As the new cat show season gets underway in earnest, I thought I’d pass along some food for thought about cat showing. It is modified from a sports code of conduct — but I think it applies equally to the cat fancy.
- Treat other persons as you know they should be treated, and as you wish them to fairly treat you.
- Regard the rules as agreements, the spirit or letter of which you should not evade or break.
- Treat officials and opponents with respect.
- Accept absolutely and without quarrel the final decision of any official.
- Honor visiting exhibitors and spectators as your own guests and treat them as such. Likewise, behave as an honored guest when you visit another show.
- Be gracious in victory and defeat;
learn especially to take defeat well. - Be as cooperative as you are competitive.
- Remember that your actions in and out of the ring reflect on you and the cat fancy in general.
I think if we all looked inward sometimes at how we act, we’d be less concerned about what is wrong with everyone else. Just some food for thought.
