Hello my friends, Spot here!
We’re getting all excited here in our World as we’re getting geared up for our cat show at the weekend! I’ve written about cat shows in some detail on another page of my website which you can find here, but I thought you might be interested in knowing a little more info around the preparations we do before a show π
Minus one month (or so) and counting…
So, the first thing we have to do is make sure we actually enter the show in the first place! My mummy looks at a list of all the shows that are happening on the GCCF website. When first looking just at the list, we have to make sure of two things: (1) that they are within a reasonable travelling distance and (2) that there isn’t a clash as a cat can’t enter a show every weekend, you have to have at least 13 days between each show.
Then, when mummy’s shortlisted the ones that fit the criteria, she clicks on to the Schedules for each of the shows which will give more information about the judges and classes – click here if you want to see the schedule for our show this weekend. At the show, we compete for a certificate to go towards earning us our titles so our title class is our most important one. But in order to earn your title, each of your certificates must come from different judges, so it’s important to look at the schedule to identify which judges are doing your classes as there’s no point entering if that judge has already awarded you the certificates you’re going for.
Once that box is ticked, mummy has to decide what other classes we are to be entered for (we usually have our title class, our Best of Breed class and up to 3 side or miscellaneous classes). She then fills in the entry form and writes out the cheque to cover our entry fees and then makes sure it all gets posted off before the deadline!
Minus three weeks (or so)
Within about a week of sending off our entry forms, we should receive an acknowledgement that our entry has been received and confirmed. If we don’t get this, we need to call or email the show manager as something has probably gone wrong :O This has only happened to us once, when our show entry got lost in the post, but by the time we chased it up we were too late, so we had to miss that show. π
But assuming that it’s received, we can then relax and not worry about things until a bit nearer the time
Less than a week to go!
This is when we start to get a bit excited! At the beginning of the week, Mummy makes sure we have all our supplies such as our cat litter – we use a white litter for the show, which isn’t the normal one we use at home, so we need to make sure we have enough. We also have our spot on flea treatment if we need it, we make sure it’s done a few days before so that any marks it leaves have time to disappear π
The next thing we need to have done – and it’s our least favourite – is to have our nails trimmed π Mummy does this on the Thursday usually so that we’re not doing everything at the same time. I am usually quite good about having mine done, but Lula being Lula, isn’t! π It doesn’t hurt us at all, mummy just trims the ends off so that we don’t scratch the judges, but we still have a bit of a fidget while it’s being done π
Mummy also makes sure all our blankets are nice and clean so gives them a wash – the ones we have in our pen and the ones in our carriers. This also has the benefit of keeping us smelling fresh once we’ve been lying on them for a while either driving to the show or in our pens π
The day before!
Towards the end of the day before the show, we have our big clean up! Here’s a photo of all the different things mummy uses to get us to show condition!
There is always a routine! We’ve already had our nails trimmed with the special claw clippers you can see; the first job of the big clean up is with the soft sheets – these are dampened and used to gently clean our eyes and our noses. The next job is to take a baby wipe and gently clean inside our ears…then it’s time for a comb! No nook or cranny is missed when we have our hair done! Then the final job is a rub down with a grooming wipe – this removes any stray hairs, cleans and smooths and leaves us smelling very fresh! π
So that’s us cats all prepared – the final job is to make sure everything is packed in the show bag:
In our bag we have our show litter trays, food bowls, water bowls and blankets which all have to be clean and white! The disinfectant wipes are formulated to be safe for use near animals and these are used to clean our show pens before we go in them. Also in the bag are food, water, my favourite chicken treats, vaccination certificates, extra blankets, toys, cotton pads and baby wipes – I’m not sure how mummy manages to fit it all in!
After all that, we’re just about ready – just need to take the show bag and us of course and drive to the show! And hopefully win some nice rosettes π
I hope you enjoyed reading what goes into preparing for a show but if you have any questions, just ask in the comments section π
Take care my friends!
Love from Spot
xxxxxx
π I guess being beautiful is a full time job! Spot and Lula you are both lovely, and you are first place in my book always! π
Thank you very much, Rita! π xx
I’m exhausted just reading that, Spot! Safe journeys to you all on the weekend, and good luck at the show… now get a few good cat-naps in π
Good plan, John! π xx
I love all the information about the show, but admit I’m not sure why you want to earn your highest rank as you won’t be bred?
Just for fun, Paula! It’s nice to go to shows and compete against other cats, and our mummy likes chatting to all the other lovely people who are there xx
Good luck at the show this weekend!! I’m sure both of you will do well — you deserve it!! Thanks for posting what it takes to prepare for a show. . . I knew it would be a lot of work. . . my kids don’t like having their nails trimmed either!! love and prayers for all at BCW!! love all of you — including Mommy and Daddy!
