8 4 



THE BOOK OF THE CAT. 



stud cat on another, and it was lucky that 

 nothing worse than a torn and bleeding ear 

 was the result of this onslaught. Another 

 class I should like to see at some of our large 

 shows, and certainly at the summer N.C.C. 

 Show, is a class for stud cats, which should be 

 judged quite irrespective of coat, and- special 

 attention directed to form of limb, size of 

 head, and massive build in awarding the 

 prizes. This might not be an attractive class, 

 but it would be an instructive one, and give 

 the veterans a chance of proving of what stuff 

 they are made. A young untried male will 

 often take all the honours in his class, and the 

 stud cat of a busy season is forced to take a 

 back place, probably on account of services 

 rendered. Anyhow, this idea might be 

 carried out as regards the two largest classes 

 namely, those for silver and blue Persians. 

 In former days there used to be classes at 

 some of the shows in which the cats were 

 judged by weight, but these have wisely been 

 done away with. 



The question of open judging at cat 



shows has fre- 

 quently been 

 discussed in 

 catty circles, 

 and several fan- 

 ciers have given 

 their opinions 

 on this subject. 



MISS KIRKPATRICK'S BLUE KITTENS. 



(Photo : E. Landor, Eating.) 



Mrs. Neate, a well-known fancier, writes thus 

 in Fur and Feather : " It would indeed be a 

 step in the right direction if cat shows were 

 run on (as far as possible) the same lines as 

 dog shows. Much of the absurd mystery that 

 at present envelops our cat shows would 

 vanish if exhibitors were permitted to be 

 present during the judging, and I feel sure 

 that the majority of cat fanciers would not 

 be so wanting in etiquette and good taste as 

 to hinder the judges or any of the officials 

 in discharge of their onerous duties." No 

 doubt there is much truth in these remark 1 - ; 

 but, at the same time, I do not think fanciers 

 take sufficiently into consideration the very 

 timid, shrinking nature of the cat when they 

 advocate open judging. It is often most 

 difficult for a judge to properly examine a cat. 

 even when he or she is quietly going round 

 giving the awards ; it would be still more 

 trying to man and beast if a collection of 

 strangers were pressing forward on all sides. 



What I consider is more practical than 

 open judging for cats is that some arrange- 

 ment should be made so that judges may be 

 enabled to compare the points of the various 

 exhibits, and for this purpose I consider that 

 judging pens on movable tables should be 

 provided at all shows, as were adopted by 

 the Cat Club at Westminster. By these 

 means the work of the judges would be much 

 simplified, and the cats more satisfactorily 

 and quickly judged. 



Supposing a special prize or medal is offered 

 for the best cat in the show, then I think it 

 -is interesting and instructive to have the first 

 prize winning cats placed, if possible, in pens, 

 and to arrange for the award to be given in 

 public during the show by the judges in con- 

 junction with each other. Such a plan was 

 adopted at the last Manchester Cat Show, 

 and much satisfaction was expressed at this 

 innovation. 



Having given some suggestions as to the 

 classification, I would again refer to points of 

 management in shows. At the closing hour 

 on the second day the hall should be cleared, 

 and only exhibitors or their representatives 



