and the heads of the club's breeding commission may require you to provide a medical report on the origin of your pet's traumatic defects.

Often, the show condition of cats can be disrupted by increased activity of the sebaceous glands, which are located at the root of the tail, as well as inflammation of their ducts. To prevent this, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the skin in the area of ​​the cat’s tail; if it becomes dirty, thoroughly rinse the area where the ducts are located.

In cases where signs of inflammation appear, you should contact a veterinary clinic. Excessive activity of the sebaceous glands may be a sign of metabolic disorders. Be sure to go for a consultation with a veterinarian - perhaps it’s a matter of housing conditions, breeding load and feeding that will need to be changed.

Pregnancy.

An expert can evaluate a pregnant cat until the pregnancy becomes visible externally (up to approximately 4 weeks). You should not forget about this if you have plans for a cat’s breeding and exhibition career.

Lactation.

A nursing cat can also undergo the examination, however, when signs of lactation are visible externally (absence or darkening of hair in the nipple area, enlarged mammary glands), the expert deprives the animal of five points from the overall score. That is why there is no point in putting a nursing animal on a title higher than CACIV.

Estrus is not an obstacle to participation in the exhibition. You just need to take into account that a cat in this physiological state is often nervous and excited.

If the pet is aggressive, it is recommended to take permission from members of the exhibition committee to independently show your animal without the help of stewards.

You should also remember that the smell of a cat in heat excites cats, which is why you should not place the animal in a show cage next to such a neighborhood.

Shedding.

Shedding is a natural periodic state of an animal and is seasonal in nature. When cats are kept in an apartment with central heating, the intensity and frequency of shedding is disrupted, and sometimes it is very difficult to predict what form the animal will be in by the time of the exhibition.

You should try to note all the features of your pets' shedding - the timing of shedding, the rate of change of shedding areas and the growth of new fur. You should monitor the sequence of changes in different types of hair - undercoat, guard, outer coat, and also at what stage of molting the animal loses its decorative hair.

This knowledge gives an idea of ​​whether the animal will be in show shape by the required date. The order of changing hair types deserves special attention, because... the texture of the coat as a whole greatly depends on their ratio.

Cats usually shed unevenly. The greatest degree of shedding is observed in breeds that have a developed undercoat - British, Persians, exotics, etc. With the seasonal loss of undercoat, not only the appearance of the animal deteriorates, but also the typical texture of the coat is distorted - due to the fact that the coat is dominated by outer and guard hairs, it appears harsh, dry or coarser. The loss of outer hair and distortion of the coat texture is typical for those breeds that have thick, water-repellent outer hair, for example, Siberians. The fur of these animals often becomes softer during molting due to the absence of outer hair.

You should also know that molting can worsen the color. You should try to determine the extent to which your cat's color changes during shedding. Solid color (with the exception of white) during the molting period loses uniformity of tone, smoky color - a clear contrast, and often the “smoke” itself due to the loss of undercoat in different parts of the body.

This also applies to chinchillas, shaded and cameo, their color becomes darker, the tipping loses uniformity, and it also happens that a shadow pattern begins to appear on the body and legs.

During seasonal molting, the color of a tabby may lose its clear pattern. In general, you can see that the consequences of shedding often affect smoky colors, chinchillas and cameos, i.e. colors that are characterized by white, contrasting and golden undercoat. The loss of the undercoat of such animals is really a big nuisance, which can lead to a decrease in the score due to a color defect, as well as to the fact that the external color of the cat will not correspond to the real one and stated in the evaluation sheet.

Prolonged and excessively intense shedding is a clear indicator of health problems. There can be many reasons - lack of vitamins, dysbacteriosis, liver disease, hormonal disorders, etc. Contact your veterinarian and do all the necessary tests before you start feeding your pet vitamin supplements.

Fatness.

Strictly speaking, cats of all breeds have the same nutritional requirements. Fat deposition in certain areas of the body, muscle mass and bone strength are hereditary and create the specific appearance of the breed. An animal that is in show condition should not have visible ribs; they should only be palpable. This also applies to the vertebrae of the back. When turning the body, the ribs can be slightly visible only in hairless and short-haired breeds of light build, for example, in Siamese, Oriental, and St. Petersburg Sphynxes.

For cats of any breed, belly fat is extremely undesirable, with the exception of the Ragdoll breed. However, these fat deposits are considered the least of the faults in heavily built breeds (British, Sacred Burmese, Siberian) than in lighter built breeds (Angora, Russian Blue, Norwegian Forest).

