Healthy cats have a radiating appearance; the overall look and feel of the cat should be
faultless.  Clear Eyes, Shining Coat and Alertness can definitely make a show cat stand out
from the competition.
Physical condition is one of the main concerns in showing cats. Their diet, environment,
genetics, care and overall health are all major contributing factors in how well conditioned
show cat looks.  As a judge looks carefully at each contender the muscle tone, size and
shape of the bone structure are also closely evaluated.

Most show standards read: The cat
should be in excellent health, and
remember any cats showing signs
of any illness, mites, fungus or fleas
will be disqualified from the show ring.   

Here are a few grooming tips
for preparing for a show:

Coat Care. Regular daily brushing with
a fine-toothed comb, such as a flea
comb, will help the removal of dead
and shedding hair. Careful not to use
a brush excessively, this can result in
breaking off the new healthy hair.
Deworming your cat on its regular
worming schedule will also improve and or maintain the look and feel of your cat’s coat.  

Sometimes a drop of Silk or Shine rubbed on the hands or on a doeskin chamois to polish
the coat prior to going to a ring will help you achieve extra shine!
Bathe your cat 2-3 days before a show. There are a wide variety of brands & color
enhancing shampoos & conditioners that will help accentuate your cat’s coat and bring out
the ultimate shine!

Melissa’s personal cat grooming tip: Washing your cat’s tail in dish washing liquid vs.
Shampoo can help have a thicker look to the tail!

Clipping of the nails. VERY important grooming step and is a necessity! Regularly clipping
your cat’s nails will keep the quick of the nail from growing out. You can use clippers
designed especially for cats or use human clippers. When clipping, be careful to avoid the
pink quick. If you clip the quick, you can use a styptic pencil containing silver nitrate to stop
blood flow, although many animals object to the styptic pencil as much, or more, than
toenail cutting. The black end of the stick is held to the bleeding nail and gently rotated until
bleeding stops. If you do not have the silver nitrate
pencil or powder you can try using cornstarch, and
apply gentle pressure.  Sometimes cutting the quick
can result in a sore paw, which should subside quickly.

Clipping your cat’s nails before a show preferably
the day of, is a TICA show rule and therefore
a mandatory requirement.

Cleaning of the ears. Cleaning ears can be quite
difficult. Cats have a long ear canals and improper
cleaning can result in pain, cuts or a ruptured eardrum.

Try using a cotton swabs to clean the outer earlobe or gauze around your finger.  You
should always be able to see the cotton tip when cleaning your cat’s ears. Gently swab
away dirt and wax build up from the ear lobe. Dipping the swab in warm water will also help
whisk away build up, carefully cleaning all the little crevices.  Be careful of sticking a q-tip in
the ear canal this will stimulate head shaking and can lead to ear trauma.   

Ear grooming tip:  If your cat has any stray hairs on the top of the ears, clip them with
scissors this will help give your cat’s ears a more rounded look.
Eye care. A warm washcloth will gently remove any tear stains or sleep from your cat’s
eyes.  You can also use an alcohol free baby wipe.  
Don’t forget to give your beloved cat a treat for being a good participant!

Just remember to relax and have fun…



Working with your cat from an early age is very conducive to preparing the
ultimate show cat. Conditioning them to be handled on a consistent basis will
help aid in your daily grooming routines. Showing can stress some cats, and to
some it’s like second nature. Therefore socializing them with frequent outings
also will help your cat become accustom to being handled and the hustle &
bustle of a busy show hall.

A properly, well-groomed cat can enhance the beauty of the breed and
accentuates the great attributes & personalities the Bengal has to offer. Ideally
speaking, the cat should be in tiptop physical condition, embracing the eloquent
structure and muscle tone of your cat.
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Grooming your cat for Show!
Grooming your cat for show!
By Melissa Ford-Leonard of Sandalwood Bengals
Published in The Bengal Bulletin 2006
"This article may NOT be used or reproduced without expressed
written permission from the author, Melissa Ford-Leonard"

Showing cats can be so much fun; the experts make it look
so simple & easy...
But what’s really behind the curtain??
Let’s take a look and see how hard it really is!
Alcohol-Free Baby Wipes
Q-Tips
Chamois & Towel
Nail Clippers & Scissors
Styptic pencil or cornstarch
Comb or Brush
Disinfectant & Hand sanitizer
Deodorizer
Coat Gloss or Anti-Static Mixture
Lint Brush
Plastic Bags
Paper Towels or Tissues
Water Bottle
Grooming Stand
Shampoo & Conditioner
(just in case)
Treats …
most important your cat!
Utility carts work wonderfully to hold
your show grooming accessories.
And if you do happen to leave something
behind, there are vendors at the
shows with most things readably
available for sale.
Grooming checklist to take to show: