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The Supreme Cat Show is organised every year by the world's oldest cat registry, the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy, and used to take place each October at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), in Birmingham, England. [1] However, in 2022 it moved to the NAEC. [2] Special awards of UK Champion and Supreme Champion can be gained at this show only. A contestant cat wins each show's "Best in Show" award.
The first Supreme Cat Show took place in 1976. [3] Until then the GCCF itself did not organise cat shows, but licensed shows put on by the breed clubs and area clubs affiliated to it. The Supreme Cat Show was devised as a special show, only open to cats which had won an open class at another championship show under GCCF rules, much in the same way that Crufts is only open to winning dogs. The show grew in size each year until it became big enough to be held at the NEC, which has been its home ever since.
Unlike most other shows, the GCCF's Supreme Show has no miscellaneous or club classes; it does, however, have classes other shows do not have.[ citation needed ] There are four Adult Open classes for each championship status breed: Champion Male and Female classes for full Champions, the winners being eligible for Grand Challenge Certificates and Pre-Champion Male and Female classes for cats with one or two Certificates, competing for Challenge Certificates. The same applies to the neuter classes which are split into Premier and Pre-Premier classes for males and females.
Cats which are already Grand Champions do not compete in these classes but in special classes for Grand Champions, Imperial Grand Champions, UK Grand Champions and UK & Imperial Grand Champions only, the winner being eligible for a UK Grand Challenge Certificate. Grand Premiers, Imperial Grand Premiers, UK Grand Premiers and UK & Imperial Grand Premiers compete for a UK Grand Premier Certificate. In these classes several breeds may compete together. UK Grand Certificates are only awarded at the Supreme Show; two such Certificates from different judges give the cat the title of UK Grand Champion/Premier or UK & Imperial Grand Champion/Premier if it has additionally gained that title. There is no Reserve UK Grand Challenge/Premier Certificate.
Best of Breed winners at the Supreme Show do not get certificates but compete against the other BOB winners in their section for Best of Variety.
The seven Best of Variety Adults (Persian, Semi-Longhair, British, Foreign, Burmese, Oriental and Siamese) compete for Supreme Adult, the seven kittens for Supreme Kitten and the seven neuters for Supreme Neuter. The Supreme Adult and the Neuter can add the coveted word 'Supreme' to their title.
Finally, the Supreme Adult, Supreme Kitten and Supreme Neuter compete against each other for the honour of being judged Supreme Exhibit.
Non-pedigree cats (cats of traditional “moggie” appearance) and pedigree pet cats (cats looking like pedigrees with known, unknown, full or half pedigree background) are also permitted to enter the Supreme Cat Show. [4] They can also compete for the same levels of title as the pedigree cats but these are for "Master Cat" titles as opposed to "Champion" and "Premier" ones. They then go on to compete to win the title of Supreme Non-Pedigree or Supreme Pedigree Pet Cat. Classes are also included for kittens, with both non-pedigree and pedigree pet kittens competing for the title of Supreme Household Pet Kitten.
