Pardalis Ocicats

We were back at the Woodgreen Animal Shelter for a cat show last Saturday.  I just took Pippa this time to get her used to being shown.  She was an absolute angel last time and wasn’t fazed about being in a pen all day but just got on with the business of playing and enjoying all the attention.

This time she got into her mum’s habit of hiding under the blanket but, once the Open Classes judging was finished and we were allowed back into the hall, I could give her a toy mouse to play with and she was back to her usual playful self.

For me, this was a very enjoyable show, lots of lovely Ocicat friends to spend time with and the day flew by. Pippa did really well, getting a 1st and BOB in the Open, as did her sister Isla, and winning 2 other classes, one of 4 and one of 8.

The next show to look forward to will be the Ocicat Club Show on 1st October, so anyone reading this who has an Ocicat or Ocicat Classic and would like to have a go at showing, this is the one to do! Ideal for getting the hang of how it all works in a small, friendly environment, with lots of other Ocicats to admire!  Details on the Ocicat Club website or from me

In this next stage of progression to full championship status for the Ocicat Classic we need the cats to each gain 3 certificates by different judges at different shows.  Lexi was entered for her first one at Woking last Saturday.  As well as being awarded her certificate she was given Best of Breed and came first in two of her side classes and third in another (very large!) class.  Yet again she did us proud!

On Easter Saturday, at just 14weeks and 2 days old, we took Pippa to the Bedford & District joint show at Godmanchester.  It was a very hot day and most of the cats were pretty dozy, conserving their energy.  Not so Pippa.  She decided to chat to everyone and didn’t seem to be fazed at being put in a show pen for the first time, happily eating her breakfast in there.

When we were let back into the hall at lunchtime Pippa was curled up having a nap, but she soon jumped up when she heard us and spent the rest of the day playing with a little toy mouse which she delighted in throwing out of the pen so I could pick it up and give it her back :-)  She enjoyed being taken out for a cuddle and having a look around at the competition.  We were delighted to see she won her Open Class (not difficult as she was the only entry…..) but she was also awarded Best of Breed, got a first in a class of 9 and 2 seconds.  Not bad for a first outing!  The write up by the judge of the open class says ‘Gorgeous kitten with super coat and pattern. Very good head indeed.  Good profile and chin, ears good size, shape and setting. Lovely eyes. Firm body, good legs, feet and tail. Promising great things to come’.

Out of all the cats and kittens in the whole show Pippa and Isla were the only ones awake and playing in the heat - a very good advert for the breed

It was great to see her Classic sister, Isla, there. Also Connie, her chocolate Classic housemate, who is one of Lexi’s kittens from a previous litter.  They both earned glowing merits and did well in their side classes.  Lovely to have three Pardalis girls on the show bench that day. Isla’s only been in her new home for a couple of weeks but is already best friends with Connie.  Many thanks go to Lorraine and David for giving our kittens such a wonderful home and for showing them.  We believe Isla is the first black silver Classic to appear on a GCCF show bench.

Instead of the planned small show last October we joined other cat clubs in the large Stoneleigh venue just for this year, we’re back to our solo show this coming October.  I didn’t think Fizz would do very well at the show as her 6th month old remaining kitten was still enjoying a good suckle and had made her undercarriage really lumpy, I also didn’t think she was in the best of conditions because of it! Obviously the judges thought otherwise as she came 1st in 3 of her 4 entered classes, one being a class of 5.  She earned her 3rd CC so is now a Champion!!

We also took the kitten who got a lot of praise from everyone for her rich golden coat and took 3 firsts and 1 second place in her classes. She won her open class and got Best of Breed and was picked for Best in Show row as Best female kitten winning us a few nice prizes We also came home with a couple of club trophies for Best Tawny and Best Kitten.  Her new owners were there to see her success which was lovely for them, she leaves to live with them next weekend when she’s recovered from being spayed. All in all a very successful day!

Saturday saw the 4th Championship Show.  For the second year running we teamed up with the Tabby Cat Club who also held assessment classes for the Ocicat Classic, meaning Lexi was able to gain two more merits at the one show!  She had some wonderful comments from the judges - “A pretty girl of very good type”, “lovely bright green eyes”, “clear classic markings of bright warm chocolate…very clear contrast” “excellent temperament and condition” and “A real Ocicat”.

Our Fizz did us proud on her first show outing as an adult by gaining her first challenge certificate, 2 more and she can earn the title of Champion. Both our girls did well in their side classes too with a mixture of 1st and 2nd places.

Florence, Lexi’s daughter, brought her strokers Lorraine and David so they could witness her gaining her first Grand certificate.  Not content with just being called Premier Pardalis Genesis, she’s aiming high for the Grand Premier title

Belated CONGRATULATIONS to Thickthorn Meadowsaffron!! Many thanks to Ron and Barbara Darby of Silversmoke for entrusting us with Saffi’s beautiful daughter Lexi.  Saffi’s good looks are being passed down and Florence (Pardalis Genesis), her granddaughter is already doing well on the show bench and has gained her Premier title. Hopefully, once the Ocicat Classic has reached Championship status, Lexi herself, will be up there with her title winning relatives

Premier Pardalis Genesis, aka Florence, won her well deserved Premier title at the Midland Counties Cat Club show on Sunday.  Florence is Lexi’s daughter and has been doing us proud at all the shows she’s been to, having been shown from a young kitten.  She won three open classes in her first three shows as an adult (from nine months) which wins her the Premier title. Well done Florence!!!

Lexi and Uno have now both achieved 4 merits each to help move the Ocicat Classic breed recognition on to the next stage.  Uno got the final one needed at the Suffolk and Norfolk Cat Club show yesterday.

A total of six cats have now gained the required number of merits for us to complete the preliminary stage and put in the application for the next and final stage.  The next stage will take longer as more Ocicat Classics and breeders will need to be involved, but the commitment is there and hopefully it won’t be too long before this beautiful breed can be shown on equal footing alongside their Ocicat siblings.

Lexi’s daughter has been shown at a few cat shows now and is maturing into a little champion!  Yesterday she was entered into the Coventry and Leicester show and won her open class, getting best of breed too, and came first in all 4 of her miscellaneous classes!  Well done Florence! Following in grandma’s footsteps - Imperial Grand Champion Thickthorn Meadowsaffron.

Our third showing of Lexi to get another merit brought us to Maidenhead last Saturday.  Only three cats in the Assessment this time but our beautiful girl walked off with the Best Assessment Exhibit earning her a large bag of food and a helium balloon to play with and us £20 and a bottle of bubbly - very nice! Her side classes were a good size and she got thirds in each of them, so we were very happy with that.