Conference misery::feline_v1

    Yes, Sandy, showing is supposed to be fun but unfortunately, there are
    some exhibitors who need lessons in common courtesy.  Some of these
    folks simply relate better to their cats than people, or so I hope, as
    I'd hate to think they treat their cats as nasty as they treat some of
    the spectators.  I think all of us show folks in Feline are an
    exception to that rule, however (having met most of them personally!!).
    
    Some show folks measure their self-worth as humans by how well their
    cat(s) do in the rings.  If their cats fail, then they feel that they
    somehow have failed too.  I like your attitude of thinking that it's
    funny.  Friends and family members of mine who are like you, love cats
    but aren't involved in the show scene, frequently tell me that cat show
    people are a strange breed altogether :^).
    
    Yes, I am very partial to Shadow myself.  He has quite the fan club out
    there.  Nancy is very proud of her boy, and rightfully so!
    
    --R.
    

Not every exhibitor goes to a show to have fun.  There are other reasons why a 
person would get up at 5:00am or earlier on a weekend and then spend all day
in a crowded, noisy showhall.  Personally the thing that makes showing fun for
me is the interaction I have with my fellow breeders and friends.  It can be a 
social thing for me, but that isn't what motivates me to go to a show.  I show
to see how well my breeding program is doing, if I am headed in the right 
direction with my cats, etc.  I sometimes show to gain regional points that
could add up to a regional win at the end of the year.  There are lots of things
going on at a show that an exhibitor has to pay attention to.  

Not every spectator is a joy to talk to either.  There have been many times when 
I have spectators argue with me about the origins of my cat, the color of my cat,
about whether or not my cat was enjoying itself at the show, and on and on.  I
have also had spectators allow their children to smear their dirty hands on my 
clean white cat before I could see what was happening.  There are as many horror
stories on this side of the fence as there are on the other.

In summary, although I do my best to have fun at a show, fun isn't what gets me 
out of bed in the morning and gets the cats bathed the night before.  For me 
there has to be a stronger motivation than that.  When I was showing only HHP's
and not cats of my own breeding, I was more into it for the fun of it.  Now
there is more to it than that, and definitely more at stake.

Jo

    As Jo pointed out there are a number of reasons folks show.  I haven't
    got anything good enough yet to be concerned about regional or
    national wins, but I am there for my breeding program, for socializing
    with fellow breeders etc and for fun.
    
    I'm also there for another important reason and I am SURE that only
    a small portion of folks are there with this goal in mind.  I'm there
    to ACTIVELY reach out to people, to promote my breed, and cats in 
    general and to disseminate information to the average cat owner.  I 
    consider the shows an opportunity to talk to the public and learn 
    more about the potential buyers for my kittens and also I consider 
    this an excellent opportunity to spread important information about 
    the care of cats.
    
    In my last job I was a Technical Rep in Sales Support.  I very very
    much enjoy interfacing with people, talking about their needs and
    problems and pleasures and helping wherever I can.  (I really
    need another job like that, but that's another story)  One thing
    I learned doing that job - interfacing with the public takes a
    certain kind of individual and takes a certain talent - and it also
    takes COMMITTMENT and ENERGY.  I'm not saying any of this as a put
    down in any way, shape or form, of anyone else.  What I'm saying 
    is that it takes alot of effort and folks who want to expend that
    effort choose to do it.  And only a certain percentage of the pop-
    ulation is suited to dealing with "customers".  I think we all know
    that in the computer industry and we have to remember that at the 
    shows too.  
    
    Personally, I find the snappy exhibitors a bit hard to take too
    and feel that there are very few situations that warrant open
    hostility or rudeness.  However, as Jo pointed out there are times
    when exhibitors have to "educate" the public for the safety of their
    cats.  And we don't all have  "performer personalities".  For many, 
    spectators are something they must endure to show their cats.  
    
