TASC: For Exhibitors: Showing Somalis in TICA

This article is meant to give a general description of showing Somalis in TICA (the International Cat Association). Basic registration rules are covered in order to help the exhibitor better understand some of the terminology in the show catalog and in the show hall. To learn more about TICA, its registration rules and the Somali breed standards, refer to the contact information at the end of the article.

  1. Breed groups, categories, divisions

    1. Breed Groups

      2. TICA classifies all recognized breeds into groups called "breed groups". Breed groups are groups of breeds that share a similar standard but differ slightly, such as by coat length. Somalis are members of the Aby/Somali breed group, and as such, Abys and Somalis may each use the other breed as an allowable outcross. In TICA, cats are registered by genotype and shown by phenotype. This means that Aby variants (known as shorthaired Somalis in some associations) are registered with a code indicating they are variants, but they compete with the Abys in the show ring.

    2. Categories and Divisions

      3. All colors accepted by TICA are divided into Categories and Divisions. The categories are Traditional, Sepia, Mink and Pointed, and the Divisions are Tortie, Tabby, Silver/Smoke, and Particolor. Many breeds cover more than one category or division and they are grouped this way in the show catalog. Somalis are in the Traditional category, and the Tabby division, except for silvers, which compete in the Silver/Smoke division.

      TICA accepts ruddy, sorrel (red), blue and fawn Somalis in Championship. Somalis in other colors may be shown in the NBC (New Breed or Color) class.

  2. Judging and show entry numbers

    1. Judging

      2. Somalis are judged as longhairs in TICA. This means they compete against Birmans, Maine Coons, Persians, Norwegian Forest Cats, Ragdolls, Siberians, etc.

    2. Show entry numbers

      3. Show entry numbers are organized by hair length, alphabetically by breed, and by competition class. Since Somalis are longhairs, their numbers will always be between 1 and 50 (kittens), 101 and 200 (cats in Championship), 301 and 350 (Alters) or in the 500s (NBCs).

  3. Scoring- at the show

    1. Judging

      2. All Somalis in each class are judged together, regardless of title or gender. They are judged first by color and then by division but not by breed, although since Somalis are only in one division, Best of Division is the same as Best of Breed. Judges award points and flat ribbons to the top five cats in each color and the top three in each division. Some judges will also give ribbons to the top three in each breed but these have no bearing on titles, only Regional/International awards.

        Color Division
      5th Best 5 points, white ribbon no award
      4th Best 10 points, green ribbon no award
      3rd Best 15 points, yellow ribbon 15 points, orange ribbon
      2nd Best 20 points, red ribbon 20 points, purple ribbon
      Best 25 points, blue ribbon 25 points, black ribbon
      Color and Division judging- point values and ribbon colors

    2. Finals

      3. After the color and division judging is completed, the judge presents between five and ten of his top cats in finals. The number of cats in the final depends on the number of cats competing in the ring. If there are less than 20 cats present, five cats final. If there are 25 or more, ten cats make the final. Between 20 and 25, each cat in the ring means another cat in the final; therefore with 21 cats competing, there would be six, with 22, seven, etc.

      As in the color and division judging, points are awarded in finals. The point values for 10th Best AB and 10th Best SP are 110 and 60 respectively and increase by 10 for each placement in the final, until Best AB, worth 200, and Best SP, worth 150.

    3. Titles

      4. Cats in the Championship and Alter classes use the points accumulated in the judging and finals to earn titles from Champion (CH) through Supreme Grand Champion (SGC). For alters, the titles are the same but with the word "Alter" after them; e.g., SGCA. Technically, a cat must earn and begin the process of claiming one title before moving on to the next level, but the only time this becomes important is when moving from Quadruple Grand Champion to SGC. The cat MUST be confirmed or have applied for confirmation as a QGC for the BEST CAT/ALTER final to count.

      Each title has a point requirement and a final requirement, and they are cumulative.

