Conference misery::feline_v1

    > [Once I managed to stabilise a population
    > of Lop-Eared bunnies at 20, but that's another story]
                          
    Bunnies can be spayed just like cats and dogs! I got into a
    conversation about this with my vet. He has done a couple.
    
    Deb

    re irrelevant trivia...
    
    yes, all of my Lops were spayed or neutered...the population stabilised
    at 20 because the bunnies had a head start.  A neighbor-child had
    been given a pregnant one [unintentionally, I assure you] for Easter
    and when she kittened, mother and babies showed up on my back porch
    in a Allied Moving & Storage box with a note ... Honestly, I don't
    know why I never scratched 'Johnston' off of the mailbox and just
    wrote 'Sucker' instead.  All bunnies found GOOD homes, not the Easter
    bunnies are s-o-o-o cute kind, and by last count 12 are still alive.
    
    Annie

Re < Note 882.0 by CIVIC::JOHNSTON "I _earned_ that touch of grey!" >:

>                        -< 'House Pet' Class question >-

>    I must begin by stating that I know nothing about Cat Showing. Having
>    had a early background in Dog Showing, I do know that our dogs
>    had to be 'without spot or blemish' and preferrably proven breeders
>    -- hence ruling out non-reproducing house-pets.  Does the same rule
>    apply to showing cats in general?  Is this rule waived in the case
>    of house pet class?

HHP (Household Pet) showing has been discussed elsewhere in this file, but 
since I'm being lazy, I'll summarize it below.

Unlike pedigree felines who are judged by a strict standard of breed, color, 
and structure, HHPs are shown strictly on their beauty and health.  Beauty is 
very subjective and a judge's opinion may vary from show to show.  The HHP 
should be very clean, well-groomed, and have a good disposition.   Purring for 
a judge or some playful antic may give the extra boost that is needed for a win!

Pedigree cats may be shown under two major classifications:  Championship and 
Altered Championship.  Since breeding *pedigree* cats is the purpose of the cat 
fancy and "forwards" the breed, the Championship Class is the most competitive. 
The Altered class provides a way for more awards to be granted.

>    On the other hand, some of them have been extremely beautiful and
>    would, I think, show well if not barred from doing so because of
>    their non-reproducing status.
    
Quite the opposite.  Most cat shows REQUIRE that an HHP over one year of age be 
altered.  There are just too many strays in the world.

Add another question to the list:

If you find a beautiful, from all evidence "purebred", stray cat and 
want to show her, what class would she be in??

I'm asking because Hanna, my latest baby, is from all evidence a
"flame point" and quite beautiful...of course, I may be JUST a little
prejudiced on this, but you know how it is...

I would be interested in showing my lovely off if there is a catagory
for her...

also, what about de-clawed cats?

Lots of questions here..

				Thanks,

				  D
 

re: 882.4

>If you find a beautiful, from all evidence "purebred", stray cat and 
>want to show her, what class would she be in??

You may show this cat in the "household pet" class.  In some associations, 
there is a sub-class for "apparent purebred", and in some others there 
isn't, so ask the entry clerk to make sure.

The only exceptions to this are that, for some breeds, some associations 
will allow you to register a cat with unknown parentage for championship 
status, but these are few and far between. 

>also, what about de-clawed cats?

I know of *no* association that permits the showing of de-clawed cats in 
*any* class whatsoever.  All associations that I know of have taken the 
position that de-clawing is a barbarous practice, and to allow a de-clawed 
cat to be shown would be inconsistent with this position.

Ray

    Generally, house pet division, ocassionally a purebred lookalike
    division (but that has mostly died out.
    
    Almost no fancy will allow declawed, but some (particularily TICA)
    will allow it to slip by in HHP's
    
    Dave