    I'd like to re-iterate an important point that Roberta made.  Many 
    people have trouble separating the value of their cat as a feline
    companion from the value of the cat as a "show cat".  If their
    cats don't do well they may take this as a personal statement about
    their self worth and they can get VERY defensive.
    
    Finally, some spectators could sure use a lesson in tact.  I was
    benched next to a pretty lilac point siamese over the weekend.
    Now, my personal preference is for the traditional siamese however,
    I would never dream of making some of the comments that people 
    made about that cat!  Many have never seen a wedge-head siamese
    before and asked me what kind of cat he was.  When they found out
    many of them expressed their dislike of the appearance.  Some
    folks say that the look doesn't appeal to them, which is fine.
    However, I heard a story of two spectators who were critizing
    a white oriental shorthair and one of them said, standing in back
    of the owner, "It looks like a Mexican Rat!".  I think I'd be
    offended............
      Nancy DC
    
    Nancy DC

    I hear you...but I was brought up believing  rudeness is not a
    good behaviour and smiles bring you a whole lot more.  Now if
    I was touching the cats or verbally abusing one (saying it was
    ugly) I would deserve to have someone chew me out...but I was
    just looking and truly enjoying the beauty of some of these cats.
    
    I just find it interesting if someone walked up to me and told me
    that I had a gorgeous cat...I would be beaming with a smile from
    ear to ear.  I would not be growling, snorting and telling people 
    to move along!   That's what truly surprised me.  And I do not
    believe I would see this behavior from any of the feliners in
    this notesfile.
    
    The next time I attend a show...I have decided not to bother walking
    the floor to look at the cats in their cages...I will just spend more
    time watching the judges, looking for our Dec feline friends,  and 
    buying all the cat goodies!!  
                         
                        
    Sandy
    

    
    When I was showing Bailey I looked at a 2 day show as an extention of
    work week.  Exhibiting your cat and dealing with spectators is no
    different to me than dealing with my customers.  It takes alot of
    energy.  Sometimes you just want to scream, but you have to take a deep
    breath, grit your teeth and be pleasant about it.  It is easy to get
    carried away with the competitiveness of it all whether you are showing
    in the kitten , champion or premiership classes.
    
       

    I had occasion to observe Nancy at the Boxboro show on Sunday, and it 
    was obvious that she enjoyed interfacing with the spectators. Of course,
    having Shadow there to back her up, as well as the pictures of the new
    fold babies, certainly didn't hurt! ;-)

    Cindy

    In most cases I enjoy interfacing with spectators too.  But, that does
    take an awful lot of energy and you have to consider the number of
    spectators that a breeder talks to in a day.  
    
    I have never seen an exhibitor at a show tell a spectator who was just
    looking at their cat to move along or anything like that.  There have
    been a few breeders that I have seen be a little short with spectators,
    like giving them one word answers to their questions, or turning their
    backs to them after answering a question as if to tell them "that's it,
    no more questions".  Just like in any sport or segment of society,
    there are nice people and there are not so nice people.
    
    Also, many folks that are into animals have better communication with
    animals than they do with other humans. 
    
    Jo  

    > Also, many folks that are into animals have better communication with
    > animals than they do with other humans. 
    
    Just like there are folks who interface better with computers ;^)
    
    Moderators -
      I think maybe this discussion should be moved to a note of its
    own.  We're really getting away from "brags".
      Thanks
       Nancy DC
    

    I didn't mean to send BRAGS down the good old rathole....I
    was just noting an observation at the show.  Thanks for
    sharing all your opinions....and sharing with me some
    points of view from people who do show...these are things
    a spectator does not see.  
    
    Sandy

    In the championship classes (kitten, adult and premier) the judges are
    not supposed to take the temperament into consideration unless a cat is
    acting in a recalcitrant way.  In the household pet class, temperament
    is everything since there are no standards for household pets.
    
