1. Are there different types of registration with the GCCF? Is any specific type required for showing?

2. Do breeders sell kittens specifically for showing/not showing?

3. What on earth goes on with all these classes? I've seen a few schedules online, but have no idea how to read them. I looked at the schedule of classes for a show online (can't remember which), and tried to imagine I had a BSH kitten. I would have had absolutely no clue whatsoever about what classes to enter. How do I learn about this stuff?

4. What's a good age (of the cat!) to start showing?

5. How do I find out how a breed is judged, so I have some idea what to look for in a kitten? Specifically, BSH?

Many thanks for any guidance.

1) Gccf register active (for breeding ) or non active (not to be used for breeding) . Sometimes kittens are referenced and it will stste on the registration slip that the kitten cannot be shown at a GCCF show.
2) Some breeders will say the kitten is for a pet/ show or a show/breed home.
Depends on how they feel about the quality and potential of the little one.
3) Best bet is to ask someone who is familiar with showing- it can be a bit confusing to start with.
4)You can't show them with the GCCF before 3 months of age - so any time after that really. Up until 9 months they are classed as a kitten and after 9 months an adult.
5)Each breed has what is known as a Standard of Points- you can read about this on the GCCF web site. These are the benchmarks that a judge measures a cat against for each particular breed
Hope this helps

Many thanks lilbird. Couldn't have asked for a better set of answers.

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!

Thanks messyhearts, that really clears things up.

We don't have any cats yet, but we are in the early stages of of the end of making a decision!

It's a big undertaking, so we're mulling it, and one of the things we are considering is whether we think we'd ever be interested in showing, which is what leas me to these questions.

In fact, I just made first contact with a breeder planning a mating in 2010, so we're really getting close to that decision now!

I think BSH are very competitive because they are a very popular breed but that shouldn't discourage you. Competition is healthy & fun. One thing you must be aware of, though, is that a cat show with the GCCF lasts a LONG time. You ideally need to be at the show for 8.30am to vet in, then the showing starts at 10am & you have to find something to do outside of the hall until 1pm then you can mill about until it closes at 5pm. A long day especially if none of the shows are near you!