It is better to prevent deviations in the animal’s fatness than to urgently correct the situation a month before the exhibition. Many owners overfeed their pets. And if you sharply reduce the amount of food 1-2 weeks before the exhibition, the animal will certainly lose weight, but it will not be possible to get rid of the stretched skin that forms in place of fat deposits during this period.

It will take about a month and a half to restore skin elasticity. In addition, it is worth considering that animals lose weight unevenly, just like people. If you start feeding your animal less, it may well be that the cheeks will lose weight, but the fat in the abdominal area will remain in its place. This often happens in British and Siberian cats.

There is also the opposite picture, which is typical for the eastern group of breeds - deposits on the belly disappear so much that the body shape required by the standard is violated (tubular), but the massiveness and cheeks remain unchanged. And most importantly, a sudden “diet” leads to metabolic disruption and contributes to the development of dysbiosis.

The process of reducing body condition must begin no later than a month and a half before the exhibition. Did you realize it later? – take measures, but it is not recommended to force this process. Even if the animal earns a lower score at the next show, it will remain healthy and will be able to undergo high-quality training for the next shows.

The amount of feed should be reduced gradually, and the reduced portion of the portion should be replaced with vegetables or steamed bran. If the animal eats dry food, it can be replaced with low-calorie food. These foods are suitable for animals that do not have indications for feeding specialized foods for the prevention and treatment of urolithiasis, hypoallergenic, etc.

There is no need to switch the animal to “unfamiliar” food two weeks before the exhibition, even if it is of high quality, no one is immune from an individual allergic reaction. It is very important to increase the animal’s exercise, especially when kept in small apartments and small enclosures.

Lack of nutritional status is often associated with nutritional imbalances, elevated levels of sex hormones (especially in young animals) or health problems. If there is insufficient nutrition, analyze the animal’s diet to see how complete the food is. You can try changing the diet, as well as making the feeding scheme optimal. When feeding dry food, it is worth using one that will promote weight gain.

If, after changing your diet, no improvement is observed, you should consult with a veterinarian, do tests for the presence of dysbiosis (one of the most common causes of weight loss), helminthiasis, and also to determine the level of digestive enzymes. If the cause of insufficient nutrition is the animal’s high sexual activity, then it is worth considering whether it should be exhibited right now or at the moment it is better to use the pet as a breeding animal.

Animal behavior at an exhibition and its resistance to stress.

It is necessary to prepare an animal for an exhibition from its very birth - this is a completely fair thesis regarding the behavior of a cat. The exhibition environment is unfamiliar territory for the animal; “strange” cats are very stressful, especially if the pet is not used to trusting people and quickly adapting to a new environment.

Trust in people and easy contact with them begins to form in infancy. It is recommended to periodically pick up small, suckling kittens, so that the animal gets used to humans (reaction to handling). Young animals that grew up in conditions of minimal interaction with people (for example, in a nursery, in an open-air cage) often become fearful and unsociable.

The aggression of a cat at an exhibition is most often associated with fear (unfamiliar people, place); less often, aggression is provoked by the smells of unfamiliar individuals (more typical for cats). Aggression, which is caused by the second reason, is practically impossible to correct, unlike a defensive reaction.

To prevent an unfamiliar environment from becoming a serious shock for the animal, it is recommended to gradually accustom it to a change of environment (walk with the animal, go on a visit with it, take it out into nature). The sooner an animal begins to participate in exhibitions, the easier it will be for him to adapt to them.

Participation in exhibitions at an early age forms the correct behavior of the cat in the hands of the owner or steward during the exhibition. It should be noted that the position of the animal during such a display varies depending on the breed, so it is worth finding out in advance the display option for your pet.

Many people show cats holding them in a free position in their arms - the front legs are held with one hand, the hind legs are supported with the other. Owners of breeds with a dense short body (exotic, Persian, British) - in a somewhat grouped (collected) position.

Bobtails are held in the arms in a slightly curved position so that the expert or spectator can simultaneously see both the tail and the head of the animal (or at least in profile). For a high-quality display, it will be enough if the cat behaves “well” in the arms not only of its owner, but also of people unfamiliar to it.

The most specific display is the demonstration of the eastern group of cats - Balinese, Oriental, Siamese, etc. When showing these cats, they need to be stretched so that others can estimate the length of their body.

Stretching display has 2 options:

1. Stretch “on the hand” - the body of the animal is located on an outstretched arm, its front paws are held with the fingers of the same hand, the hind limbs are supported with the second hand. This display is considered the most difficult, but it gives the animal the opportunity to show not only the length of its body, but also the shape of the back of its head and the length of its neck.

