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About Cat Judging

FIFe grades cats in one of 17 classes according to breed, colour, gender and possible title.

So, as opposed to dog shows, in a cat show one judge does not necessarily have to, and usually does not, judge all the individual cats of a certain breed if several varieties, or colours, are present. In cat shows cats are, except by breed, also divided by colour. Within a particular colour the cats are divided by gender, then according to age and titles won, or the class they belong to. The possibility for neutered cats to take part in the show is one of the most pronounced differences in comparison with dog shows. These are entered together into the neutered class.

A kitten must be at least 3 months old to take part in a show, and cats are judged in age categories. These are 3 to 6 months old and 6 to 10 months old for kittens. When a cat is 10 months old, she is entered into an open class where she competes with other cats of the same breed, colour and gender for a CAC. After being awarded CAC on 3 shows, a cat receives the Champion (CH) title. Neutered cats are awarded CAPs, receiving the title of Premier (PR) after 3 CAPs.

After winning the title of Champion in at least 2 countries, a cat must get 3 CACIBs from 3 different judges to merit the title of an International Champion (IC), and in case of neutered cats 3 CAPIBs in at least 2 countries, by 3 different judges to merit the title of an International Premier (IP).

Next comes the Grand International Champion title (GIC), which a cat gets after winning 6 CAGCIBs awarded by at least 3 judges in no less than 3 countries or 8 CAGCIBs from at least 4 judges in 2 countries. Similarly, the Grand International Premier title (GIP) requires winning 6 CAGPIBs awarded by at least 3 judges in no less than 3 countries or 8 CAGPIBs from at least 4 judges in 2 countries.

After winning GIC, the next title is Sumpreme Champion (SC), requiring 9 CACSes awarded by at least 3 judges in no less than 3 countries or 11 CACSes from at least 6 judges in 2 countries. For the title of Supreme Premier (SP), 9 CAPSes must be awarded by at least 3 judges in no less than 3 countries or 11 CAPSes from at least 6 judges in 2 countries. The titles of Supreme Champion and Supreme Premier are used for cats which satisfied the requirements for them after the 1st January 2009. Until that time the same titles were called “European Champion” and “European Premier”, but the terminology was later found to be less than appropriate, since many FIFe member countries were from other continents. Thus the titles of the European Champion/Premier have the same meaning as those of Supreme Champion/Premier, differing only by the date of awarding.

The cats with Supreme Champion or Premier titles, should they continue to compete in shows, get honorary titles.

To be awarded a CAC/CAP/CACIB/CAPIB/CAGCIB/CAPIB/CACS/CAPS title, a cat must receive the highest grades and be the best in class it competes in.

A standard has been defined for each breed, describing an ideal cat and attributing points for head shape, body shape, colour, condition etc for a certain breed. An ideal cat would receive 100 points. For every shortcoming on a cat points are taken away in proportion to the severity of that shortcoming. For a grade of good, a cat must get at least 61 points, for very good no less than 76, and for excellent 88 points or more.

To win a CAC or CAP, the best-placed cat of a class must get at least 93 points, 95 points for a CAP or a CAPIB, 96 points for a CAGCIB or a CAGPIB, and 97 points for a CACS or a CAPS.

If there are at least 3 cats of the same breed and colour, the title of Best in Variety (BIV) is awarded to the cat with the greatest number of points according to standard. If the number of cats of the same breed and variety are present at a show, the title can be awarded to the best grown-up cat and the best kitten (if the number of kittens is sufficient, one BIV can be awarded for 3-6 months old kittens and one for those 6-10 months old. Neutered cats are vying for a BIV in their own class if there are at least three entries of a particular breed.

In particular cat categories (I – longhair, II – semilonghair, III – shorthair, IV – siamese and oriental), a judge, following the judging of all cats he or she judged during the day, nominates cats for Best in Show, choosing one cat each among kittens 3-6 months old, those 6-10 months old, best grownup female, best grownup male, best neutered female and best neutered male from each category, regardless of breed. These cats then compete for Best in Show, in such a way that all the judges who judged a particular category vote for the cat they consider the best. The Title Best in Show goes to the cat with the most votes.

Neutered domestic cats can also be exhibited at shows, competing against each other. Veterans and litters can take part too, as well cats present at the show but not judged. These are then entered in the class they belong to, but not together with others.

List of Classes of Competition

  • Class 1: Supreme Champion Class
  • Class 2: Supreme Premier Class
  • Class 3: Grand International Champion Class
  • Class 4: Grand International Premier Class
  • Class 5: International Champion Class
  • Class 6: International Premier Class
  • Class 7: Champion Class
  • Class 8: Premier Class
  • Class 9: Open Class – grownup
  • Class 10: Open Class – neutered
  • Class 11: Kittens 6-10 months
  • Class 12: Kittens 3-6 months
  • Class 13: Control Class
  • Class 14: Domestic Cat
  • Class 15: Out of Class
  • Class 16: Litter
  • Class 17: Veterans