Last Updated on May 3, 2021 by Holly Anne Dustin
What will you remember about 2020? I’ll remember that Plush completed his CFA Household Pet titles. And obviously no one is going to forget this pandemic we’re still dealing with in 2021. The world goes crazy, everything locks down, no travel or gatherings allowed. Virtual meetings and Zoom calls are how we interact now. Cat shows are pretty much canceled. So what’s a show cat to do? Why, enter a virtual cat show of course!
Yes, the cat fancy is bringing cat shows to the online world. It doesn’t have all the fun of seeing your friends from around the country or strolling vendor halls as an in-person show. But it does bring the love of the cat fancy to the world. And it is still a bit of a thrill when your cat is placed in a final even if there are no points toward titles.
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Virtual Cat Shows
Do you have a cat that you’ve always wanted to show? Try a virtual cat show. A virtual cat show allows you to enter your cat into a competition “virtually” by sending in photos of your cats. Your cats’ photos will be judged by recognized CFA and TICA judges. Your shy cats, old cats, cats with too much ‘cattitude’ can enter a virtual cat show and be judged against their peers without those issues impacting their performance. The just-for-fun shows are open to cats worldwide, pedigreed or not.
Conformation Classes
If you have a pedigreed cat you can enter in the same conformation classes as you would enter in a live show. The photos or videos you submit will be judged against the same breed standards by the same licensed judges you see in the show halls around the world when you attend a real life show.
Household pets are judged on overall condition, grooming, and beauty so consider that when you choose the photos for your entry. Be sure to present your cats at their best.
You can skip the step of enrolling your cat with CFA or TICA. It is unnecessary that your precious cat be registered with the fancy associations to participate in the virtual cat shows.
Additional Themed Fun Rings
Most of these Virtual Cat Competitions have additional fun rings open to all. These rings have creative themes: classes for cute baby kittens too young for the show hall, classes for seniors or retired cats, Rainbow Bridge classes for kitties that have passed on, amatuer photographers, themed costume contests, kids classes, and more.
A Virtual Cat Show is a Fun Fundraiser
A real life cat show is supported by entry fees, vendor fees, sponsorships, and ticket sales. The pandemic-affected 2020 cat show season has prevented cat clubs from hosting shows. Even the shows that are held have been held without spectators or vendors. The minimal entry fees for the virtual cat shows will help the clubs to support their continuing efforts until the cat fancy can return to normal show operations.
The Spectator’s Choice Award is another way to support the clubs offering a virtual cat show. Typically the Spectator’s Choice award is chosen by visitors filling out a ballot after they walk around the show hall and pick their favorite cat. At the virtual cat shows you can share a link and encourage your friends and social fans to vote for your kitty as the Virtual Spectator’s Choice. Anyone can vote for any cat as Spectator’s Choice by voting online for $1 a vote. A portion of the proceeds go to support feline health and welfare organizations like the Winn Foundation.
If you want to learn more about how in-person cat shows work, check out our FAQ here.
Win Prizes
The goal in a cat show is to make a final and earn points toward titles. The virtual cat shows don’t offer titles but there are prizes to win instead. Prizes run the gamut from awesome cat toys, carrier mats, or bandanas to gift cards, to sponsored products.
How to Prepare Your Virtual Cat Show Entry
CFA has some tips on the type of photographs you’ll need to have to get your entry together. Take a photo in good lighting with a clear background with your cat as the focus of the shot. You can use professional show photos if you have them.
If you would like some tips on taking good photos for your entry, check out our friends at Dash Kitten, a pet photography blog.
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So, Are You Ready to Enter? Half Moon Wants Your Entry Now
Click here – The first virtual cat show of 2021 is open for entries. Sponsored by the Half Moon Cat Club, the theme is bringing you “Virtually Together in 2021.”
Half Moon Cat Club is a household pet cat club that celebrates the beauty of all cats – whether household pets or conformation cats. This is the first show that Half Moon has sponsored. It would be great to see them get off to a great start. Go ahead, click that link and enter your kitties. The entry fee is only $8 per cat!
With a New Year’s theme, Half Moon’s virtual cat show offers all the standard conformation classes, and a great lineup of fun rings:
- Your little kittens can compete for the Baby New Year winner while cats over eight can try to be named for Old Father Time.
- Share your pictures and stories of your Rainbow Bridge cats.
- Fuzz Off 2020! Enter your hairless and rexed cats in this fun ring.
- Love your longhaired cats? What a Fuzzed Up Year is the class for you.
- You can enter your best photos of your cats in Amateur Photographer classes and be judged by two of the best cat photographers on the show circuit.
Does a virtual cat show sound like fun to you? Consider giving it a try. You never know, the kitty you enter virtually might one day be a show hall star. But if she isn’t, you can still share her beauty with the world.
You mentioned me OOOOH thank you. I am SO going to give this a try, I always wanted ours to enter but household cats tend to be overlooked or ours are a bit too scared.
Household pets have their own class in conformation. As far as the photo classes go – it’s about the photo not the cat. You should definitely try it out. Your photos are beautiful.
I’ve always wondered if I should enter a virtual show in the pet category for Truffle and Brulee. They are pedigreed, but don’t meet the standard for show cats.
You should! I’d let them take turns or they’ll spread out their votes. (Same reason I’m not showing Minnie and Caramel in the same shows when the live shows come back, they could be twins.)
What an awesome idea! I hope this continues even after the pandemic!
So do I. It’ll never replace in person shows but it’s a fun alternative for people and cats that can’t show.
I’m glad to see that they are finding a way to work with the current situation. At this point, we have no idea when we’re going to return to some semblance of ‘normal’ again in our lives. All we can do is make the most of the ‘new normal’ that we’re living in right now. I haven’t heard of virtual cat shows before reading this, but I think I need to check this out! It sounds like a lot of fun!
How cool! This sounds like a fun way to pass some time and bond with your cat, especially during quarantine. I’ll have to see if I can find anything similar for dogs.