What Is the CACS/CAPS (Certificate of Ability to Supreme Champion/Supreme Premior)?
The CACS/CAPS is the certificate a pedigree cat can earn during a cat show, as a required step toward the title of:
- SC – Supreme Champion, for entire (unaltered) cats competing in the Grand International Champion Class (Class 3)
- SP – Supreme Premior, for neutered/spayed cats competing in the Grand International Premior Class (Class 4)
This is the highest title attainable in the cat show championship path.
Prerequisites to Enter the CACS/CAPS
To compete for this certificate, the cat must already have earned the required 6 (or 8) CAGCIB/CAGPIB certificates, and therefore already hold the Grand International Champion (GIC)/Grand International Premior (GIP) title. You cannot enter CACS/CAPS competition without first completing the Grand International Champion or Grand International Premior title.
Score and Qualification Needed for the CACS/CAPS
To obtain the CACS/CAPS, the cat must:
- First receive an Excellent (EX) qualification
- Reach a minimum score of 97 points
This is the highest score required among all the certificates in the championship path, even higher than the 96 points needed for the CAGCIB/CAGPIB.
How to Earn the Supreme Champion/Supreme Premior Title (SC/SP)
For the Supreme Champion/Supreme Premior title there are two alternative paths, both valid under the regulations:
Option 1: 9 Certificates in at Least 3 Different Countries
- 9 CACS/CAPS certificates
- Awarded by at least three different judges
- At nine shows, which must involve at least three different countries
Some valid examples:
- 7 shows in Italy, one in Switzerland, one in Germany
- 4 in Germany, 2 in France, 3 in Italy
- 3 in Italy, 3 in Austria, 2 in Slovenia, one in Switzerland
The chronological order of the shows doesn't matter: what matters is that, across the nine shows combined, at least three different countries are represented.
Option 2: 11 Certificates in at Least 2 Different Countries
As provided under the amendment to Show Rules Article 4.5, an alternative path is to obtain:
- 11 CACS/CAPS certificates
- Awarded by at least six different judges
- At shows involving at least two different countries
Some valid examples:
- 10 shows in Italy, one in another country
- 6 in Italy, 5 in France
- 6 in France, 5 in Italy
"Cat on Hold": Limits on Shows in the Same Country
If the cat has already earned 7 certificates in the same country (Option 1) or 10 certificates in the same country (Option 2), it cannot enter further shows in that country until it earns the remaining required certificates in a different country. In show jargon, this situation is called being "on hold."
The Countersignature Rule
If the cat is judged multiple times by the same judge, to the point where it cannot obtain judgments from 3 different judges (Option 1) or 6 different judges (Option 2), the excess judgment must be countersigned by another judge. It is the exhibitor's responsibility to inform the judge of this requirement.
How Cats Are Grouped in Competition
Cats compete in homogeneous groups, divided by:
- Breed
- Sex
- Colour (or colour group, for breeds where this subdivision applies)
What Happens When Several Cats Are in the Same Class
If several cats are entered in the same CACS/CAPS class (same breed, sex, and colour):
- Only the cat awarded EX 1 also receives the CACS/CAPS Certificate
- The others are ranked EX 2, EX 3, EX 4 (from the fifth cat onward, simply EX, with no ranking number)
- These cats do not receive the CACS/CAPS, even though they are qualified Excellent
Changing Class After Winning the Title: An Important Reminder for Exhibitors
In "two days, two certificates" shows, a cat may earn its final CACS/CAPS on Saturday, thereby becoming SC (Supreme Champion) or SP (Supreme Premior) a day early.
In this case, it is the exhibitor's responsibility to promptly notify the show secretary: the following day the cat will need to compete in the PH class, which no longer counts toward championship scoring.
After the Title: What Changes with the PH Class
Once a cat earns the SC, Supreme Champion title, its championship career is complete. It can still continue to be entered in shows, but it will be judged in the PH class, which no longer awards a championship certificate but instead an Honour Award.
A cat in the PH class can still be selected for:
- BIV – Best in Variety
- NOM – Nomination
- BIS – Best in Show
- BOB – Best of Best
Quick Summary: CACS/CAPS and SC/SP Title Requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite | GIC/GIP title already obtained (6 or 8 CAGCIB/CAGPIB) |
| Competition class | Grand International Champion Class (3) for SC / Grand International Premior Class (4) for SP |
| Required qualification | Excellent (EX) |
| Minimum score | 97 points |
| Option 1 | 9 certificates, at least 3 different judges, at least 3 different countries |
| Option 2 | 11 certificates, at least 6 different judges, at least 2 different countries |
| Option 1 limit | Maximum 7 certificates in the same country ("cat on hold") |
| Option 2 limit | Maximum 10 certificates in the same country ("cat on hold") |
| After the title | The cat moves to the PH class (Honour Award, no scoring) |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need to already hold the Grand International Champion title before attempting the CACS/CAPS? Yes: the cat must already be GIC/GIP, meaning it has already earned the 6 (or 8) CAGCIB/CAGPIB certificates.
What are the two paths to becoming a Supreme Champion/Supreme Premior? You can choose between 9 certificates in at least 3 different countries (with at least 3 different judges), or 11 certificates in at least 2 different countries (with at least 6 different judges).
What does it mean when a cat is "on hold"? It means the cat has reached the maximum number of certificates obtainable in the same country (7 under Option 1, 10 under Option 2) and cannot enter further shows there until it earns the remaining certificates elsewhere.
What happens after a cat earns the Supreme Champion title? The cat's championship career is over: it can still be entered in shows, but in the PH class, where certificates are no longer awarded — only an Honour Award — while remaining eligible for BIV, Nomination, BIS, and BOB.
My cat becomes Supreme Champion during the show — what should I do? Notify the show secretary right away, since from the following day the cat will change class and move into the PH class.