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Can I Show My Cat at a GCCF Licensed Show ?
Yes - if ...
1. Your cat is registered with the GCCF with you as the registered ownerThe application for registration or transfer of ownership (if the cat is already registered) must have been received by the GCCF Office at least 21 days before the show.
2. Your cat is a breed and colour eligible for showing
This will usually mean that your cat is registered on the Full, Supplementary or Experimental Register - its registration number will start with CS, CSSR or CSEXP.
Cats registered on the Reference Register (CSREF) cannot usually be shown. The exception to this is where the cat is a "new breed" and the breed has been granted recognition since the cat was registered: your breed club secretary should be able to advise you about this.
Cats are registered on the Reference Register
- if they are an unrecognised breed or colour
- if they are Variants, useful in a breeding programme but not eligible for showing. e.g. smooth coated Cornish or Devon Rex variants, shorthaired Somali, Balinese or Oriental Longhair variants etc.
- if, although they look like a recognised breed, they have not been bred according to the Registration Policy for that breed: again, your breed club secretary should be able to help you. (Always check the Registration Policy before buying a cat for breeding or showing)
Cats which are registered on the Non-Active Register may be shown but cannot be used for breeding.
NB - unregistered non-pedigree cats can be shown in the separate Household Pet Section at most shows. Many shows have special classes for half pedigree cats to cater for those accidents which do happen, but cats with two registered parents, including crosses between pedigree cats of different breeds, are not eligible.
3. You have read the GCCF Rules
Many of the rules about showing are designed to protect the health and welfare of cats. For instance, you may not show your cat if you have recently had an infectious disease in your cat household, or if the cat is pregnant or had kittens within the last 12 weeks. All cats are examined by a veterinary surgeon on arrival at shows to make sure that they appear healthy: this is known as "vetting-in". Male cats that are Monorchid or Cryptorchid are not eligible to be shown at GCCF shows. If your cat is rejected by the veterinary surgeon, you will not be able to show again until you have got a "clearance" certificate. Many of the reasons why a cat might be rejected from a show are listed in the GCCF Rule book.
You may not show your cat, or any other cats from your household or registered in your name, more often than once every thirteen days (the GCCF does not licence any two-day shows). This is so that cats may have a rest between shows and also to reduce the risk of a cat picking up an infection at one show and then, possibly, spreading it at the next show.
If your cat is registered with another organisation
You will need to register your cat with the GCCF before you can enter a GCCF show. There are several requirements designed to ensure that the rules which apply to resident cats can also be monitored with respect to overseas cats.You should study the Registration Policy for your breed before applying to register your cat with the GCCF. If you are not a member of a GCCF Club for that breed, the GCCF Office should be able to help you with this.
When you apply to register your cat with the GCCF, you must submit a certified pedigree which complies with the GCCF Registration Policy for the breed in question and shows at least four generations - five or more if the Registration Policy requires this.
Registration Policies vary between organisations and you may find that your cat cannot be shown here: for instance, the GCCF Registration Policy for Balinese permits only Balinese and Siamese in their pedigrees: if your cat has Oriental Shorthairs or Oriental Longhairs in its pedigree (as allowed by many other registering organisations) it cannot be registered with GCCF as a Balinese.
In order to comply with the GCCF 13 day Rule, you will not be allowed to show in your own country one weekend and visit the UK to show the next weekend, even if this is with a different cat.
Can you bring your cat to the UK ?
Once you have established that you will be able to register your cat with the GCCF you should check that you can comply with the requirements for your cat to travel to the UK. The current regulations can be found at the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website.
Entering the Show
When you have made sure that your cat will be able to visit us, and have registered it with the GCCF, you will then need to send for a GCCF Show List which will give the Show Managers' names and addresses, to whom you apply for a schedule to enter the show. Schedules are usually available about three months before the show and entries usually need to be sent in 4 to 6 weeks before the show day (this varies, but will be marked clearly in the schedule). When you write to the Show Manager to request a schedule, you will need to enclose an envelope addressed to yourself, stamped or plus an international reply coupon with sufficient postage for up to 100g if you are resident oveseas.When you get your schedule, read it carefully. Your cat must be entered in the Open class for its breed and may also be entered in several of the other classes. Only wins at GCCF shows can be counted when deciding which classes to enter, so your International Grand Champion will still be untitled so far as a GCCF show is concerned, and cannot enter a class for Champions or Grand Champions. You cannot use any non-GCCF title in front of your cat's name, but may include it in brackets after the name. e.g. Adcinlo Superman (FIFE Ch)
When you send in your show entry, if you are resident overseas you will need to pay in sterling by bankers draft or Eurocheque, so that the amount is correct. (Shows do not accept entries by telephone or e-mail, and you cannot pay on arrival) You should also enclose a self-addressed envelope or postcard (stamped or plus international reply coupon) for acknowledgement that your entry has been accepted.
Attending the Show
Vetting-in starts early (about 7.30 or 8am) so that judging can begin at 10am. Your cat will be examined by a veterinary surgeon, its record of vaccination against FIE, FVR and FCV will be checked and, if the cat is resident overseas, the importation papers and microchip will also be checked. If your cat fails this inspection, the papers are not in order or the microchip cannot be read at vetting-in, your cat will not be allowed into the show. Some cats may appear healthy at home but show signs of illness if they are stressed, so please do not take your cat to a show unless it is in perfect health. Remember, also, that if your cat is rejected your show entry and travel expenses cannot be refunded.
You must ensure that the vaccination certificate has the name of your cat on it, and this must correspond with the show entry. It is in order to put both the pedigree name and pet name if preferred.
You will not be able to bring additional cats or other pets into the show with you and it is not safe to leave animals outside in your vehicle, so please do not be tempted to bring other members of your feline (or canine) family for a visit.
If your cat wins its Open class and is considered by the Judge to be of sufficiently high standard it will be awarded a Challenge Certificate (or a Premier Certificate if it is neutered) and will be one-third of the way to gaining its GCCF title ... and you will probably be planning the next two shows where you hope to make it up. But even if you are not so successful we hope that your first GCCF show will be an enjoyable day to remember.