household pets at champion shows
Traditionally there have always been a few ‘moggies’ – non-pedigree cats, half pedigrees and rescue and pedigree pets at cat shows for as long as there have been cat shows. In the beginning the Cat Shows came about when people wanted to show their fancy breeds of cats – and alongside this, there were a few who thought that the non-pedigrees etc. should be part of the show scene too.
For a long time these cats were shown in what is termed as ‘Just for Fun’ classes. They were cheaper than the classes put on for the pedigrees, and while some shows offered fantastic prizes for the winners of these classes, there was no formal recognition or progression. Tibbs would always be just Tibbs, and could not progress further or win the HP best in show (as there wasn’t one) whereas Pedigree Superstar Poshtibbs could go on to become an Imperial Grand Champion/Premier. However that was all about to change, thanks to the hard work and persistence of our Chairman Lesley Szwed.
On the 1st June 2009, the Household Pet Section came into being. For the first time non-pedigrees, half pedigrees, rescue and pedigree cats could be shown and GAIN titles. The could progress forward, for those show-stopping individuals that were every bit as breath-taking as their pedigree counterparts – and were given the opportunity to win their own Best In Show.
Since June 2017 any HHP wishing to claim a title MUST be registered. Registration is not compulsory in order to show your HP, and an already titled cat will not lose any titles gained previously, but an unregistered HHP cannot claim new titles. Titles are administered by the GCCF and all claims must be sent to the GCCF. Title claim forms can be found on the Forms/Downloads page, and can be posted or emailed. All claims are acknowledged and, periodically, a list of titled cats will be published on the GCCF website. Titles are now also updated on the exhibitor’s page if signed up for online services.
The Household Pet section can be divided into two groups
Non-Pedigree Section
The ONLY cats that can be shown in this section are non-pedigree cats, also known as domestic shorthairs or by the colloquial term of ‘moggy’. These cats have absolutely no known or recognisable pedigree parentage. They come in all different shapes, sizes and coat lengths (short, semi-longhaired, longhaired). They can also range in colour from solid colours like a black and white, which is called ‘self’, meaning single or solid colour, through to ginger, (red), blue (grey), brown, and any colour in between. Non-Pedigrees don’t have silver or smoke colours. These are exclusive to the pedigree cats.
Non-Pedigree cats can have more than one colour at a time as in a tortoiseshell, which can be seen in bold patches of colour all over the cat, or sometimes mixed together or subtly mingled, where the colours seem to fade into each other. White can be seen on its own or mixed with all of the above colours. Non-Pedigrees also come in different coat patterns from the self, or self with white through to any of the several different varieties of tabby. These can range from stripes known as ‘mackerel’ through to spotted, or blotched/classic which is like a butterfly with whirls and lines in the coat pattern. The tabby pattern can also be mixed with white, and with any of the other colours too—giving rise to the quintessential ‘brown mackerel/spotted tabby with white’ such as Frisky who was shown between the advert breaks in Coronation Street many years ago. These are the ONLY cats allowed to be shown in the Non-Pedigree section of the Household Pet group. Cats with ‘colour points’ points of colours on their ears, face, paws and tails are also considered to have pedigree heritage too.
Pedigree Pet Section
The cats shown in this section can be Half-Pedigrees, Pedigree-look-a-likes, Recue Pedigrees and Pedigree pets. In the Pedigree Pet section no prefixes or titles are to be used. Cats will be entered either by their pet name or if registered, the registered name without the prefix may be used. No reference will be made to breed numbers or descriptions at all.
Half–Pedigrees.
Pedigree Look-alikes/Rescue Pedigree.
Pedigree Pets.
All the cats in the Household Pet Section may also be shown if they have fully healed physical injuries such as a nick from an ear, or the loss of a tail or limb as it is the cat’s character. Health is the determining factor when it comes to showing a cat. If they are healthy and have the temperament for showing - they’re relaxed, happy, chatty, purring cats and kittens outside of their homes and amongst strangers - as in a show hall, then they are welcome.