    Jo

    re: .9  Sandy - you weren't sending the note down a rathole.  You 
    simply hit on a subject that obviously needed more discussion and 
    in line with the guidelines - and to make it easier for readers -
    I thought it should have its own basenote.  Now we can write all
    we want about catshow "personalities".
      Nancy

    Actually, this topic was discussed before in another note that I can't
    find right about now. I do know what Sandy is takking about. I saw this
    pretty little "fawn" colored abby (I think) and remarked that the cat
    was the same color as my Argus. You wouldn't believe the earful I got
    about what she had to go through to breed a cat of that color so she
    was doubtful that my common ally cat could be the same color. That
    experience really turned me off from asking questions. In all fairness
    to the exhibiters, though, I can see how tiring it can get answering
    the same old questions over and over.
    
    deb 

    Well, IMHO, this is too good a chance to pass up to
    educate a spectator (or question asker, or whatever)
    to ruin it by being rude, obnoxious, etc., etc.....
    
    Yes, there are some spectators you want to strangle,
    (I have had people visit my house and comment on how
    big my Korats ears are, and how stupid I was to "pay"
    for a cat, and so on.  Instead of a nasty comeback,
    I hand them the copy of the Cat Fancy Magazine I have
    with a story about Korats.  Most leave wanting one, or
    at least, with a better understanding...:-))
                                               
    I am an "animal person", not a "people person".  
    
    But, if I was showing, I would use the time to the 
    cats of the world's advantage....
    
    Lynne

    Personally I could never understand why exhibitors got so offended
    by people who compare their beloved pet to the purebred in the cage.
    Guess that's cause I think all cats are special and I don't think
    the purebreds are any more valuable than the moggies - just different.
    
    I consider it a compliment when someone compares the cat they love
    so much to one of my kitties.  And I don't expect EVERYONE to love
    the look of the Scottish folds.  We all  have different tastes.  Just
    don't be insulting about your opinion, that's all.  
    
    Well, some people are just conceited I guess.  Or they need something
    like an expensive purebred to make them feel important.  That isn't
    limited to the cat world either.  I like Lynne's attitude - Just 
    be polite.  Teach them a lesson.
      Nancy DC

    I do see what you mean Nancy.  But you do have a unique looking cat. 
    They have their unique colors about them.
    
    But I can't count how many times I've had a spectator tell me that my
    Korats "look just like my smokey", or dusty, or whatever.  Then they
    wonder if their cat could be a Korat.  Honestly, it's not very likely.
    (-:  It does get tiresome after a while.
    
    A friend of mine gave me a sign (she breeds Russian Blues).  It simply
    says "No, I am not related to your smokey."
    
    Holly
    

    Holly, you reminded me of a story that was printed in the Alamanac a
    year or so ago.  It was written by a Russian Blue breeder and was
    called "Not Every Blue Cat is a Russian Blue" or something like that. 
    It was actually kind of funny.  I wil see if I can locate it for you.
    :^)
    
    The funniest thing that I ever had said about any of my cats at a show
    was "oh look honey, it a Birmanese!"  My husband and I couldn't even
    look at each other or we would have broken into gales of laughter. :^)
    
    Also, having a breed that is fairly rare, but has color featurs of many
    other breeds, there is rarely a spectator that comes by the knows what
    the cats really are.  It is refreshing when it happens.  I don't mind
    explaining to people what the cats are, where they came from, etc., but
    I hate it when the spectators argue back with me that I am wrong!! 
    Believe me, this has happened many times.  I couldn't tell you how many
    people have tried to tell me that my cats were Ragdolls, Balinese,
    Himmies, Siamese, Burmese, etc. etc. etc.
    
    Jo

    I thought of another thing that has happened to me at a show.  I had
    someone open up the door to my benching cage to reach in to pet the
    cat.  I came over and explained that the person shouldn't open the
    cages, because he might inadvertently let one of the cats loose (I
    wanted to tell him because some irate owner might murder him but I
    was trying to be nice).  And then I explained that he should ask
    permission before touching any of the cats.  His reply was  "hey lady, I
    *paid* my money at the door, if I want to touch the cats, I will touch
    the cats!!!"  As you can imagine, this got me quite upset.
    
