22 September 2008

Over our heads?

So last week, the registrar for the upcoming cat show called. I sort of expected it.

Cat Lady: Hello, this is “Mildred” from the cat show. We have a few questions about your registration. What is your cat’s name?

Me: It’s Lily. I’m sorry, I didn’t see a spot to write her name. (Actually, I was GLAD I didn't have to write her name. If anybody happened to recognize it, she'd surely be rejected!)

Cat Lady: Well, you’re supposed to list her name with her ACFA number.

Me: Ummm....she doesn’t have an ACFA number.

Cat Lady: That’s fine for this show. If you enter another show, you’ll need to register her with the American Cat Fanciers Association. Also, about her color....

Me: Yes?

Cat Lady: There is no such thing as a gray tabby.

Me: Excuse me?

Cat Lady: It doesn't exist. Gray coats are referred to as blue.

Me: Oh. Well, she’s blue with a little bit of tan and white, then. And some stripes.

Cat Lady: I see. (Lengthy pause...) Well, the judges will have to take a look at her and determine exactly what she is.

Me: Oh, good. (Pause, gulp...) You know, I hope we haven’t gotten ourselves in over our heads with this show.

Cat Lady: Oh, we have many household pets entered. It’s our largest category. What is your concern?

Me: Well, I’m a little worried about her behavior. (I tried to suppress my vivid mental image of Lily lunging at the State Fair Judge #3)

Cat Lady: Oh, I have had problems from time to time with some of my purebred Burmese males. At breeding time, they don’t like to be handled.

Me: We will do our best but I just do not know how she will perform. (This was a bold-faced lie! I am pretty darn sure of how she'll perform, and it's likely to be BAD!)

Cat Lady: (Pause, shuffling of papers...) Ma'am, since this is your first show, I’m going to give you a double-wide cage. Normally that would cost extra, but I’m going to give it to you free. And I'm putting Lily at the end of the row.

Me: Thank you. That’s very kind. We'll see you at the show.

Lily, what have we gotten ourselves into?

10 comments:

toners said...

Looking forward to hearing more about this one...I love reading about Lily's antics! :)

Fonda said...

Maybe they'll start a new category after they see you're cage decorations!!! Double Wide-Lily's moving up!!! :)

Heather said...

I'm with Toni...can't wait to hear how this turns out. LOL

Anonymous said...

Got her a double-wide, did she? Ya'll know that is big time down here in Tennessee! : )

Sarah Coggins said...

LOL This show is going to provide LOTS of great blog posts. :D

Anonymous said...

LOL this is just too good. A double-wide cat cage at the end of the row. This is going to be good fun. When is the cat show??

Cheri said...

Methinks you are doing this cat show just to amuse your faithful readers here;) I chuckle each time I think about this conversation:)

Blue...what the heck kind of color-blind (or inebriated) person came up with that anyway, lol? Blue is a color for dogs, too, technically. Ever hear of a blue-tick hound? Not sure I'd recognize one, but I've heard of it.

Jill said...

Go Lily!!!!!! My parents have Burmese & they are not anywhere near as psycho as Sugar. It's nice she got the big cage!

Linda said...

Interesting about her color being blue. And how nice that you got a free upgrade for her cage. I'm looking forward to hearing more about Lily's adventures

Kristina said...

LOL! This should be good....