The American Curl is a cat characterised by its unusual ears, which curl back from the face toward the center of the back of the skull. The breed originated in Lakewood, California , due to a spontaneous mutation.
21-622: The first American Curls appeared as strays on the doorstep of the Rugas in Lakewood, California in June 1981. The black female, named Shulamith, gave birth to a litter of cats with the same curled ears, and so became the ancestor of all American Curls today. In 1986, an American Curl was exhibited at a cat show for the first time, and in 1992, the longhaired American Curl was given championship status by The International Cat Association (TICA). In 1999,
42-401: A CuCu cat over two years showed no sign of anomaly. Cat show A cat show is a judged event where the owners of cats compete to win titles in various cat registering organizations by entering their cats to be judged after a breed standard. Both pedigreed and companion (or moggy) cats are admissible, although the rules differ from organization to organization. Cats are compared to
63-473: A breed standard, and the owners of those judged to be closest to it are awarded a prize. Moggys are judged based on their temperament. Often, at the end of the year, all of the points accrued at various shows are added up and more national and regional titles are awarded. The first cat show was inaugurated in 1871 by Harrison Weir and took place in the Crystal Palace . His visit to London accompanied
84-501: A cat show may consist of several rings plus traditional judging. With traditional judging, each cat is assigned to a judge, who gives a written report to the owner. Each judge may nominate a cat to the final judging, when all judges examine the finalists, and the final rewards are given by voting of the judges. The Supreme Cat Show is held each October at the National Exhibition Centre , Birmingham, England. In
105-782: Is found across the world in the United States, Spain, France, Japan, Russia, and many other countries. Various matings between cats with curled ears and cats without curled ears revealed a dominant inheritance of the curl gene. Sex-linked distribution was not found. The mutant gene was designated as curl and is symbolized by Cu. Another mutation of the ear pinna was found in Scottish Fold cats. In these cats both heterozygous and homozygous (FdFd) cats, animals suffer from osteochondrodysplasia . The question arises if homozygous curls (CuCu) could also be affected by cartilage formation defects and bone abnormalities. However, observations of
126-499: Is no Reserve UK Grand Challenge/Premier Certificate. Best of Breed winners at the Supreme Show do not get certificates but compete against the other BOB winners in their section for Best of Variety. The seven Best of Variety Adults (Persian, Semi-Longhair, British, Foreign, Burmese, Oriental and Siamese) compete for Supreme Adult, the seven kittens for Supreme Kitten and the seven neuters for Supreme Neuter. The Supreme Adult and
147-621: Is the world's largest registry of pedigreed cats and the predominant pedigreed cat registering association in North America. While no two shows are identical, CFA cat shows follow certain procedures and guidelines: A CFA cat show actually consists of a number of simultaneous cat shows running at the same time within the same place. Depending on the size of the show, there are anywhere from 4 to 12 "rings" (or miniature shows) which generally run one to two days in length. Each "ring" has its own judge who independently scores cats and awards
168-664: The National Exhibition Centre (NEC), in Birmingham , England. However, in 2022 it moved to the NAEC . Special awards of UK Champion and Supreme Champion can be gained at this show only. A contestant cat wins each show's "Best in Show" award. The first Supreme Cat Show took place in 1976. Until then the GCCF itself did not organise cat shows, but licensed shows put on by the breed clubs and area clubs affiliated to it. The Supreme Cat Show
189-693: The American Curl became the first breed admitted to the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) Championship Class with both longhair and shorthair divisions. The American Curl is a medium-sized cat 5–10 lb (2.3–4.5 kg), and does not reach maturity until 2–3 years of age. Females should be between 5–8 lb (2.3–3.6 kg) and males 7–10 lb (3.2–4.5 kg). American Curl kittens are born with straight ears, which begin to curl within forty-eight hours. After four months, their ears will not curl any longer, and should be hard and stiff to
210-628: The Neuter can add the coveted word 'Supreme' to their title. Finally, the Supreme Adult, Supreme Kitten and Supreme Neuter compete against each other for the honour of being judged Supreme Exhibit. Non-pedigree cats (cats of traditional “moggie” appearance) and pedigree pet cats (cats looking like pedigrees with known, unknown, full or half pedigree background) are also permitted to enter the Supreme Cat Show. They can also compete for
