Show Hall Etiquette: A Rookie’s Guide to the Cat Fancy#

Walking into your first cat show is like walking onto a different planet. There are rows of decorated cages (“Benching”), loudspeakers announcing numbers, and people frantically combing cats like their lives depend on it.

It is chaotic, loud, and wonderful. But there are rules—many of them unwritten—that you need to know to survive your first weekend.

The “Benching” Cage#

When you arrive, you are assigned a cage. This is your “home base.”

• Curtains: You must have cage curtains. They cover the back, sides, and top of the cage. [cite_start]This prevents your cat from seeing the neighbor cat (and hissing)[cite: 762].
• Decor: People go wild. Matching velvet pads, hammocks, and even chandeliers. For your first show, keep it simple: solid colors that make your cat’s eye color pop.

The Judging Ring Protocol#

Listen to the loudspeaker. They will call your cat’s number (e.g., “Maine Coon Kittens 201-210 to Ring 3”).

1. The Hold: Carry your cat securely. Do not let them see other cats.
2. The Cage: Place your cat in the judging cage with their number on it.
3. Silence: When the judge is handling cats, do not talk. Do not say, “Oh, he likes his chin scratched.” The judging is anonymous. Identifying your cat to the judge can get you disqualified.

“Finals”: The Goal#

If the judge likes your cat, they will award a ribbon (Blue, Red, Yellow). But the real goal is the Final. At the end of the judging, the judge picks their “Top 10” cats from all breeds. If your number is called for specific “Finals,” you have won big points. This is where the “Best in Show” titles come from.

The Unwritten Rules#

• Don’t Touch: Never touch another exhibitor’s cat without asking. Germs spread easily (see our FIP Guide).
• Don’t Block the View: When watching a ring, sit in the chairs. Don’t stand in front of the cages so the audience can’t see.
• Be Nice to the Clerk: The person sitting next to the judge (the Ring Clerk) runs the show. Be polite to them.

Conclusion#

Showing is an addiction. It is expensive, tiring, and stressful. But the camaraderie of the show hall—sitting with other “crazy cat people” who understand why you own five vacuums—is unlike any other community on earth.

References#

1. Walsh, L.G. (2013). The Maine Coon Cat. “So You Think You Have a Show Cat,” p. [cite_start]68[cite: 738].
2. CFA. Show Rules and Etiquette.
3. TICA. Exhibitor’s Guide.
4. Helgren, J.A. Communicating with the Judge.
5. Cat Fanciers’ Almanac. Novice Exhibitor Tips.