Guidelines for Judges of Burmese Cats

The following notes are intended to amplify the details contained in the Standard of Points and also the Judge appointment system and how you can help the BJCC.

It should be emphasised that extremes of any part of a Burmese is are not desirable. The cat as a whole should be taken into consideration before making a final assessment

Head and Ears

The SOP calls for the head viewed from the front, to form a short wedge, wide at the cheekbones and tapering to a blunt finish at the muzzle. It should be noted that short pointed wedges are not desirable.

The ears of a Burmese are very expressive and have an important effect on the overall head appearance. For this reason it is essential to assess the head shape when the cat is relaxed preferably whilst still in the pen. It should be noted that medium sized ears are desirable. Additionally it is suggested that the top of the head (i.e. the dome) be viewed from the front at eye level and the side in order to ensure that it is slightly round in appearance from all angles. This also applies when assessing the brow.

Some cats lack the required nose break (an essential feature of Burmese) and this coupled with the straighter forehead, results in an undesirable longer head shape. Very exaggerated stops are not desirable. There is also a tendency for chins to become shallow and receding.

The SOP states that a muzzle pinch is a fault but Judges should be aware that some cats puff out their whisker pads when tense, giving the appearance of a pinch. It should be emphasised that this is another case where it is necessary to view from more than one angle.

Now that the veterinary defects are part of the SOP it is essential that before awarding the certificate the bite should be examined to make sure it is level. If it is not level either the certificate must not be awarded or the cat who would have been placed second should be awarded the certificate assuming it is of high enough standard and has a level bite. If you have any doubt as to the correct method to use when checking the bite please consult the duty vet.

Eyes

Burmese should have 'large and lustrous' eyes. It is essential to assess eye shape at eye level and when the cat is relaxed, as so often Burmese have a look of round-eyed surprise when under stress conditions. This round-eyed look of surprise should not be confused with protruding or protuberant eyes. Burmese judges should be aware that they are unlikely to judge a Burmese with protruding or protuberant eyes as this Fault is a predisposition of American type Burmese which are not bred in the United Kingdom and Eire.

Oval eyes are a fault and when assessing a Burmese it should be ensured that the cat is not just relaxed but can actually open its eyes to give a true Burmese eye of correct size and shape as described in the SOP and illustrated herewith.

The eyes should not show a green ring in mature cats. A muddy eye colour in kittens usually indicates the promise of good colour to come.

Body Legs and Tail

Judges' comments on body, legs and tail are required.

There is a tendency towards fine-boned cats that depart from the description in the SOP 'Of medium length and size, feeling hard and muscular and heavier than its appearance indicates.' Females in particular appear to be on the small side and it should be noted that 7-10lbs for a female and 9-13lbs for a male are a good guideline depending on age and maturity. On the other hand, there seems to be an increase in overweight and obese Burmese on exhibition. The body description in the SOP should always be borne in mind.

Ideally neuters should retain their muscular appearance but are usually larger in size and heavier than entire cats.

The attention of Judges is drawn to the detailed description in the SOP of legs and particularly paws. There seems to be a prevalence of big round feet in some Burmese and this is not a characteristic. The paws should be neat and spoon-shaped.

Examination of exhibits for tail faults should be confined to a firm but gentle examination by running the fingers down the tail to identify any obvious or probably fixed deviation. Should any minor swellings or knobbly growths be encountered these would not class as a fixed deviation and therefore not come within the withholding instruction. Unless the circumstances should be very unusual, Judges (Probationer as well as Full Judges) should come to their own conclusion as to the structure of the tail and avoid consultation and extra handling by other persons.

A small bony excrescence at any part of the tail need not debar the cat from being placed but should be taken into consideration. Fused vertebrae at the extreme tip should not be regarded as a fault.

Coat

It should be noted that young kittens might have a slightly longer coat, which is not as close lying as in adults. This usually disappears in maturity.

Colour

The presence of white hairs can occur in all colours and Judges are reminded that is essential to examine under the arms, across the chest and between the hind legs in addition to shoulders and throat. Care is also necessary to detect white patches which may merge into the paler base colours and the cream of blue and lilac torties.

Kittens and adolescents may show faint barring or shadow marks.

Torties

Although the standard makes reference to the four tortie colours it makes no reference to their distribution or the amount of each colour that should appear on the cat. Comments may be made in order to paint a picture of the cat as patched or mingled coats are both acceptable. Barring is easily overlooked and care should be taken to hold the cat so those bars on the flanks can be discerned.

Faults

It is suggested that two or more Faults as listed in the SOP, dependent upon their severity, should preclude the award of a certificate.

