Taking Part In Kitten Competitions By Flora Westbrooks

Kitten competitions are shows where kittens are paraded and made to compete with one another to win a variety of titles. Owners are used to training a kitten to enter these kinds of competitions. Kitten owners register themselves and their cats at such shows where judges check their breed standard and award them ribbons.

Kitten and cat competitions admit pedigreed as well as moggy cats, though the rules of admission differ with each organization hosting the competition. Often a kitten owner will register the pet at multiple kitten competitions to be held throughout the year. Based on points collected over several shows, the kitten is awarded an annual title. Additional titles at the national and regional levels are also awarded at times.

At any kitten competition, a kitten or a cat is judged against other felines of the same breed, age, sex and color. Kitty behavior is also an important criterion on which they receive points. Kittens which are not properly trained have a tendency to hiss, spit, scratch and bite. Such kittens are awarded negative points or no points at all. For this reason, training a kitten properly is very crucial. The largest and most prestigious cat competition in the world is held in November each year at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, UK. This competition is often described as the Crufts of the world of cats and kittens.

Nowadays, a lot of kitten competitions are held online. The criteria for winning these competitions are of course based solely on the cuteness of the kitten as it is hard to judge breeding and pedigree online. The online kitten competitions do not require the owners to train their cats. Owners send a nominal subscription fee along with their kitten's photo to the site owners who then display the pictures to a public vote. The kitten which gets the most number of votes in the good looks section wins the competition. Online kitten competitions hold no real value. Rather, they are more of fun events and work well to boost the ego of the kitty owners. Perhaps this is the reason why competitions like 'Cutest Pet Contest' and 'Cute Kitten' have become very popular with kitten owners.

If you wish to register your pet for a competition, by all means go ahead and have fun. It is important to remember that while it is good to be competitive, sometimes there can only be one winner and you should love your kitty all the same no matter how she is ranked.

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Most Popular Cat Breeds By Carrie Atkin

While most people are familiar with the differences between dog breeds, cat breeds often remain a mystery. Below, we've collected information on the ten most popular cat breeds as ranked by the Cat Fanciers Association with information on each breed to help you decide which one would fit best into your home.

Persian

Since the CFA has been tracking cat breeds in 1871, the Persian has been the most popular breed. This large cat is generally calm, easy to handle and quiet with an affectionate temperament. Grooming is usually a chore for Persian owners because of their breed's thick coat.

Maine Coon

Like Persians, Maine Coons have also had a long stay on top of the most popular cat breed list. Maine Coons are very active, making them perfect for their original purpose of hunting mice and rats.

Exotic Shorthair

Exotic Shorthairs are basically Persians with much shorter hair. Like Persians, Exotic Shorthairs have a quiet, sweet temperament, but they only require brushing twice a week.

Siamese

This distinctive breed is very active and vocal. Siamese cats often "talk" with their owners, and can get frustrated if they are ignored. While Siamese cats love being the center of attention, they are also extremely loyal to their owner. Because Siamese cats have extremely short hair, they are very easy to care for.

Abyssinian

Abyssinians are often considered the friendliest type of cat. They are "people cats" and love being near their owners at all times. These cats are small and thin with a shiny coat.

Ragdoll

These cats are extremely large, weighing up to 30 pounds. While Ragdolls are often huge, they are also laid back and quiet. Ragdolls have a thick coat that requires constant attention.

Birman

Birmans will greet their owners at the door and follow them around the house. These are very loving cats and will do almost anything for attention and affection. Birman cats have beautiful eyes and a long coat that doesn't require much additional grooming.

American Shorthair

American Shorthairs make great family cats. While they are friendly and affectionate to all family members and other pets, they have also retained their hunting instinct and will go after household pests.

Oriental

The Oriental is similar to the Siamese. These cats are intelligent and curious, causing them to act like kittens for much longer than most other breeds. Orientals have distinct large ears and almond-shaped eyes.

Sphynx

The Sphynx makes it into the ten most popular breeds even though it is one of the rarest and most unusual types of cats. While the Sphynx looks like it is naked, it actually has very short hair that helps keep it warm. Sphynxes are affectionate, intelligent and extremely athletic.

The author, Carrie Atkin, represents Pawsitively Clean Pet, a leader in pet grooming products. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carrie_Atkin