Hi everyone.

I have had cats all my life and I know lots about them and how to look after them etc...

However, I know nothing about pedigree cats. I have always had 'moggies'.

I went to a cat show this weekend and what I saw shocked me.

There was 2 rooms. One had lots of stalls in it.

and the the other was like a battery hen room! :( All the cats where laid in tiny white cages and the room was boiling! Most of them were asleep (which i found abit weird as they looked so 'out of it')

The only pedigree ones I really liked the look of was the ragdolls.

Alot of them to me didnt even look pedigree! in fact one was the spitting image of my ginger & white moggy! (Paddy)

What do you think of cat shows? and pedigree cats?

It was nothing like the dog shows I have been to. (Obviously I know cats cant just walk around like dogs can) The cats were just left with no human contact or anything. I felt so sorry for them. many were even panting cos of the heat! :mad:

Alot of people I was talking to went to the stall section to get food straight from suppliers but they wouldnt go near the cat showing room!

I know alot about pedigree dogs which are allowed to do the same as mongrels (walks, play etc....) However speaking to some people they were saying that their pedigree cats arent allowed out (which most cats love to do!)

I just found the whole thing abit.............I cant even think of a word.

I must admit that my views on cat shows and showing have formed most of my reasoning on why I have moggies (or at least, cats who have been unwanted by someone else even if they are pedigree).

A cat's 'form' or whether it meets certain breed standards make very little difference as to whether they make good pets as far as I'm concerned.

On the subject of going out, neighbours and friends were amazed and alarmed that I let my blue Burmese boy Tico (who was abandoned at the Shelter as a small kitten) out of the house- but I wasn't prepared to shut him in the house when he was so obviously manic to escape to the garden. Some cats are just not happy being indoor cats and he was one of them. I would have allowed him out to play whether I'd adopted him at the Shelter or paid lots of money for him- his life and enjoyment were more important than financial value.

I have never been to a cat show and dont intend too. I have had both moggies and pedigrees, BSH. I had my moggy for 15 years and he was my baby. My pedigrees are my new babies.

And Yes, my cats are house cats and are very happy. I wanted a breed that would live happily indoors, as we live on a very busy road. I know a moggy wouldnt be happy to do that.

I must admit that my views on cat shows and showing have formed most of my reasoning on why I have moggies (or at least, cats who have been unwanted by someone else even if they are pedigree).

A cat's 'form' or whether it meets certain breed standards make very little difference as to whether they make good pets as far as I'm concerned.

On the subject of going out, neighbours and friends were amazed and alarmed that I let my blue Burmese boy Tico (who was abandoned at the Shelter as a small kitten) out of the house- but I wasn't prepared to shut him in the house when he was so obviously manic to escape to the garden. Some cats are just not happy being indoor cats and he was one of them. I would have allowed him out to play whether I'd adopted him at the Shelter or paid lots of money for him- his life and enjoyment were more important than financial value.

I dont keep my cats in because of their financial value. My cats have an excellent life and enjoy it too the full thank you.

I dont think you can be gauranteed whether a cat will be happy as an indoor cat or not by whether its a pedigree or a moggy.

I have 3 moggies and 1 doesnt like to go out but the other 2 do. A woman at my work has a pedigree and he loves to go out!

So in that respect I think its fair that its down to a cat decide what they want to do :)

I dont keep my cats in because of their financial value. My cats have an excellent life and enjoy it too the full thank you.

I'm not suggesting that they have a bad life at all. All I'm saying is that my particular cat was unhappy when he was stuck indoors and would go as far as escaping out of upstairs windows and jumping 15 feet down to the ground if he was shut in.

I have not been to a cat show, but one of my customers used to show her Siamese regularly and went all over the country. She stopped going a few years ago as the cat wasnt enjoying it anymore and refused to go in the carrier. I wish more people were like her, but unforunatley the prize is too valuable.

I've never been to a cat show... mainly because it doesn't interest me.

As for cats asleep, well - I have to say I think mine would sleep if they'd been gotten used to it from a young age just as dogs do. The main thing to remember is these cats will have done this on a regular basis and probably go to sleep because they're not phased by it.

From the rest of the description, it sounds awful and like Gemima, I wish more people would think about whether the animal wants to do it - the same goes for dog shows.

With regards to not letting them out, I would be cautious of letting a pedigree out too... pedigrees are far more likely to be stolen than moggies, particularly those breeds that are very people friendly but I don't actually know what I'd choose to do.

I can guarantee my cats are happy-even if the back door is open they dont even offer to go out.

