Welcome to CFA cat shows!

CFA shows are held throughout Europe. You can find information about the shows in the show calendar and the requirements for attending CFA shows on this page. If you need further advice, feel free to ask us! You are welcome to join our shows!

Before you enter your cat in a CFA show

If your cat is CFA-registered, you can find the required information for the show on your cat’s Green Slip.

Cats registered with other organizations that conform to CFA standards can also participate in CFA shows: in this case, the cat must be registered in CFA using via pedigree registration, or it can compete with a temporary registration number, or as a novice, in which case it cannot earn titles before registration.

CFA also registers household pets in the Companion Cat registry, and registered household pets can compete for household pet titles and season’s best cat awards. However Household pets do not need to be registered to participate in CFA shows, but it is needed for earning titles.

Show calendar

The CFA show schedule contains listings of upcoming cat shows, including the sponsoring club(s), date, show hall and other pertinent information. The complete show schedule page can be found at CFA Show Calendar.

Entry Form

According to CFA Show Rules, all entries for a show must be submitted on an official Show Entry Form. You may use the official CFA online entry form (select the show you wish to enter from the drop-down at the top of the page), or you can use the PDF entry form.

CFA’s official online entry form

How to fill the entry form

Complete the form as follows:

Name of Cat: The registered name of the cat as shown on the CFA Certificate of Registration. Maximum 35 characters. Titles are not included.
CFA Registration # ONLY: the registration number as shown on the CFA Certificate of Registration; include any letters such as “M” or “S”
Birthdate: Exact birthdate as shown on the CFA Certificate of Registration, in the Month/Day/Year format
Sex: Male, Female, Neuter, Spay
Eye Color: Blue, Copper, Odd, Gold, Amber, etc. – required only for white cats of any breed
Color Class #: The class number that the cat is to be entered in. The listing of color class numbers can be found at the back of the Show Rules booklet. The class numbers are also available at the end of each online breed standard. It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that this Color Class number be correct to avoid unnecessary transfers to another color class at a show. If you have any questions on the correct color class number for your cat, please email CFA and be sure to include the breed, color and registration number of your cat in the email.
Breed: The breed name as shown on the CFA Certificate of Registration
Color Description: The color description as shown on the CFA Certificate of Registration
Sire: The name of the sire as shown on the CFA Certificate of Registration. Titles should be included. Not required for Household Pet entries.
Dam: The name of the dam as shown on the CFA Certificate of Registration. Titles should be included. Not required for Household Pet entries.
Breeder: The name of the breeder as shown on the CFA Certificate of Registration. Maximum 40 characters. Not required for Household Pet entries.
Owner/Lessee: The name of the registered owner exactly as shown on the CFA Certificate of Registration OR the name of the lessee of a cat. Maximum 40 characters.
Phone: A phone number where the owner/lessee can be reached in case an inquiry is needed re clarification of information on the entry form.
Street Address for Owner/Lessee: Street address of the owner or lessee shown
City: City
State/Province/Nation: State; Province and Country if not USA
Zip/Postal Code: Zip Code; Postal Code if not USA
Name of Club/Show: Club name of the show you are entering
Location of Show: City and State/Province where show is to be held
Date of Show: Show Dates
Agent Information: When an owner does not accompany his cat or kitten, a designated agent must be in attendance. Complete the required information for your appointed agent if you will not be at the show.
Send Confirmation To: Circle either OWNER/LESSEE or AGENT, depending upon whom you wish to receive the entry confirmation and directions to the show.
Circle Number of Region of Residence: Europe is Region 9.
Cat to be entered in: You must check only ONE of the following classes:
- Non-Championship Class:
  - Kitten: The KITTEN CLASS is for any kitten, male or female, altered or unaltered, not less than 4 months but under 8 calendar months old on the opening day of the show, which, if an adult, would be eligible to compete in a Championship/Premiership Class
  - Provisional Breed: The PROVISIONAL BREED CLASS is for any registered cat or registered kitten of a breed not accepted for Championship competition when CFA has approved a provisional standard for that breed.
  - Miscellaneous Breed: The MISCELLANEOUS (Non-Competitive) CLASS is for any registered cat or registered kitten of a breed not accepted for Provisional Breed competition.
