Show News
Some of the inhabitants of the Isle strut their stuff at ACFA cat shows. Here is the recent news from the show circuit.
Merlin makes his show debut with a BANG by making Royal House Hold Pet in one show at the Tampa Bay Feline Fanciers December 29-30, 2006. He even beat his buddy Miles in two of the rings. His ACFA registered name is Merlin the Prince of Isle of Avalon.
2004-2005 Awards
Storm: 5th Best Kitten in the North East Region AND 5th Best Alter in
the North East
Rhiannon: 8th Best Alter in the North East Region
Miles: 24th Best House Hold Pet in ACFA and 3rd Best House Hold Pet in
the North East Region
Shamu: 11th Best House Hold Pet in the North East Region.
STORM MAKES GRAND CHAMPION IN TWO SHOWS!! Follow his progress here
Results from the Blue Ridge show in Woodstock, VA. March 25-26,2006
Miles Pendragon makes Supreme House Hold Pet at the Tri-County
show in Orlando, FL July 23-24.
7th best HHP in South East Region and 32nd best Inter-American for 2004
Season.
Miles becomes a Supreme Roll of Honor House Hold Pet at the Suncoast Cat Fanciers show in Orlando, FL October 28-29,2006
Princess Rhiannon goes to her first show and makes Double Champion in the Alter class at the Tri-County show in Orlando, FL July 23-24. She was a big hit with the public passing by. Rhiannon made Quad Champion at her second show in Allentown, PA April 22-23, 2006.
How a show works:
A show usually consists of 4 rings each on Saturday and Sunday. One
is a specialty ring and the other three are 'all breed'. A specialty
ring has either longhair or short hair cats. The all breed ring has
both. The judge inspects the cat and then ranks it against all other
cats in that ring. After checking them all out they call back the
'Finals'. This is the top ten (five cats if only ten are competing)
Points are awarded based on the cat's final placement. Being in
the final gives the cat points. The points are accumulated throughout
the show season, May to April, and then the cat is ranked against all
the other cats competing in its class. There are regional and
Inter-American awards for the top cats. A cat can also get a 'winner's
ribbon' for being the best of its breed. It doesn't have to be in
the Finals to get the winner's ribbon. Four winner's ribbons makes the
cat a Champion. Eight a Double Champion.
Explanation of show classes:
House Hold Pet (HHP) class is for any cat. Many of them are rescues like Miles. Some are purebred cats that have a fault that keeps them from competing in their breed or don't have registration papers. They must be spayed or neutered if over eight months old. Faults can be a kink in a tail, extra toes and other things that don't affect them as pets, just beauty contestants. Since there is no standard for HHP the cats are first checked for health and cleanliness. Then whatever the judge likes. Some judges play with the cats. Others seem to place tabbies high.
Kitten Class is for purebred kittens between four and eight months old. Kittens can't be in the show hall if they are under four months old.
Alter Class is for purebred cats that are spayed or neutered.
Championship Class is for purebred cats over eight months old that aren't spayed or neutered. They are sometimes referred to as 'whole' or 'intact'. These cats are normally shown by breeders and will be used in their breeding program. Since reputable breeders want to improve the breed cats that don't do well are often altered and placed as pets.
In all but HHP cats are judged against the standard of their breed. The
cats that comes closest to their standard is placed First, next closest
is Second, and so forth. Although the judges are supposed to be
impartial they often have breeds they are more familiar or comfortable
with. A judge that breeds Persians is very familiar with them and will
often place Persians above other breeds. A new breed or color often has
trouble being placed high because the judges aren't familiar with it and
the standard. The good judges look at the standard definition if in
doubt. Some judges seem to not like certain breeds and won't seem to
place a cat even when it has been placed First in over 20 rings.
