Thread: Showing tips?

@Heather Zack's lovely looking
@Peter Thank you! Johnson's baby powder it is :D

All - any tips on drying him? He's used to being bathed but he goes absolutely mental at the sound of a hair dryer...

Again - no expert on this but when any of mine need something awckward - big cats bums washed or when I first dried Boris I firmly wrapped them in a towel with their back facing me and then fold the bottom of the towel up - I then sit down ( on bath edge or chair) and unfold the end exposing the backside and wash / dry.

With Boris he did a fair bit of squirming but as he was in the towel - 1. No flying claws - yeh... 2. Easy to hold with one arm wrapped around them.... I just quietly kept going and he eventually settled and I could slowly expose more of him

I know a lady at the show who breeds was talking to someone and she was saying she grabs them I think on the scruff and hangs on for dear life as she dries them - she said she doesnt let go even if they scratch her to pieces - I call that dedication - but her cats are always beautiful and they are also cuddly so no ill effects from it

Thats good news... there are a lot of sharks out there and I'm glad you found a good breeder, it is actually common practise to withhold the reg documents until after kitty has been neutered.

You could always enter him in the Pedigree pet section, whatever happens. It is quite a popular part of the contest, the cats compete for Master Cat titles.

As for what the judges look for... there is a little variation as obviously people have their preferences, but coat pattern is important, they will look for the oyster rings on the sides and three distinct lines on the cat's back, a clear silver undercoat and as little tarnishing on the face as possible AND a squeeky clean cat! The cat must also fit the breed standard as closely as possible.

It is a good idea to look at the GCCF site, click on 'find your show report' and read up a bit. Also the Maine Coon Breed Society site has a page about show prep.

If your boy has 'stud tail' you will need to buy 'Goop' (mail order from Purrsonel Touch), as I have found that nothing else will get the grease out.

Hope this helps and hopefully see you at Thornbury!

Just read the last bit. I always have help and wash the cats in the bath, under the shower. The easiest and kindest way to dry your cat is to towel dry them, then put your cat in a wire cat carrier/cage then cover the top/back with towels and put near the fire or turn the hair dryer on them (sans towels), they simply have to put up with it and soon get used to the noise AND you don't get scratched.

I am pretty lucky with the drying both Merl & now Shimba love the hairdryer especially when you do their tums,no dignity all is stretched out for everyone to see,Welly is different,hairdryer is not for him so during the winter I put him in a wire cage & he has to put up with it,this time of the year he has a good rub with a couple of nice warm towels & self dries the rest.
I didn't get on very well with goop on Welly,he had terrible stud tail & even after three attempts it still wasn't right & went all wavey so started using fast orange hand cleaner,brilliant,good job first time & seems to wash out a lot easier,only thing is you wouldn't want to sit in the bath afterwards unless it has had a good clean,could be a case of gravel rash on the rear end....!

Originally Posted by Tivicoons

Thats good news... there are a lot of sharks out there and I'm glad you found a good breeder, it is actually common practise to withhold the reg documents until after kitty has been neutered.

.....

Hope this helps and hopefully see you at Thornbury!

Thanks Tivicoons, I haven't yet heard back from the breeder on registering so fingers crossed not all going pear-shaped! Fingers crossed will be able to put face to the name @ Thornbury :D I agree there a lot of disreputable breeders out there but pretty sure mine's not one of 'em

In general, thanks everyone for all the tips and advice; really really useful!

Thought you'd be interested to know, breeder has said happy to register but I've had to pay for it. Mildly peeved as paid £400 for him and did expect that to include GCCF registration but an extra £14 isn't the end of the world and I'd rather show him under the proper prefix . I've asked her to complete the manual transfer form and send it on to me at the same time so that I can apply for the transfer asap and then apply for the Thornbury show. I think from reading the info I can just put him down as RAF/TAF on the application as long as everything's been sent to the GCCF but I'll probably give them a call on Monday anyway to check.

You are correct Pralinehalo, just put RAF in the reg number box on the entry form. I had the same situation with one of mine last year so i emailed the show organiser and that's what they told me.
That's a bit naughty that you are being charged for the registration on top of the £400, especially because you are going to have to pay the GCCF more money to transfer it to your name as well.

My babes have always been registered for me even though the first one I had no intention of showing & the second one it wasn't until after we had him that we decided on the show route,first two with GCCF but last two FB, I wouldn't have been very happy if I had paid top money for mine & then had to pay extra for registration all I have had to pay for was the transfer into my name one that was done as breeders agreement after he was neuteerd & the others being a breeder friend she allowed me to do it as soon as I had the babes knowing that I wouldn't push the bounderies of friendship & abuse the neutering side of the contract...