FAQ for Exhibitors

• Has my cat qualified ?

• My cat belonged to someone else when it qualified - can I still enter ?

• My cat has changed colour and been re-registered since it qualified - can I still enter ?

• My cat has a title with another organisation - does that qualify it to enter ?

• My cat was disqualified from its only qualifying show - can I still enter ?

• Which class should I enter ?

• Should I enter now or wait to see if my cat gets a title ?

• One of my cats has qualified but I hope to qualify a second one - should I wait ?

• Can I change my entry ?

• My cat has gained a title since I entered - will that be in the catalogue ?

• Do I have to decorate my pen ?

• Can I put my cat's name on his pen ?

• Must I use white show equipment ?

• Do I have to use a top opening carrier ?

• Does my cat have to wear a tally ?

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Has my cat qualified ?

Yes if:

• it is an adult or neuter and has won a Challenge, Premier, Intermediate or Adult/Neuter Merit Certificate at any time at a GCCF show

• it will still be a kitten at the show and has won 1st prize in an Open Class at a GCCF Championship show or a Kitten Merit Certificate - it does not matter if Best of Breed was awarded or not

• it will be an adult/adult neuter at the show, was born on or after 1st September 2006 and has won 1st prize in an Open Kitten Class at a GCCF Championship show or a Kitten Merit Certificate - it does not matter if Best of Breed was awarded or not

• it is a Non-Pedigree exhibit and has won its Open Class at a GCCF Championship show at any time

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My cat belonged to someone else when it qualified - can I still enter ?

• Yes - it is the cat which qualifies, not the owner.

• Do not forget to transfer the cat into your name at least 3 weeks before the show. If you can transfer it before the closing date please do so because it reduces the work in the Office.

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My cat has changed colour and been re-registered since it qualified - can I still enter ?

• Yes - if your cat has changed colour, pattern or sex since it qualified you may still enter it.

• If you have not yet changed the registered colour or pattern of your cat, please send in the request for a change (plus your registration/transfer certificate and £5) now or at the same time as your show entry, and enter the cat as the new colour/pattern.

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My cat has a title with another organisation - does that qualify it to enter ?

• No - your cat has to qualify by winning at a GCCF show

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My cat was disqualified from its only qualifying show - can I still enter ?

• If your cat was disqualified (for instance because it was not transferred to you in time, or you put incorrect details on your entry form etc) your cat is not qualified for the Supreme.

• If you have sent in an entry, this will be returned if your cat is disqualified from its only qualifying show.

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Which class should I enter ?

• If your cat is a UK Grand Champion, Imperial Grand Champion or Grand Champion and still entire, enter the Grand Champion class which includes its breed

• If your cat is a Champion and still entire, enter the Champion class for its breed

• If your cat will be an entire adult on show day but not yet a Champion, enter the Pre-Champion class for its breed

• If your cat is a UK Grand Premier, Imperial Grand Premier or Grand Premier enter the Grand Premier class which includes its breed

• If your cat is a Premier enter the Premier class for its breed

• If your cat will be an adult neuter on show day but not yet a Premier, enter the Pre-Premier class for its breed

• If your cat will still be a kitten on show day, enter the Kitten class for its breed

• If your cat is a Provisional status breed (Intermediate certificates) enter the Adult, Kitten or Neuter class for its breed

• If your cat is a Preliminary status breed, enter the Assessment class for its breed

• If your cat is a Non-Pedigree kitten or neuter, enter the appropriate Non-Pedigree class for its hair length, colour and pattern

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Should I enter now or wait to see if my cat gets a title ?

• You should enter any qualified exhibit as early as possible. If your cat gains a title after you have entered, but before the closing date, its class can be 'upgraded'. (see below)

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One of my cats has qualified but I hope to qualify a second one - should I wait ?

• NO! Enter the cat that has qualified as soon as possible and ask for an additional entry form

• You can send the additional entry if the other cat qualifies

• If you wait, the show might be full and we might have to return your entry

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Can I change my entry ?

