Show Rules
date of issue: 01.01.2008
Title IV The titles European Champion (FIFe American Champion), European Premier (FIFe American Premier), Grand International Champion, Grand International Premier, International Champion, International Premier, Champion, Premier, Best in Show, Best in Variety, World Winner, Distinguished Merit (DM), Junior Winner (JW), Distinguished Show Merit (DSM), Distinguished Variety Merit (DVM)
4.1 abbreviations
Champion CH
Premier PR
International Champion IC
International Premier IP
Grand International Champion GIC
Grand International Premier GIP
European Champion EC
European Premier EP
World Winner WW
FIFe American Champion FAC
FIFe American Premier FAP
Distinguished Merit DM
Junior Winner JW
Distinguished Show Merit DSM
Distinguished Variety Merit DVM
4.2 obtaining the title Champion or Premier
In order to obtain the title Champion or Premier, a cat must have been awarded 3 (three) CAC or CAP, respectively, by 3 (three) different judges during 3 (three) national or international shows under the auspices of FIFe.
CAC is awarded in the 'Open' class.
CAP is awarded in the 'Neuter' class.
4.3 obtaining the title International Champion or International Premier
In order to obtain the title International Champion or International Premier, a cat must have been awarded 3 (three) CACIB or CAPIB, respectively, by 3 (three) different judges in 2 (two) different countries during 3 (three) international shows under the auspices of FIFe. A maximum of 2 (two) CACIB or CAPIB, respectively, could be obtained in the same country. (Exceptions are made for members as outlined in Annex 3, 4, 6 and 8.
- CACIB is awarded in the 'Champion' class.
- CAPIB is awarded in the 'Premier' class.
4.4 obtaining the title Grand International Champion or Grand International Premier
In order to obtain the title Grand International Champion or Grand International Premier, a cat must have been awarded 6 (six) CAGCIB or CAGPIB, respectively, by 3 (three) different judges in 3 (three) different countries during 6 (six) international shows under the auspices of FIFe. A maximum of 4 (four) CAGCIB or CAGPIB, respectively, could be obtained in the same country. Exceptions are made for members as outlined in Annex 3, 4, 6 and 8.
Or
In order to obtain the title Grand International Champion or Grand International Premier, a cat must have been awarded 8 (eight) CAGCIB or CAGPIB, respectively, by 4 (four) different judges in 2 (two) different countries during 8 (eight) international shows under the auspices of FIFe. A maximum of 7 (seven) CAGCIB or CAGPIB, respectively, could be obtained in the same country. Exceptions are made for members as outlined in Annex 3, 4, and 6.
- CAGCIB is awarded in the 'International Champion' class.
- CAGPIB is awarded in the 'International Premier' class.
4.5 obtaining the title European Champion or European Premier
In order to obtain the title European Champion (FIFe American Champion) or European Premier (FIFe American Premier), a cat must have been awarded 9 (nine) CACE or CAPE, respectively, by 3 (three) different judges in 3 (three) different countries during 9 (nine) international shows under the auspices of FIFe. A maximum of 7 (seven) CACE or CAPE, respectively, could be obtained in the same country. Exceptions are made for members as outlined in Annex 3, 5, 6 and 8.
Or
In order to obtain the title European Champion (FIFe American Champion) or European Premier (FIFe American Premier), a cat must have been awarded 11 (eleven) CACE or CAPE, respectively, by 6 (six) different judges in 2 (two) different countries during 11 (eleven) international shows under the auspices of FIFe. A maximum of 10 (ten) CACE or CAPE, respectively, could be obtained in the same country. Exceptions are made for members as outlined Annex 3 and 6.
- CACE is awarded in the 'Grand International Champion' class.
- CAPE is awarded in the 'Grand International Premier' class.
4.6 approval of titles
The CAC, CAP, CACIB, CAPIB, CAGCIB, CAGPIB, CACE, CAPE, which are recognized as qualifications for the titles Champion, Premier, International Champion, International Premier, Grand International Champion, Grand International Premier, European Champion and European Premier will become valid only after approval by the National Federation or National Club to which the exhibitor belongs.
In order to obtain a title, the owner of a cat must notify the National Secretariat within the next month following the receipt of a third CAC, CAP, CACIB, CAPIB; a sixth/eighth CAGCIB, CAGPIB or a ninth/eleventh CACE, CAPE.
