What Is the Nomination
The Nomination (NOM) is the stage of a cat show that determines which cats will advance to the next stage, the Best in Show — the final competition among the top cats of the entire show. It is therefore the decisive step between breed judging and the final comparison among the best cats present.
How to Earn the Nomination for the Best in Show
Once all judging for a Category (I, II, III, IV) is complete, the judge has the Steward call back the cats considered the best among all breeds belonging to that category. At this stage, cats from the same category but of different breeds and colours are called back together.
The Eight Groupings
The cats called back are divided into the following groups:
- Kittens 4–8 months, male
- Kittens 4–8 months, female
- Kittens 8–12 months, male
- Kittens 8–12 months, female
- Adult entire males, regardless of exhibition class
- Adult entire females, regardless of exhibition class
- Adult neutered males, regardless of exhibition class
- Adult neutered females, regardless of exhibition class
For each of these groupings, the judge selects a single cat: a single male kitten 4–8 months, a single female kitten 4–8 months, a single male kitten 8–12 months, a single female kitten 8–12 months, a single entire male, and so on.
Minimum Score Required for the Nomination
To earn the Nomination, a cat must reach a minimum score of 97 points.
What Happens After the Nomination
The cat selected for each grouping is the nominated cat: it has earned the Nomination and advances to the final stage of the show, the Best in Show.
As a result, at each judging table, for each category judged, up to 8 Nominations are awarded — one for each of the eight groupings — provided eligible cats are present in each group.
The Case of Missing Groupings
If a given grouping has no cats present (for example, neutered females), the judge cannot award a Nomination for that group. The actual number of Nominations awarded at a given table may therefore be lower than 8.
Toward the Best in Show
All nominated cats, from every category and every judging table, will compete together in the Best in Show, facing off against all the other nominated cats selected by the other judges present at the show.
Quick Summary: How the Nomination Works
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Show stage | Pre-Best in Show selection |
| Who selects | The judge, for each Category (I, II, III, IV) |
| Groupings provided | 8: kittens 4–8 months (male and female), kittens 8–12 months (male and female), entire males, entire females, neutered males, neutered females |
| Cats nominated per group | 1 |
| Minimum score | 97 points |
| Maximum Nominations per table/category | 8 (if cats are present in every group) |
| Next stage | Best in Show |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many cats can earn a Nomination at the same table, for the same category? Up to 8: one for each of the eight groupings provided (kittens 4–8 months female, kittens 4–8 months male, kittens 8–12 months male, kittens 8–12 months female, entire males, entire females, neutered males, neutered females), provided eligible cats are present in each group.
What happens if a grouping has no cats present? The judge simply doesn't award a Nomination for that group: the total number of Nominations at that table will therefore be lower than 8.
Does the Nomination take the cats' breed into account? No: during the Nomination stage, cats are compared across different breeds and colours, all belonging to the same category.
What happens after a cat earns the Nomination? The nominated cat advances to the final stage of the show, the Best in Show, where it will compete against all the other cats nominated by the other judges.
What score is needed to earn the Nomination? A cat must reach at least 97 points, a higher score than those required for the championship certificates (CAC/CAP, CACIB/CAPIB, etc.).