My moggy used to go out. But there are plenty of cruel people in the world-and been the soft lad that he was, someone used to cut his whiskers off for several years. We never find out who it was. As soon as they grew back, he would come back with stumps again. Maybe i am selfish as well keeping them but i know my cats are safe. I lost cats in the past from been knocked over too.

I dunno. I think some of the cat shows really help the charities - they are big money spinners and I went to the National at Olympia last year and one floor was completely charity. Most of the cats are used to being shown and the first time i went to one I was suprised how much these owners love their cats as kitties as opposed to just seeing them as a show toy. I've been to quite a few and would be going again this year had i not been busy with something else that weekend.

B&T are moggies but they are beautiful moggies and I wish perhaps I'd put B through when she was younger but she's too old now and would hate being cooped up.

Most cats typically sleep for around 16 hours per day, so I dont think it is unusual that you saw cats dozing at the show - I've seen the same at Crufts with a lot of the dogs. Someone is supposed to monitor conditions though, and if it was extremely hot, they are meant to do something about it - at the Supreme, they always have vets and stewards in the halls. The only cat show I've been to is the Supreme - and we go for the sale stuff rather than to view the cats- although it is a good way of finding out about specific breeds and to make links with key breeders, which we did before we got any of our lot- having only had rescues and other moggies previously.
Remember a lot of the cats will have been 'on the road' for several hours before they arrive at the show and they have to be 'benched' in crates, unlike dogs which have more freedom - you can take a dog out for a walk around whereas most cats have to be kept in their crates all day- this is cat show ruling rather than the choice of the breeders and owners- something to do with ensuring there is no cross-contamination- even though they all have to be fully vacc'd.
You tend to hear the siamese and orientals more at these sorts of events, but then they are the most vociferous breeds anyway. It is a good money-making event for a lot of the cat charities too. Personally, I have no interest in showing any of my cats even though they supposedly have great pedigrees - but then, I wouldn't show Ailsa my dobe either - I think there's more to life than travelling up n down the country at all hours and spending all day in a show ring or standing next to a bench until you're allowed to go home- I think a lot of cats (and dogs) find it either very boring and some quite stressful - you would hope that their breeders would sense that early on though and stop putting them through it.
In the 'discover dogs/ cats' areas at the big shows, it is great to have the chance to view particular breeds at close quarters and to be able to chat with owners.

Oh and in accordance with the breeders' wishes, all of my cats are indoor - but then, they are quite distinctive breeds and would be very attractive to thieves if allowed to wander - plus, they come from generations of pedigrees that have all been indoor so they lack the street savvy of your typical moggie. I've previously lost moggies in a variety of unpleasant ways- road traffic accidents, theft, cruelty (had one that some young thugs decided to hang and another was butchered in the woods), had one ripped to bits by a greyhound and seen others tormented by youngsters - had one that was poisoned, another one killed with an air rifle and a nasty old ex-neighbour who used to use his cataplut on any cat he saw.. been there, done that, and would rather not have future cats endure that torture, thankyou.

Personally, I'm happy that my lot are indoor- or rather, do not stray beyond the boundaries of my enclosed garden and are not allowed out unsupervised. They have a fanastic cat play room, all thrive in each other's company (we deliberately chose breeds that are sociable and tolerant of other cats), they have our undivided attentions and they are in excellent condition and health - their life expectancy should be greatly enhanced by their not being allowed to stray and to pick up nasty bugs, get into cat fights or be attacked or killed whilst outdoors.
If you'd asked me 5 years ago whether I approved of indoor cats, I would have said I did not approve, but having lived with our posh cats for over 4 years now, (plus our one surviving elderly moggie, who has always been afraid of the great outdoors), I would'nt have it any other way, living as we do in a busy street close to the city centre, where the newer residents like to whizz up n down our street like it's brands hatch and there are a still few unpleasant characters who hate cats. If I was lucky enough to live further afield with a huge plot of land, things would be different - I would be able to create a fenced in enclosure for my gang to play to their heart's content, but unless I win the lottery, somehow think it aint going to happen...It's still my long term goal, though.

I have three beautiful moggies, and have never really hankered after a 'posh' cat. I have however been to several pedigree cat shows.

I was always rather dubious about them, and didn't think they were in the cats' best interests - however, the cat shows that are held at The Dome in Doncaster are quite an eye-opener. I am not sure which club runs these shows, but the cats are all treated really well by the judges and people that handle them - you can clearly tell these people are cat-lovers and not just in it for money or trophies. I have talked to some great people and been able to learn lots too - and stroke one of those hairless cats!

As for cats being caged or leading an indoor life, mine have the option of going out or staying in - they all choose to stay inside. The furthest they go is to accompany me to the washing line and back in - definitely not big wanderers at all!