You know your Maine Coon is the most beautiful cat in the world; the question is, do you want to prove it? Cat shows are exciting and a bonding experience for you and your gentle giant, whether they have a yard-long pedigree or are rescues without official papers. So how exactly do you enter a cat show with your Maine Coon?
You should first ensure your cat is healthy and mentally prepared for the stress of travel and shows. You should ensure they have all their vaccination documents and book online for a local cat show run by TICA or CFA, among others. On the day, register your cat, pay the fees, and find your bench area to await your show round.
Cat shows a challenging experience for cats and owners but carries many rewards like a deepened bond and the pride of a job well done. You don’t have to have an expensive pedigree to show your Maine Coon’s beauty, as there are several classes and categories for all types of cats and kittens. Here is what to expect when you enter a show with your Maine Coon.
Contents
How to Enter a Cat Show With Your Maine Coon: Before You Go
1. Get the Necessary Documentation and Registration
Registration
Most official cat organizations have easy-to-use websites to register your cat for shows, such as www.tica.org. TICA uses the TOES system to register your cat and all their particulars and book directly for a chosen show. TOES is a fully automated service that allows TICA to streamline its show events and applications.
Depending on their pedigree status, there will usually be a small registration fee for your MC. You don’t need to be a member of an organization to register for a cat show, but being a member allows you to earn points for titles and regional and International awards in TICA shows.
Health Checks
Your Maine Coon needs to be in excellent health and have a vet’s card showing that they are up to date with all vaccines as well as feline distemper and rabies shots.
Know Your Schedule
Once you have the show you wish to attend, you will receive information on your class’s location, times, and judges. Often, cat organizations offer incentives for cat-friendly accommodation near or at the show venue, so if you book early, it will help you secure a space.
2. Ensure Your Maine Coon Is Mentally Show-Ready
It’s not only a kitty beauty pageant; like those little girls who fight for beauty titles, looks aren’t everything. How your kitty responds to the crowds, the noise, and how the judges will handle him makes him a champion. To give your MC their best chance at a win, you should familiarize your kitty with the stresses of the show process.
The more familiar your cat becomes with new places and people, the better their personality can shine when they face the judging ring. So before booking for your first show, try these preparation tips:
Take Your Maine Coon Out of Their Comfort Zone
Take your MC out and about, and expose them to as many sights and sounds as possible. Take them to parks, friends’ houses, and cat-friendly eateries. Give your MC plenty of attention, praise, and treats to make these outings a positive experience. A good tip is to take your cat to a larger-sized pet store to familiarize your MC with all the sounds and smells of unfamiliar animals in a new place.
Introduce Your MC to Unfamiliar People
If your kitty isn’t going to wig out on the judging table, they must become used to strangers handling their bodies. Invite friends to interact with your cat when they visit, and allow strangers to approach and stroke them when you are out. It helps to offer people small treats to give your cat to help your MC associate people with a positive experience.
Carrier Cage Practice
Your MC will spend much time in carriers and cages in the show environment. Let your kitty spend time in their carriers, play with them, and feed them to associate the carrier with good experiences. It’s also good to practice taking your cat out of their carriers backward, as the show judges will do on the day.
Be Compassionate and Kind
Some of the most beautiful pedigree cats have personalities that make them fearful and stressed in show situations. Each Maine Coon is unique, and although they are confident and friendly creatures, some won’t take to the show process. If they find the experience stressful or negative, show your champion off at home.
3. Preparation: Grooming and Presentation
If your Maine Coon is going to compete, you will have to ensure that he looks his absolute best. Although those Persians in cat shows naturally look like fluffy white clouds, there are loads and loads of elbow grease behind the scenes!
An insider tip is to start your grooming and washing experiments 4-6 weeks before you show your cat. Try a range of shampoos and products that reveal your MC’s best coat. Several grooming sessions will also get your kitty into the swing of pre-show grooming and make them less likely to kick up a fuss.
Shampoo and Rinse Well
Use a mild shampoo designed for cats that won’t affect their acid mantle, a protective barrier around their sensitive skin. Lather in your shampoo well; your MC has a water-repellent coat, so lather and wet again to ensure a proper wash.
If you plan to use a de-flea shampoo, use it before your beauty shampoo. Ensure you get to those greasy areas on your MC, such as behind the ears and the lower belly. Always be careful not to get shampoo or water in your cat’s ears or eyes. Instead, follow the face-cleaning procedure listed below.
Rinse your MC well and rinse again even if the water seems clear. Soap residue can make your MC’s coat look dull and weigh it down.