Veterinary Defects

Clarification of these defects is listed in 'Guide to the Defects listed in the GCCF Standard of Points.'

Please ensure that you are familiar with the correct procedure for determining the presence of veterinary defects.

Show Reports

Please resist the temptation to state your opinion, in either written or verbal reports, of a cat's suitability for breeding. A purely factual Show Report will give an accurate picture of the Judge's perception of the cat at the time of judging. This should contain a positive and not a negative description of the cat concerned and the physical reason (where relevant) for the withholding of a Certificate or a First Prize.

Some cats are temperamentally unsuited to showing and, if their owners refuse to recognise this fact then, sadly, little can be done unless, or until, those cats are disqualified for biting. It should however always be borne in mind that circumstances on the day can affect an otherwise happy cat e.g. nervous or rough handling in the early part of the day; unfavourable conditions in the show Hall; aggression on the part of the cat penned next door etc. Please ensure therefore, that

• a) Your Steward is taught how to handle the cats correctly, and that
• b) Any remark you may make about temperament in your Show Report is appropriate.

As a Judge you should, wherever possible, make yourself available to meet Exhibitors to answer queries. However, at the end of a tiring Show Day, when you are 'put on the spot' by Exhibitors anxious to hear your comments, it is possible that you may find yourself asked questions that you cannot - or would rather not - answer. Since you are there to judge the cats as you see them that day, you are perfectly entitled to explain, quite courteously, that this is not part of your brief (and Exhibitors should respect this fact) and thus avoid the danger of making a statement which might be misrepresented afterwards.

Many Show Halls offer Exhibitors the facility to observe judging. Sometimes the social interaction between Judges and Stewards during the course of the morning is viewed with suspicion: viz. Is the conversation going on between Judge A (who is doing my Open Class) and Judge D (who is doing another Class) relevant to the morning's proceedings; merely social chit-chat; or a consultation on the merits or otherwise of the cats in my Open Class and on how the cats should be placed? This is an area, which might be given more consideration.

As a Full Judge on the Burmese list, it is hoped you will take part in the Judge Appointment Scheme, a summary of which is outlined below: -

The main addition to the Scheme is the Probationer Judge Report. The Probationer Judge (PJ) may approach the Full Judge (FJ) who is doing the equivalent Open Adult or Neuter Classes and ONLY those Judges, before the show or on the morning of the show, to see if that Judge is willing to provide a report should the classes have entries and should there be time. The FJ is required to examine the kittens in the PJ's class after the results slip has been submitted and, preferably, before the public come in. These results and comments are discussed and then the report form completed and sent to the secretary of the BJCC. Adults from the FJ's class may be used for further discussion if needed. A sae must be provided by the PJ. The form includes a place for the PJ to sign to confirm that the discussion has taken place. You are not obliged to do this but it is hoped that this should become as standard a procedure as completing a stewarding certificate.

This system should provide the BJCC with an ongoing picture of the candidates and also ongoing training, which can only benefit all parties. This method also ensures that the exhibitor knows from the schedule who may be handling their cat and that one extra person will only handle their cat. We do hope you will assist in this procedure.

It would also be advantageous if you would be prepared to help and advise PJ's at shows and, if necessary, on the telephone if they have any problems with writing reports or with the ethics of judging.

Another way in which you could help is to select your stewards from members of the stewarding scheme so that your reports on them can be of assistance to guide and advise them.

Each PJ and steward is sent copies of all reports and a letter after every BJCC meeting with encouraging features and also faults to rectify if necessary.

Full Judges might find it difficult to put into words any adverse comments they wish to make with regard to a Steward or a Probationer Judge. It should however be borne in mind that without such comments the BJCC has before it only the positive and no negative reports on a candidate.

As a Full Judge or a Probationer Judge of Burmese please ensure that you do not accept engagements to judge the same open classes within 100 miles radius in a period of 3 months. Failure to adhere to this guideline causes exhibitors to be disappointed. A guidance map is herewith for your reference.

Newly promoted Full Judges of Burmese should, in the initial period, try and glean from experienced Full Judges of Burmese as much assistance in cat assessments as they are able. This does not of course mean that other Full Judges should be judging your classes. This initial assistance will aid newly promoted Full Judges to gain the experience required and will be invaluable when awarding Open class certificates and ultimately Grand class certificates.

If cats are entered in the Open Class for Best of Breed only and are subsequently awarded that Best of Breed over the Challenge Certificate winner, the exhibitor would like the Judge's written critique on their cat. It is therefore recommended that Burmese Judges comment on that Best of Breed winner when they complete their report for Cats magazine.