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Show Catalog
By Karen Lawrence
The show catalog is an important necessity for any show. Each exhibitor will use a catalog to keep track of their wins and final awards. Per the Show Rules, a catalog may not be smaller than 5-1/2" x 8-1/2". Most are printed on regular 8-1/2" x 11" paper.
WHAT HAS TO BE ON THE CATALOG COVER?
The catalog cover can be very simple or very intricate, depending upon the talent of the person designing it. Whatever design is used, the CFA logo must either be a part of it or appear somewhere on the cover. An alternative is to include a statement that the show is a CFA licensed show, or simply include "The Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc." somewhere on the page. A simple cover can be just the club name, show location and date, plus the CFA logo.
When printing catalogs it is not necessary to use cover stock for the catalog cover as this will increase your price drastically. Just plain white paper, with an attractive design, can be used. If you want to "jazz it up" a bit, use brightly colored paper than will complement your design.
WHAT MUST BE ON THE OPENING PAGE?
The following must be on the opening page of your show catalog:
- the full name of the club or clubs (including all specialty clubs) sponsoring the show;
- the names of all officiating judges;
- the names of the show committee, indicating their positions as officials of the show;
- a notice that all Championship and Premiership entries and all registered Kittens (whose registration numbers are printed or written in ink in the catalog) will be scored for CFA National awards and Regional awards; and
- emergency telephone numbers (ambulance service, police and fire).
While not a requirement in the Show Rules, it is also wise to include a phone number for the local emergency veterinary clinic.
IN WHICH ORDER DO ENTRIES GO IN THE CATALOG?
Per Show Rule 20.13, the following is the order for the catalog pages containing entry information:
- Non-Championship:
- Kittens, AOV kittens following entries for the particular breed.
- Provisional Breeds separated by breed and by kitten, adults and alters.
- Miscellaneous Breeds (non-competitive) separated by breed.
- Championship:
- Longhair Championship. AOV entries should appear at the end of the Championship entries for the particular breed.
- Shorthair Championsip. AOV entries should appear at the end of the Championship entries for the particular breed.
- Premiership:
- Longhair Premiership. AOV entries should appear at the end of the Premiership entries for the particular breed.
- Shorthair Premiership. AOV entries should appear at the end of the Premiership entries for the particular breed.
- Non-championship:
- Veteran Class. At the end of the Veterans Class, the show secretary shall type a form for Best through Fifth Best Cat and, if applicable, Sixth through Tenth Best Cat.
- Non-championship:
- Household Pet Class. At the end of the Household Pet Class, the show secretary shall type a form for Best through Fifth Best Cat and, if applicable, Sixth through Tenth Best Cat.
- Additional Entries:
- Exhibition only. (Exhibition only cats and kittens should be numbered in the catalog.)
- For Sale only.
The entry clerk program used by your entry clerk should automatically sort and print these pages in the correct order.
WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER FORMS?
Other forms that must be included in a show catalog are:
- Championship/Premiership Claim Form (PDF)
- Absentee & Transfer sheets - numbered 1-250 and 251-500 (PDF)
- Unofficial count page (PDF)
- Breed summary sheets (PDF)
- ALTERNATIVE - Breed Summary sheets - 6 rings, landscape (Excel)
- Final sheets - Kitten, Championship, Premiership (PDF)
- ALTERNATIVE - Enhanced final forms - includes points rows/columns (Excel)
MUST WE INCLUDE AN EXHIBITOR LISTING?
Not necessarily. The choice is entirely up to the club. Because of the onslaught of recent legislative activity, clubs are choosing not to include a full exhibitor listing that would normally include an exhibitor name, address and entry numbers. Instead, the club includes a "compact" exhibitor listing that would be only exhibitor name, region number and entry numbers. If a "compact" list is used in the show catalog, a separate complete list of exhibitors' names and addresses with entry numbers MUST be forwarded to the Central Office with the show package. The entry clerk software should give you the option to print both a compact and complete exhibitor list.
DOES THE CFA AND WINN ADVERTISING HAVE TO BE INCLUDED?
In the package of show supplies sent to the show secretary, there will be glossy advertising sheets for CFA, the Winn Feline Foundation and the CFA Legislative Committee.
The CFA advertising welcomes and introduces newcomers to the activities of CFA, complete with office contact information and is an important item to include in the show catalog.
The Winn Feline Foundation is only able to fund studies that benefit all cats through receipt of donations. As much advertising for this foundation as possible should be included in a show catalog.
It is important to the CFA Legislative Committee that breeders and exhibitors are aware of what is going on in the legislative arena of their individual city/state/province/country. Including their advertising is a reinforcement of that awareness, and a reminder to report any legislative activity to the CFA Legislative Committee.
WHAT'S THE BEST PLACE FOR THE JUDGING SCHEDULE?
The judging schedule is referred to constantly by exhibitors throughout the day and is normally a much-used focal point of a show catalog. Make it easily accessible by having it on the back cover of the catalog. A separate Saturday and Sunday schedule, printed on both sides of the back cover, is an option.
If a judging schedule is not printed in the show catalog, copies must be provided for exhibitors.
WHAT CAN WE USE FOR "FILLER"?
Often, when printing of the entry information for a catalog is complete, there will be several pages that have a lot of "white" space on them. The advertising glossies for CFA, Winn and the Legislative Committee can be used in these spaces.
In addition, exhibitors always appreciate a little "something" in a show catalog that may help to pass the time when their cat is not being judged, and a club may choose to insert items to keep them amused. Suggestions for items of interest include:
- Crossword puzzle (FREE Crossword Puzzle Generator can be downloaded from http://www.greeneclipsesoftware.com/eclipsecrossword/)
- Match game
- Find the word game
- Breed questions
- Quotes related to cats
- Cat Illustrations
- Cartoons (watch copyright!)
HOW MANY CATALOGS SHOULD BE PRINTED?
Printing of catalogs can be very pricey, so the number printed is best kept to a bare minimum. The club will need to print the following catalogs:
- One catalog for each exhibitor entered
- Two catalogs for each ring clerk (one for clerk, one for judge)
- Three catalogs for the Master Clerk (one for CFA, one for club, one for Master Clerk)
- One catalog for each paid advertiser
- A quantity to sell at the gate, if you wish.
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