In the 4-H Cat Project, you can learn to care for your cat and about cat health, cat history, cat breeds, and then join other 4-H Cat Project members in cat-related activities and competitions. These competitions include cats shows, clinics, the Evergreen State Fair (our county fair in Monroe), and the Western Washington Fair in Puyallup for State. Cats are excellent project animals for younger members, members who live in urban areas, and (of course!) just about anyone who loves cats. In Cat 4-H you can learn more about this beautiful animal, share what you know, and help make the lives of cats better by teaching what you know to others.
In the 4-H cat program, there is no advantage in having one type of cat or another. Purebreds are judged against purebreds and household pets (cats that are not purebred) are judged against household pets. The only thing different is what type class they are placed in. Most of the household pet classes are bigger than the purebred classes. A purebred cat is not required to be registered with any cat association. However, they must meet enough of the breed standards to qualify for the breed they are showing as.
All cats must be calm enough to be safely handled by the 4-H member, their leader, and the judge.
Several classes of competition are held at various events throughout the 4-H year. Each competitive class below is held at least once a year; many are held at each Cat Show and Fair. 4-Hers compete with others in the same age group. Primaries are judged non-competitively.
Blue, Red and White flat ribbons are awarded to all participants in most classes. Rosettes are awarded to the top placers and to recognize certain achievements (such as Grand Champion, Best of Class, Judge's Choice, etc).
Showmanship (Fitting & Showing)
Showmanship is the most important competition at any cat show or at fair. In this event, each 4-H member presents his or her cat to the judge and then answers a few questions about cats.
The first section judges the 4-H member. The judge looks at how they present themselves, their attentiveness, and how courteous they are.
The second section judges how much control they have of the cat. How well the harness fits the cat and how they show the cat according to it's type. The 4-H member presents the cat's body type (cobby or foreign), head shape (wedge or round), coat and tail.
The third section judges how well they have groomed the cat. They will show the judge the cat's teeth, nose, eyes, ears, toenails, and the cleanliness of the coat and belly area.
After showing the cat, the 4-H member will be asked to answer three to five questions on topics discussed in the 4-H Cat project books. The questions that will be asked are based on the level of 4-H they are in. The questions come from 5 different categories - general knowledge of cats, cat health, cat anatomy, cat breeds, and ID of cats, and 4-H knowledge.
Point values are 20 points on the member, 30 points on showmanship, 35 points on condition, and 15 points on questions.
Type
In the Type competition, the cat alone is judged against other cats in the same class. Most competitions have four classes: shorthaired household pet; longhaired household pet; purebred; and kitten. At the fair, Type classes are further subdivided into longhaired and shorthaired purebred; and senior (older than 8 years) cats. The cat is judged mainly on grooming, cleanliness, health, and personality. The judge will look at the coat, eyes, nose, teeth, claws and ears. If the cat is a purebred, the judge will look at how well the cat fits it's breed standards. The final placing depends on how well the cat impresses the judge at this time at this show.
Since most 4-H cats are household pets (cats of no particular pedigree or breed), the majority of cats are judged on cleanliness, appearance, and personality. Purebred cats are judged on breed standards.
Judging
Judging is the competition in which 4-H members show the depth of their cat knowledge. In Judging, 4-H members are asked to identify cat breeds from pictures of cats, cat bones and parts, and answer a variety of true-and-false or short answer questions, and judge between several sets of items (such as various methods of flea control) to decide which is best. Judging typically happens only at the county and state fair.
Cage
Snohomish County uses standardized wire cat cages measuring 22" x 22" x 44" at all shows and at county fair. At each event, members are invited to decorate their cat's cage according to the theme of the event. Each cage must contain a screened litter box and water dish; food dishes and beds are optional but recommended. All decorations must be cat-safe and the decoration must be done by the 4-H member.
At county fair, fair visitors vote on their favorite decorated cage. A "Visitor's Choice" ribbon is awarded to the cage gathering the most votes each day.
Costume
Cat costume contests are held at some cat shows and at the county fair. In the Costume competition, members dress their cat up in themed or non-themed costumes and are judged on costume quality and creativity.
Educational Display (Poster)
Cat Educational Displays are required at County and State Fair. Educational Displays are posters (usually only one poster) presenting information about cats or cat-related issues.