Prior to 1992, there was no individual overall Best in Show Supreme Exhibit. The show was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
| Year | Breed | Pedigree Name | Owner | Breeder | Section |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Abyssinian | Abydreames Dathuil | Michael & Lillian Eames | Michael & Lillian Eames | Section 4 (Foreign) |
| 2023 | Abyssinian | Abydreames Clara Bow | Nathan Gilbert | Michael & Lillian Eames | Section 4 (Foreign) |
| 2022 | RagaMuffin | Supreme UK Olympian Gold Imperial Grand Premier Cheham Chantilly Lace | Ellen Camilleri | Chris Powell & Alan Wells | Section 2 (Semi-longhair) |
| 2019 | Russian Blue | Olympian Silver, Imperial Grand Champion Melkelter Galiya Gertruda | Mr & Mrs P Phillips | Mr & Mrs P Phillips | Section 4 (Foreign) |
| 2018 | Red Silver Tabby & White Persian | UK Olympian Gold, Imperial Grand Champion & Grand Premier Riascatz Dandy Lion | Jade Gore | Marie Hill | Section 1 (Persian) |
| 2017 | Brown Tabby & White Persian | Imperial Grand Champion & Olympian Silver, Imperial Grand Premier Cullykhan Vivaldi | Carol Tonks | Angela Millican | Persian |
| 2016 | Blue Point Birman | Tweediemill Islay Mist | Mrs J Sharp | Mrs J Sharp | Semi-Longhair |
| 2015 | British Blue | Supreme UK Imperial Grand Premier Kolinga Emrys | Ms S Cresswell | Mr A & Mrs C Brown | British |
| 2014 | Lilac Tortie British Shorthair | Supreme Grand Premier Pinemarten Tina Sparkle | Mrs P Hopgood | Mr & Mrs Parry | British |
| 2013 | White Persian male | Supreme UK Olympian Bronze Imperial Grand Champion Gemkin Starwind | Mrs J L Nicholas | Mrs J L Nicholas | Persian |
| 2012 | White Persian male | Supreme UK Olympian Bronze Imperial Grand Champion Gemkin Starwind | Mrs J L Nicholas | Mrs J L Nicholas | Persian |
| 2011 | Black Smoke and White Cornish Rex | Champion Supreme UK & Imperial Grand Premier Crisan Camelott | Miss E M Hummerston | Mrs C A Thompson | Foreign |
| 2010 | Brown Classic Tabby Maine Coon | Supreme Champion Julescoon Dexter | Mr & Mrs Gregson | Mr & Mrs Gregson | Semi-Longhair |
| 2009 | Brown Burmese | Supreme UK Imperial Grand Champion Mainman Kisschase | Ms J Mooney & Miss S Reid | Ms J Mooney & Miss S Reid | Burmese |
| 2008 | Tortie Tabby Maine Coon | Supreme UK Imperial Grand Premier Dairymaine Sarnia Cherie | Miss S Rabey | Mrs J M Haynes | Semi-Longhair |
| 2007 | Cream Point Siamese | Supreme UK & Imperial Grand Premier Tianlex Full Monty | Dr J H Muir-Taylor | Mrs P Cook | Siamese |
| 2006 | Black Smoke Devon Rex | Supreme UK & Imperial Grand Champion Grizabella Ohbladi Ohblada | Mr & Mrs J A Boucher | Mrs I Challis | Foreign |
| 2005 | Red Tabby Maine Coon | Supreme UK & Imperial Grand Premier Dairymaine Chestaton | Mrs J M Haynes | Mrs J M Haynes | Semi-Longhair |
| 2004 | Orange-eyed White Persian | Grand Champion & Supreme UK Grand Premier Lindenlea Reachfor Thesky | Mrs J A Raffaelli | Miss G G Houston | Persian |
| 2003 | Red Tabby Manx male neuter | Grand Champion and Supreme Grand Premier Tattlebury Tudur | Mrs J Hellman | Mrs J Hellman | British |
| 2002 | Chinchilla female neuter | Supreme UK Grand Premier Yankidoodle Fairy Dust | Miss C E Wheeler | Mrs S L Signy | Persian |
| 2001 | Red Burmese male | Supreme UK Grand Champion Oakenshield Buster Bertie | Mrs N Bass | Mrs C E Kempe | Burmese |
| 2000 | Chocolate Tabby Colourpoint male | Grand Champion Amoramist Who's Gorgeous | Mrs M Holden-Ritchie | Mrs M Holden-Ritchie | Persian |
| 1999 | Chocolate Silver Shaded Oriental Shorthair male neuter | Grand Champion and Supreme Grand Premier Chelanca Lord Gyllene | Mrs C Wooler | Mrs B Fellows | Oriental |
| 1998 | Chocolate Burmese female | Grand Champion Hypnos Pearly Pandora | Ms S L Hope | Mrs S L Hope | Burmese |
| 1997 | Oriental Shorthair Red male | Champion and Grand Premier Meshuga Firestarter | Ms C J Hamilton & Mr D Cooke | Ms C J Hamilton & Mr D Cooke | Oriental |
| 1996 | Auburn Turkish Van male neuter | Supreme UK Grand Premier Akdamar Bazisey Mahsus | Mrs J Johnson | Mrs J Johnson | Semi-Longhair |
| 1995 | Auburn Turkish Van male neuter | Supreme UK Grand Premier Akdamar Bazisey Mahsus | Mrs J Johnson | Mrs J Johnson | Semi-Longhair |
| 1994 | Havana male | Supreme Grand Champion and Grand Premier Rimana Sangria | Mrs C Wooller | Mr M J & Mrs M Ward | Oriental |
| 1993 | Blue Persian male neuter | Champion and Supreme Grand Premier Firanti Blue Fiori | Miss A Bowman | Mrs D Cooke | Persian |
| 1992 | Auburn Turkish Van male | Premier Akdamar Toru | Mrs L M Keeler | Mrs J Johnson | Semi-Longhair |
Numerous activities take place alongside the competition judging.[ citation needed ] There are children's activities, such as judging of soft toys, and a large range of stalls selling cat related items, such as cat food, toys, accessories, collectables, books, magazines etc. Various other cat organisations, such as the Feline Advisory Bureau and Cats Protection regularly have information stalls. There is also a large section of the show hall given over to Club Row, where various cat clubs affiliated to the GCCF have stalls where visitors to the show can come and meet the different breeds of cat and obtain information.