231-494: The Rolls-Royce of international cat shows, being the largest exhibition of its type in the United States. In Australia, the shows can be either "closed style" or "open style" judging. In closed shows, the cats are placed in undecorated cages with white curtains and a bed. The owners must then leave the hall. The judges for each ring will examine each animal in turn and decide on awards. Then the owner may return. In open style,
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#1732798320905252-453: The US, each judge has a separate ring with cages. The cats are brought up to the judge, who removes each cat in turn and then replaces them when they are done. Spectators, including the owners of the cats, are present and in the audience. The cats' owners are given a number for each cat and are responsible for getting them to the ring when they are called. The US Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA)
273-462: The birth of the cat fancy . In 1895, the cat show in the United States became the first event to be held at Madison Square Garden in New York City , featuring more than 160 cats of selective breeding types. The CFA International Cat Show held its first cat show competition in 1994, and since that time, tomcats have won the "Best in Show" 17 of the 26 times. Today it regards the event as
294-547: The owners and other spectators may stay to watch the judging, as the judges talk to them about the cats. Some popular events that hosts cat shows include the annual Sydney Royal Easter Show held at Sydney's Olympic Park , and the Cat Lovers Show, held in Melbourne and Sydney. In Europe, many times the cats are judged in a so-called traditional style. Traditional judging is often combined with ring style judging, so
315-529: The same levels of title as the pedigree cats but these are for "Master Cat" titles as opposed to "Champion" and "Premier" ones. They then go on to compete to win the title of Supreme Non-Pedigree or Supreme Pedigree Pet Cat. Classes are also included for kittens, with both non-pedigree and pedigree pet kittens competing for the title of Supreme Household Pet Kitten. Prior to 1992, there was no individual overall Best in Show Supreme Exhibit. The show
336-569: The top 10 places (or top 15 depending on the size of the show). Rings are of two kinds: Points are awarded to cats based multiple of their placement within each ring combined with the number of cats that the cat has "beaten" in the ring. Supreme Cat Show The Supreme Cat Show is organised every year by the world's oldest cat registry , the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy , and used to take place each October at
357-608: The touch at the base of the ear with flexible tips. A pet-quality American Curl may have almost straight ears, but showcats must have ears that curl in an arc between 90 and 180 degrees. A 90 degrees is preferable, but cats will be disqualified if their ears touch the back of their skulls. Both longhaired and shorthaired American Curls have soft, silky coats which lie flat against their bodies. They require little grooming and enjoy spending time with their owners and generally get along well with other animals and people who aren't their owners. The American Curl, while still an uncommon breed,
378-505: The winner being eligible for a UK Grand Challenge Certificate. Grand Premiers, Imperial Grand Premiers, UK Grand Premiers and UK & Imperial Grand Premiers compete for a UK Grand Premier Certificate. In these classes several breeds may compete together. UK Grand Certificates are only awarded at the Supreme Show; two such Certificates from different judges give the cat the title of UK Grand Champion/Premier or UK & Imperial Grand Champion/Premier if it has additionally gained that title. There
399-498: The winners being eligible for Grand Challenge Certificates and Pre-Champion Male and Female classes for cats with one or two Certificates, competing for Challenge Certificates. The same applies to the neuter classes which are split into Premier and Pre-Premier classes for males and females. Cats which are already Grand Champions do not compete in these classes but in special classes for Grand Champions, Imperial Grand Champions, UK Grand Champions and UK & Imperial Grand Champions only,
420-624: Was devised as a special show, only open to cats which had won an open class at another championship show under GCCF rules, much in the same way that Crufts is only open to winning dogs. The show grew in size each year until it became big enough to be held at the NEC, which has been its home ever since. Unlike most other shows, the GCCF's Supreme Show has no miscellaneous or club classes; it does, however, have classes other shows do not have. There are four Adult Open classes for each championship status breed: Champion Male and Female classes for full Champions,
441-582: Was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Numerous activities take place alongside the competition judging. There are children's activities, such as judging of soft toys, and a large range of stalls selling cat related items, such as cat food, toys, accessories, collectables, books, magazines etc. Various other cat organisations, such as the Feline Advisory Bureau and Cats Protection regularly have information stalls. There
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