  - Veteran: The VETERAN CLASS is for any male or female, altered or unaltered, not younger than 7 years on the opening day of the show that if the owner chose to, could otherwise be shown in the championship or premiership classes.
  - Household Pet: The HOUSEHOLD PET CLASS is for any domestic kitten (altered/unaltered) or altered cat entry not otherwise eligible. Pedigreed cats with a disqualifying trait(s) as listed in the standard for that particular breed are eligible for entry in the Household Pet Class.
  - Exhibition Only: The EXHIBITION ONLY CLASS is for any cat or kitten for which an entry form has been received, and for which a listing appears in the show catalog, but which is not scheduled for handling in any ring.
  - AOV: The AOV (Any Other Variety) CLASS is for any registered cat or registered kitten, the ancestry of which entitles it to Championship or Premiership competition, but which does not (colorwise; coatwise; sexwise; as in the case of naturally tailless or naturally partially tailless breeds, tailwise; or earwise) conform to the accepted show standard.
- Championship
  - Open: The OPEN CLASS is for CFA registered cats of a color accepted for Championship competition, of either sex, 8 months old or over on the opening day of the show, except cats that have completed requirements for Championship confirmation
  - Champion: The CHAMPION CLASS is for cats that have completed Championships in this Association, and for which the required Championship claim form has been mailed to the Central Office.
  - Grand Champion: The GRAND CHAMPION CLASS is for cats that have completed Grand Championships in CFA.
- Premiership
  - Open: The OPEN CLASS is for CFA registered cats of a color accepted for Premiership competition, of either sex, 8 months old or over on the opening day of the show, except cats that have completed requirements for Premiership confirmation
  - Premier: The PREMIER CLASS is for cats that have completed Premierships in this Association, and for which the required Premiership claim form has been mailed to the Central Office.
  - Grand Premier: The GRAND PREMIER CLASS is for cats that have completed Grand Premierships in CFA.
Security Cage: If you will be bring your own show cage to the show, please check and initial this area, so that the club will know not to set up a wire cage for you. Please also refer to the following information for a Double Cage.
Special Requests:
- Double Cage: All entries in a show receive a single cage (or one half of a double cage) . If you wish to have the full double cage for your entry, check this area. There is usually an additional charge for the extra cage space. It is required by Show Rules that the size of the cages at the show be printed on the show announcement.
  Note: At some shows on the west coast, the single cage size is larger than the rest of the country and double cages are not offered. If you are bringing your own security cage to the show, you will want to purchase a grooming space to allow room for the security cage.
- Sales Cage: If you require a single sales cage for kittens for sale, check this area. There is usually an additional charge for the extra cage space. Note that only 2 kittens are allowed in a single sales cage.
- Grooming Space: If you require extra space for grooming purposes at the show, check this area. There is usually an additional charge for the grooming space.
- End of Row: If you would specifically like your cage to be on the end of a row of cages at the show, check this area. There may possibly be an extra charge for this special benching request.
- Benching: If you would like to have your cats cage beside that of your friends, or in the same area, write their name in this area. It is recommended that you limit your benching requests to one or two people.
Signature of Owner: The owner or lessee must sign the entry form. If the cat is co-owned, the signature of one owner is sufficient.

ENTRIES SENT BY MAIL: According to the Show Rules, the entry fee must accompany the signed entry forms. Entry forms and fees are to be sent to the entry clerk for each individual show.

ONLINE ENTRIES: Many clubs have an online entry form available, usually through the regional web site or their own club site – you may also use the official CFA Online Entry Form for any licensed show. If you are using an online entry form, it is wise to email the entry clerk after submitting the entries to confirm that they have received them all. It is the exhibitor’s repsonsibility to make sure that the entry clerk has received their entry information.

Why is all this information needed about my cat?

The information provided on the entry form determines the color class in which your cat will compete. If the color class number is blank, the entry clerk will use the breed, color and sex information on the entry form to determine the color class number. These details must be correct so that the information in show catalog and the judges book is right, thus making sure that your cat is judged along with other cats in the same color class, i.e. of the same breed and color grouping. It is very important that your cat be entered in the correct color class at a show.