The British Shorthair is the pedigreed version of the traditional British domestic cat, with a distinctively stocky body, thick coat, and broad face. The most familiar colour variant is the "British Blue", with a solid grey-blue coat, pineapple eyes, and a medium-sized tail. The breed has also been developed in a wide range of other colours and patterns, including tabby and colourpoint.
The Turkish Van is a semi-long-haired, standardised breed of domestic cat, which was developed in the United Kingdom from a selection of cats obtained from various cities of modern Turkey, especially southeast Turkey. The breed is rare, is one of the larger breeds, and is distinguished by the Van pattern, where the colour is restricted to the head and the tail, and the rest of the cat is white; this is due to the expression of the piebald white spotting gene, a type of partial leucism. A Turkish Van may have blue or amber eyes, or be odd-eyed.
The Cymric is a Canadian cat breed. Some cat registries consider the Cymric a semi-long-haired variety of the Manx breed, rather than a separate breed. Except for the length of fur, in all other respects, the two varieties are the same, and kittens of either sort may appear in the same litter. The name comes from Cymru, the indigenous Welsh name of Wales, even though the breed is not associated with Wales. The name may have been chosen to provide a "Celtic" sounding moniker for the breed. While the breed's Manx bloodline originated from the Isle of Man, the long-haired variant is claimed to have been developed by Canada. The breed is called the Longhair Manx or a similar name by some registries.
The Burmese cat is a breed of domestic cat, originating in Burma, believed to have its roots near the Thai-Burma border and developed in the United States and Britain.
The Korat cat is a silver-tipped blue-grey, short-haired breed of domestic cat with a small to medium build and a low percentage of body fat. Its body is semi-cobby, and unusually heavy for its size. It is an intelligent and playful active cat that forms strong bonds with people and is very vocal, with a sound different from other breeds. Among the Korat's distinguishing characteristics are its heart-shaped head, its large green eyes. Its front paws are shorter than the back paws.
The Egyptian Mau is a small to medium-sized, short to medium-haired cat breed. They are one of the few naturally spotted breeds of domesticated cat. The spots of the Mau occur on only the tips of the hairs of its coat. It is considered a rare breed.
The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) was established in the United States in 1906. The CFA is currently the world's largest registry of pedigreed cats. Originally headquartered in Manasquan, New Jersey, the CFA moved to Alliance, Ohio in 2010. The association's stated mission is preserving and promoting pedigreed breeds of cats while also enhancing the well-being of all cats. CFA's first licensed cat shows were held in Buffalo, New York and Detroit, Michigan in 1906. The association today has a known presence in Europe, China, and Japan along with its well-established activity in the United States and Canada.
The Bombay cat is a short-haired breed of domestic cat. Bombays are glossy solid black cats with a muscular build, and have characteristic large bright copper-golden eyes. The breed is named after the Indian city of Bombay (Mumbai), referring to the habitat of the Indian black leopard.
The Oriental Shorthair is a breed of domestic cat that is developed from and closely related to the Siamese cat. It maintains the modern Siamese head and body type but appears in a wide range of coat colors and patterns. Like the Siamese, Orientals have almond-shaped eyes, a triangular head shape, large ears, and an elongated, slender, and muscular body. Their personalities are also very similar. Orientals are social, intelligent, and many are rather vocal. They often remain playful into adulthood, with many enjoying playing fetch. Despite their slender appearance, they are athletic and can leap into high places. They prefer to live in pairs or groups and also seek human interaction. Unlike the breed's blue-eyed forebear, Orientals are usually green-eyed. The Oriental Longhair differs only with respect to coat length.
