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The litter tray

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Original poster

I've been to a cat show and now I'm a bit depressed

70 replies

Brendaofbeechhouse · 21/04/2018 21:06

These cats were perfectly groomed and fluffy and beautiful. And people took them from cages and lifted them, and examined them, and the cats just stood there calmly. Me and my dh exchanged glances; we'd heard about cats that behaved like that, but we thought it was just stories.

Then we went home to our own cat, and of course, to us, he is the best cat in the world. But only if he was a little less scruffy, not quite so bad tempered, and a little more compliant.

I've been to a cat show and now I'm a bit depressed

OP posts:

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lucertola28 · 22/04/2018 06:34

Pippa thinks she’s the most beautiful cat already so most likely would plot against the other cats or see how many judges she could lure and bite

mcdog · 22/04/2018 06:56

@lucertola28 Pippa is beautiful! She looks like Marie from the Aristocats.

laurzj82 · 22/04/2018 07:01

My black cat asks if there is free food at these shows? If so, he is there!

Toddlerteaplease · 22/04/2018 07:55

I go to the supreme show, for the shopping. But I agree about them just sitting around quietly. One lady was putting makeup on a white Persian. I was
I know I'm biased but I genuinely did not see a Persian who had such an open face like mine do. The winner was a black one. But his face was so squashed. It looked odd.

Toddlerteaplease · 22/04/2018 07:57

I think they would probably scratch the judges as well.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 22/04/2018 09:02

But his face was so squashed. It looked odd

It's cruel when breed characteristics are over-emphasised - long legged Siamese or squished Persians, etc. It can't be good for the cats. I still remember when siamese were big cats much like 'ordinary cats', but with slightly elongated features. They look nothing like that now.

Having said that, my favourite cat show story concerns the only time I have ever been to a cat show. There was a public 'breed session' where the show-and-tell concerned a Bengal.

The commentary went something like "Known for their adventurous natures most Bengals would not sit here nicely like this one - they'd be HEY, CATCH THAT CAT!!!!"

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 22/04/2018 09:17

Due to a lack of teeth Harry couldn’t do much damage if he bit the judge but I suppose that’s not the point. He’s a bit handy with his claws though.

I recently entered him for our town’s prettiest pet competition and I’m gutted he didn’t make it past the first round. He was beaten by a bearded dragon and a tortoise!

YetAnotherSpartacus · 22/04/2018 09:24

I recently entered him for our town’s prettiest pet competition and I’m gutted he didn’t make it past the first round. He was beaten by a bearded dragon and a tortoise

The judges were probably bribed.

I do love 'Mog's Bad Thing' where she crashes into the cat show and steals the day.

lynmilne65 · 22/04/2018 09:44

Can hear mine across county never mind car park!!

Allergictoironing · 22/04/2018 09:56

I think Boycat would wee all over the judge in terror at being picked up by not only a stranger, but a male one at that! He has history for this - NDNs son helped me catch him last year for the vet and ended up drenched.

Girlcat would just escape however good a death-grip we had on her, and never be seen again.

CatchingBabies · 22/04/2018 15:32

Why poor show cat's? One of my cats is shown and she is a very pampered pet who enjoys all the attention at shows. If she didn't tolerate it she wouldn't be shown anymore. Cat's can be calm at shows and still be pets as well! I have Ragdoll's they are a natuarly calm and contended (and lazy) breed.

adaline · 22/04/2018 15:54

I'm not a fan of showing animals and I don't think it's fair on the animals involved, or the breeds in general. Look at what's happened to breeds like Persians with all their health features, and in other animals, pugs and bulldogs. They command huge sums of money but the animals end up suffering as a result.

Neither of mine would tolerate being held by a stranger for longer than about 0.5 seconds. The little one could be held in place (she's tiny) but she'd scratch your arms to buggery. The big one would either swipe you in the face, bite you, or kick you (hard!) in the stomach until you let him go.

PetulantPolecat · 22/04/2018 16:09

I have a pedigree aby and we were encouraged to enter him in the pet category (or whatever they call them). He is absolutely model stunning... even the way he glides across a room... and I think he would’ve been completely chilled and not phased by it. But (1) we had no interest in it nor wanted to dedicate any time to it and (2) and most importantly- he hated car travel. Was absolutely miserable and petrified by it.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 22/04/2018 16:32

I think we need a photo, petulant.

tierraJ · 22/04/2018 17:45

My new rescue is so jumpy she would not be good in a cat show! She hates being picked up. But she is beautiful & very affectionate now

juneybean · 22/04/2018 17:52

My Persian didn't get the memo on how to act like a persian. Instead she runs up and down the stairs with her massive clunky feet and if you dare tell her off she runs to her room like a stroppy teenager and starts scratching at her post. Moody cow.

DearMrDilkington · 22/04/2018 17:56

adaline I'm so impressed that your cat can kick people, he'd automatically win just for that.

adaline · 22/04/2018 18:06

adaline I'm so impressed that your cat can kick people, he'd automatically win just for that.

He's surprisingly strong! He's fine with people he knows but otherwise he hates any kind of physical contact but he's huge and floofy so everyone tries to fuss him anyway...

Myfwyn · 22/04/2018 19:08

The lady who had my big boy as a kitten recommended I show him.

I think he's glad I don't