• You may withdraw an exhibit before the closing date: written confirmation of withdrawal must be received by the appropriate Section Manager on or before 12th September 2007. A small charge will be deducted from your refund, to cover administrative costs.

• You may only withdraw an exhibit after the closing date if there is a change of Judge for your class. In these circumstances the exhibit will not be judged but will remain in the catalogue.

• If your cat gains a title after you have entered but before the closing date you should claim the title immediately and inform the Pedigree Section Manager. Your entry will then be 'upgraded' to the higher class.

• If your cat is neutered after you have entered you should inform the Pedigree Section Manager immediately - whether this is before or after the closing date. It may not be too late to move your entry to the appropriate Neuter class. Even if no change of class is involved (Kittens and Preliminary status breeds) you should still inform the Section Manager or your cat may be disqualified - it will not conform to its description.

• If your cat's registered colour or pattern is changed after you have entered you should inform the Pedigree Section Manager immediately - whether this is before or after the closing date. If you do not it may be disqualified, even if no change of class is involved, as it will not conform to its description.

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My cat has gained a title since I entered - will that be in the catalogue ?

• If your cat gains a title before the closing date, and you claim it, it will be in the catalogue.

• If your cat gains a title after the closing date, the new title will not be in the catalogue and your cat cannot move up to a higher class.

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Do I have to decorate my pen ?

• You only need to decorate your pen with a 'Cartoon Cats' theme if you wish it to be considered for the Decorated Pen competition.

• Your cat will be in a double pen (4' x 2' x 2') which will look very bare if you only use normal show equipment, but you do not need to make elaborate decorations for it - just something simple to line the 'walls' plus litter tray, water bowl and a comfortable bed for your cat.

• Please make sure that the decoations are not too complicated. It must be possible for a steward to remove your cat from the pen to take it to the ring for judging: sometimes stewards have to dismantle most of the decorations to extract the cat!

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Can I put my cat's name on his pen ?

• Yes - you may put your cat's name, pedigree, rosettes, life history etc on your decorated pen if you wish. Your cat will be taken to a plain ring pen to be judged.

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Must I use white show equipment ?

• In your decorated pen the litter tray, water and food bowls, bed etc may be any colour you wish.

• You must supply a plain white show blanket for your cat to sit on in the ring pen where it will be judged.

• If you think your cat will need them, you should also supply an empty white litter tray and water bowl for use in the ring pen. (Some cats rarely or never use their litter tray away from home in which case you will not need this, but some do... It is up to you and your cat)

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Do I have to use a top opening carrier ?

• We do not insist on a top opening carrier, but we strongly advise it:
  1. It is much easier to get a cat in and out of a top opening carrier.
  2. If a cat cannot be transferred from its decorated pen to its carrier, and from its carrier to its ring pen it cannot be judged
  3. Some cats will not walk readily in and out of a carrier: stuffing the cat in, or dragging it out, may upset the cat and may also ruin its show preparation.

• Please make sure that the carrier does not have any identifying marks on it other than a luggage label with your pen number written on it clearly. (You will find your pen number on your vetting-in card when you receive it - write the label then and label your carrier before you forget).

• Please also make sure that your carrier is under the correct pen and that it is not filled up with show equipment, free samples, your purchases etc. You will need a separate carrier for each of your exhibits.

• NB - Cardboard carriers are not suitable - they are not secure and your cat could escape.

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Does my cat have to wear a tally ?

• Because so few shows now use tallies we do not insist on it, but we do strongly advise that your cat wears its tally.

• Your cat will be removed from its decorated pen and taken to the judging ring and will be identified by the pen number on its tally.

• If your cat does not wear its tally there is a risk that it may be identified incorrectly when it is being judged, or that it will be replaced in the incorrect carrier and in the incorrect decorated pen.

• NB - you will find your tally in your pen when you arrive at the show. It is a small white luggage label with your cat's pen number on it. Please tie it round your cat's neck on a piece of thin white ribbon or elastic.

If you have further suggestions for this FAQ list, please email the show manager

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