Cat Show? Let’s GO!
July 1, 2025
What Happens at a Cat Show
Susan Henry
Nearly every weekend in the US, Europe, and Asia, a CFA cat show is taking place. These events range from small to large, depending on the time of year and the location. All offer competitive classes for Kittens, adult cats (Championship classes), adults that are neutered/spayed (Premiership classes), and Household Pets. Some shows feature an agility competition, where cats are timed in a run through a standard course with a variety of jumps and obstacles to maneuver. Many shows now have costume contests, which are always a crowd favorite.
The Search Begins …
So how do you find a cat show near you? The CFA website offers a show schedule, which can be filtered for location and date. You can select the show flyer for a particular show, which will tell you everything you need to know about planned events, location, and parking information.
The day has come – you are going to a cat show! You get there, so what’s next? You will pay the entrance fee (or perhaps you got a discounted ticket online, as many shows offer) and enter CFA’s world of show cats. Some shows will have print material available to educate you on the various breeds of cats recognized by CFA as well as a spectator guide.
Once Inside …
You will see a number of rows of show tents/cages for cats entered in the show, which is called the benching area. The judging rings are normally all in the same room along the same wall; some larger shows with more judges may use opposite walls for the rings or center them in the event area. The benching area is where the cats rest between judging rings, and where you will have an opportunity to see cats up close. The number one rule when looking at cats in the benching area is: Never put your fingers or hands into a cat’s cage, or touch any of them without the exhibitor’s permission. Cats (and especially kittens) need their rest between trips to the judging rings and interrupting that can be stressful for them. When the exhibitors are preparing their cats to go to a ring, it is best to observe then come back later to the benching location to talk with the owner. You will find most exhibitors are friendly and willing to tell you about their entry and its breed. There may also be Ambassador (or “pet me”) cats at the show, and their enclosures will advertise them as such. These cats are often out on a grooming space or a table in front of their show tent/cage for people to admire and get close to … with photo ops available! It is important to be respectful of the exhibitors’ requests to sanitize your hands before touching, as germs are unsuspectingly yet easily transferred by hand from cat to cat.
Let’s say you have found a cat which you particularly admire, perhaps a magnificent, fully-coated Persian. You decide to follow it up to the judging ring to see how that works. The judging rings are all in continual operation (save for lunch and comfort breaks), and you will hear the ring clerks making announcements for entries needed in their judge’s ring. The ring clerks note all the ribbons a judge hangs on each entry’s cage during class judging, and have the responsibility of recording those in their ring catalog. They then compare the judge’s sheets to their own records in their catalog to be sure they match. The clerk is responsible for putting the numbers up as cats are needed in that ring, and ensuring the cages are cleaned by the steward before putting more numbers up. A skilled clerk is poetry in motion, making the ring run smoothly and keeping the judge on track.
All Those Colors!
You will see that a judging ring is a very busy place … a place reserved for the cats and their exhibitors, and not for spectators – but there are seats in front of the judging table for all to use. However, consider waiting until the judge no longer has a cat out on the table before grabbing a front row seat. Cards on top of the cages in the judging ring correspond to the entry in the show catalog and the judge’s book. Pink cards are for females and blue for males. In the kitten classes, numbers are placed sequentially. In the adult classes, males and neuters may not be in adjacent cages, so an empty cage or a female cat must be in between males, and the numbers can be slightly out of order. And what about all those ribbons? Why do so many cats have blue ribbons on their cages? This visual might help:
CFA has many breeds (and divisions within some breeds), and there are different color classes within these breeds/divisions. That is why you see so many blue ribbons, as often a cat may be the only one in its class and it earns a blue ribbon by default (unless a judge disqualifies an entry for certain deviations from its breed standard, which is rare). Classes with more than one entry will have a red and perhaps a yellow ribbon hung; if more than three in a class, the remaining cats have no ribbons hung on their cages. As outlined in the diagram, it is somewhat of a “pyramid” to rise to the top of your class and then your breed or division. The purple ribbon is coveted, as it means points toward the Grand Champion/Grand Premier title. The brown and orange ribbons are awarded to the cats a judge has determined to be the Best and Second Best of a breed/division. From there, the excitement builds as exhibitors wait for the judge’s final to be called, with the hope THEIR cat will be called back for an overall champion/premier award, or ultimately the judge’s Top 10. Large shows which exceed certain entry numbers in kitten and adult classes are able to offer a Top 15, while the large CFA International Show each October will award Top 20 in the competitive categories.
Each judging ring operates independently of the others. Judges do not compare notes and are not permitted to discuss entries while in the show hall. It is rare that one kitten or cat is chosen as “Best” by all the judges, but when that feat is accomplished, it is by a superb entry – and referred to as “Best Across the Board!” Judging cats is subjective; although the breed standards are written to describe the ideal in a breed, the judges’ interpretations of those standards can vary. That is why you might see a variety of results in the finals from ring to ring.
But Wait … There’s More!
Shows with agility competition will have a location within the show hall itself, or in another room in the facility. It is fascinating to watch felines flying over jumps, scurrying through tunnels, and weaving through poles. Some move at lightning speed; beginners are timid and much slower, yet many do ease into the routine with practice. Each entry is timed, and a quick run under 10 seconds is something to behold! Serious agility competitors get them started young, as with this adorable Tonkinese kitten “learning the ropes!”
Feline fashionistas rule in the costume contests added to many shows’ schedules. These contests are crowd favorites, and the judges enjoy crowd participation when choosing the winners. Some shows might feature a stuffed animal contest, which is of particular interest to the younger crowd and can be very sentimental when hearing children talk about their favorite stuffed animal and how it got its name.
Most shows have vendors in the perimeters of the show hall, offering a variety of items for cats and for cat people. You might find the best scratching post or cat tree ever, wonderful artwork, some great clothing or jewelry items, or even free samples from feline food vendors. You never know what your search might reveal, but be sure to check them all out.
You will find feline rescue and adoption agencies at some shows, featuring some of their most popular residents in hopes of finding them a loving forever home. The volunteers at these agencies pour their hearts and souls into rescuing and caring for unwanted kittens and cats, and your support of them with monetary or food/supplies donations is appreciated.
And There You Have It …
As you can see, CFA shows offer something for everyone. If you have read this article, then you’ve already started your journey to what might be the perfect pedigreed cat for you, and a cat show is the best place to continue that journey. We hope you find a show in your area very soon!