Cat Clubs and Rescues - Synergisic Relationships for the Benefit of All Cats

The Cat Fanciers’ Association’s stated mission is to preserve and promote pedigreed cats while also enhancing the well-being of all cats.

- Ann Strople

 

That mission statement pretty much says it all. No doubt, CFA is focused on pedigreed cats and preserving and promoting them, but that’s just part of the story, and perhaps the only part the majority of the cat-loving general public knows. The other part, “enhancing the well-being of all cats” can seem far more nebulous. It’s much harder to define, and often difficult to take action to achieve.

One of the ways CFA and its member clubs have demonstrated this commitment to all cats is through the registration of household pets, offering awards for non-pedigreed cats, helping pet owners prepare their cats for shows, and explaining how shows work from an exhibitor perspective.

Another is through building alliances with rescue organizations. There are many ways this can work. A club can invite an organization to participate in shows by bringing cats and kittens for adoption or for exhibition as household pets. In such a case, the rescue organization should be encouraged to bring information about its mission, how they help cats and the kinds of assistance spectators and exhibitors can give them. If the rescue does not have cats to bring in, a club can still offer space where the group can promote their work and sell cat-related items to help cover cat care expenses. You can also see if the rescue workers would be interested in doing a paying show-related job (such as stewarding) to raise funds for the rescue.

But before delving into the hows and whys of building relationships between show-producing clubs and rescue organizations it’s probably a good idea to address the elephant in the room – and it’s a big one.