The Siberian is a centuries-old landrace of domestic cat in Russia, and recently developed as a formal breed with standards promulgated the world over since the late-1980s. Since 2006, the breed is recognised for registry and championship status with all major cat registries.
Crufts is an international dog show held annually in the United Kingdom, held since 1891, and organised by The Kennel Club. It is the largest show of its kind in the world.
The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) is a cat registry, established in 1910 and the largest organisation that registers pedigree cats in the United Kingdom. It was formed from a small number of cat clubs which were registering cats at the time when the modern cat fancy was in its first stages. It is considered to be the original prototype for cat fancy registries. It is an independent body with around 150 member clubs, including specialist breed clubs and area clubs covering particular regions. The GCCF became an incorporated company on 5 November 2010. It licenses cat shows put on by its affiliated clubs with about 135 shows per year. Pedigree cats shown at these shows can gain the titles Champion, Grand Champion, Imperial Grand Champion and Olympian. The latter having three levels, Bronze, Silver and Gold. The word Champion is replaced by Premier for neutered cats, and Master Cat for cats competing in household pets. The showing of non-pedigree cats and Pedigree Pets is also popular at GCCF shows.
A cat show is a judged event where the owners of cats compete to win titles in various cat registering organizations by entering their cats to be judged after a breed standard. Both pedigreed and companion cats are admissible, although the rules differ from organization to organization. Cats are compared to a breed standard, and the owners of those judged to be closest to it are awarded a prize. Moggys are judged based on their temperament. Often, at the end of the year, all of the points accrued at various shows are added up and more national and regional titles are awarded.
The International Cat Association (TICA) is considered the world's largest genetic cat registry. Originally a North American organization, it now has a worldwide presence. The organization has a genetic registry for pedigreed and household pet cats and is one of the world's largest sanctioning bodies for cat shows.
The LaPerm is a breed of cat. A LaPerm's fur is curly, with the tightest curls being on the throat and on the base of the ears. LaPerms come in many colors and patterns. LaPerms generally have a very affectionate personality.
A cat registry or cat breed registry, also known as a cat fancier organization, cattery federation, or cat breeders' association, is an organization that registers domestic cats of many breeds, for exhibition and for breeding lineage tracking purposes. A cat registry stores the pedigrees (genealogies) of cats, cattery names, and other details of cats; studbooks, breed descriptions, and the formal breed standards ; lists of judges qualified to judge at shows run by or affiliated with that registry, and sometimes other information. A cat registry is not the same as a breed club or breed society. Cat registries each have their own rules and usually also organize or license (sanction) cat shows. The show procedures vary widely, and awards won in one registry are not normally recognized by another. Some registries only serve breeders, while others are oriented toward pet owners and provide individual as well as cattery memberships, while yet others are federations only deal with breed clubs or even other registries as intermediaries between the organization and breeders.
The Asian or Asian group, is a cat breed similar to the European Burmese but in a range of different coat colours and patterns. Long-haired Asians of all varieties are called Tiffanies. Asians are grouped in section 5 (Burmese) by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF).
The American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) is an American non-profit organization formed with the intent of allowing greater flexibility in the development of pedigreed cats. The ACFA is a cat registry for purebred, pedigreed cats, experimental breeds of cats, and household pet cats.
The Canadian Cat Association is a non-profit organization in Canada whose mission is to promote the welfare of all cats in Canada, maintain a registry of pedigreed cats in Canada, and further the improvement of all breeds of cats in Canada. CCA-AFC is Canada's only globally-recognized national cat registry, with its pedigrees and registrations accepted by major global associations such as the Cat Fanciers' Association, The International Cat Association, and Fédération Internationale Féline. To date, CCA-AFC has registered over 190,000 cats.
The World Cat Federation (WCF) is an international association of cat clubs. It was founded in 1988 in the city of Rio de Janeiro, and continues to have a strong presence in Latin America, Western Europe, and in countries of the former USSR. It is currently based in Germany. There are 370 organizations worldwide associated to the WCF. The current president is Anneliese Hackmann from Essen.