Class structure
In order to judge the cats in the Household Pet section, where there are no Breed Classes they do have a direct comparison that of Colour Classes. In deference to the exotic colouring/coat length & textures found in Pedigree Cats, the Pedigree Pet section does have one extra Breed/Colour class available to them.
So the Colour classes for NON-PEDIGREE cats are as follows:
The Colour classes for PEDIGREE PETS are the same as for the NON-PEDIGREE cats with the ADDITION of an AOC Class. AOC stands for Any Other Colour and it’s into this class that all cats which are VISIBLY pointed, tipped, shaded or smoke etc. will go. This includes such breeds or look-alikes as Ragdolls, Birmans and Siamese etc. REGARDLESS OF THE COLOUR OF THE POINTS. To further define this class a Tabby Point Birman, for example, would be shown in the AOC class NOT the Tabby class, as will any tortie point etc.
Cats in this Section are entered under their normal ‘pet’ names, NOT under any pedigree name should it exist so ‘Prefix’ Silver Cloud who might be called ‘Monty’ as a pet at home will be shown under the name of ‘Monty’ in the HHP section although some exhibitors do have fun with ‘posh show names’ as long as these are not more than 2 or 3 words long.
Pathway to the titles at a championship all breed or breed show:
Master Cat Certificate (MC)
This is attained by the awarding of three Master Cat certificates by three different judges. The winning cat must have a good temperament, be presented well, be shown in very good condition and have a good personality too.
Grand Master Cat Certificate (GR MC or GMC)
This is attained by the awarding of three Grand Master Cat certificates by three different judges. A cat at this level has to have an excellent temperament, be presented to the highest standard, be shown in excellent condition and have an affectionate and confident personality. The second placed cat is eligible for a Reserve Grand Master Cat Certificate: this means that if the Grand Certificate winner is disqualified, the Reserve Certificate winner will be awarded the Grand Certificate which will count towards a title. No further placings are made in these classes, even if the certificates are withheld.
Imperial Grand Master Cat Certificate (IMP GMC)
This is attained by the awarding of five Imperial Grand Master Cat certificates by five different judges. At this level, the winning cat must be exceptional in every way. The second placed cat is eligible for a Reserve Imperial Grand Master Cat Certificate: this means that if the Imperial Grand Certificate winner is disqualified, the Reserve Certificate winner will be awarded the Imperial Grand Certificate which will count towards a title.
Olympian Bronze, Silver & Gold Titles (OB, OS, OG)
An Olympian winner must be an outstanding cat that is not only presented to perfection, have an outstanding temperament and shown in peak condition. Its personality should demonstrate that extra ‘presence’ and show quality that makes it stand out as definite ‘Best in Show’! The Household Pet Section is treated in exactly the same way as cats in the Pedigree Sections as far as titles and class qualifications are concerned. Therefore ONLY ONE Olympian Certificate from a Breed Show may be counted towards an Olympian Title at each level the other four must be won at all-breed shows. Any certificates won at the previous level cannot be used or count towards the title at the next level.
ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATE BEST IN SHOW WIN
Any Non-Pedigree or Pedigree Pet who wins Best in Show will be awarded another certificate to the value of the title they are currently trying for, or the next progressive level up in the case of the cat being made up on show day. It is worth noting that this counts as a BREED Show certificate if won at a Breed Show, but as an ALL BREED certificate if gained at an ALL BREED show.
Although no pedigree name is used or breed is recognised. Cats in the Household Pet Section can use GEMS codes to describe their coat length, colour and pattern. The GEMS codes applicable to both the Non-Pedigrees and Pedigree Pet Sections can be found here.
COVENTRY AND LEICESTER CAT CLUB ULTIMATE CAT CLASS.
At the Coventry and Leicester Cat Club Show only, Club members’ cats with any of the following titles; Master Cats, Grand Master Cats, Imperial Grand Master Cats and Olympian Imperial Grand Master Cats are able to compete for the
ULTIMATE CAT TITLE.