      Requirements for titles
      Title Point Requirements Final Requirements
      Champion 300 points from 4 different judges 1 final
      Grand Champion 1000 points 6 finals from 4 different judges- 3 must be top 5 SP or top 10 AB
      Double Grand Champion 2000 points 1 top 5 SP or top 10 AB final as a GC
      Triple Grand Champion 3000 points 1 top 5 SP or top 10 AB final as a DGC
      Quadruple Grand Champion 4000 points 1 top 5 SP or top 10 AB final as a TGC
      Supreme Grand Champion 6000 points 1 BEST CAT/BEST ALTER final as a QGC

    4. NBCs

      5. Even though NBCs are not eligible for titles since that class is more for evaluation and feedback than competition, they are ranked by color and division, and then presented in finals. The club may use the finals rankings to calculate the Best of the Best.

    5. Best of the Best

      6. Many TICA clubs present Best of the Best awards at the close of the show on Sunday. The calculations are done by the Master Clerk and are usually based on finals only, although since there is no set rule about Best of the Best, each club may use its own system. There are no points for Best of the Best; it is a chance for the highest scoring cats in each class to be honored.

  4. Scoring- Other Awards

    1. Regional/International Awards

      2. TICA awards the title "RW" (Regional Winner) to the top 20 cats, kittens and alters in each region, plus the top 20 LH and SH cats. The title IW (International Winner) is awarded to the top 20 cats, kittens and alters in all of TICA, and the top 20 LH and SH cats. Scoring for Regional and International awards is based on the top 50 rings (adults) or top 30 rings (kittens). The ring score is calculated by adding one point for each cat defeated to the points earned in a final. Example: A Somali finals Best AB in a class of 50 cats, so she earns 200 points for the Best AB final plus 49 points for having defeated 49 cats. This gives her 249 regional/international points for that ring.

      In rings where a cat does not final, one point is awarded for each cat defeated within the breed or division. Example: The above Somali does not final in her next ring but she places Best in division/breed in a class of three Somalis. She earns two regional/international points in that ring.

      Exception to the above rule:
      When there are less than 10 cats present and competing in a ring, the regional/international points are adjusted so that if all the cats finaled, the last cat in the final would earn last place points. If there were nine cats in a ring and all nine finals counted, the cat in 9th place would receive 60 points (SP) or 110 (AB) and the cat in first place gets less than the full value of the BEST final.

      Regional/International scoring- 10 cats or less (finals in shaded boxes do not count- they are for illustration only)
        SP FINAL
      10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
      CAT
      COUNT      		 10 60 71 82 93 104 115 126 137 148 159
      9   60 71 82 93 104 115 126 137 148
      8     60 71 82 93 104 115 126 137
      7       60 71 82 93 104 115 126
      6         60 71 82 93 104 115
      5           60 71 82 93 104
      4             60 71 82 93
      3               60 71 82
      2                 60 71
      1                   60
        AB FINAL
      10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
      CAT
      COUNT      		 10 110 121 132 143 154 165 176 187 198 209
      9   110 121 132 143 154 165 176 187 198
      8     110 121 132 143 154 165 176 187
      7       110 121 132 143 154 165 176
      6         110 121 132 143 154 165
      5           110 121 132 143 154
      4             110 121 132 143
      3               110 121 132
      2                 110 121
      1                   110

    2. Regional/International Breed & Color Awards

      3. TICA recognizes the top three Best of Breed in each class, both internationally and regionally. In addition, the top three Best of Color are recognized in Championship, both internationally and regionally.

    3. Outstanding Sire/Outstanding Dam

      4. Male cats who produce ten Grand Champion (or higher) offspring, and females who produce five Grand Champion (or higher) offspring, are awarded the title OS (Outstanding Sire) or OD (Outstanding Dam). Currently, there are no Somali Outstanding Sires or Dams.


For more information on TICA, visit their web site at www.tica.org or E-mail the Executive Office at ticaeo@xanadu2.net.

A couple of Somali-specific links:

This page was last updated on November 25, 2000.