Cat Cage Decorating Ideas?

Question

For our county fair, I am showing my cat and there is a trophy for the person who decorates their cage the best. I am looking for cool ideas....by the way, his name is Zoey.

Answer 1

First off, here's a site that gives you the dimensions for fabric for cage curtains - http://rfwclub.org/curtain.htm  You'll need three cuts of fabric - one that will fold and go over the inside and outside of the back and side walls of the cage, one that will go over the top of the cage and one that will go on the floor or the cage and hang down to create a table skirt.  I used this site when I first started showing my cats and the dimensions they give for the three pieces are perfect.  DEFINITELY recommend the fabric I use.  It's a crushed velour and it doesn't crease.  And it washes up nicely so you can use it over and over again.  JoAnn Fabrics carries it.  I use that for the top and sides piece and then have a different coordinating fabric for the piece that goes on the floor/table skirt.

I show my cats in the TICA Household Pet Class and like to promote the adoption of shelter cats so I always try to tie the theme of the show to something to do with shelter cats.  Here's some of the ones I've done in the past to give you some ideas:

(at a Halloween show) "Being homeless is h**l - adopt a shelter cat!"  I used red fabric for the curtains then added devil decorations - a box of "flames" for my cat to snooze in, a devil's trident, little stuffed devils.

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/261555863...

(won 1st Place)

(at a Christmas show) "There's no place like home for the holidays - adopt a shelter cat!" I used the same red fabric and added Christmas decorations and used the same box wrapped to look like a wrapped present.  

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/258044883...

(won runner up)

(at a Valentines show) "Adopt some love!" Same red fabric again and added foam heart stickers, a heart garland a pink fluffy bed.

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/262926776...

(won runner up)

(at a 50th Anniversary show) Didn't put a shelter cat theme.  Just added some gold fabric and "50" decorations to the red fabric.

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/261913509...

(won 1st Place)

(at a Days of Wine and Roses theme show)  Used wine coloured fabric, garland with silk grape leaves and rubber grapes on it and added more grapes.  Made a sign that said "Adult shelter cats are aged to perfection!" then listed my and my friend's cats names as wine.

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/236018065...

(won 1st Place)

For an upcoming show around Halloween I'm going to do a pirate theme.  I'll use the red fabric for the top and get skull and crossbones fabric for the back and table skirt and then get gold coins, a treasure chest and other piratey decorations.  I'll also have a sign that says something like "Adult shelter cats are a treasure" :)  They're also having a pet costume contest so Mocha will be a lady pirate and I'm making my friend's kitten a parrot costume LOL

You don't have to spend a lot to have a really nicely decorated cage.  Just use some creativity and try to incorporate in some things you already have.  I definitely recommend choosing red as the fabric as it fits so many different holidays plus a cat of any colour will show up great with a red background.  Michaels and JoAnn Fabrics are both great for getting decorations at - super cheap!  With the TICA shows I go to the 1st Place winner in Cage Decorating usually wins free entry to a show, an additional half cage space plus a full grooming space.  So investing $20-$30 in decorations is well worth it if it means I might win a prize that's worth about $125!

Have you ever though about showing your cat at TICA shows?  Check my profile - info on there about showing Household Pets or email me if you want.  It's a lot of fun and your cat can not only get rosettes (ribbons) but it will also earn points and titles.  And at the end of the show season if your cat is one of the top cats in your Region you earn more awards.  My Penelope (the Exotic shown in a couple of those pics) was 7th Best HHP in the Northwest this past season even though I adopted her halfway through the season!  And one of my other cats, Mocha, has a really good chance of being the top HHP in the Northwest this season!