Owning a Pedigree Cat – To many people, part of the pleasure of owning a pedigree cat is the opportunity it provides to take part in cat shows. There is obviously a great deal of know-how to be learnt before success is likely. At the same time, a cat that falls below the standard of its own particular class is unlikely to be a potential winner.
In most countries where pedigree cats are bred and shown as a hobby, there are governing bodies responsible for administration, both of the registration of pedigrees and the organization of shows. In America, as in Australia, there are several governing bodies covering these matters but in Britain everything is controlled by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy.
There are many clubs in Europe, some but not all of which are affiliated to the Federa-tion Internationale Feline de l’Europe (F.I.F.E.). South Africa has a Governing Council of the Associated Cat Clubs of South Africa, while in New Zealand there is a body similar to that of Britain, namely the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy of New Zealand.
Apart from the European Federation there is no international body coordinating the cat fancy worldwide. The advantages of such a body would be considerable as it would enable the standardization of points for the different breeds and the actual breed numbers given.
European cats’ interests are controlled by individual clubs which register their own cats. In Britain, the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy is responsible for the registration of all pedigree cats and the administration of rules under which pedigree cats may be entered in shows.
It is reasonable to assume that if a cat has been born into a pedigree litter, the breeder will have registered it as a pedigree kitten and its registered name and number should appear on the pedigree form which the breeder should supply with the kitten when it is purchased. This name and number will be unique to the kitten, and must be used if the kitten is entered for a show.
A kitten’s pedigree, which shows thirty-two parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents, should give some indication as to its qualities. If in its ancestry there are a number of champion cats, it is reasonable to assume that the kitten has the potential to be a winner.
Of course, much depends upon how closely the kitten resembles its championship ancestors in conformation, coat colour and weight of bone, for a string of champions in the pedigree is no guarantee that your own kitten will be a perfect specimen.
