Sherman was up against 3 other persian kittens this weekend. The same 2 white kittens from the last show and then a friend of mine had a black and white kitten from Whozz Cattery - a lot of international winners. Bill Lee was AB and gave him a 2nd best, and Susan Lee, for her first show judging gave him 5th best SP. Sunday morning, I noticed he didn’t seem to feel well. He went to the first ring, and he wouldn’t open his eyes very wide. I brought him back to my cage and he just didn’t seem himself. I went to the next ring, Dewane Barnes, and he had finalled him the last time, so I knew this was going to be a hard decision. I put Sherman in the cage, then tried to get his attention with a toy. He barely looked up at it, and would only open his eyes half way. He also had been making funny movements with his mouth. I told Dewane I was going to pull him, as I didn’t think he felt well.

I had a friend of mine that is a persian breeder look at him, and it seemed he was starting to lose a molar in the back, and he was grinding his teeth to get it out. Because of this he just didn’t feel well. So, I pulled him for the rest of the day today, but I don’t feel bad about it - just bad that he didn’t feel well. I wasn’t driving home, riding with a friend, and he seemed to be better. He had gotten up out of his little bed before we left, and he sat in my lap all the way home. If it had to happen, glad it was now when he is still young, and not his last show. We have another show in 2 weeks, so all is not lost.

There were 5 persians, counting Sherman. Two whites which were up against him in the solid division, one tortie and one bi-color (black/white). This was a 3-day show and I was there for Saturday and Sunday. There were around 70 kittens competing so it was a tough show. He made 3 finals, 8th AB, 6th AB, and 3rd SP. Fate Mayes, gave him the 8th AB and 3rd SP. I knew he would like him and I was right. When I went to get him, he said, Now that’s a cute kitten. On Sunday after judging he asked me where I got him from. I knew he would ask that also. And funny thing, Bill Lee was clerking for him and I asked him if he knew you and he said Yes. I told him Sherman was your breeding. Later today he told me that Fate told he Sherman’s body was fabulous. Dewane Barnes gave him an AB final today. Dewane is big on persians that have good boning, weight, and eyes that are wide open. He really gets mad at most of the persians in our region because they won’t open their eyes all the way. He was trying to decide between Sherman and the 7 1/2 month old, but she wouldn’t open her eyes wide enough.

Good old Sherman though sits right up to the cage door with big, wide eyes, which get bigger if you flash a toy in his face. Everyone at my benching got such a kick out of him. I got him a wand toy with those wind up springs on the end. He would grab a hold of it, then pull on the spring, then run into his cage with it.