CAT SHOW SCHEDULE
In 1871, the Crystal Palace
in London held the very first cat show in the United Kingdom. The event
was open only for the British Shorthair and Persian breeds. This event
started a trend; soon, cat shows were held everywhere, and the increased
interest in cats led to cat clubs, cat societies and cat associations.
Cat associations act as the controlling authority over all the smaller
cat groups. They approve the breed standards, which serve as the basis
for judging the entries in the shows. In the United Kingdom, the Governing
Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) is the controlling authority of the
various cat associations in the area. To date, there are 144 cat associations
registered with the GCCF. Most of them hold their own cat shows, but
under the GCCF’s supervision and license.
Types of Shows
Most cat shows are one-day events and are open even to non-pedigree
cats. Cats with pedigree can participate in three different kinds of
competitions:
• Exemption shows are less strict than a Sanction or Championship
show, since GCCF rules are not necessarily applied. Results are not
recorded, and GCCF Certificates are not given out.
• Sanction shows are considered as dry-runs for a Championship
show. They can only be held by a club that is affiliated with the GCCF.
GCCF certificates are not given out, but they do distribute Merit Certificates
for Assessment Breeds. Results of Sanction shows are recorded.
• Champion shows are the biggest shows organized by an affiliated
cat club. GCCG rules are applied in full, and if the judges deem it
necessary, GCCF Certificates can be given out. In Champion shows, the
cat’s placing and awarded certificates are recorded.
• Supreme shows. This show is held by the GCCF, and only felines
who qualified at championship events are allowed to join. It has three
categories: Best Adult, Neuter and Kitten. Winners then vie for the
title of Supreme Exhibit.
Cat Show Schedule
Since individual cat societies can hold their own cat shows, the list
of events for a year can be quite long. For a full listing of Cat shows,
visit the GCCF site and click on Cat Clubs, Shows and Showings. You
can also send an email to info@gccfcats.org.
The last Supreme Cat Show was held on 19 November 2005 at the National
Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. From January to May of the year 2006,
the following events are to be sponsored by the following cat associations:
07 January 2006 Capital Long Hair Cat Association
Exotic Short Hair Cat Society
Short Haired Cat Society
The British Ragdoll Cat Club
Cameo, Pewter and Smoke Society
Colourpoint Cat Club
14 January 2006 Siamese Cat
Society of the British Empire
21 January 2006 Central Long
Haired Cat Club
Notts & Derby Cat Club
28 January 2006 Southern
Counties Cat Club
04 February 2006 Shropshire
Cat Club
11 February 2006 Croydon
Cat Club
Scottish Cat Club
United Chinchilla Association
18 February 2006 Bristol
& District Cat Club
Norwegian Forest Cat Club
25 February 2006 Coventry
& Leicester Cat Club
Seal Point Siamese Cat Club
Turkish Van Cat Club
04 March 2006 Longhair Cream
& Blue-Cream Cat Association
Northern Ireland Cat Club
Southern British Shorthair Cat Club
Wessex Cat Club
11 March 2006 Chocolate Pointed
Siamese Cat Club
Lancashire Cat Club
Bombay & Asian Self Breed Club (S)
18 March 2006 Shorthair Cat
Club of Scotland
Somali Cat Club
Surrey & Sussex Cat Association
25 March 2006 Cambridgeshire
Cat Club
Preston & Blackpool Cat Club
01 April 2006 Exotic Cat
Club
Egyptian Mau Club
Kernow Cat Club
Abyssinian Cat Association
Rex Cat Association
Korat Cat Association (S)
Singapura Cat Club
08 April 2006 Essex Cat Club
Northern Siamese Cat Society
Northern Birman Cat Club (S)
15 April 2006 Black &
White Cat Club
Semi Long Hair Cat Association
Black, Red Self & Tortoiseshell Cat Club, Tortie & White
& Bicolour Cat Club & Smoke cat Society (Joint Show)
22 April 2006 Asian Cat Association
Jersey Cat Club
Scotia Cat Fanciers
29 April 2006 Bedford &
District Cat Club
06 May 2006 Havana &
Oriental Lilac Cat Club
Caramel & Apricot Federation (E)
Midshires Siamese Cat Association
Manchester & District Cat Club
13 May 2006 Nor’East
of Scotland Cat Club
20 May 2006 Suffolk &
Norfolk Cat Club
21 May 2006 Midland Counties
Cat Club
27 May 2006 Durham County
Cat Club
Breed 32 Cat Association
Balinese Cat Society
Tonkinese Cat Club (S)
28 May 2006 City of Swansea
Show (E)