This is entered as an additional class, 2 certificates from 2 different Judges means your cat has earned the right to be known as 'Ultimate Cat'. (Similar to the UK Class at the Supreme).
If you have any queries regarding these titles etc please contact Lesley Szwed who will be pleased to help.
For a long time these cats were shown in what is termed as ‘Just for Fun’ classes. They were cheaper than the classes put on for the pedigrees, and while some shows offered fantastic prizes for the winners of these classes, there was no formal recognition or progression. Tibbs would always be just Tibbs, and could not progress further or win the HP best in show (as there wasn’t one) whereas Pedigree Superstar Poshtibbs could go on to become an Imperial Grand Champion/Premier. However that was all about to change, thanks to the hard work and persistence of our Chairman Lesley Szwed.
On the 1st June 2009, the Household Pet Section came into being. For the first time non-pedigrees, half pedigrees, rescue and pedigree cats could be shown and GAIN titles. The could progress forward, for those show-stopping individuals that were every bit as breath-taking as their pedigree counterparts – and were given the opportunity to win their own Best In Show.
Since June 2017 any HHP wishing to claim a title MUST be registered. Registration is not compulsory in order to show your HP, and an already titled cat will not lose any titles gained previously, but an unregistered HHP cannot claim new titles. Titles are administered by the GCCF and all claims must be sent to the GCCF. Title claim forms can be found on the Forms/Downloads page, and can be posted or emailed. All claims are acknowledged and, periodically, a list of titled cats will be published on the GCCF website. Titles are now also updated on the exhibitor’s page if signed up for online services.
The Household Pet section can be divided into two groups
- Non-Pedigrees and
- Pedigree Pets.
Non-Pedigree Section
The ONLY cats that can be shown in this section are non-pedigree cats, also known as domestic shorthairs or by the colloquial term of ‘moggy’. These cats have absolutely no known or recognisable pedigree parentage. They come in all different shapes, sizes and coat lengths (short, semi-longhaired, longhaired). They can also range in colour from solid colours like a black and white, which is called ‘self’, meaning single or solid colour, through to ginger, (red), blue (grey), brown, and any colour in between. Non-Pedigrees don’t have silver or smoke colours. These are exclusive to the pedigree cats.
Non-Pedigree cats can have more than one colour at a time as in a tortoiseshell, which can be seen in bold patches of colour all over the cat, or sometimes mixed together or subtly mingled, where the colours seem to fade into each other. White can be seen on its own or mixed with all of the above colours. Non-Pedigrees also come in different coat patterns from the self, or self with white through to any of the several different varieties of tabby. These can range from stripes known as ‘mackerel’ through to spotted, or blotched/classic which is like a butterfly with whirls and lines in the coat pattern. The tabby pattern can also be mixed with white, and with any of the other colours too—giving rise to the quintessential ‘brown mackerel/spotted tabby with white’ such as Frisky who was shown between the advert breaks in Coronation Street many years ago. These are the ONLY cats allowed to be shown in the Non-Pedigree section of the Household Pet group. Cats with ‘colour points’ points of colours on their ears, face, paws and tails are also considered to have pedigree heritage too.
Pedigree Pet Section
The cats shown in this section can be Half-Pedigrees, Pedigree-look-a-likes, Recue Pedigrees and Pedigree pets. In the Pedigree Pet section no prefixes or titles are to be used. Cats will be entered either by their pet name or if registered, the registered name without the prefix may be used. No reference will be made to breed numbers or descriptions at all.
Half–Pedigrees.
- Half-Pedigrees are the result of an accidental mating or ‘whoops litter’, where a pedigree female or ‘queen’ has managed to escape, either wiggling through a window or making a dash through a door etc. and meeting up with and mating with the local Tom cat. Depending on the breed of the mother, the resulting kittens may be smoked, silver or pointed. Half-Pedigrees are not considered to be of any breed, but can be exquisitely beautiful cats, sometimes their resemblance to their mother’s breed is pronounced. However in order to be shown in the GCCF they must be neutered by the time they are 6 months old and cannot be bred from as they are not a recognised breed. Some recognised breeds do allow the ‘domestic shorthairs’ into their breeding programme as a recognised outcross. However the resulting kittens are still not considered to be of any breed rather an F1 or Foundation Cat. As such they may be bred from, but not shown until they are no longer required to have offspring, at which time they will be neutered and shown in this section.
