The whole tribe (excluding Anitra, who, quite understandable, continues to have nothing to do with the whole traveling and showing lark) set off for Smaalene Katteklubb's Show in Skiptvet on the other side of Oslofjord in the early hours of Saturday morning. In total we were 3 humans and 4 felines.
So that's Vegas, our fine stud boy, who's aversion to cat shows is significantly more manageable than Anitra's, Asia as a "Company Cat" for Vegas to keep him a little more relaxed, Skiddaw with her new foster mum (more on that later) and Little Amazing Incident, our very special AI'd boy.
So I'll start with Vegas and Asia. As hoped, they were quiet and relaxed during the journey. Vetting in for Vegas was the normal fight, which prompted the poor Vet to ask if the others where relations of his..... Aware that Vegas had a full bladder and has a tendency to spray the second he is introduced to a new environment he was put in the bare cage, before decoration with only his litter tray. As assumed he proceeded to empty his bladder up the back and roof of the cage..... Nice.. So, we took cat out of cage, cleaned up, installed curtains, blankets and decorations and put the cat back in the cage. Vegas, being the clever lad he is promptly emptied the other half of his bladder straight up the curtains...... Great...... After that, it was the "company cats" turn. As normal, Asia caused the most amount of destruction possible in a short space of time. Their litter tray was emptied, food was spread all over the cage, water on their blanket and so on.
Vegas was the first up to be judged. He was well enough behaved for the judge to award him the certificate we had hoped for but badly enough behaved not to progress any further. The final, and slightly amusing part of the story involves Vegas's amorous tendency towards Asia (even though she was not in season). She was moved in with Amazing, but not before a small crowd had gathered to watch him "trying it on". Oh how embarrassing...... Must remember not to take a "company cat" in future.
Skiddaw, who we have decided to keep in our breeding program, has been fostered by one of the nurses at the Vet Clinic where Mrs VL works. This arrangement means that Skiddaw now lives and is looked after by her new mum but we organise matings and she will come to us a few weeks before she is due and stay with us until the kittens are weaned. When we she has had a few litters ownership will be transferred to her foster mum. Thus have we an extra breeding cat without the chaos and someone, who fell in love with the breed first time she saw one of our cats, gets to own a cat that they couldn't afford to buy.
On Saturday, Skiddaw was a little unhappy and vocal to begin with, but settled down and was exemplary with the judge. Much to our surprise, she won her class ahead of her sister, Scafell Pike, who was being shown by her new owner/breeder. This was great for us, but a little daft as Scafell really needed the win as part of her plans to qualify for the Scandinavian winners show, which we probably can't attend with our cats.
Little Amazing, much to our surprise, was an example for them all. He was relaxed for the whole day. Not a peep in the car and not a grumble in the cage (apart from when he ended up with Asia shoved in with him...) Despite his independent tendencies, he was perfect with the judge, even taking it upon himself to play with her pen whilst she attempted to write notes about him. Despite being "A promising young man" he was placed second, behind a cat a couple of months older, oh well, maybe next time.
All in all, a good day out.
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