page_title: The International Cat Association
section_title: Judging pyramid
hierarchical_section_title: The International Cat Association / TICA cat shows / Process / Judging pyramid
caption_attribution_description: English: Pyramid describing the The International Cat Association judging process
context_page_description: The International Cat Association is considered the world's largest genetic cat registry. Originally a North American organization, it now has a worldwide presence. The organization has a genetic registry for pedigreed and household pet cats and is one of the world's largest sanctioning bodies for cat shows.
context_section_description: After the judge is done evaluating each cat in a breed group, they will hang a colored ribbons on the cat's cages to award Best of Color and Division. TICA does not have Best of Breed ribbons but the judge will announce their choices and also note their selections in the Judge's Book. The clerk will also write down each of these selections for the record.
  Best of Color: The judge will first award the best of color through the 5th Best of Color for each breed. For example, if seven blue British Shorthairs are competing; the judge will select and rank five of the seven.  The cat is judged against the whole breed standard, not just color. Out of the seven British Shorthairs competing they are judged against how the fulfill the full British Shorthair standard. “Best of Color” does not necessarily mean that the cat has the best blue coat.
  All Household Pets and Household Pet Kittens will receive a Best of Color award regardless of how many cats of a particular color there are.
  Best of Division: From the color winners, the judge will select a Best, Second and Third Best of Division. For example, the seven blue British Shorthairs belong to the Traditional Solid Division. Other solid colored British Shorthairs (white, lilac, cream) would also be judged in the Solid Division. Tabbies would be judged in the tabby division and so forth.
  Household Pet Kittens do not receive division awards.
  Best of Breed: Once a judge has selected their First through Third of Division cats, they will select Best, Second and Third Best of Breed from all of the breed's divisions.
  Household Pet and Household Pet Kittens do not receive breed awards.
caption: TICA judges narrow down their top cats by deciding Best of Color, Division and Breed out of all the competing cats.
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