Kristine Kochanski dumped this in
on 19 Apr 2004:

Just wondering what the general consensus was on cat shows? I ask
because I attended one the other day and was quite upset at seeing
distressed, miserable cats kept in 2ft cages for hours, with hundreds
of strangers (me included!) milling around staring and cooing at them
- and men in white coats pulling them out and poking, stretching and
prodding them. This can't be good for a cat! Every cat was obviously
incredibly loved and pampered, I just find this act of 'showing'
rather uneasy.

Firstly, how can you judge a cat on appearance? Aren't they all
beautiful whether they have a certificate that says so or not?
Secondly, should people, in this so-called civilised day and age, be
*rewarded* for inbreeding? For example, the flatness of a Persian
cat's face really upsets me (

I left the show feeling quite bewildered and negative and I'm sure I
will never attend such an event again.

Any breeders care to comment? Dare say they will claim the cats enjoy
the experience. But looking at them and listening to their distressed
mewing - and having a fair understanding of cat behaviour and
psychology - I fail to understand this.


I went to a TICA cat show last year (my first show, my only show to date)
and the thing that got to me was the tomcat smell. I have to give them
props for alotting some space for our rescue group to showcase some
homeless cats during the show, but after 3 days there, the smell really
got to me. I think for the most part, the contestants are proud of their
cats and want to show them off. I didn't see many cats who were
distressed, other than some males who sprayed the judging stations but
you can't blame them, it was instinct because they smelled other tomcats.
I saw a lot of cats pampered and played with during their cage time, and
those owners who were there for the full 3 days rotated which cats they
brought so many weren't there the whole time.

--
Cheryl