About the 4-H Cat Project
Learn how to care for your cat’s health, nutrition, and housing needs! Caring for a pet helps you develop responsibility, decision-making, nurturing, and communication skills.
Questions?
Contact the Marion County 4-H office:
marion4h@purdue.edu
317-275-9305
Cat Project Manuals
You can learn more about the cat project by completing one of the project activity guides, based on your skill level:
- Cat Level 1: Purr-fect Pals
- Cat Level 2: Climbing Up!
- Cat Level 3: Leaping Forward
- Cat Group Helper's Guide
Project manuals may also be available to purchase at the Marion County Extension office, and older editions of manuals (if available) are free. Contact us to ask about availability!
Showcasing What You’ve Learned
You may enter one or more cat(s) that you have fed and cared for at the Marion County 4-H Showcase Pet Show. Shows may be amended, canceled, or added based on participation.
- Kitten Short Hair Competition
- Kitten Long Hair Competition
- Adult Short Hair Competition
- Adult Long Hair Competition
- Purebred Short Hair Kitten Competition
- Purebred Short Hair Adult Competition
- Purebred Long Hair Kitten Competition
- Purebred Long Hair Adult Competition
- Talented Trick Competition (not a State Fair Class)
You can also enter a poster, notebook, or presentation highlighting what you have learned through our Animal Education project.
Exhibit Guidelines
- Any cat(s) you enter must come with a completed Cat Vaccination Form.
- To be eligible to be shown, your cat must be at least 4 months of age by the day of the show. No female cat in season, known to be pregnant, or nursing kittens may be shown.
- Indiana 4-H animal identification information
- Animal Education project exhibit guidelines for 4-H members grades 3-12
- Marion County 4-H poster exhibit guidelines and tips
Score Cards
Advancing to the State Fair
- Yes! Cat project exhibits from 4-H members grades 3 and up may advance to the State Fair. (You do not need to qualify at the county level to enter State Fair animal shows.) Be sure to review the Indiana 4-H Policies and Procedures for 4-H Animal Shows at the Indiana State Fair.
Cloverbuds (Grades K-2)
Exhibits
- You may enter a poster or notebook about cats through our Animal Education project. You can also participate in showmanship with a stuffed model.
- Due to liability issues with handling live animals, Cloverbuds may not enter live cats.
- Cloverbud projects are for exhibition only (not judged), so there are no score cards, and exhibits are not eligible to advance to the State Fair.
More Cat Project Resources
- See Indiana 4-H’s Cat project page for more resources.