Just Found Out My Nfc Kitten Has A Little Problem

RoundishWaterfall

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so the breeder called me today and told me there’s a little problem with one of the two brothers im picking up on saturday this week. He has a dew claw on one of his hind legs. Veterinary was the one who discovered it earlier today.

He’s otherwise completely healthy so I’m not so bothered, I was just wondering if he’ll be allowed to go on a show with a defect like that? We really just wanted to try it once or twice to see what its like. Other than this problem I think he aligns well with the breed standard.

Here he is at 11 weeks
66D05CA0-7986-4F16-8C74-DD9F26FB5A8D.jpeg
 

lutece

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Which association were you planning to show him in?
 

lutece

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In TICA, extra toes are an automatic disqualification for all cats unless the breed standard allows extra toes. In CFA, the NFC standard specifically states that extra toes are a disqualification. Practically speaking, I don't know whether judges check for extra toes on the back feet whenever they handle a cat... Is this something seen frequently in the NFC? In that case they might be more likely to check.
 
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RoundishWaterfall

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Which association were you planning to show him in?
I'm Swedish, here all cats are shown in FIFe.

In TICA, extra toes are an automatic disqualification for all cats unless the breed standard allows extra toes. In CFA, the NFC standard specifically states that extra toes are a disqualification. Practically speaking, I don't know whether judges check for extra toes on the back feet whenever they handle a cat... Is this something seen frequently in the NFC? In that case they might be more likely to check.
Does a dew claw count as an extra toe though? That's what I'm a bit confused about. The claw is not near his front toes but rather an inch up the inside of one leg. And its only on one leg. As I understand it, it's really rare with NFCs. Our breeder has been doing shows for 20 years but she has never seen a cat with it.
 

lutece

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Ok, in FIFe incorrect number of toes is also a disqualification for all breeds.
http://www1.fifeweb.org/dnld/std/GEN-FAULTS.pdf
I would assume that a dew claw would be counted as a toe. However you may want to contact your local FIFe member association and ask them your question, in Sweden I believe it is SVERAK. I would emphasize that you are not planning to use the cat for breeding but you simply want to try a couple of shows.
Web site: SVERAK
Contact email: [email protected]
 

StefanZ

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Yes, good advices. Also, in the neuter class they are often more lenient to small faults. So the problem will be most visible in the kitten class when he still is whole - and perhaps not admitted. - [In Sweden its common with later spayings compared with the USA.]

Next question is, what means disqulifaction in this context? Does they throw you out from the show hall, stopped already by the vet check in, in the entrance, or it does simply means, you are allowed to participate but you wont get any titles? - If you come first in your class, Ex 1, you wont get the certification you usually would get = "dragen cert".
I have seen it happen a couple of times, on sweet and decent but not breed typical cats, whom did won their class, either because they were alone in their class, or the others were even weaker... So they didnt got the certificate, and didnt went on further in the qualification rounds.

Ps. In practice, if there is anyone else decent with chance to get the Cert, the judge will often spare you the embarrasement of getting Dragen cert, and give you Ex 2... So the question never arises. They can do likewise with a visibly shy cat, whom is good enough to go further but probably wouldnt manage this... So was once with our boy. The judge had pity on his shyness, gave him Ex 2, and he could calm down the rest of the day in his cage. He didnt minded to be in the cage...

So, if your aim is just to get the experience, so the certificates (and hopefully Champion title with time when you got 3 cert) wont matter much. After all, its just one cat whom gets Ex 1 and gets the chance to get the Certificate... So if its a decently sized class, for most participants its just the honor and experience to show up and participate - alike in the Olympic games:" The most important is to participate, not necessary to win" - as count Courbetin said, no? :)
 
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RoundishWaterfall

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Oh, his ears are terrific!

If it's just the showing experience you want, maybe try Household Pet?
Absolutely, and I also own his brother. But I'd be sad if he
Yes, good advices. Also, in the neuter class they are often more lenient to small faults. So the problem will be most visible in the kitten class when he still is whole - and perhaps not admitted. - [In Sweden its common with later spayings compared with the USA.]

