Is It Me Or Do You Think This Stupidly Ironic?
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
October 12, 2007 10:58pm CST
I just got an email from the newsletter, PetPlace.com..here's part of it
The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA), the world's largest registry of pedigreed cats will be hosting the 5th Annual CFA-Iams Cat Championship on October 13 -14 at Madison Square Garden. The show is one of the most prestigious cat shows scheduled for the 2007 season.
The 2007 CFA-Iams Cat Championship Show will have the spotlight on hundreds of show cats representing the 41 pedigreed breeds recognized by CFA. Among the breeds that are expected to be at the Show are Japanese Bobtail, American Curl, Maine CoonCat, Egyptian Mau, Ragdoll, Cornish Rex, Ragdoll, Sphynx, Siamese, and Persian.
Now this is what I find ironic...Iams is part sponsor of this cat show...Iams??? Hey, wait just a minute here....Wasn't Iams one of the companies involved with that pet recall business a few months ago? Isn't Iams one of the pet food companies that tests on animals and cruelly too? Am I missing something here? Am I the only one that sees this as a tad ironic?Also would like to know what your general opinion is of pet shows like this one is to begin with--is it really necessary to have cat or dog shows? Who does it really benefit?Here's the link to the entire article..ah...it's a long one and might make your page "stretch" LOL as has been pointed out by someone when I've posted long links before
http://www.petplace.com/cats/2007-cat-championship--who-will-win/page1.aspx?utm_source=catcrazynews001i&utm_medium=email&utm_content=petplace_article&utm_campaign=petplace
7 people like this
13 responses
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
14 Oct 07
It is simple. They are trying to change their image.And why have dog shows, to show off the dogs. There are many people like me who never cared about dogs until I saw The Westminster Dog Show on t.v.It is fun to see all the different breeds.And the year I saw The Detroit dog show the m.c. was pointing out which breed would make the better pet.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Oct 07
The whole cat/dog show thing is kind of dumb when you think of it..almost like the equivalent of the Miss America pageant...LOL
2 people like this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
14 Oct 07
Hey don't knock the pageants.Someone is still watching them.
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
13 Oct 07
I think it's just a way for Iams to promote their product to people who are nieve to their wrong doings. I didn't know about what they, Iams, did till someone told me. I don't buy their products for it's too expensive and even more so now for I know what they do. I will never ever willingly or knowingly sponser a group who test on animals. No way in hell would I. I'm an avid animal lover and rights activist and could never do anything to harm one.
As for pet shows, I think they're so unnessessary and cruel to the animal because cats for one, don't like to ride and so why take them on these long trips all for the "show" of the animal? That's cruel and very thoughtless of the poor cat. Now the dog, being put in a cage, or taken out to be bathed and brushed and pulled this way and that is cruel too. Same for the cat too for that matter, constantly being brushed or pulled this way or that is down right thoughtless and cruel. I wish they'd ban the shows for what purpose do they serve? NONE. OH... a certificate saying you won. BIG DEAL! and at the expense of the animal, now THAT'S a BIG DEAL!!
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
13 Oct 07
I'm so glad my two pampered kitties never cared for Iams..they prefer Fancy Feast and Knock on wood that seems to be safe, and yes it is just as expensive as the Iams, but my kitties refuse to eat anything else....My one friend a pet rescuer knew all about the testing with Iams long before I did--but the news of their testing didn't come out big time until those recalls
Yes, what benefit do pet shows, whether cat or dog? It's an ego trip for the owner, nothing more...I've watched those shows on TV at times and how the judges pull, and stretch a cat to show it's form and line of body shape...yeesh..how would we liked to be pulled and stretched like that
Very good answer CatsandDogs! :)
1 person likes this
@catskisses (434)
• United States
14 Oct 07
I am even luckier, my furbabies hate everything but the super cheap cat food from the dollar store, true mutts through and through, they don't even eat high class. I used to buy the expensive stuff as a treat, but they refused to eat it and I ended up throwing it out. They don't even care for Friskies and such midpriced brands.
1 person likes this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
13 Oct 07
I don't know about their testing policies, I will have to trust you on that one. They did participate in the food recall, just their wet food though. The first food I tried to feed Ashley my 2 year old, made her gassy, and there is nothing worse than a gassy cat. So we tried Iams and she ate that for a while and that didn't harm her digestive system, but then we got Carlye and Iams made her gassy so I switched them to Purina and evidently Purina taste better because when we switch they left what was left of the Iams in the bowl and ate the Purina food instead. I don't think too highly of cat and dog shows because I feel like that just stresses the pets out and that it serves no real purpose. Shame on Iams for all of its practices! How can they claim to care about people's pets when they engage in this type of activity?
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
13 Oct 07
Just before the recall I was tempted to get some Iams to see if my kitties would like it...but then something told me not to...a few weeks later was that recall--strange huh? My kitties love Fancy Feast and so far so good, no problems there. Yes in my mind pet shows serve no purpose except the egos of their owners
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
14 Oct 07
These matters are a fact of life, pyewacket. Everyone is "in bed" with everyone else, and one hand scratches the others back. The most probable reason they are co-sponsoring the event is MONEY. As someone I admire always says, "Follow the money trail." It is a well-known fact that many indiscretions are overlooked all the time when money changes hands. It's just more of the same. People have sold their sould in pursuit of the almighty dollar. I do enjoy looking at photos of cute pets, but think they go too far when they put on these shows. One of the crime shows that I regularly watch on TV did an episode last season dealing with the pet show business. The treatment of some of those poor animals borders on criminal.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Oct 07
Goodness...don't tell me the treatment of "show" pets is just as bad as puppy/kitten mill type thing? After all, if the pet is a winner don't their owners breed them like crazy too?
