In Hong Kong all cat shows are under CFA, the world largest cat association. It is no doubt that CFA has the greatest no. of shows held in the world every year and leads the trend of world pedigree cat development. However, its show system is more or less affecting the healthy development of some breeds in Hong Kong. I can see the great effect caused to my beloved breed British Shorthair. 

Many British Shorthair breeders know that the most developed and mature British Shorthair breeding bases are not located in the USA. We always can see the great cats from the countries of Europe and Australia. And, it is very true that Hong Kong is the only city where has been got together with many top blood lines from these countries. The very sad fact is that not all excellent cats can be picked as winners under the show system of CFA. So, many ordinary people can only recognize a bit of them and some winners are being crowed about as the good example of the breed, even though they do not have all breed characteristics which British Shorthair should have traditionally. 

The CFA show system each time can only pick one winner at each gender group in each color class. With the limited no. of shows held in Hong Kong. Some breeders can hardly show their ‘masterpiece’ a few times and the kitten or cat will get older and older. It is a common sense of all breeders that it is not easy to keep the top condition of each cats and kittens. Some small scale breeders (me too!) are not able to make sure next time we will get the enough no. of winner ribbons to acquire CH title. Some big breeders will have many kittens produced all year round and they will put them to every group and every ring. It is more difficult for the small breeders to acquire the title. 

CFA’s show system is not too worse but it is not suitable for Hong Kong sometimes. For me, I am sure I have not 100% to win enough winner ribbons from 1 or 2 shows. However, we need to wait not less than a month for the next show, of course it is usually an half year apart. How can I keep the condition of our cats? How can I predict there will be no competitors before we get the entry of the next show? How can I breed out more kittens to increase the chance of winning like some big breeders, even there is no demand of kittens from the public? 

Other than the show system, there are some practices gotten by the US judges which are not favor to Hong Kong British Shorthair breeders. British Shorthair is an old English breed with many historic features. However, in recent years most US judges have predilection for some fashion outlook of ‘novel’ cats. For example, in Hong Kong we always find that some cats with close distanced ears British Shorthairs kittens and cats are picked as winners. It is true that they may have round eyes and plush and resilient coat, but there are still many other cats with well posited ears and eyes. We understand that judges have the rights to pick what they want, but we cannot neglect the phenotypes which are not matching the historic features of this breed. It is as same as judges do not accept British Shorthair which does have the characters of Persian, the nose break commonly found in the lines from Europe and Australia. Yet, even though it is inevitably happened with the history, British Shorthair is a breed which was rescued by out crossing with Persian and some other cats. 

I am not oppugning the fairness of the judges. I just expect there should have a flexibility of show system and judging standards. If you say the recently winning US blood line is the only good standard, I am sure many breeders from the world will have different opinions. I hope people here should have a wider view on the local British Shorthair! 

For me, I can say that some local British Shorthair cats really represent some good standards in term of body type and coat, but some can represent how all-rounded a traditional British Shorthair should have, whatever personality, body type, head type, coat and color. If the shows go on inclining to only a few lines, especially the so called USA top lines, I think there will be fewer diversity of this breed. People will have fewer choices and finally have to tolerate some ‘novel’ characters. I wonder if it is still a good idea to conserve this breed? 

It is certainly that some USA British Shorthair cats have accommodable features many breeders are looking for, but they are not the all. But, some breeders and I do not accept some practices carried out by some USA breeders. For me, I really can not accept them in term of finance, especially just for a few characteristics I want. The pay out is enough for me to choose a more all-rounded cat from other countries, even though they are not the favorites of CFA shows. I am a breeder for hobby and I am a graduate from the discipline of biology and genetic. I do not think I need to win the shows before I can breed out good kittens. And, I have never thought of gaining my living from breeding and showing cats. The lose or win is not a big matter for me. But, I hope local and China people can get a wider view on this wonderful breed. The most important that I hope the CFA show system will not depress the diversity and quality of local British Shorthair. It is so sad to see that the show system now has made some new breeders retreating from the show rings and breeding. There are fewer and fewer choices for people owning their British Shorthair kittens. And, there are few people will get their good lines for out crossing. It is very important for enlarging the gene pool of this breed, where British Shorthair can have a healthy development. 

I have some suggestions to CFA and local cat clubs: 

(i) increase the no. of winner ribbons for each gender group in Hong Kong shows

(ii) Increase the no. of shows, better to be one a month. I do not think every time we need the greatest show. Some small breeders need to acquire CH before they consider competing for GC.

(iii)  The breed council can do more research on this breed and accept more opinion from breeders of the world. Make sure the judges can get the latest information.

(iv)              Cat clubs can hold more breeds talks to educate people to learn more about the breeds. 

Text: Raymond Wu

7^th October, 2008.