58 CATS AND ALL ABOUT THEM 



most difficult to judge, and also they are generally the 

 largest. The many specialist clubs have their standard of 

 points (as given in the concluding chapter), but a good judge 

 will bring his experience and his common sense to bear upon 

 the exhibits, and these definitions therefore are likely to be of 

 more service to fanciers, who should always aim at perfection, 

 though they may not attain to it. For the benefit of novices 

 in the fancy, let me say that, before showing a cat at any of 

 the large shows, the first step is to register it with the Club 

 under whose rules the show is held. At the present time the 

 National Cat Club and The Cat Club are at loggerheads 

 over the question of registration, but without entering further 

 into the matter, I would say that it is the earnest hope of all 

 fanciers that in the future one register should be kept. 

 The forms at present used by the respective clubs are here 

 reproduced. To any one with average intelligence the filling 

 in of these is not a difficult matter. If a schedule of the 

 show is not sent to you, apply to the secretary whose name 

 and address will be published in the cat papers. Then read 

 carefully the exhibition rules, and pay special attention to 

 the classification before filling up the entry form, which 

 together with the fee should be forwarded in good time to 

 the secretary. I have given several hints in my paragraphs 

 as to the best modes of packing the pussies both in cold and 

 hot weather, so I would only impress on fanciers to do all in 

 their power to mitigate the discomfort and risk which must 

 always attend a cat travelling alone to and from a show. 



REGISTRATION 



The Registration Rules of the National Cat Club are as 

 follows : 



i. Every Cat exhibited at a show under National Cat Club Rules 

 must (except such as are exhibited exclusively in Local Classes, or 

 exhibited in Classes exclusively for litters of kittens), previous to the 

 tin^e of entry for such show, have been entered in a registry kept by 

 the National Cat Club at their offices. A charge of is. each shall 

 be made for registration. In such registry shall be inserted the 

 name and breed of the cat, and its breeder's name, the date of birth, 

 names of sire and dam, and of grand-sires and grand-dams, and if 

 the dam was served by two or more cats their several names must 

 be stated. If the age, pedigree or breeder's name be not known the 

 cat must be registered as breeder, age or pedigree "unknown," any 