If Your MC Has Oily Patches or Clumps
You can always opt for what insiders call goop, a combination of lanolin, glycerine, and vitamin E. You can apply to problem areas such as the bib, behind the ears, or the base of the tail that is prone to grime and grease.
You apply the goop to a dry coat, rub it in, and then rinse it. This product is also great for that greasy, waxy substance at the base of male cats’ tails called stud tails. The Groomer’s Goop Pet De-Greaser is a good pick and is available on Amazon.com. This product is non-toxic and safe for both cats and kittens, which removes greasy stains that shampoo cant clean,
Essential Claw Preparation for Shows
Like most established cat organizations, the CFA insists that their competitors trim their cats’ claws. Cats are somewhat unpredictable, and the short nails help prevent judges from being harmed by a frightened or struggling cat.
Trimming a cat’s claws is relatively simple but may be problematic if your MC is unaccustomed to the process from kittenhood. The process goes as follows:
- Gently press the paw on the underside of the nail to extend the claw.
- Carefully trim the transparent area, avoiding the quick, which is a pink area rich with nerves and blood vessels.
- Ensure you leave several millimeters between the quick and the clipping site.
Here is an excellent tutorial for trimming your MC’s nails before the show day!
Once You Arrive: What to Expect at Your First Cat Show
1. When You Arrive: Registration and Health Check
It’s best to arrive an hour or two early to ensure you have plenty of time to prepare yourself and your MC for the day’s excitement.
Once you arrive at the show venue, you will find a registration desk where you will present all your cat’s particulars for the judging. Once you pay any outstanding fees for the show, the entry clerk will provide you with a folder that typically contains:
- Cage Number
- Cat number
- The show catalog
- Club information
Next up is the vet check, where a qualified veterinarian will ensure that your Maine Coon is in top health. They will check your MC’s vaccination history and check the following areas on your Maine Coon:
- Eyes
- Nose
- Ear
- Abdomen
- Claws
- Coat for signs of ticks or fleas
Although this may seem tedious, the process ensures that your cat will not pick up any nasty bugs from their fellow competitors or taxi home critters to your clean bed. Many clubs won’t let cats compete if there are signs of fleas on their coats, so ensure your kitty is clean of any flea or flea residue when you hit the show hall.
2. Waiting for Your Turn: The Famous Benching Area
The entry clerk will assign your cat a cage in a benching area, typically a row of cages with an area under each cage to store your show paraphernalia. This area is where your cat will stay between judging rounds, so ensure you have everything to keep your cat comfortable.
You can opt to pay for a grooming space and request to bench with a friend. You need to cover the cage on all sides except the front, and some competitors go pretty wild with fancy bespoke decorations for their loved kitties.
3. Setting Up Your Cage
Once you have received confirmation of your place in the show, you will need to prepare all the paraphernalia to make your Maine Coon stand out in the contest. Often, cat showers bring small fold-out tables and chairs to set up a makeshift grooming parlor while waiting for their show time at the benches.
Experts suggest that you take along the following:
- Secure cat carrier
- Cage and optional cover/curtains and curtain clips
- Soft cage liner
- Cat litter box and litter
- Water, food, and bowls
- Grooming tools
- Nail clippers
- Cat toys to amuse your MC
- Vaccination records
- Entry confirmation
- Proof of payment for entry
Here is a handy YouTube tutorial about setting up your cage curtains:
4. Last Minute Groom Session
Your MC should be beautiful and clean, so you must ensure they stay that way. Watch out for litterbox oopsies and ensure that your Maine coon stays looking perfectly groomed. Now is an excellent time to ensure you have covered all the bases.
Ear and Eyes, Nose and Toes
The devil is in the details, and you should clean every nook and cranny until it squeaks. These areas include:
- Ears: Swab out your MC’s ears with a cotton bud dipped in an approved, gentle cat ear cleaner. You should gently remove any unsightly wax or debris from the outer and visible area of the kitty’s inner ear.
- Eyes: Use an approved cat eye cleaner to remove any residue or tear marks around the eyes. Alternatively, use sterile wipes dipped in distilled water.
- Nose: Use a clean, damp cloth or swap to gently clean around your cat’s nose and nostrils.
- Bottom: It’s not the favorite grooming area for anyone, but make sure your kitty’s bum is shiny clean for their show. Use gentle cat shampoo diluted with warm water and clean the area with gentle circular motions. Alternatively, opt for cat breed-specific disposable wipes for a clean kitty bottom.
