How do you determine if a cat is show quality?

[NekkidIzUs]

How do you know if a Sphynx is show quality? Lulu has had 2 of her previous kittens get their Champion title, but how do you know what to look for? Are there any links or photos that help show what to look for in a show cat? Also, how many points do they need to Champion?

 

[Nofuratu]

Read the breed descriptions and see if your cat matches what a sphynx is supposed to be. I would just go to a web site like "The Canadian Cat association" or "TICA" or "AFC" and do some reading. Also looking at pictures of award winning sphynx will help you so you can see if your cat has similar characteristics.
Big things are lemon shaped eyes, lots of wrinkles and big ears that line up with the face at the correct angle.
I dont know much about judging, but I felt that Nofuratu looked like an ideal sphynx to me! So I put him in a few shows and he's won lots of ribbons! He is neutered so he entered as a premier.
Another big thing about show quality is personality. Although certain organizations say they only judge physical characteristics, if your cat is the type that hisses, spits and grows at the judges in the ring, it is hard to win! Your cat needs to have the personality to handle being picked up and maneuvered by strangers, and that is a distinct quality of a good "showcat".
Nofuratu would yowl and hiss and spit at the judges like he was going to kill them!!! He never bit anyone, but it was hard for jugdes to handle him because they were afraid.....he did still win a few 1st places though, and has about 10 big ribbons and he wons some money and toys etc.
Once he was diagnosed with a heart murmur we retired him from the "pageant circuit" because we were worried his anger in the ring would aggravate his murmur.
If your sphynx doesnt meet the breed standards for an ideal sphynx, or doesnt have papers, you can still show your cat!!!! You just enter them as a household pet! It is lots of fun and those cats are judged on good grooming and personality. So anyone can take that route as well!
Here is a link to his blog about one of his shows. It has two video clips of him in the judging ring, and the judge explains what they look for in a sphynx...
Adventures of A Naked Cat: 02/01/2010 - 03/01/2010

 

[kands1]

hiya, i know that this is one of the descriptions Sphynx should meet
Head - The head is a modified wedge with rounded contours, slightly longer than it is wide, with prominent cheekbones and distinctive whisker break with prominent whisker pads and strong rounded muzzle. The skull is slightly rounded with a flat plane in front of the ears. The nose is straight and there is a slight to moderate stop at the bridge of the nose. Strong chin, level bite with the nose leather and chin in a straight line.
Ears - Large, wide open at the base tapering to a rounded tip. They are set at a slight angle to the head with theouter base of the ears level with the outer corner of the eye but are not flaring. The interior of the ears is naturally without furnishings
Eyes - Large and lemon shaped, slanted slightly upwards towards the outer edges of the ears and set wide apart. Any colour acceptable
Body - The body is medium length, hard and muscular with a broad, rounded chest and abdomen. The rump is well rounded and muscular. The neck is medium to long and well muscled. Allowance to be made for heavy musculature in adult males.
Legs and feet - Legs are of medium length but in proportion to the body and are sturdy and well muscled. The hind legs are slightly longer than the front. Paws are oval. The toes are long and slender and the paw pads are thick giving the appearance of walking on cushions.
Tail - Long and slender, in proportion to the body length, heavier at the base and tapering to the tip.
Down & skin - There is fine down on the skin almost imperceptible to the eye, giving the overall feel of soft warm chamois leather. Slightly thicker down is permissible on the bridge of the nose, back of the ears, on the feet, scrotum and to a lesser extent, the tail. This coat texture creates the feeling of resistance when stroking the cat. Wrinkled skin may appear particularly around the muzzle, between the ears and around the shoulders. Any whiskers and eyebrows should be short and sparse.
Colour - Colour is irrelevant a cat should not be penalised if apparently wrongly registered as there are no points for colour.
Scale of Points
Head
Shape and size 5
Muzzle and chin 5
Profile 5
Cheekbones 5
Eyes 5
Ears 10 Total 35

Body 15
Legs and feet 10
Tail 5
Neck 5
Skin and down 30
Total 100

Withhold all awards for: 1. The complete absence of down. 2. Excessive fur Withhold Certificates or First Prizes in Kitten Open Classes: 1. Disproportional small ears 2. Round eyes 3. Lack of prominent cheekbones 4. Lack of whisker break with prominent whisker pads 5. Rounded feet or thin paw pads 6. Delicate appearance 7. Any other defect

 

[kands1]

but we're based in England and I know the points system may differ elsewhere so don't quote me on that !!