Thanks, Diane! π π I think we are quite straightforward compared to some cats – just imagine the time and effort that goes into getting a Persian ready! And they always look so marvellously fluffy when we see them at shows π xxx
Ooooww Sir Spot your Mummy works really hard (& I was complaining yesterday about my work π― ) Sounds like lots of fun, as long as you & Lady Lula have fun that’s all that matters π xxxxx
Yes we do, Clare! BTW – Lula says she loves the new name! π xxx
What a lot of work to get you and Lula looking your best for the show. Well done Mummy. Good luck Spot & Lula. I’m sure you will both win. x
Thank you Pauline! We have all our fingers and paws crossed here π xx
Thank you Spot! It’s nice to get an insider’s view of the prep work. Mummy’s a busy lady for 2 days before the show! I sincerely hope you and Lula co-operate for the most part. I know having your manicure can be annoying, I have a couple who tell me that all the time.
I wish you tons of good luck on Saturday β₯
We are quite good at co-operating – neither of us mind the ears, eyes and nose being cleaned and we don’t mind being combed even though I’m always trying to grab the comb and play with it π― But, along with the manicure, the other thing we don’t like is the grooming wipe at the end, but mummy says that’s not going to go away! Naughty mummy xxx
Ah, but it’s worth it when you get pretty rosettes to bring home. β₯
π hope you both do well
Thank you, Paul! π xx
Wow! Mommy is a busy mommy! Best of luck to you two beatiful babies. The picutre of you, Spot, curled up asleep makes me feel very cuddly and wanting to hug you. I love Lula’s profile in the pic of you two. So regal, Queen Lula!
Thanks, Carol <3 I find it all a lot of hard work and lots of cat naps are needed xx
I can’t wait till Saturday
—— wana here all bout the show
Could spend hours talking bout it !!!
Spot defo winner !!!!!
Thanks, Zoe! Not long to go now π π xxx
Loved reading all Mummy’s preparations, quite takes me back! π I’m interested to see that Mummy doesn’t actually give you a bath, pre-show. π That was always a struggle with my crew, and because 2 of my cats were ‘free-range’, EVERYBODY used to get a bath, 3 days before shows, and Kandy and Miaowkin were kept in. πΏ Did not go down well! Mind you, back then there was no ‘Frontline’ etc, things were VERY different. Good luck to both of you for Saturday, and of course to Mummy and Daddy, for all their hard work. [Hopefully there’s no snow this time.] π
The grooming wipes take the place of a bath, Mairi – thankfully! π― If we were very filthy, we would need one, but luckily all the other preparations usually suffice π xx
Good luck Spot and Lula – I am sure Mummy will have you both looking stunning, as usual.
I loved the pictures above – especially the one of you sleeping (simply beautiful).
Have a fabulous Caturday at the show and a nice relaxing Sunday to recover afterwards – all of you!
Heather x x x
Thanks Heather! I’ve posted an update on my FB page, but I’ll be doing a full write up here soon too π xxx
I knew getting ready for shows took a lot of time and effort, but I had no clue it took that much! Thanks for sharing with us! π I wish you all safe travels, and the best of luck at the show! Can’t wait to see what kind of pretty ribbons you bring home! Good luck, BCW!
Thank you, Lisa! π xxx
Oh my goodness Spot! I had no idea your Mummy went to all of that work and preparation for your cat shows. And Daddy’s hard work too of course! Whewww! Made me tired just reading it. I’ll bet you get to see lots of friends at the show. It sure looks like fun after all the preparations are completed. Good luck to you and Lula although you both are always winners in my mind! Be safe and will wait for your show news! Your friend Linda xxxxx
Thanks Linda π We have great fun at the shows π xxxx
Good luck at the cat show Spot & Lula π there are lots of preparations. I am now retired from cat shows.
Love Anyah xxx
IΒ΄ve already seen your rosettes Spot and I saw that Lula got prises also! IΒ΄m so happy for you! But of course you both would win prises, there was no doubt about that π . Congratulations to both of you! By the way, you was wondering how mummy could get everything to fit in that showbag. Mummys are like that, daddys are not as well to get things to fit, but mummys can do wonders π . ItΒ΄s the same at our house. When Jonny try to pack something, I have to rearrange so we get everything to fit into the bags/boxes π .
π That’s very true, Elisbeth! I’ll be posting a full update of all our results on here soon π xxxx