- Toes: Pay attention to your kitty’s toes for the final clean-up. Litter box residue can quickly get stuck in your MC’s fluffy paws, affecting their score in a show setting. Use a damp cloth or cat-appropriate wipes to clean the paw pads between the toes gently.
Extra Coat Grooming Tips for Shows
- Comb your cat with stainless steel combs over plastic combs and brushes, which can cause static frizz.
- Opt for natural bristle brushes and not nylon for static issues.
- Carefully trim any hair covering eyes or mouth with blunt-tipped scissors to reveal your MC’s beautiful eyes and face.
- Comb all the tangles with the steel comb first, and cut out any snags or knots if you cannot.
- Many expert competitors wash their MCs a week before a show, as a just-washed cat’s fur may be a bit floppy or soft.
- Then, proceed to a pin brush with ball ends to ensure your kitty’s skin stays safe.
- To fluff up your MC, use grooming powder and a pin brush to plush up that ruff.
- Watch out for static, especially in carpeted show halls! The coat will stick together and behave like your MC has had an electric shock. Pack a handy anti-static spray just in case of emergencies!
Remember the Last Minute Touch Up!
Before each call-up, do a quick touch-up to ensure your MC looks their best.
Double-check the following spots:
- Eyes
- Ears
- Nose
- Toes
- Bottom
Give a final comb through and brush. Refluff your MC’s gorgeous ruff with a pin brush, powder their super fluffy tails, and brush it thoroughly while holding onto the tail tip. Remember to check the areas behind your MC’s ears and elbows, on the flanks and abdomen, and at the base of their tail.
Here is a CFA tutorial for waiting for your call-up for your show round:
5. Your Maine Coons Turn to Shine: The Judging Ring
When the announcer calls your cat’s number, you will either take your cat to the ring or a steward will take your cat for you and place the cat in the judging ring. A seating area in front of the ring will be where you may observe the judge examining your MC.
Each ring will have a ring clerk and ring steward/s who ensure that judging runs efficiently. They will keep accurate judging records, call the contestants’ numbers, and clean the cages between rounds.
Judging typically occurs in several rings simultaneously, and judging is blind to avoid favoritism between judges and contestants. The judge will take one cat at a time and closely examine them, taking into account three main criteria:
- How closely the Maine Coon meets the breed standard
- Appearance such as overall health, beauty, and grooming
- The cat’s temperament, sociability, and personality
The judging table will often have a scratching post or toys to amuse the cat or allow the judge to examine their musculature and confirmation closer.
Personality takes a significant role as judges will penalize cats who resist examination and express antisocial behavior, despite how beautiful they may be. Cats who bite the judges are undefeatable and disqualified from the round.
Once the judging is complete, the judge will award ribbons to the winning cats.
Here is a YouTube clip with a judge examining several MC Beauties!
6. The Finals: What to Expect
After judging all the cats in the class, the judge will rank either the top 5 or ten cats, depending on the size of the show. The ring clerk will announce the results for your class and the ring where they will post the results. If you find your cat’s number posted in the ring, you will place your MC in their designated cage.
The judge will select the awards for both the long-haired and short-haired breeds (if the show is a specialty show). They will then typically award your kitty a rosette, and you will receive points that will count towards further titles and regional awards.
How Cat Shows Work？
Car organizations carefully plan shows where cats compete against each other and their breed standard to receive points and awards. Breed standards are each breed’s ideal confirmation and appearance, encompassing their best features and beauty.
Personality also counts in judging—friendly, confident cats who handle well rank above shy or unfriendly kitties.
Organizations such as the US Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) and the International Cat Association TICA put on hundreds of cat shows annually. The first modern cat show began in London in 1871 and the US as far back as 1906!
What Does a Typical Cat Show Look Like?
Cat shows differ from dog shows in that owners don’t appear with trusty felines. Instead, you place your cat in a numbered cage where the judge will take them out one by one against the breed standard and choose the winners of the particular category.
Cat shows are exciting, with many people buzzing about and preparing their cats for events. There will be several rings where entry clerks will announce numbers and judge ranking cats simultaneously.
The hall also includes vendors and spectators, so the larger cat shows are busy and noisy between the busy cat owners moving to and fro and the public!
Most shows center around four main areas:
- Check-in: Usually a length of desks with entry clerks waiting to greet and allocate contestants
- Benching areas: long rows of cages where contestants will keep their cats and groom them between judging
- Judging Rings Usually an L-shape of cat cages and a central elevated table. Each ring will display a designated number.