2. Free stretching “sagging” - the cat is held under the front and hind limbs, while the body sags freely. In this version, you can also show cats of other breeds with a characteristically long body (St. Petersburg Sphynx, Macoon). Bengals are shown in the same way so that those present can appreciate the animal’s patterned color to the maximum.

In order for animals to feel free, and not try to escape or shrink into a ball during a complex display, they need to be taught this from an early age. For Oriental and Siamese cat breeds, you can use any of the stretching options described above, so you should understand in advance which method they prefer.

To reduce stress reactions to the maximum and increase adaptation to the exhibition environment, you can use special medications - usually immunostimulants (immunofan, SGOL - homogenized serum enriched with lactates). Do not try to overcome an animal's stress with tranquilizers, diphenhydramine and other medications intended for humans. Animals often experience a paradoxical reaction to such drugs, i.e. the cat begins to become even more excited, breathing becomes disrupted, and profuse salivation begins. Plus, it is extremely difficult to calculate a safe dose of this type of drug.

General rules of exhibition grooming.

After finishing show grooming, the cat must demonstrate:

- clean coat and skin without signs of dandruff;

- clean inner surface of the ears;

- clean eyes and the area around them without mucous and tear secretions and their traces (brown or yellow spots on the fur);

- clean area around the anus.

To comply with these rules, the cat must be washed - partially or completely - before the exhibition. It is worth noting that it is not at all necessary to wash short-haired and semi-long-haired cats before each exhibition, but only if the “problem” areas (discussed below) and the fur are not dirty.

The most common mistakes of inexperienced owners:

- washing the cat on the day of the exhibition;

- washing the cat with a product intended for humans;

- washing the cat with a low-quality product for animals.

As a result of such mistakes, the breed-specific texture of the coat is disrupted, dandruff and an allergic reaction appear. Therefore, to care for an animal’s fur, you need to use only specific products intended for cats. Ring 5 shampoos, products and Jean Pierre Hari, etc. have proven themselves well. Many shampoos of any consistency (dry, liquid) are specialized for colors and breeds. But do not forget that any shampoo, even from the most famous manufacturer, can provoke an allergic individual reaction in an animal. Therefore, you should not use unfamiliar means before an exhibition without first checking. Wash certain parts of the animal’s body with new shampoo at least a month before the exhibition, evaluate the quality of the washed fur, make sure there is no irritation, dandruff or allergic reactions.

The use of various products and the timing of washing are individual and directly depend on the color and breed of the animal. When grooming, you should pay special attention to the place where the ducts of the sebaceous glands are located - the outer surface of the tail root.

Other problem areas, especially in silver and white cats, are the insides of the paws and lower legs, the areas around the mouth and under the eyes. To clean “problem” areas on the tail and legs, you can use the same products as when washing a cat. Some owners use dishwashing detergents to whiten these areas.

The use of such products is allowed, the main thing is to choose ones that are pH neutral and do not irritate the skin. To get rid of deposits of tear stone, yellow spots on fur, and fat, there are special cosmetic bleaches (“8 in 1”, “Iraise Ring 5”). But it is best to prevent such stains from appearing, because... when removing them, there is a possibility that the product will get into the eyes, and this may cause conjunctivitis.

A healthy animal's ears are usually clean, but earwax can sometimes accumulate in them. Wax is removed with a cotton swab without the use of boric alcohol, anti-mite drugs and other medications that can irritate the skin of the ear. Wax is usually removed the day before the exhibition, but it is advisable to inspect the animal’s ears in advance - 2 weeks before the exhibition. The appearance of crusts and noticeable black dots in the auricle indicates the presence of inflammatory processes or ear mites, so contact your veterinarian immediately.

Nail trimming is another mandatory requirement in preparation for an exhibition. A “manicure” is given to the animal the day before the exhibition. This operation requires special nail clippers or nail clippers. The use of nail scissors, even well-sharpened ones, is undesirable, because... the claw may crack when trimmed or peel off. Before the procedure, examine the claw: it consists of dead tissue (the transparent tip) and living tissue (the white base with a blood vessel inside). Nail trimming is carried out only in the dead transparent zone so that the blood vessel is not touched. The claw is usually trimmed to about 2-3 mm.

Features in color preparation.

