Conference misery::feline_v1

    Give him a good bath, and if his coat is a bit dry, use a conditioner
    on him.  Then, towel dry him lightly, the blow him dry while combing
    his fur *in the wrong direction*.  This will fluff up the coat and make
    it look fuller.  Comb the ruff upwards towards the head, fluff the tail
    hairs out by using the flat side of the comb (with no teeth) and
    running it from the tip of the tail towards the body.
    
    I use baby cornstarch at the show on my hands prior to touching the
    cat.  The cornstarch will absorb any oils that might be on my hands
    before I transfer them to my cat's coat.  Before each ring, check his
    eyes for "stuff" in the corners, check his bottom to be sure it is
    clean, fluff up the ruff and tail, and take him to the ring.
    
    You can also get shampoos that are designed to enhance the color of
    your cat.  I use a shampoo on Tilly (cream tabby with white) that
    enhances her red tones.  It is made by Tomlyn I think.  Bought it at a
    cat show.  It has a conditioner in it.
    
    Red and white cats are very flashy when properly groomed.  Be certain
    that his white is sparkling white, even his feet (if they are white). 
    Beware of yellowing stains on his ruff, and his feet.  There are
    special shampoos available that will help remove yellow stains.  I also
    have a good method of removing really stubborn stains from white feet
    if you need it after you try the shampoos.
    
    Have a great time.  I showed household pets for years and found it very
    rewarding.  
    
    Jo

    Lynne -
      I have a shampoo designed for red and brown cats.  I'll give you
    some for the red part of his coat.  For the white part use blue
    dawn dishwashing liquid.  You'll have to add a conditioner to
    that part of his coat but the "red shampoo" has conditioner in it.
    
    Maybe we should try a test bath before the shampoo for the show.
    You should do that a minimum of a month before the show bath so
    we don't dry out his scalp or coat too much.
    
    I have SEVERAL different types of shampoos most with conditioners
    in them (tho I've only done SH's so I don't know if we need anything
    else).  So we can take our pick.  
    
    You also want to clean out his ears and trim his claws for the show.
    
    Nancy DC
    

    I use Tomlyn "Sho Sno" on my Birmans.  It is made for white cats.  It
    works well on removing yellow stains from feet and ruff.  Also has a
    conditioner in it.  Leaves the coat feeling great.
    
    Have you tried it Nancy?  I like it better than the House of Anju
    version of whitener shampoo.
    
    Jo

Jo, 

I'll have to try the "Sho Sno"  I'll have to look for it at the next 
show.

My Blue Point Himmy uses his front paws to wash his face and as a result 
gets yellow stains on the inside of his front paws.  I have tried "Dawn" 
and a tooth brush and scrubbing it works but not as great as I would 
like.  Someone told me that if you make a paste of boric acid and water 
and put that on the staining that works well.  I'll have to try it..
I have been using this new grooming powder called "Diamond Dust" for 
covering the yellow areas around eyes and on his paws.  I really like it 
even better than the eye and wound powder.  They have it at the shows it 
is rather expensive @$10.00 for a 6" jar, but you use very little and a 
whole show season hasn't even put a dent in the jar.  

I was talking to Penny ____? owner of "Summer Delight", CFA cat of the 
year last year, at the Boxboro show a few months ago she was showing 
a white Persian absolutely beautiful no staining what-so-ever I had 
asked her what she uses.  She told me that she puts "Genisin"(sp) drops 
in every day for @ two weeks prior to showing.  What is Genisin and how 
does it work.  I know you can buy it with out perscription at the shows 
but I was wondering how safe it is using it on a daily basis-- Please advise.

Valerie

    Valerie, you mean Gentocin.  I'm not sure exactly what they are for but
    think they're pretty harmless.  Definitely an eye drop of sorts and
    fairly mild.
    
    Sno Sho is good stuff; I used it on Murdock when I was showing him. 
    

Gentocin Durafilm drops...ah, yes!  In my house, they're called Chauncey Drops!
These drops are available from your vet, but careful...they are steroids and
should be used only for a good reason and only on occasion.  Chauncey gets
them whenever he gets drippy eyes and it does clear it up very well, but
Dr. Bachrach at Veterinary Ophthamology of NE told me not to use them regularly
as he will build up a tolerance to them and if we ever need to use them, they
may not work as needed.  You might check into a product called AK-TATE, which
Dr. B. gave Chauncey...it can be used with more regularity.

Mary

    Mary,
    
    There are two types of drops -- Gentocin and Gentocin Durafilm.  The
    regular Gentocin does not contain a steroid (I'm pretty sure of this)
    but I agree that any type of drops or medication should only be used
    when necessary, not on a regular basis.
    

    Valerie, Penny Nordman is her name, and isn't she a nice lady?  I met
    her out here when she was showing Summer Delight and I was showing
    Kalliste.
    
    About the Gentocin, it is an opthalmic antibiotic and comes in two
    forms, the regular Gentocin, and then Durafilm, which contains a
    steroid.  You can buy it from some show vendors, but it is a
    prescription medication.
    
    Problem with using it on a daily basis is that your cat may become
    immune to it's affects, and then if it was ever prescribed for an
    illness, it wouldn't be effective for your cat.  
    
    I am pretty sure that Penny was suggesting using the regular Gentocin
    and not the Durafilm.
    
    I use an eyedrop on my cats sometimes when their eyes are being
    sensitive at the show (sometimes they are irritated by the litter, or
    someone smoking, etc).  I will have to look up the name, but it is one
    of those Natural Tears products that my vet recommended.  It will
    soothe the eye and remove redness, but without that visine chemical
    (tetrahydrazoline).
    
    Jo
    

    I agree with Jo.  I would NEVER advocate using antibiotics for 
    anything than what they are intended.  Bacteria become immune
    to specific antibiotics pretty quickly.  You don't want to 
    decrease your arsenal against disease.
      Nancy
    

    This looks like as good a place as any for this....
    
    Does anyone know where I can purchase "shimmer-lights" shampoo.
    I believe it is a human shampoo and its supposed to be especially
    good on silver cats.  I'd like something to really brighten
    Shadow up.  
    
    Thanks
    

    	Nancy, I got some from Birite Beauty Supply in Nashua, N.H. Most
    beauty supply places carry it. But be very careful when you use this
    stuff. It can stain the fur. I use it for the very last rinse, and I
    only use about the size of a dime on my hand. I rub the hands together
    to make a light foam and then rub it on the surface of the coat, then
    rinse like hell. I know this from experience. The first time I used
    this stuff, Kai ended up a light shade of purple. I kinda of like it
    but Diane.......well that's another story.
    
    Mike

    Thanks for the warning.  Now, either I have to find someone who lives
    in Nashua and works in MRO or I have to find someplace closer to home.
      Nancy
    

    
    I'm sorry Mike, but I had to chuckle at your note.  All I could picture
    was Kai on the judges table in a lovely shade of lavender!!! 
    
    :')
    
    

    Hm... a lavender exotic!  Sounds wonderful.
      N
    

    Nancy,
    
    There is another product out there that youshould be able to get in
    your area.  It is called `Quic Silver', and any tack or grain shop
    should have it.  It is similar to the human version, except it is 
    a milder formula.  My horse had an allergic reaction to it, but I
    spoke with the company and they told me they hadn't had many comments
    like mine.  But they said is was the same thing, except milder.
    
    Michele 

    Well, i found both Shimmerlites and something called "So Silver"
    at a local place (weymouth).  I decided to buy both and see which
    I liked better.  Maybe I'll do Shadow with one and Quicksilver with
    the other and see if I can tell the difference.