- Vendors: This area may be extensive in larger shows, with cat products and specialty items for cat lovers.
Understanding Categories in Cat Shows
Each cat organization has its categories, but generally, the division follows a similar layout to the CFA designations below.
The categories are as follows:
| Pedigree: Kitten | This class involves Maine Coons between the age of four to eight months |
| Pedigree: Championship | These are unneutered adult specimens of the breed typically designated to become breeding stock |
| Pedigree: Premiership | This category is for adult cats that have been spayed or neutered and great examples of the Maine Coon breed standard |
| Household Pet | If your Maine Coon is a mix or a rescue without their pedigree papers, this is where they will compete. They can start competing at four months and go on until eight months. Judges rate them on appearance, health grooming, and personality without needing breed standards. |
Organizations like TICA expand the categories to include New Breed and Color (NBC).
Divisions. The CFA show will divide the judging into long-haired and short-haired breeds, where they will enter the following process of elimination.
| Best of Color | CFA will divide male and female cats of the same breed and color and award the top five places in the BOX. TICA will show both genders in their BOC class. Cats who have placed 1st or 2nd are eligible to compete for the Best and 2nd Best of Color Awards |
| Best of Division | Cats who have placed Best or 2nd Best of Color are eligible for Best of Breed or Division. |
| Best of Breed | All 1st Place Champions are eligible for Best Champion of Breed or Division |
| Champions | All Cats who have placed high enough in their breed are eligible to compete for a place in the 1-10 best cats in show |
| Best of Show | All Cats ranked high enough in their breed are eligible to compete for a place in the 1-10 best cats in show |
| Best Of Color Ribbon | Best of Color Vision (M/F) | Best of Division | Best of Breed | Household Pet Merit Award |
| Blue | Black | Brown | Purple | Red/white |
| Red | White | Orange | ||
| Yellow | ||||
| Green | ||||
| White |
Entry Into Show Categories: How Does it Work?
| Show Category | Prerequisites to Enter |
| Kitten Class | Any cats between four and eight months who are registered |
| Open Class | Any cat that has yet to show under six judges or withheld (if the judge does not deem the entry worthy) |
| Champion Class | Cats who showed under six different judges in the open division and completed the paid Championship form |
| Premier | Spayed and neutered cats who showed under six different judges in the open division and completed the paid Championship form |
| Grand Champion | Any champion kitty who has won against 200 Champion cats |
| Premier Cat | Any cat that has won against 75 Premier cats |
| Household Pet (HHP) | Any registered cat that is spayed and neutered may enter this category. Organizers will not accept declawed cats |
Here is an excellent introduction to competition levels in a CFA cat show:
Should I Enter My Maine Coon Into a Cat Show?
Whether your Maine Coon has an impressive pedigree, or they are rescues without papers or a bit of a mix, you can still show your precious moggy. We all know our Maine Coons are the most gorgeous creatures in the world, but wouldn’t it be fun to prove it?
If you have a beautiful and healthy Maine coon with a confident and outgoing nature, then the show arena may be a place you both can shine. If you intend to breed, your Maine Coon prestigious awards will make your kittens more sought after and add value to your breeding program.
Traveling with your MC and visiting shows can be a bonding experience, bringing you even closer than you were before. Showing may also build your kitty’s confidence and make them more friendly and well-adjusted to life’s little stresses.
3 Reasons to Show Your Maine Coon
1. Make Friends With Like-Minded People
Cat shows are a great place to meet like-minded people who share a love of cats. You may meet a wide circle of new friends to share shows, travel, and experiences during a show.
2. Achieve Recognition and Accolades for Your Special MC
It’s a fabulous experience when you win or place at a show. The reward of a judge recognizing the unique beauty of your much-loved kitty is a rewarding experience.
3. To promote the Maine Coon Breed
When a judge evaluates a Maine Coon highly, competitors can improve their breeding programs and promote the Maine Coon breed as a whole. Sparking interest at more significant cat show events can educate the public on the breed’s beauty, personality, and care.
Once you have decided that you have the time, finances, and passion for showing your MC to the world, you can prepare for your big day.
Closing Thoughts
Although my Halo is not one for the spotlight, we did enjoy a local cat show or two and had fun once we got over our nerves. Something about being the two of you against the world makes for warm and fuzzy feelings of comrades in arms.
If your Maine Coon is amenable, the cat show circuit can open up a whole new world for you and your kitty—and a whole new level of bonding and love.
