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Each breed of cat is judged against a written standard. The judge's job is to know all of the standards for the different breeds and to offer their opinion of how closely the cat comes to reaching this standard. To do the judging, the judge handles the cat, feeling for different things, looking at the cat's health and often playing with the cat. Some judges talk more than others during judging and may describe how the cat meets the standard. Household pets even have a written standard that speaks mostly to the cats health and personality.
Depending on the number of cats entered in a show there are different ribbons awards during the judging process. Each section of cats (kittens, pedigreed adults, pedigreed alters, and household pets) is judged by breed. For each breed there are divisions based on color pattern and color categories. The judge first looks at all cats of the same breed and the same color. For each breed and color they choose the cats in this group that most closely match the written standard and gives color awards. Next the judge looks at those with the color awards and determines which ones within each pattern (division) most closely match the standard. Division awards are given out. Those who receive division awards are then considered for breed awards. Then all the cats of the breed are sent back to their cages. This process is repeated for each breed in the show. Once the judge has seen all the cats, they must then decide which of the cats in the breeds most closely matches the standards and give top 5 or top 10 finals rosettes. The cats that make the final round (called finals) each receive a rosette. The judge announces their placing for each cat. At the end of the show there may be a Best of the Best competition. In Best of the Best, all the cats who made the finals are reviewed. Best of the Best awards are given in the categories of kitten, pedigreed adults, pedigreed alters (spays/neuters), and household pets. Usually the Best of the Best gets a special rosette for the honor. There may also be other special awards given such as awards for the "purriest" or best moustache on a cat.
Your cat must trust people in order to allow strangers to handle it. If your cat loves meeting new people who enter your home or visit with them at the vets, chances are your cat will love shows. However, if your cat hides when strange people enter your home or has a nervous breakdown when visiting the vet, kitty will most likely not be happy at a show. If you think your cat has what it takes to be a show cat, consider entering the next cat show. Cats without pedigrees (which are called Household Pets) are as welcome, if not more, than the pedigreed (also called purebred) cats.
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