Confirmation letter

Confirmation letter for the show entry is usually sent quickly, within a few days of registration, via email. When you do receive your confirmation, check it carefully for errors. Make sure that the title, color class, age, and color are all correct. If there is time, let the entry clerk know of any errors. Otherwise, you will make these corrections with the Master Clerk at the show in the morning before the judging begins.

Make sure to pay the show entry fee according to the instructions in the confirmation letter before the show. According the CFA Show Rules every entered cat must be paid within 10 days of receipt or before the show, whichever is sooner.

Vaccinations and health requirements

No kittens under 4 months of age will be allowed in the show hall. It is strongly advised that all cats or kittens entered or present in the show hall are inoculated before entry by a licensed veterinarian against feline panleukopenia, feline rhinotracheitis, calici viruses and rabies. It is recommended cats and kittens be tested and found negative for FeLV. All claws of all entries must be clipped prior to benching.

Under current CFA show rules, show management reserves the right to have any cat showing signs of illness, disease or parasites removed from the show hall, in order to protect other cats in the show. De-clawed cats are not eligible for entry. All household pet entries over 8 months of age must be spayed or neutered.

Always read the show invitation carefully, especially if it includes specific health requirements. Take care at the show hall that your cat has litter box and water bowl accessible all the time.

If you are crossing borders with your cat, make sure your cat has a pet passport and the vaccinations required by the EU. Verify this information from official sources.

Show cages

At shows, cages are not generally provided, so you are expected to bring your own cage, such as a Sturdi showshelter / security cage. No more than one cat or two kittens may be benched in a single cage.

How judging proceeds at a CFA cat show

A CFA cat show is composed of a number of separate, concurrently running, individual shows held in the various judging rings throughout a show hall. Each ring is presided over by a different judge, who presents his or her own awards independent of the decisions of other judges.

Cats are taken to the judge according to the judging schedule. Listen for announcements and watch for when your cat’s number is lifted onto the top of its cage. Take your cat promptly to the judging cage and wait for judging. After judging, the number will be lowered, indicating you can retrieve your cat back to its own cage.

Every cat entered in the show is evaluated by each judge, and judged according to a written standard for its breed – with the exception of the Household Pet Class, for which there is no written standard.

After each judge has examined all the cats in competition class – it is time for finals: judge presents his or her choice of the top cats in Kitten, Championship, Premiership and Household Pet classes. These cats represent the “Best in Show” for each individual judge.

How Are Ribbons Awarded?

Titles

Six (6) Qualifying Rings earned under at least two (2) different judges competing as the
same color and/or pattern, are required for the title of Champion or Premier. The cat’s CFA registration number must be printed in the catalog. CH/PR are the only CFA titles that require a fee, and their registration costs $15 USD. The title can be claimed at CFA’s online services.

Grand Points and Regional/National Points are automatically awarded based on wins achieved at cat shows. Grand Points are accumulated throughout a cat’s show career until s/he achieves the points required to be awarded the titles.

A cat eligible for and shown in the Champion or Premier Class will compete for Grand Championship or Grand Premiership points. Fifty (50) Grand Championship points are required for Bronze Champion; One hundred (100) for Silver Champion; and one hundred and fifty (150) for Gold Champion if 200 points are required for the Grand Champion Title. Twenty (20) Grand Premiership points are required for Bronze Premier; forty (40) for Silver Premier; and sixty (60) for Gold Premier if 75 points are required for the Grand Premier title. You can check your cat’s point through eCat Online Services – Herman Online.

There are some regional exceptions in the points, see the show rules for more details.

Show season & Regional Winners

The show season lasts a year, starting at the beginning of May and ending at the end of April the following year. During every show season in Europe, the top 25 cats in adults, kittens, and alters are awarded the Region Winner (RW) title. The best representatives of their breeds during the show season are also recognized. Occasionally, European cats rank among the top cats in CFA overall, achieving the National Winner title. The top cats are honored annually at a festive regional banquet.

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