 Purred: Sun Aug 2, '09 1:21am PST |
 | |  | | So, I just realized that TICA doesn't do shows in Australia and the only CFA is in the state below me, BUT I thought I'd share my first cat show experience which was today which was held by QICC (Queensland Independent Cat Council) which is affiliated with the ACF (The Australian Cat Federation).
Anyways, Paine is "Companion" or HHP and it was both her and mine first ever cat show. I had cleaned her until she was pristine and well annoyed with me. At the cat show there were only 3 other companions being shown. One was a Grand Champion, one was 13 years old and the other was in a competition to be the new face of a cat food company. Paine surprisingly looked like the GC, except he has spots and she is marbled. The other two cats were Ginger Tabbys. I thought since Paine was so cute, with being a kitten still, she might have a good chance...boy was I wrong.
I had prepared her with the grooming. I had prepared her for cat cages...but what I hadn't prepared her for was being touched by strangers. She hissed and growled at every single judge (at least she never took a swipe at them). The first judge had me take her out of her cage for them. The second judge just ignored her and picked her up anyways (which I think was the best strategy, cause if you let the cat know that hiss scares you, they're just going to keep doing it) and the third judge refused to judge her! Luckily tho, since there were only 4 companion cat, she -had- to place.
The first judge gave her 4th place and the "Judges Fancy" Ribbon. The second judge gave her 3rd place, and the third judge gave her 4th. I didn't like the third judge and not just cause he wouldn't judge my cat. The things he said while he judged the 3 other companions were all insulting to their owners and he talked about companions as if they were lesser than purebreds (not really the best thing when talking to companion owners...). I also felt he was a bit harsh on Paine, especially since her cage was marked "Learner" so the judges knew it was her first cat show and to be lenient with her.
I was given some great advice from the other two judges as to how bring out her more friendly side at cat shows, tho, so that's good. (Have friends hold and play with her and give her treats). I also had my name drawn from the raffle three times, so I went home with twice as many items "won" (lots of kitty litter  )
All in all, I look forward to our next cat show which is with the CFCCQ (Council of Federated Cat Clubs of Queensland) which is on the 23rd.
I have twenty days to improve her social behaviour - is that a reasonable time period to expect a change? Did anyone else have a cat that was content in the cage, but just hated people touching them? or any other idea as to how to socialize her?  |  |  | |  |
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