To read a schedule, you need to know a few things. First of all if you have a specific breed they will also invariably have a specific class depending on their colouration. For example, I have a Maine Coon who is "silver tortie classic tabby & white". So when I look at the schedule, I look for the neuter section (as there are three sections; adult, kitten & neuter) then the section (she is not a Persian, British etc but is a SLH as she is a semi-longhair breed) then in that section look for the breed so Maine Coon & then look at the list of classes based on colour. Mine can be put in the Silver Tabby class. That will be the "open" & the main class. So if she wins three of these as a 1st place under three separate judges she could get three "premier certificates" (they are called challenge certificates in the adult classes & kittens don't get certificates) she gets the title Premier (or Champion if she was entire). This is why this class is special as it leads to the title gains. When making the entry, usually the fee includes three side classes as well as the open. This is the "misc" classes in the schedule. They will be things like "any variety slh non breeders adult" or "any variety slh novice kitten" & there will be definitions at the top of the schedule. You can choose any three of these as long as the cat meets the criteria of the name of the class. When filling in the entry form, you put the class number (usually three digits) in the relevant boxes.

Do you have a BSH kitten? It is a lot clearer if you know what you are looking for.

You can show at any point after 3 months of age but the GCCF must have received the transfer of ownership request 21 days before the show date. You can start early to get an idea of what judges think (as you get reports on their opinions of your cat/kitten) & to get them used to the environment. You don't get certificates so cannot get a title but you can get rosettes & even can be eligible to enter the Supreme show if you win an open as a kitten!