4.7 going to a higher class
As soon as an exhibit has obtained a valid title (3, 6/8, or 9/11 certificates), it is obligatory for this cat to be exhibited in the following higher class, in consideration of articles 4.6, 4.4 and 4.5. A cat cannot obtain three identical certificates (respectively 6/8 or 9/11) - superior to CAC/CAP - in the same country
4.8 Best in Show
The Best in Show can be chosen from:
Overall: Category I, II, III and IV
Separate: Category I, II, III and IV
Each category can have BIS titles as:
- adult male
- adult female
- adult neuter male
- adult neuter female
- youngster 6-10 months (not divided by sex)
- kitten 3-6 months (not divided by sex)
Housecats can have BIS titles regardless of hair-length, age and sex
Nomination conditions:
Each judge may nominate one exhibit in each category he/she is judging as:
- adult male
- adult female
- adult neuter male
- adult neuter female
- youngster 6-10 months (not divided by sex)
- kitten 3-6 months (not divided by sex)
provided they have obtained at least 97 points.
The breed must be fully recognised.
Housecats may be nominated regardless of age as:
- male shorthair
- female shorthair
- male longhair
- female longhair※
Bis conditions
- that the cats are presented by stewards;
- in the Best in Show Panel, the organizer must provide each judge with a list containing the catalogue number, the sex, and the EMS-Code of the nominated cat presented for the Best in Show jury;
- that the cats have to be presented with their catalogue and corresponding variety number.
- that they are examined and handled by each member of the Best-in-show jury;
- that this examination is done in public;
- it is up to the show organizers whether to have a secret or a public ballot. The judges must be notified in advance of the desired method;
- that each candidate nominated by the judge has obtained at least 97 points;
- Nomination for Best in Show cannot be refused, if the exhibit has obtained the necessary 97 points in its class;
- that judges, not taking part in the Best in Show panel (probational judges), must nominate their best exhibits;
- that when Best in Show is OVERALL, the panel is composed of at least one international All-Breed judge;
- that when Best in Show is SEPARATE, international judges in their specific categories can be called upon.
in order to be nominated for Best in Show, the adult candidate must have been awarded the title Best in Variety. However, if the number of cats required is insufficient, the judge can nominate a cat, which has obtained at least 97 points but was not awarded a Best-of-Variety;
A judge may nominate an adult cat for Best in Show adult even if it has been beaten by a youngster 6-10 or kitten 3-6 months, or by another adult of the opposite sex in the same variety provided it has obtained at least 97 points.
A judge may nominate a neuter even if it has been beaten by another neuter of the opposite sex in the same variety, provided it has obtained at least 97 points.
Probational judges are excluded from the Best in Show jury, but must be present at the panel.
In cases where the votes are equal, a decision will be made by one of two methods:
a. by a referee judge officiating at the show who is qualified for that category
b. by lot
When a judge has completed judging and nominations for one or more categories have been selected, it is not permitted for this judge to recommence judging other cats of the same categories.
That a judge shall not abstain from voting during the Best-in-Show.
4.9 Best in Variety = 95 points
a. Best in variety will be chosen by the judge among all cats of one variety disregarding age or sex on condition that at least 3 exhibits of this variety are present.
b. In case of a larger amount of competitors a maximum of 3 different BIV can be decided upon (kitten 3-6 months, kitten 6-10 months and adults) under application of the above mentioned rule. See examples enclosed.
c. Neuters compete separately among themselves except for cats below the age of 10 months.
d. If a youngster of 6-10 months (class 11) is awarded BIV, the judge can still nominate the kitten 3-6 months (class 12) of the same variety and vice versa.
e. The 'BEST in VARIETY' title cannot be refused, if the exhibit has obtained the necessary 95 points in its class.
4.10 BIV, NOM and BIS on the result sheet
The titles Best in Show and Best in Variety and Nomination for Best in Show must be indicated on the result sheets.
4.11 neuters participation in BIV and BIS
Neuters do not participate in Best in Show nor in Best in Variety.
They compete among themselves for the titles Best in Variety Neuter and Best Neuter.
4.12 the title World Winner
deleted
4.13 Distinguished Merit (DM)
deleted
4.14 Distinguished Show Merit (DSM)
This title is only available at International Shows and is available to all adult cats, including neuters in classes 1-10 + 14.
To obtain the title, the cat must win Best-in-Show or Best-Opposite-Sex a minimum of 10 times. The shortest qualifying period possible is two years and one day between the first Best-in-Show or Best-Opposite-Sex and the tenth. This is to prevent a cat becoming a DSM too quickly.
4.15 Junior Winner (JW)
This title is only available at International Shows. In order to obtain the title, the cat must win “Best in Show“ in classes 11 + 12 a minimum of 5 times.
4.16 Distinguished Variety Merit (DVM)
This title is only available at National and International Shows to cats in classes 1-12, including neuters, youngsters and kittens. To obtain the title, the cat must win ‶Best in Variety※ a minimum of 10 times. The shortest qualifying period possible is two years and one day between the first ‶Best in Variety※ and the tenth. This is to prevent a cat becoming a DVM too quickly.※
