One often wonders how much has really been written on the above subject - namely, the care of show cats - and how many different ways have been advised; also, whether novices really take advice, or do they know best, until experience, sometimes very bitter, teaches them, perhaps taking some years to do so. This, I think, was somewhat the case with myself.

The method I now have of successfully raising and showing my cats and kittens is practically the same as I was first advised; yet, as a matter of fact, I have tried various experiments, some good and some bad, and not until recent years, may I say, have I been entirely successful. When you tell novices what to do with their cats if they wish to show them, they often remark, "If I have to take all that care I would not show my cats." But really, keeping show cats is much less worry that keeping four or five pet cats.

When you begin to give minute details, it appears very intricate to a beginner, so I will therefore give as simple a method as possible to care for show cats.

A cat kept in clean surroundings, well fed and cared for, needs very little preparation for the show-pen; in fact, the conditioning should continue throughout the year, for, unless you keep your cats in good form always, it is useless to expect them to be fit for showing in a few weeks. If your cattery is properly kept, the inmates should need no undue amount of cleaning.

In the first place, to ensure your cats growing a good coat, all old hair should be combed out in the autumn, as any old, rusty hair spoils the appearance of the new coat. Then the cat should not be allowed free run of the "garden walls," or the new coat will get wet and soiled, worn on rough walls and fences, and torn out on bushes. I have never yet seen a cat which had its entire freedom look as well as the carefully cared-for "cattery cat." All cats are better for fresh air and exercise, but if they are allowed out in all weather, their condition both as to coat and health must deteriorate.

Remember, a cat, to be in "show" form, should have a huge coat; this also takes time to grow; and to do this they must be amply fed as soon as the weather gets cool after the summer heat.

The best diet to condition a cat for the winter shows is raw meat, finely minced through a mincing machine, which is better than that cut with a knife, as many cats have defective teeth and do not masticate their food, swallowing large pieces of meat whole.

A raw meat diet produces a wonderful coat and keeps the cats in such good health that, should they come in contact with disease or encounter cold weather when travelling, they seldom get seriously ill, as do most underfed or milk-fed specimens sent to shows.

I do not say a meat diet will always grow a coat, as without breeding, a cat will not obtain that wealth of coat that a pedigreed animal does. I wonder how many well-bred cats one sees during the show season, which have only a few long hairs to denote they belong to the "long-haired" section!

These are the cats which need to be properly fed, and not over-bred, then they could be easily conditioned and improve the appearance of our winter shows.

When the cat's coat becomes thick and long, great care should be taken to keep the hair free from mats, for one small knot in the hair will set up an irritation of the skin, and in a day or two the knot becomes one large mat, and has to be cut out with the scissors.

Have all the cat's surroundings kept scrupulously clean always; especially so a week before a show. Then, about three days before, clean the cat thoroughly by first dampening the coat with a little alcohol and water, rub well with a rough towel, clean out the ears and powder inside with boracic acid; then take a flour-dredger and dust the cat well with corn-starch, rubbing it in the coat well with the hands; the next three days should be spent in brushing out the corn-starch, as any left in the coat spoils the colour, and in many cases may cause disqualification in the show-pen to those colours it improves, such as chinchillas, whites, etc.

A properly kept cat does not need all this cleaning; just a little around the frill and ears is all that is necessary.

Before sending to a show, always cut the tips of pussy's claws, as they may get caught in the wire on the shipping crate, and cause an accident; also, many a person lets a cat go on account of a good hard scratch; therefore, it is safer for the cat and kinder to the people and judges at shows, who have to handle them.

When away from home, cats are apt to become very frightened, and even the most gentle ones will bite and scratch when handled by strange people at shows.