QGC Rum Tum Timmy
My “initiation” to the cat fancy was showing my household pet, Rum Tum Timmy (aka Tim). He’s a gorgeous, bunny-fuzz coated blue (most likely he can claim Maine Coon and Russian Blue in his genes!) with HUGE green eyes.
I had shown horses and worked with my Schipperkes (agility, Canine Good Citizen) so as a cat-lover-from-birth, I decided to give the cat fancy a shot. It didn’t take long to realize I was in love: in fact, it was the second day of the two-day TICA (The International Cat Association) show in Fort Worth eight years ago that sealed the deal.
Since then I’ve shown Havanas (i.e. also called Havana Browns in the Cat Fanciers Association), but have always had a household pet under my wing at the shows too. Cocoa Pebbles (aka Beaner) has been the road companion for numerous show cats and just last year won her Regional Winner title in TICA.
Okay, enough about me. What I wanted to say is Cornell University’s newsletter CatWatch recently featured an article on showing Household pets. It’s so much fun to show household pets! It’s a great way to learn the ropes of showing a cat…..help adopt and show off a gorgeous cat!!….let juniors become accomplished exhibitors without buying a pedigreed cat….
Many judges started out showing household pets. And many judges still show household pets!
TICA not only registers household pets, but the cats and kittens can earn the same titles, and regional and international awards as the pedigreed cats.
If you want to learn more….or have a gorgeous cat or kitten that you know loves people and is a “ham”…then go to www.tica.org and see if you can find a show near you. Go visit it, and watch the household pet judging. And talk to the owners at the show!
It’s so much fun.
