If many cats are kept, and some are sent to shows, do not let these, on their return, mix with the others who have remained at home. It is a wise precaution to keep them apart for some days.

Miss Winifred Beale's Champion Cream Romaldkirk Admiral

If you are allowed to provide your pussies with cushions at a Show, let the neck ribbon correspond in colour, as this will have a better effect. I recommend flannelette in preference to more costly materials. It is warmer and not so slippery as silk or sateen. Some exhibitors are able to afford velvet!

Exhibitors will find little slip rings convenient to put on metal tallies provided for the cats' necks at shows.

In sending your pussies to the show, if you pack them in hampers, whether lined or unlined, wrap the hamper in a large sheet of brown paper, leaving only a square space uncovered at the top round the handle. Fasten securely. If you padlock the box, don't forget to send the key to the secretary!

It is as well that exhibitors should understand that the labels and tallies sent by the show secretary are in themselves an acknowledgment of the money received for entries. Some impatient and unreasonable exhibitors write to the show secretary requesting their labels, etc, before the advertised time of closing entries. How would it be possible to place the pen number on the labels when all the entries had not been received?

Margarine baskets are cheap and handy for cats to travel in; but when they are sent to shows exhibitors should attach some straps, as in the hurry of packing up the pussies it is not easy to have recourse to a packing-needle and string.

It is the custom for exhibitors to delay forwarding their entries till just before the lists are closed. This unfortunate habit entails much extra worry for the show secretary, and causes a desperate rush at the last.

I would like to impress upon exhibitors the importance of writing very distinctly when filling in their entries for shows. This hint especially applies to the names of the cats, some of which are often of an out of-the-way character, and cannot even be guessed at.

I would most earnestly impress upon exhibitors the necessity of writing distinctly their full address on the reverse side of the labels supplied for the return journey by the show authorities. Try by every means in your power to lessen the risks and discomforts for your pussies during their transit to and from the shows.

When by any chance labels are not received in time to be used by exhibitors, or they are lost, then the hamper should be addressed to the secretary of the show, and a note of explanation enclosed. The entry form can then be looked up, and the pen number discovered.

Of course, if possible, it is always best to accompany your pussies to a show, but if you are unable to do this, then it is very important you should ensure each hamper of live stock. Do not use straps which are detached from the box or hamper, as these are so apt to get mislaid or lost.

If you make up your mind to enter your puss and kits in a litter class send the whole family, as in judging a litter class quantity, with a due regard to quality, has to be considered. Thus, a litter of five very fairly good and level kittens ought to score over a family of three, though these may be possessed of better points. It is, therefore, advisable to always send the whole litter, not to pick and choose.

If you are the owner of White cats and take them to a show, I strongly advise you to see that the pens are thoroughly well rubbed down before you pen your pussies.

It is not well to give your cats a heavy meal before starting them for a show. Hope and trust that they may have something given to them when they are penned.

Need I say, never make any attempt at "faking" your cats when sending them to shows. It is a risk, as well as a most undesirable operation.

Miss Kate Sangster's Champion Royal Yum Yum Amery, photo, Portsmouth

In sending specials for shows, be sure and state if they are for cats or kittens. For instance; "For the best Blue Male Cat" will mean that your prize will be awarded in the Cat Class, and only supposing a kitten were entered in that class, could it compete for your special. If you wish it to go to a kitten then don't omit to specify this. The limit age for kittens varies at shows, sometimes under eight months, and sometimes under six months.

A very good way of cleaning your cats previous to showing is to heat a good quantity of bran in the oven. Put it into a large bowl or foot-bath, and stand your puss in it. Rub the hot bran well amongst her fur for some minutes, and afterwards carefully brush it out. It is wonderful how soft and silky this process makes the coat. I do not advocate washing cats, even in summer weather, and certainly not in the winter.

When there is a class for pairs of kittens provided at a show, the two exhibits need not necessarily be of the same litter, but remember they are judged as a pair, so let their size and appearance be as alike as possible. It is no use to enter two kittens of different colours in a pair class.

When prize-money is sent to the winning exhibitors, they should acknowledge the sum to the show secretary, and don't forget to thank the donors of specials. The addresses are generally to be found in the catalogue index, or the secretary, if written to (with stamp for reply), will give the information required.

If your cats are not in good condition do not send them to shows. There is but one place for cats out of coat, and that is at home!