Judging Cats Around the World

A World-Wide Passion

Pam DelaBar
CFA Allbreed Judge

 

Please note: there is nothing sensual, throbbing, or otherwise X-rated in the following article. But, it is about passion – all over the world – and how we all share this passion.

Cats have a distinguished history throughout the world, ranging from deity status in Egypt to being considered spawn of the Devil in the Middle Ages. Many of our breeds have ancient genetic heritage such as the Persian whose genes date back to ancient Persia; others written in historical accounts, such as the Siamese, a cat treasured by Siamese (Thai) royalty; the royal cat of Norway, the Norwegian Forest Cat mentioned in the accounts of Viking travels; and several of today’s breeds developed naturally in order to survive and thrive in their geographical locations (think of the triple coat of the Siberian). Those of us in the cat fancy consider them to be loving companions and living works of art, and demand their legacies continue. And as with the “human” art world, cat fanciers want to have their living works of art evaluated. That is where we cat judges come in to this world.

No matter what organization or association is involved with the registration of breeds, there will be shows – decreed by the breeders and owners of these fine living works of art. And to evaluate these loved, prized possessions, we have judges. Each judge has been trained by their organization to carefully evaluate the nuances of each breed, based on a written standard, and award the top representatives of the breeds. Many judges are licensed by organizations belonging to the World Cat Congress (WCC) which consists of the nine largest registries of cats and have show-producing clubs throughout the civilized world. There are also large “independent organizations,” located basically in Europe and Asia which also conduct these events.

After gaining years of experience and earning a reputation as an excellent judge, judges might be invited by another organization to “guest judge” a show or shows. In the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) we have a procedure for obtaining permission to officiate as a guest judge for another (approved) organization. After receiving an invitation to be a guest judge, we forward that information to the designee of the CFA Judging Program Committee (JPC) to include the dates and location of the show, the club and organization conducting the show, and the name of the official extending the invitation with the fervent request to be given permission to guest judge the show. If an organization is in the WCC, permission is quickly given (with possible exceptions). If the organization falls under independent status, it may also be one of the independent organizations that has already been approved by CFA, and permission to guest judges is quickly given. If the invitation is from an independent organization that is not currently on an approved list, research into that organization is conducted and the request to guest judge will probably go to the esteemed CFA Board of Directors for approval.

So now the CFA judge has permission to guest judge for another association, what’s next? Of course the inviting organization is informed of CFA’s permission to guest judge for them, and travel planned, other arrangements made (fees – or not – some organizations do not pay judging fees), hotels, and the like. It is also essential we judges learn the written breed standards of the association we will be guest judging for, how their shows are conducted, and what is the judging attire. The more we educate ourselves on the rules and procedures of the organization that is spending a ransom to have a guest judge, the more likely we will form a successful relationship with the show-producing organization, and provide their breeders and owners an educated, informed evaluation of their beloved exhibit.

So, now you are informed of rules and procedures, where’s the passion? I have been so very fortunate in my 35 years as a CFA licensed judge to have officiated as a guest judge on every continent where cat shows are held. I have made lasting friendships with fellow judge colleagues from other organizations, and I have been able to handle some of the finest examples of cat breeds, of these living works of art. No matter the organization, no matter the country or continent, no matter the language or culture, we all share the same passion:

THE CAT