The Standard of excellence provides guidelines for judges, but its wording can be open to interpretation, so there may be variations in the awards of different judges. In a 2-ring show how often do you see two different judges choose the same best cat but place the next top four in a different order? The top five cats may be so evenly matched, that Number 5 could just as easily be Number 3.

Faced with several cats of equal quality, how do we choose between them? We can’t just bring the cat out on to the table, put it back in the cage, look at the Standard, and use a calculator to add up the points. A judge simply can’t say, “This is how I’m going to place the top 10 because the Standard says such and such.” If the judge was a robot, or thought like a computer, shows would be uninteresting and unnecessary.

Judges spend many years studying, are trained to interpret the Standard of Points, and (hopefully) are skilled in handling cats to bring out the best in them. We look for cats that most closely conform to the written Standard, and often there is a clear-cut winner — one that stands out from all the others — which obviously is going to be Best in Show. It is up to the judge to carefully examine the points and features of each cat, consider and weigh up the relative importance of each element, until one cat with the least number of faults is revealed as a clear victor. This is where several other factors come into play — balance, quality, muscle tone, temperament, grooming, (none of which is allocated any points in the Standard), and also the way a cat actually shows itself. If asked which is more important: type, or coat and colour, one would have to say type is paramount. Conformation and boning are permanent once the cat is mature, but coat and colour can fluctuate with changes in health, nutrition, temperature, breeding stress, or the seasons. However, every feature must be taken into account and the cat judged as a whole, ‘the altogether’ according to the specifications of the Standard. Having a super head is not enough; the body and tail must be equally good, and in balance with the rest of the animal.

While the judge appears to be gently stroking and caressing your cat, he or she is actually feeling it all over: the length, depth and proportion of its body, the ribcage, shoulders, spine and legs, checking for any unsound bone structure or faults. Judges use their hands to check for muscle tone and development, to feel if the body is solid and firm, not soft, flabby or mushy. Our fingers gently probe the contours of the head, checking for incorrect indentations or bumps in the skull, or a pinch in the muzzle. At the same time we notice ear size and placement, and look for a level jaw with no obvious malocclusion. Sliding the hand along the tail tells us its thickness and length in proportion to the body, and whether or not there are any unwanted lumps, kinks or suspiciously blunt tail tips.

With Longhairs, a great deal depends on feel, as a flowing coat can camouflage a multitude of sins. Coat length is important, but is not the only consideration. Has the cat been groomed properly, are there any knots on its tummy, or (Heaven forbid!) any signs of flea dirt? The colour and condition of the coat is critical — is it sound to the roots, is every strand of hair in place, shining and separated, with a soft, silky lustre? Although condition carries relatively few points it can be a big factor in deciding between placegetters. Does one exhibit stand out with that extra sparkle and presentation? When all else is equal, this is often the deciding factor in choosing the BIS, or Supreme Exhibit.

In Shorthairs, a tight, gleaming and perfectly groomed coat and firm, muscular body will catch the judge’s eye, and is indicative of good health and top show condition. Siamese and Orientals in particular display their svelte conformation for all to see; but one must still carefully feel for faults like a sternum, lordosis or tail kink.

Owners now realise that there is more to showing than beautiful grooming. A good temperament is imperative in the show cat. Those that are hard to handle — either overly shy or aggressive — seldom get to the finals. If you look at the top cats you will see they behave impeccably. Many have an extraverted personality or an almost arrogant pride about them, as if to say, “Look at me, aren’t I just gorgeous?” Training can help: Persians regularly groomed from young kittens learn to placidly ‘stay put’ on the table. Some clever exhibitors train their Siamese and Orientals to relax when stretched out and held aloft, which accentuates their long, elegant body, neck and tail.

A judge flaunting a cat around in the air may display flashy showmanship, but not all cats tolerate this well, and some can be terrified. Mishandling of a show cat could ruin its future career on the bench. A cat which has a bad experience at a show will seldom forget, and could be UTH next time. Judges must be gentle yet confident: each cat must be approached quietly, assessed carefully, and handled tactfully. Cats are sensitive to positive vibes, but will quickly react if you are rushed, nervous or apprehensive. Persians, Exotics, Birmans, Turkish Vans, British, Norwegian Forest Cats and Maine Coons which can be large and heavy, prefer to have all four legs on the table and this is the best way to assess their balance and proportion. Wriggly Abys, Rex and Russians are much happier on a solid, non-slip surface and can show their objection to being airborne by sinking their back claws into the judge’s wrist!

I prefer not to know if a cat is a Champion or a Grand when I am judging it in Open classes. It is easy to be influenced by a title, but I think the playing field should be level, and every cat should have an equal chance of winning if it has sufficient quality, regardless of whether or not it has won any previous awards.

Stronger efforts should be made encourage greater numbers of Companion Cats at FCC shows, as they do in New Zealand. After all, most of us started with a humble domestic. Visitors to a show love to see something that looks like the cat they have at home, or they may be thinking of adopting a cat. Many of them could be potential buyers of pedigreed kittens. The Standard for Companion Cats adopted in 1999 by the Feline Control Council (Victoria) Inc is an excellent guide to judging these beautiful and ubiquitous felines. When judging domestics I try to ‘spread the wealth’, as they are all beautiful and unique in their own way, and may be some child’s beloved pet. Physical condition, balance, grooming, and attractive colouring are of primary importance. Friendliness, personality, and personal preference will dictate the final choice, so beauty is very definitely in the eye of the beholder.

Sometimes, when judging Supreme Exhibit, it can be extremely difficult to separate two or three cats of different breeds, all of which are outstanding and conform to the Standard. They can be so close that you agonise over the decision, but when it comes to the crunch, you have to make a choice — you can’t stand around dithering, count toes, or toss a coin. Judges strive to be impartial and consistent, but can’t keep everybody happy, so it really boils down to pleasing one person — yourself. The sad thing about judging is you can’t give every cat a top award. The nice thing is that you have the joy of handling so many of these beautiful creatures, and when you genuinely love them, that is one of life’s great pleasures.