Next question is, what means disqulifaction in this context? Does they throw you out from the show hall, stopped already by the vet check in, in the entrance, or it does simply means, you are allowed to participate but you wont get any titles? - If you come first in your class, Ex 1, you wont get the certification you usually would get = "dragen cert".
I have seen it happen a couple of times, on sweet and decent but not breed typical cats, whom did won their class, either because they were alone in their class, or the others were even weaker... So they didnt got the certificate, and didnt went on further in the qualification rounds.

Ps. In practice, if there is anyone else decent with chance to get the Cert, the judge will often spare you the embarrasement of getting Dragen cert, and give you Ex 2... So the question never arises. They can do likewise with a visibly shy cat, whom is good enough to go further but probably wouldnt manage this... So was once with our boy. The judge had pity on his shyness, gave him Ex 2, and he could calm down the rest of the day in his cage. He didnt minded to be in the cage...

So, if your aim is just to get the experience, so the certificates (and hopefully Champion title with time when you got 3 cert) wont matter much. After all, its just one cat whom gets Ex 1 and gets the chance to get the Certificate... So if its a decently sized class, for most participants its just the honor and experience to show up and participate - alike in the Olympic games:" The most important is to participate, not necessary to win" - as count Courbetin said, no? :)
Ah.. so he would be allowed to compete with the other NFCs even though he has a ”sporre” on one rear leg... just that he probably wont win? Or am I misunderstanding?

His mom is a supreme champion dsm dvm and the dad is a JW. So I got disappointed when I heard about the ”sporre”/dewclaw. But I agree with my fiancee who proclaimed that it just makes him a little bit extra special We didn’t seek him out for anything other than companionship, but since the breeder first mentioned taking him to shows a few weeks ago, I guess I started to look forward to it.
 
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RoundishWaterfall

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This isnt my cat but its the best example I could find on Google for this type of dewclaw

3A2795BF-2575-48B8-B5A0-9BC9AA367AA0.png
 

lutece

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Ah.. so he would be allowed to compete with the other NFCs even though he has a ”sporre” on one rear leg... just that he probably wont win? Or am I misunderstanding?
He's not supposed to compete with a disqualifying fault, but you still might be able to get away with showing him if the judges either don't notice or are nice enough to let you show him anyway. I don't really know how it is in Sweden when your cat has a disqualifying fault, and StefanZ hasn't shown one with an extra toe... If you want to know the official answer, you can contact SVERAK, or you could just try taking him to the show to see what you can get away with... Are you planning to show his brother?
 

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Absolutely, and I also own his brother. But I'd be sad if he

Ah.. so he would be allowed to compete with the other NFCs even though he has a ”sporre” on one rear leg... just that he probably wont win? Or am I misunderstanding?
it.
I have now asked an experienced breeder and mentor in my breed, RB. Whom of course is used with FIFe shows.

Its almost as we said earlier, and the situation is somewhat flowing.

The hardcore of disquilification is, you wont compete at all. If the judge is friendly, he will write an opinion (which of course is by itself worth much, as this judge will be specialist on NFC, While in Pet Class he wouldnt be seen as an NFC, he would be seen as any friendly longhaired moggie). But no graduading in the Ex scale nor even any lower scale....

If the judge deems its just a minor fault, he will be allowed to compete and get a grade, but will NOT get the certification even if he happens to win Ex1. "draget cert"

If you are lucky, the judge wont notice anything, and he will be deemed as any other cat, including certificates and possibly titles.
This is NOT supposed to happen, but we all know it happens now and then.

This breeder mentioned, a cat whom got disqualified three times because of bad temper (typically "exploded" or scratched or bite the judge bloody) will be forbidden to even come into the hall.

This breeder was unsure if our faulty color or faulty dew disqualified too comes into this three time rule. After all, it doesnt happen very often. And these usually arent talking hight about it.

So, playing it safe, you start in the Pet class. But the judgement will be almost totally different than for a purebred NFC...
Also, Im not sure if once started in Pet Classes, you can later switch back to the purebred class...

Its also possible they will be more lenient in the Neuter class. I know for sure they tend to be with minor, not disqualifying faults.

So back again, as Lutece suggested: ask at FIFE and or your local cat club (you do belong to a cat club, yes? You cant start in a show if you arent). Most cat clubs are giving advices to inexperienced members. Some cat clubs have even an official whom is mentor to new members.

Next step, is just to try and hope for the best... With any luck you will at least get out the opinion - which is really what most participants are there for.
 
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