It is recommended to wash animals of dark and intense colors (chocolate, tortoiseshell, black, smoky variations, brown and black tabby) approximately 7-10 days before the exhibition. Animals with lightened and contrasting colors (silver tabbies, cream, blue), as well as dark colorpoints (blue, chocolate, seal) and cameo color - 4-5 days before the exhibition. Light colorpoints, chinchillas, biocolors - 2-3 days before the exhibition. Wash the day before the exhibition, i.e. for the night, you can have British, exotic and Persian cats of white color. Cats of other white breeds – 2-3 days before the exhibition. For these animals, like chinchillas and bicolors, on the day before the exhibition, if necessary, you can additionally wash the yellowing areas on the legs, the root of the tail, etc.

In monochromatic animals, individual white hairs are plucked out, which are found on the back, withers, legs, along the tail; in harlequins and bicolors, individual white hairs are found in colored spots.

Cold-colored cats (blue, black) are not recommended to take sunbathing before the exhibition - the fur may fade and acquire brown and rusty shades. To improve color contrast, Thai Shorthair and Thai cats are dressed in overalls or blankets during the shedding period, and the shedding hair is combed daily. But if this is done with colorpoints of other breeds, the quality of their coat may suffer. You can improve the uniformity of tipping in animals of silver shaded color and chinchillas by plucking the dyed to the base or the darkest coarse outer hairs, if there are not too many of them, of course, and also provided that the cat is not molting.

On store shelves there is a huge assortment of products for caring for the fur of animals of almost any color - conditioners, tinted shampoos, products that even out the color tone, for raising the coat, lightening or intensifying the color. Before making your choice, consult with the seller which option is right for your animal. It is not advisable to purchase new products immediately before an exhibition, but if you still really want to, then you need to test its effect in advance on a separate area of ​​the animal’s body.

Accessories for the exhibition.

1. Inside the decorated cage there must be bedding and a curtain that will cover the cage on 3 sides. The curtains serve not only as a background, but also thanks to them the animal is less nervous about the proximity of “strange” cats. If the exhibition allows you to use your own cages, then the side opaque walls of the exhibition box can be used for the same purpose.

2. Disinfectants, which can be used to treat cells, hands, and napkins for disinfection.

3. Rubber mitten (brush), metal comb, massage comb with rounded teeth - a set depending on the breed of cat.

4. Cosmetics (powder, means to eliminate traces of lacrimation if necessary) for long-haired cats.

5. Cotton swabs (preferably sterile) or paper napkins for cleaning eyes.

6. Eye drops for long-haired cats that are prone to watery and sore eyes.

7. Tray.

8. Paper or gauze napkins.

9. Drinking water and water bowl for cats.

Also, do not forget to take with you the cat’s pedigree (or a copy of it), championship certificates (a copy of the certificate is possible), veterinary passport or veterinary certificates, paid receipt for the examination, club membership card (if available).

Exhibition ethics.

Registration for the exhibition.

You must accurately indicate the details of your animal on the application form. If by the day of the exhibition there were changes in the exhibition class, a transfer to a different color and other changes were made, then it is necessary to notify the members of the exhibition committee about this, ask for changes to be made to the evaluation sheets before the start of the examination.

When submitting an application to participate in an exhibition of a club other than that of which you are a member, you should find out in advance in which organizations the declared experts were licensed and which felinological organization registered the exhibition. Find out in your club whether the titles that will be received from these experts and at the exhibition of this organization will be counted in it.

You cannot be late for registration on the day of the exhibition - the exhibition committee has every right not to allow your animal to be examined.

Do not forget that examination by a veterinarian when registering participants is a mandatory event. Before accepting an application for participation in the exhibition, the exhibition committee is obliged to warn all interested participants about how much a veterinary examination costs and whether they need to have veterinary certificates or a veterinary passport with notes on vaccination against certain diseases. Many organizing committees, in order to avoid misunderstandings, give those who signed up for the exhibition a memo that lists the requirements for the exhibitor, and take a receipt from the participants stating that they agree to comply with all the listed requirements.

In addition, when submitting an application, check with the organizer whether it is allowed to place animals in the exhibitor’s cages. If this is not allowed or you do not have your own cage, you need to find out the size and design of the cages that will be at the exhibition - knowing such data, you will be able to adjust the design to the desired size.

Behavior at the exhibition.

An exhibition is a celebration, and you should try to dress accordingly. Even if you are exhibiting an animal for the sake of sporting interest, then it is still not worth coming to an exhibition event in a tracksuit.

In cases where the examination is carried out in an open American or European ring, you should not interfere with the expert’s work - ask questions, comment on his actions, or get too close to his table.