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
14 Oct 07
Pye, you are right about the ironic thing but having been in the marketing industry I know how things work when big money is involved...many "close an eye" so that they'll profit, and no matter what or who is harmed in between, let alone pets...
We still have some big packs of Iams dry food, and we had it from a few months ago. This because we often change their food. My cats are terrible really and simply refuse some food every month ;( Too spoiled these cats of mine.
But I will make surwe not to buy it anymore even if they like it. Plenty of different foods around, so this wont be a problem.
They are happy when I give them a piece of ham more than any cat fod purchased -mcall them stupid huh? LOL
As for the shows - I wouldnt be on it even if a cat of mine could win. I cannot imagine the pets like to go through all the pains and troubles involved and all of you are right about the ego trip of the owners involved and not the pets themselves.
The same could be said about the human Beayty Queen stuff, with that difference that humans willingly go through all the troubles just for the cash and the fame, the pets though are never asked ...
TheFortunes
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Oct 07
Yes the whole thing has to do with money all away round and just the egos of the pet owners who place their pets in shows...I mean, okay the cat wins the show..but who gets the money? LOL And can't help think if there is real cruelty in this pet show industry as well
Oh..and your kitties aren't the only ones spoiled rotten...LOL
@catskisses (434)
• United States
14 Oct 07
Personally I have no interest in cat or dog shows, but then I don't care for human beauty contests either, lol. As for the Iams thing, they'd put anyone's name on it who ponied up the most money, no matter who or what it was. If an organization named The Society for the Elimination of All Animals paid out, they'd put their name on it too.
As for me we've owned both cats and dogs with 'papers', they were no better as pets than our mutts, less so actually. All that stuff is for the owners' egos as far as I can tell. I doubt the animals give a hoot, or the owners wouldn't be so paranoid about their prize pooch mating with the neighbors mutt.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Oct 07
Oohh..heaven forbid someone's "Princess" mates with the neighbor's dog named Bozer (or some mutt kind of name) LOL
1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
14 Oct 07
Well I have to be honest I did not know this about Iams
until the beginning of the Year the Vet told me to
keep Gissi on that but Gissi did not like it so
I took him of it again which I am now really glad of
As for shows I do not believe in them Pets are not for
Show they are to love and care for
I would not put a Baby on a Show so I would not
ever put a Pet on the Show either I find them cruel
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Oct 07
I'm glad Gissi didn't like it...I would shudder to think had he liked it and the pet recall of food affected pets in Britain what might have happened
Yes pet shows are cruel..it's all just for the egos of their owners--and while they might fuss over their pets to make them look great..do they REALLY love them??
1 person likes this
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
1 Dec 07
Of course it's ironic. However, Iams just uses these things to promote their company and people that don't know anything about them, or know any better end up saying, "Wow, look at this. They must be a great company. I'm going to buy their product." So they buy it and they allow this horrible company to continue their cruel acts. It's sad, but not much we can do about it.
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
14 Oct 07
well I shouldn't be surprised. someone is trying to fix their company image, and since the company provides employment opportunity then someone at the top gives it a way out. old story. Iams might have learned from past lessons, but I'm sure pet lovers remember what happened and wouldn't be fooled easily.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Oct 07
I don't think pet owners will ever forget what happened..especially those that actually lost their pets to the contaminated food
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
14 Oct 07
Nope, it's not you, this is stupidly ironic, alright! No, I don't think it's at all necessary to have these dog or cat shows, it's all for the owners who are obviously not just pure animal lovers but more on a big ego trip. I'm not crazy about beauty pageants either, but at least the women who participate are doing it willingly and not being put into a carrier and carted all over the globe! I've been guilty of watching them on TV, I'll confess to that, because I really love to see cats and dogs - any kind of animal, actually - but when I really think about it, it's rather cruel.
Annie
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Oct 07
Yes it is cruel..can't wonder how scared those animals are in shows, with all the people,noise and such...and lets face it..cats are NOT good travelers to begin with
@PurpleTeddyBear (6685)
• Canada
13 Oct 07
Hi pye,
I will have to agree with you that it is a tad ironic! I think that pet shows are more for the people then the pets. I don't really think an animal cares for such things. I think it could be Iams way of trying to kiss everyones behind into "acting" like they care about animals, and want to get people to buy their products again. Some companies have got gutts that's for damn sure. Have a good weekend hun!
Your Friend, PurpleTeddyBear!
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
13 Oct 07
Well after the pet food recall I would never trust Iams ever again anyway. Thank goodness I never got it--yes I think pet shows in general are ego trips for the owner...Cats in general aren't good travelers and pet owners of "show" cats travel all over the world to show off their pets....They never did find that show dog..remember? A show dog had ran away from the airport near me...JFK, while they were unloading ..never found him
2 people like this
@3lilangels (4639)
• United States
1 Dec 07
yes my friend i agree so much it's too much for a animal to go through and they are not enjoying it only the handeler is.i think it's so cruel to put animals through this just because the owner wants all the attention.so i don't think it's nessicary to have these shows at all.sorry i missed this one,especially about pets.take care hon.pattie
@luoluoflying (15)
• China
13 Oct 07
i donot think this stupidly ironic, iams can get benefit from cfa.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
13 Oct 07
I think you missed the point of this discussion
1 person likes this
