SHOW HALL:  Our show hall is the Holshauser Building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds.  Parking is free.  Showhall is heated. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed on the Fairgrounds property.  A concession services will be available during show hours.

RV OVERNIGHT PARKING: The North Carolina State Fairgrounds allows RVs to stay on the property for a fee.  For information on RV access, see http://www.ncstatefair.org/facilities/rvaccess.htm or call (919) 612-6767 or (919) 821-7400.

SHOW HOTEL:  Our show hotel is the La Quinta Inn & Suites Raleigh-Durham International Airport, 1001 Hospitality Court, Morrisville, NC  27560. (IMPORTANT: There are two La Quinta’s in close proximity to one another.  Make sure you go to the right one!)  The hotel is located approximately 8 miles from the showhall and 2.5 miles from the airport.  Free shuttle service is available to and from the airport between 4:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m.  Contact the hotel to arrange pickup from the airport.  The La Quinta  has offered us the rate of $85 a night plus tax (single, double, triple, or quad) and provides free continental breakfast.  Check-in time is 3:00 p.m. Reservations must be made by calling the hotel directly at  (919) 461-1771 and then pressing 6 to talk to the front desk.  Mention the group name First in Flight Cat Club when making reservations.  The rate is guaranteed until December 7, 2015.

The club will be enforcing the TICA hotel policy. Please give a good impression of our TICA family by leaving your room as though no cats were ever in it.

ALTERNATE HOTELS: The following hotels have also offered accomodations for our exhibitors.  Mention First in Flight Cat Club when booking to receive a $79 a night (plus tax) rate.

Staybridge Suites - Raleigh-Durham Airport - 1012 Airport Blvd., Morrisville, NC 27560.  Call 919-468-0180 or use this link to make reservations.

Holiday Inn Express - RDU - 1014 Airport Blvd., Morrisville, NC 27560.  Call 919-653-2260 or use this link to make reservations.

The Staybridge and Holiday Inn Express both offer complimentary breakfast, wired/wireless internet acces, and complementary airport shuttle.  Both properties have waived pet deposits and limits.  The TICA hotel policy will be enforced at these properties as well in consideration of their waiver of deposits and limits.

ACCESSIBILITY:  The Holshauser Building and La Quinta meet ADA requirements for accessibility.

SHOW HOURS:  Friday check-in will be 12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. with show hours 2:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.  Saturday check-in will be 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.  Judging will start promptly at 9:00 a.m. Saturday and 8:30 a.m. Sunday.  Advertised show hours Saturday are until 5:00 p.m. and Sunday are until 4:30 p.m.  In consideration of our paying spectators, no cats may be removed from the show hall before the end of advertised show hours without show manager’s permission.  No cats may be left in the show hall overnight.

TRANSPORTATION:  Raleigh/Durham International Airport (RDU) is the most accessible airport.  The airport is approximately 5 miles from the show hotel and approximately 12 miles from the show hall.  RDU is serviced by most major airlines including Allegiant, American, United, Delta, Frontier, US Air, AirTran, Southwest, Air Canada, and Jet Blue. Located in the heart of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC is also easily accessible from I-95, I-85 or I-40.  

IMPORTANT: See the show hotel information above for the hours the free shuttle runs to and from the airport.  No free transportation is available to or from the showhall.   If you are flying into the show we strongly suggest arranging to carpool with other exhibitors or obtain a rental car.    Taxi service is also available.

SHOW RULES:  TICA Show Rules will be strictly enforced.  By entering all exhibitors agree to abide by the decisions of the judges and show committee.  Official Show Rules can be obtain for $7.00 from TICA, P.O. Box 2684, Harlingen, TX  78551 or online at http://tica.org/members/publications/shw_rules.pdf.

BENCHING AND SUPPLIES:  A single cage (22”x22”x22”) is provided for each cat entered.  Two (2) kittens or one (1) cat are permitted in a single cage.  Double cages (22”x22”x45”) are available upon request for an additional fee of $25.  Since single width “wire” cages are unavailable, if you are bringing your own cage, even if only a single width cage, you must purchase a double cage space. A grooming space is the same size as a double cage space. Special benching requests will be honored to the best of our ability.  For your cat’s comfort, the top, sides, and bottom of the cages must be covered.  Vending from the benching area is prohibited unless prearranged with the club.  Litter will be provided, but please bring your own litter box.

CATS FOR SALE:  Kittens must be three (3) calendar months of age.  Proof of age must be provided on request.  No kittens or cats may be confined to carriers during show hours.  Any person disregarding these rules will be asked to leave the showhall.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS:  This is a non-vetted show.  Cats showing signs of ear mites, fleas, fungus, or any other illness will not be permitted in the showhall.  All entries should be immunized against feline rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and feline enteritis, and should test negative for feline leukemia and feline AIDS.  Any cat or kitten from a house or cattery where there has been fungus or any infectious or contagious illness within 21 days prior to the opening date of the show is ineligible for entry and/or exhibition. Any cat which is obviously pregnant or lactating will be disqualified.  All claws (front and back) must be clipped prior to judging.  Declawed cats are eligible for competition, although this practice is not sanctioned.

REGISTRATION:  With the exception cats competing in the Preliminary New Breed, Advanced New Breed, and New Traits classes, registration with TICA is not necessary to compete in the cat’s first show, but is required for confirmation of titles and scoring for TICA Regional and International Awards after the cat’s first TICA show.

HOUSEHOLD PETS:  HHPs over the age of 7 months of age must be spayed or neutered.  If you are unsure of your cat’s color, please send a color photo of your cat along with your entry.  Your photo will be returned at check-in.

KITTENS:  Kittens entered in the show must be at least 4 months, but less than 8 months, of age on the day of the show.  Altered kittens are eligible for entry.

CLERKS: For those interesting in clerking the show, contact the Show Manager/Entry Clerk.

BEST OF THE BEST:  Top-three best of the best cats, kittens, alters, HHPs, and HHP kittens will be recognized at the conclusion of the show.  Additional special awards may be offered.

SPONSORSHIPS: Be a show sponsor!  All sponsorships will be acknowledged in our catalog, on a sign in the showhall, and on our web site.  If desired, a link to your web site can be included on our web site.  Ring sponsors will be acknowledged with a sign in the ring, on the ring awards (if received by December 1, 2015), and will be announced when we introduce our judges.  Available sponsorship levels are: Ring sponsor: $50, Gold sponsor $40, Silver sponsor $30, Bronze sponsor $20.  All donations are greatly appreciated.

LIABILITY:  First in Flight Cat Club, the La Quinta, and the North Carolina State Fairgrounds will not be held liable for injury, loss, or damage to cats, exhibitors, or property of exhibitors or vendors, or other such persons or property attending.