Pedigree Look-alikes/Rescue Pedigree.
- Pedigree look-alikes are either of unknown heritage, where their coat colour or pattern is not recognised as in the Non-Pedigree section, or they are accidental crossing of two full pedigrees (something like a Persian mating with a Korat, or any other x breed mated with an x) which is not allowed under either of the parent’s breed standard. These resultant kittens and cats would not be recognised as being of any breed, and will not have a pedigree either. Because of their pedigree blood, their colours and patterns can be somewhat more varied then a true domestic shorthair. They are shown as Pedigrees in the Household Pet Section, which contains an extra class not included in the Non-Ped section, that of AOC (Any Other Colour) for tipped, ticked, shaded, smoke and pointed patterns associated with some of the cats with Pedigree heritage. Rescued Pedigree cats usually come from a shelter. They may well be a full pedigree cat which does meet the standard of points for their breed, although at the time they were either rescued by or surrendered to the shelter which took them in, they do not have the proper registration paperwork and pedigree certificates (known colloquially as ‘their papers’) which are necessary for them to be registered with the GCCF. They are therefore shown in the Pedigree Pet classes of the Household Pet section, where they do very well indeed.
Pedigree Pets.
- Pedigree Pets are Pedigree cats which should not or cannot be shown in the pedigree section of a show or are cats no longer shown in the Pedigree Section. Typically, although perfectly healthy they may show one or two ‘faults’ that make it impossible to show under their breed’s Standard of Points. The standard to which full blooded pedigrees are judged in their breed’s Standard of Points is very exacting. So a ‘fault’ could be can be anything from the wrong eye colour blue instead of green for example, or a patch of colour in the wrong place - either extending too far or not far enough on breeds where colours are exacting, a broken or unbroken ‘necklace’ in the pattern round its neck, to a tail ‘fault’ which can be as small as a kink or blip in the very tip of a tail.
All the cats in the Household Pet Section may also be shown if they have fully healed physical injuries such as a nick from an ear, or the loss of a tail or limb as it is the cat’s character. Health is the determining factor when it comes to showing a cat. If they are healthy and have the temperament for showing - they’re relaxed, happy, chatty, purring cats and kittens outside of their homes and amongst strangers - as in a show hall, then they are welcome.
Class structure
In order to judge the cats in the Household Pet section, where there are no Breed Classes they do have a direct comparison that of Colour Classes. In deference to the exotic colouring/coat length & textures found in Pedigree Cats, the Pedigree Pet section does have one extra Breed/Colour class available to them.
So the Colour classes for NON-PEDIGREE cats are as follows:
- SELF – which means any SINGLE COLOUR WITHOUT PATTERN – this can be black, white, blue, brown, ginger etc. PLUS ‘self’ colours with white, i.e. black & white, blue & white, brown & white, red/ginger & white etc.).
- TABBY (any tabby pattern or colour EXCEPT red/ginger or tortie tabby, again with or without white).
- ANY GINGER/TORTIE/TORTIE TABBY (including ginger tabbies, again with or without white).
- KITTEN CLASS – Non-Pedigree Kittens regardless of colour will stay in the kitten class until they reach 9 months of age.
The Colour classes for PEDIGREE PETS are the same as for the NON-PEDIGREE cats with the ADDITION of an AOC Class. AOC stands for Any Other Colour and it’s into this class that all cats which are VISIBLY pointed, tipped, shaded or smoke etc. will go. This includes such breeds or look-alikes as Ragdolls, Birmans and Siamese etc. REGARDLESS OF THE COLOUR OF THE POINTS. To further define this class a Tabby Point Birman, for example, would be shown in the AOC class NOT the Tabby class, as will any tortie point etc.
