THE BOOK OF THE CAT. 



be clearly set forth, and it should be mentioned 

 whether classes will or will not be amalgamated 

 or cancelled. A few advertisements of stud 

 cats and trade notices should be obtained, 

 as this means grist to the mill and helps to 

 pay for the printing of the schedules and 

 catalogues. 



The question of classification is an all- 

 important one, and needs the consideration of 

 a careful show committee, well versed in the 

 ways of cats and of fanciers. A list of the 

 classification used by one or two big cat clubs 

 has been given. Of course, at smaller shows 

 it is often impossible to give separate classes 

 for several breeds or to divide the sexes ; but 

 my remarks in this chapter will refer to the 

 customs and arrangements of large shows, 

 such as those held by the National Cat Club 

 at the Crvstal Palace, and the Cat Club at 

 Westminster. I do not think it is good policy 

 on the part of a show committee or manage- 

 ment to amalgamate classes. It is much 

 better to advertise in schedules that when 

 entries are fewer than, say, four or five, then 

 the judges are empowered to withhold any 

 of the prizes ; or, again, in the case of a very 

 small class, half prize money might be awarded. 



Having decided on the classification, and 



given as liberal and attractive a one as is 

 possible and practicable, it is well to consider 

 the number of schedules likely to be required, 

 and then start addressing the wrappers. In each 

 schedule must be inserted two or three entrj 

 and registration forms. The entry forms, 

 with fees, are returned to the secretary, and 

 the registration forms to the person who 

 keeps the register of the club holding the 

 show. And here I would remark on the mis- 

 take it is to have two registers for cats. It 

 is very confusing for exhibitors, and a double 

 expense, as the National Cat Club and the 

 Cat Club each charge a shilling. Then, again, 

 as the National Cat Club has recently passed 

 a rule disqualifying all cats exhibited at Cat 

 Club shows, the confusion is worse confounded. 

 Some fanciers having large catteries divide 

 their exhibits and send to both National Cat 

 Club and Cat Club shows ; but this ne\ 

 registration rule falls heavily on cat fancier 

 who are keen to exhibit their specimens ant 

 anxious for the pleasure of obtaining prizes, 

 and desire to profit by showing their stud 

 cats or having an opportunity of disposing 

 of their stock. The National Cat Club show 

 since the passing of this rule have suffered 

 considerably, both from lack of entries anc 

 by the absence of some of the fine 

 champion cats that, having beer 

 exhibited at the Cat Club show ii 

 January, were thus debarred from 

 appearing at the Botanic Gardens and 



" MINDING SHOP." 

 (Photo: C. Reid, Wishaw.) 