If the examination is carried out without stewards and the owners have to carry their pets themselves to the expert’s table, in this case one should not speak to a member of the examination, unless the initiative comes from his side. Trying to find out an assessment or getting verbal approval for your pet can be regarded as pressure on the expert.

If stewards are present at the examination, but you have reasons to refuse their services (the cat shows aggression towards new people, is overly excited), then you need to ask permission from members of the exhibition committee to show the cat yourself. However, you need to take into account that they have the right to refuse you.

Unacceptable behavior towards members of the exhibition committee, the expert, exhibitors and stewards entails the removal of the participant from the exhibition and the removal of his animal from examination.

Claims to the exhibition.

If any complaints arise against the organizing committee (for example, replacing a previously announced expert), the work of the stewards (for example, a late call for examination), or the exhibition secretariat (data errors in the evaluation sheet), you must contact the members of the exhibition committee or transfer them through the senior steward, your complaints directly at the exhibition. Exhibition committee members are required to take action to correct errors.

In cases where the mistake of the secretary or steward cannot be corrected, because The examination of the competitive group of cats has ended, the exhibition commission is obliged to apologize and return your registration fee. But if an error occurs due to your fault (lateness for the examination, incorrect data on the application form), the exhibition in this case does not bear any responsibility and no one will return the registration fee to you.

If, in your opinion, the exhibition did not satisfy your claims, please contact the disciplinary commission of the organization that registered this exhibition in writing.

Claims to the expert.

The expert's assessment is not discussed or corrected. There is no need to express your complaints personally to the expert or members of the exhibition committee. All they can do to help you is to prove the expert’s competence in assessing certain breeds, because It is the exhibition organizers who can request a license from the expert, which confirms his right to conduct an examination. But if you think that:

— the assessment received by the animal is unfair (for example, the assessment sheet does not contain a justification for deprivation of the title, or the assessment and description do not correspond to breed standards);

— the expert’s behavior towards you or your cat was incorrect,

You can safely file a complaint with the disciplinary commission of the organization where the expert was licensed. The exhibition must provide information about this organization. If you have any complaints related to the evaluation of the animal, be sure to attach a copy of the evaluation sheet.

If after reading the article you still have not changed your mind about exhibiting your animal at various exhibitions, then I wish you high marks and many victories!

3.9 / 5 ( 8 votes)

Specialty shows in WCF

Specialty shows at an exhibition, as you might guess, are competitions within one breed. However, sometimes mixed shows are held at exhibitions, for example, “Forest show”. This show involves cats, Kurilian and Bobtail cats. Sometimes one breed can be divided into two shows, for example, separately.

At the same time, only real monobreed shows are licensed by WCF, and points are awarded for them for the ranking of the best cats; Points are not awarded for “Forest show” and similar shows; winning them is simply a pleasant bonus for the animal’s owners.

Specialty shows include litters, kittens, juniors, castrates, veterans and adult cats. The best is selected from each “class”; from the class of adult cats, as in Best in show, best opposite sex and best adult are selected. The best in each class (except the litter class) is then compared and the best of the breed is selected. A minimum of 10 cats must participate in a monobreed show.

Participation in monobreed shows is voluntary and for a fee.

How to prepare a cat for an exhibition?

The most important thing: the pet must be absolutely healthy and non-aggressive. If a cat's eyes are running, her ears are clogged with wax, her breath smells bad, most likely she will not be allowed for examination.

In addition, the participant in the beauty contest, which is an exhibition of outbred cats at its core, needs to be put in order: bathed, ears cleaned, claws filed. Those with luxurious long hair are bathed and combed on the eve of the exhibition so that the soft hairs do not have time to get tangled. Short-haired animals are bathed a week before the significant date so that the wool has time to restore its texture and gain gloss and luster. Look at the cat: who does it remind you of? Maybe the pet is the spitting image of a Siberian? Or a Siamese? Visit the breed's website for show training guidelines for cats of similar coat types.

Why are domus exhibitions needed?

Organizers of outbred cat exhibitions have several objectives. The first of them, and probably the main one, is the promotion of kind attitude towards animals and the education of responsibility and care towards them.

Cat shows are now held in almost every city.

The second goal is to bridge the gap that has formed over the years between owners of purebred and mongrel cats, despite the fact that both share a love for cats.

Exhibitions are a real holiday for all cat lovers and an opportunity for all lovers of these animals to communicate, sharing experiences and emotions.

It must be said that owners of purebred animals also come with pleasure to such events (albeit as spectators), because they understand that outbred cats are no less beautiful than purebred ones.