Cats in this Section are entered under their normal ‘pet’ names, NOT under any pedigree name should it exist so ‘Prefix’ Silver Cloud who might be called ‘Monty’ as a pet at home will be shown under the name of ‘Monty’ in the HHP section although some exhibitors do have fun with ‘posh show names’ as long as these are not more than 2 or 3 words long.
Pathway to the titles at a championship all breed or breed show:
Master Cat Certificate (MC)
This is attained by the awarding of three Master Cat certificates by three different judges. The winning cat must have a good temperament, be presented well, be shown in very good condition and have a good personality too.
- THREE Master Cat Certificates awarded by three different judges make the cat a Master Cat.
Grand Master Cat Certificate (GR MC or GMC)
This is attained by the awarding of three Grand Master Cat certificates by three different judges. A cat at this level has to have an excellent temperament, be presented to the highest standard, be shown in excellent condition and have an affectionate and confident personality. The second placed cat is eligible for a Reserve Grand Master Cat Certificate: this means that if the Grand Certificate winner is disqualified, the Reserve Certificate winner will be awarded the Grand Certificate which will count towards a title. No further placings are made in these classes, even if the certificates are withheld.
- THREE Grand Master Certificates awarded by three different judges make the cat a Grand Master Cat.
Imperial Grand Master Cat Certificate (IMP GMC)
This is attained by the awarding of five Imperial Grand Master Cat certificates by five different judges. At this level, the winning cat must be exceptional in every way. The second placed cat is eligible for a Reserve Imperial Grand Master Cat Certificate: this means that if the Imperial Grand Certificate winner is disqualified, the Reserve Certificate winner will be awarded the Imperial Grand Certificate which will count towards a title.
- FIVE Imperial Grand Master Certificates awarded by five different judges make the cat an Imperial Grand Master Cat.
Olympian Bronze, Silver & Gold Titles (OB, OS, OG)
An Olympian winner must be an outstanding cat that is not only presented to perfection, have an outstanding temperament and shown in peak condition. Its personality should demonstrate that extra ‘presence’ and show quality that makes it stand out as definite ‘Best in Show’! The Household Pet Section is treated in exactly the same way as cats in the Pedigree Sections as far as titles and class qualifications are concerned. Therefore ONLY ONE Olympian Certificate from a Breed Show may be counted towards an Olympian Title at each level the other four must be won at all-breed shows. Any certificates won at the previous level cannot be used or count towards the title at the next level.
- The first FIVE Olympian Certificates awarded by five different judges make the cat an Olympian Bronze, the next FIVE certificates by five different judges at this level an Olympian Silver, with the remaining FIVE certificates by five different judges at this level an Olympian Gold. (a certificate may be awarded by the same judge from the level below but at each level it must be 5 judges)
ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATE BEST IN SHOW WIN
Any Non-Pedigree or Pedigree Pet who wins Best in Show will be awarded another certificate to the value of the title they are currently trying for, or the next progressive level up in the case of the cat being made up on show day. It is worth noting that this counts as a BREED Show certificate if won at a Breed Show, but as an ALL BREED certificate if gained at an ALL BREED show.
Although no pedigree name is used or breed is recognised. Cats in the Household Pet Section can use GEMS codes to describe their coat length, colour and pattern. The GEMS codes applicable to both the Non-Pedigrees and Pedigree Pet Sections can be found here.
COVENTRY AND LEICESTER CAT CLUB ULTIMATE CAT CLASS.
At the Coventry and Leicester Cat Club Show only, Club members’ cats with any of the following titles; Master Cats, Grand Master Cats, Imperial Grand Master Cats and Olympian Imperial Grand Master Cats are able to compete for the
ULTIMATE CAT TITLE.
This is entered as an additional class, 2 certificates from 2 different Judges means your cat has earned the right to be known as 'Ultimate Cat'. (Similar to the UK Class at the Supreme).
If you have any queries regarding these titles etc please contact Lesley Szwed who will be pleased to help.