Cat Bowl
Cat Bowl is a quiz competition held at county and state fair. In Cat Bowl, two teams at a time, each with three or four 4-Hers, face off in a trivia challenge.
On the Spot
On the Spot is an exercise in creativity held at county fair. 4-Hers are given a large pile or box of assorted crafting supplies and asked to make something cat-related. This class is for fun, and entries are judged by fair visitors.
Public Presentations
Cat project participants are required to do one Public Presentation at the club level or beyond each year in order to qualify to show at the county fair. Public Presentations are given by 4-Hers in many projects. Area-level public presentation sessions are offered four times each year in February, March, and/or April. Members who qualify can attend the county-level public presentation competition in May.
A Public Presentation is a short demonstration or speech, accompanied by posters and (if needed) props given on a topic of the 4-H member's choice. Topics do not have to be 4-H related. Members who do well at each level may be invited to the next up to the state competition level.
County cat shows are held three times a year, generally in December or January, around March, and around May or June. All Snohomish county cat 4-H members may participate in cat shows provided that they turn in their entry form on time, their cat is clean and free of fleas, and has all its appropriate vaccinations. Cat 4-H members from other counties may also participate, provided that they follow the same rules. Snohomish County Cat 4-Hers must participate in at least one cat show (and a total of two county-level events) to be eligible to go to the county fair.
Cat Show dates are available on the club calendar.
County-level Cat Clinics are held three times a year on various cat and 4-H related topics such as cat grooming, Fitting & Showing, cat first aid, etc. Members are encouraged but not required to attend clinics. Volunteering to help out at a County-level Cat Clinic is a good way for experienced members in their second or later years to gain leadership experience.
Cat Clinic dates are available on the club calendar.
County Fair
The Snohomish County 4-H Fair is the Evergreen State Fair held in Monroe during late August and early September. Cat project competitions happen during the first six days of the fair (Thursday through Tuesday), and in addition 4-H cats are displayed for one extra day each (Wednesday or Thursday). County Fair is the capstone event for most Snohomish County Cat 4-H members. The Snohomish County 4-H Cat County Grand Champion and Reserve Champions are chosen based on placing at County Fair.
To be eligible to show at the county fair (Evergreen State Fair), members must meeting the following requirements:
Enroll in the 4-H Cat project before May 1 of the current 4-H year.
Attend at least one county-level cat clinic and at least one Snohomish County cat show during the current 4-H year.
Show the cat or cats they are entering in the fair at at least one Snohomish County cat show during the year (unless the cat was too young to qualify for showing at the last cat show).
Make a public presentation/demonstration at the club level or above.
Members must also submit the Fair Entry form by the entry deadline, and sign and return the fair contract. Members must enter a poster, decorate a cat cage, participate in Fit & Show, and participate in daily Herdsmanship activities; all other competitions at Fair are optional. Members can get entry forms and fair contracts from their leaders a couple months before fair.
State Fair
The Washington State 4-H State Fair is the Puyallup Fair held in Puyallup in September each year. Cat project competitions happen during the first Friday, Saturday and Sunday after Labor Day. A limited number of cat members in their second year or beyond may be invited to represent Snohomish County based on their placing at county fair.
Snohomish County Cat 4-H members are encouraged to expand their horizons by attending other 4-H and cat-related events. For example, Cat 4-Hers might sign up to show at 4-H cat shows in other counties; volunteer at a no-kill cat shelter or vet's office; attend professional cat shows; run or attend cat-related fund raisers; and more.
The membership requirements for 4-H are fairly straightforward. They include:
Members must be 5 years of age or older as of October 1 of the current 4-H year; and in the 12th grade or less than 19 years old October 1 on the current 4-H year.
Members must enroll in the 4-H Cat Project in Snohomish County before May 1 of the current 4-H year. For most competitions, members are divided into levels by length of membership and grade in school. The levels are determined by the memeber's age on October 1 of the current 4-H year as follows:
Cloverbud: 5 to 7 years of age (Cloverbuds were previously referred to as “Primaries”.) Cloverbud members are judged non-competitively.
Junior: 8 to 10 years of age
Intermediate: 11 to 13 years of age
Senior: 14 to less than 19 years of age