Conference misery::feline_v1

    
    Hi Helena,
    
    Afraid I know nothing about showing cats, but I know a woman who does.
    
    Give Celia a ring at the Willow House Cattery in Maidenhead (Tel.
    0628 783881). She breeds Silver Tabbies and has been a governing
    council judge for a long time. Celia is judging at shows a lot.
    
    She is ever so helpful. Mention you are a Digital employee, she has
    told me in the past that her brother-in-law works for Digital in Geneva.
    
    I can recommend her boarding cattery as well.
    
    Let us know how you get on.
    
    Regards,
    Geoff  
                                  

    Do let us know Skippy, I have a kitten that sounds as if it's going to
    be like yours, fluke from a black father and a brown tabby with white
    patches mother... I've no idea where a kitty like that stands as far as
    showing goes but there must be some way of showing them....

    It would also be interesting for us who show in the U.S. to hear a
    little about how shows are conducted out there.  I know that I
    personally would love to hear about what it's like to show in another
    country.  From the little I've heard, it is VERY different than here.
    
    I'll be following this note with interest.
    
    cin
    

    Yes, please do put lots of show notes in!!  I'd love to hear
    about how things (shows) are run over the water!  Please tell
    us ALL the details - from the entry information - EVERYTHING!
    This really sounds like fun - 
    
    E.T.

    I have a friend who is a fellow Birman breeder, but also a Fife
    Semi-Longhair Judge.  She lives in Denmark and was recently out
    here for a visit.  I took her to our CFA show, and we talked about
    what the differences are between Fife and CFA.  
    
    She told me that in Fife, the judge has a ring, like our judging
    rings, but that a steward goes to the cages and brings the entries
    to the judge.  If the steward cannot handle the cat, then it doesn't
    get judged.  After the judge is finished with the cat, the steward
    takes it back to it's benching cage.  All cats are benched according
    to entry number so that the stewards can find them quickly.  The
    owners and spectators are allowed to remain in the show hall the
    whole day and observe.
    
    The semi-longhair class consists of Birmans, Maine Coons, Norwegian
    Forest Cats, Turkish Angoras, Somali's, Balinese, and soon will
    include Exotic Shorthairs.
    
    The judge must write a report on every cat that it judges, good
    points, bad points, etc.  At the end of judging, the judge gets
    to nominate his/her choice for Best in Show, which could be a kitten,
    championship, or premiership cat.  The nominees have to be judged
    by a panel of judges who will then vote on the Best in Show Cat.
    
    That is all I remember right now.
    
    Jo

    I tried to contact Celia, but she was not available until this Tuesday.
    
    I shall call her tomorrow, and update you all then.
    
    But Fizzy had his usual visit to the vets over the weekend, and
    the vet said the same as everyone else that has met him, and that
    was "what beautiful markings"  So my ego has gone up again, and
    I shall be pursueing the "Showing".
    
    Helena
    

    Hi Helena,
    
    Useful to hear about the cattery in our area.  Know what you mean
    about the vet - we used to have one that did not specialise in cats
    and he just treated them and put them back in the basket.
    
    Now we have switched to one who on first sight of 4 huge eyes peering
    in trepidation out of a cat basket said "Oh - aren't they gorgeous".  
    Two worried pet owners instantly decided that this man was the nicest 
    they'd ever met, "Why don't we invite him to dinner" etc, etc.

    Despite the fact that I don't think they'll ever actually like a
    vet, the "bedside manner" was superb.
    
    Kate