Too often, newcomers to the show hall are treated poorly by veteran exhibitors—especially if their cat is less than outstanding in quality.
The following response comes from a breeder who clearly remembers her own humble beginnings in the hobby she loves. She hopes people can be a little more understanding and considerate of those exhibiting at their first cat show.
Like many beginners in the world of cat shows, I purchased my first pedigreed cat, Sam, as a pet. My breeder never represented him as anything other than a pet-quality cat. One day, she asked if I would show him just once. I wasn’t interested, but feeling grateful that she had entrusted him to me, I agreed.
The moment I walked into the show hall, I was captivated. I had discovered an entirely new world filled with, as my husband likes to say, “people of my own kind.” I loved it. I didn’t care that Sam received the “black and the blue” in every ring by default because he had no competition. I was thrilled and proudly collected every ribbon he earned.
Then came the challenge of granding him. To earn those necessary grand points, I practically had to show like a campaigner. It took a long time, but I enjoyed every minute of it. Even though I often cried on the drive home because I couldn’t understand why he was passed over so frequently, I still believed he was the most magnificent cat I had ever seen—and he was mine.
When you make disparaging remarks about someone’s cat, you are also hurting the person who loves that cat. As a newcomer, you arrive at every show full of hopes and dreams. Eventually, I did grand Sam, and we had a wonderful time together. Looking back, he was an excellent show cat. He truly loved showing—everything about it except the bath, which he would have gladly skipped.
My point is that, like many others, I began with a pet-quality cat and a wonderful mentor who took the time to introduce me to the world of showing. We both knew Sam was pet quality, but he was still my baby.
Think of it this way: Sam and I were count fodder for many of you. Be grateful for exhibitors like us. Not everyone can start with a perfect specimen.
Just a few years later, I was showing my own kittens, had granded five cats, and achieved a regional win with a treasured homebred male.
Isn’t the love we have for our cats the reason most of us started showing in the first place? Don’t you remember what it was like to be new?
The newcomer bringing a beloved pet into the show hall today is the future of CFA. Please—play nice.