    Jo

    And then there's the story of the spectator who came by Amelia's
    cage and kept insisting she was going to have kittens.  (FYI-Amelia
    is a household pet and as such cannot be shown unless she is spayed.)
    I kept trying to tell this person that Amelia was not going to have 
    kittens that it was physically impossible.  That she had been spayed.  
    That she was just a fat kitty and this person kept saying, nope, she's 
    going to have kittens any day now.   ARRRGGGGHHHH!
                   
    Honestly, I think I know my cat better than someone who just happens
    to pass by her cage once in a cat show.
    
    Jan
    
    (I just keep repeating to myself...I do like showing cats, I do,
     like showing cats, I do, I do, I do like showing cats...)

    Re: .18
    
    Then there's the person who insisted Pussycat, my neutered male,
    was pregnant....
    

    Well, I suppose when there's a neutered male at a show nursing
    kittens it CAN get a bit confusing to the unenlightened ;^)
    
    Seriously, Jo, I think I would have escorted that spectator to the
    nearest show manager and had him educated or thrown out!
    
    I was sitting next to a family watching the judging of orientals
    this weekend and the dad asked his son if he didn't think they
    looked like "Splinter".  For those of you who don't know the
    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Splinter is a rat.  sigh.........

    But Splinter was a "good" rat..:-)
    
    Lynne

    At least the dad didn't say "gee son, doesn't that cat look like a
    rat??"  Some folks may have overheard him and just figured he had a cat
    at home named "splinter". :^)
    
    The most exciting spectator thing that happened to me this weekend was
    the couple who came up and offered me stud service to the three year
    old Birman male pet that they had bought on a spay/neuter contract.
    
    Jo

    > The most exciting spectator thing that happened to me this weekend was
    > the couple who came up and offered me stud service to the three year
    > old Birman male pet that they had bought on a spay/neuter contract.
    
      Oh gawd Jo.  Did you eat them alive?  ;^)  Seriously, what did you
    say?
    

    I asked them who they got their cat from, and then called him after the
    show and told him what had happened.  He can handle it from his end
    too.  I also told them that I wasn't interested in breeding to their
    cat since he wasn't registered, was sold as a pet (there being some
    reason that he was sold as a pet), and I would be aiding and abetting
    them in breaking their purchase contract with their breeder, who I
    knew, their cat had no title (what a snob I am!!);^), etc. etc.  Then, 
    they went to the Birman breeder down the way from me and she told them 
    to come over with their cat so she could have a look at it.  I went over 
    and filled her in on the details, but she still wanted to have a look 
    at the cat and decide for herself.  Oh well, to each his own. 
    
    I like to think that if any of my pet buyers ever approached another
    breeder regarding "illegally" breeding the cat they got from me, that
    that breeder would notify me and let me take care of it, rather than
    considering doing the breeding.  What would be the point, the offspring
    could not be registered, and they would just be more unregistered pets
    looking for homes.  I can't see why a legitimate breeder would even
    consider it.
    
    Jo  

    Well you showed me the other side...boy they are some rude spectators
    around as well!  Of course I didn't have to deal with them...because
    I wasn't showing.
    
    But I have to admit...I have always loved cats...and I'm into saving
    strays and helping at shelters...but to be honest...I have not seen
    many purebred cats and cannot tell alot of them apart.   So I would
    probably be one of the "not so smart ones" and question what type
    of cat yours was.    You have to admit if your not use to shows....
    there are some very unique cats there...and I was so excited to see
    all the beautiful felines and gain more knowledge about what kind
    they were.
    
    I guess I'm a shelter girl....not a show girl!
    
    Sandy