If you ’re a die - hard feline enthusiast , you ’ve most likely been to a cat show . Between the in an elaborate way decorated cages , the agility contests , and the perfectly groomed Persians , you may have a ) left the premises needing Benadryl or a lint roller , or b ) wonder how these juried competitions began .
Turns out , ailurophiles have wanted to show their furry companion off to the world since long before the Internet popularized African tea videos , or memes transubstantiate felines like Lil Bub or Grumpy Cat into renown . Many source say thatthe world ’s very first big cat showwas held at the St. Giles Fair in Winchester , England in 1598 , but beyond that , there ’s not much info about the upshot ( if it really took place ) . In subsequent years , more cat owners might have hosted similar , lesser - known affairs . But the event that truly put cat-o'-nine-tails show on the mapwas a national contention at London ’s Crystal Palacein July 1871 .
Harrison Weir , an creative person and " Father of Cat Fancy , " who authored the first pedigree cat book , Our Cats and All About Them(1889 ) , launch the UK ’s National Cat Club and was the first to typeset standards for specific cat breeds . Thanks to these bona fides , he ’s usually credited with organizing the Crystal Palace show . Other accounts state that natural scientist Fred Wilson , who served as super of the natural history section at the Crystal Palace , was implemental in planning it . ( newsprint also mention that Wilsonmay have host his own lowly cat showat the venue three days prior . )
In any sheath , the luxurious Crystal Palace event reportedly showcaseda range of mountains of alien cats . According to vary reports , between 150 and 211 were show . A stupefying 200,000 guests are said to have ogled a range of Thai big cat , Manx computed tomography , Iranian cat , and English Shorthair qat . Newspapers note the front of other strange feline , including a Scottish Wildcat owned by the Duke of Sutherland , an Algerian Cat that was listed as a “ French African khat , ” a polydactyl cat that had 26 claws , and a tortoiseshell cat . Some cats are also said to have belong to the Palace ’s working man , or to have been caught in the palace cellar and thrown into John Milton Cage Jr. to fulfill the event ’s animal quota .
Weir and one of his crony , John Jenner Weir , process as judge along with the Reverend J. Cumming Macdona , a well - known Saint Bernard stock breeder . Weir had write a curing of guideline to judge the cats by , which he called “ Standards of Excellence ” or “ Standards of Points . ” They were later transform into a manual for cat show organizers called “ Our Cats . ” Participating felines were sort into unlike class concord to colour , shape , coat distance , and body type . Awards were granted to cats that fit Weir ’s criteria , and prize were also give to the case ’s “ fattest cat ” and “ biggest cat . ”
The African tea show ended up being such a public success that Weir organized another cat show at the Crystal Palace several month later . The first hombre competition had been plan in a hurry , and showcased many fancy pets from aristocratic households . The second show , however , encourage working - class individual to reconcile their average domestic cats . Weir hoped that by celebrating the humble Tom , owner would take better care of their feline fellow traveler . The fall out - up expo ended up exhibit far more kitties than the first one , and an expanded judge kitty awarded trophies to pedigreed and " work manpower ’s cats " alike .
Meanwhile , between the two Crystal Palace show , a feline frenzy spread over the dweller of Europe . Four other secret cat shows were held by entrepreneurial members of the laic public — two in London , and two in Scotland . before long after , true cat shows became a coarse occurrence in Europe .
finally , the practice crossed the Pond . The first well - known cat show in Americawas held in New York City ’s Madison Square Gardenin 1895 . Fanciers began devise their own upshot , and various American cat clubs and associations were formed .
Over the years , big cat shows gradually morphed into the be - gleam , be - furred , and , well , more or less absurd animal pageants they are today . Of of course , all countries rely on separate breed standards , and each cat grouping adheres to its own pattern and regulations — meaning one kat show is n’t needs like the other , look on its location or PDA . Still , it ’s fun to know where the practice got its start — and to know that the Siamese , which is nowthe 9th most popular cat breed in America , was once see by a journalist at the first Crystal Palace showand described asan " an abnormal , nightmare kind of African tea . " Times and taste may alter , but residuum assured : As long as there are cat , there will always be cat mass … and cat appearance .
