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The scene inside the Mansfield Holiday Inn is a bit chaotic on this beautiful Saturday afternoon.

Inside a cavernous meeting room, perfectly coiffed cats ride on their owners' shoulders as they scurry to the ring as the incessant mews of their furry counterparts echo from nearby cages. Jars of baby food and kitty styling products line the benching area, where cats wait in often fanciful decorated crates for their number to be called. A crackling voice over a loudspeaker announces the next class of felines to be judged, as cats, their owners and a gaggle of onlookers juggle for position in the crowded hall.

To the uninitiated, it's a scene of pure feline pandemonium. But to cat lovers and seasoned cat show veterans, the Cat Fanciers' Association Cat Show is a scene of pure enchantment, where the "oooohs" and "aahhhhhs" flow just as easily as the kitty litter and blue ribbons.

But to the cat show novice, understanding what goes on in the ring is about as hard as trying to figure out just what a kitty is thinking. All those categories and breeds and prizes can be confusing to even the most die-hard kitty aficionados. So we've put together a handy-dandy guide to help you wade through the world of pedigreed pets with nary a scratch.

KKK A cat show is comprised of several ongoing shows that take place in separate rings. Each ring has one judge. Cats are judged in different classes - such as kitten, championship (over eight months of age), premiership (spayed and neutered cats over eight months old), and household pet - and the winners go on to the finals. At the Mansfield show, more than 300 kitties representing 21 breeds competed in six rings.

Cat fancy organizations, which register purebred cats and set the standards for each breed, usually sponsor the shows. Two of the largest cat registries in the United States are the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) and The International Cat Association. (TICA). Rules differ between organizations, but in general cats are judged according to each breed's "standard," or ideal characteristics. Those deemed closest to the standards are awarded ribbons.

And what standards they are. The rules govern everything from eye shape and color (almond shaped and blue in Siamese) to bone structure (long and large in Ragdolls) and tails (long and slim and tapered in Ocicats). Cats can be disqualified if they have too many toes, aren't the right color or have a kink in their tails.

All of this may sound a little dry, but in the hands of a skillful judge a cat show ring can become a fanciful place where laughter mingles with tasty tidbits about the cats' specific breeds.

Douglas Myers had such a ring in Mansfield. Bedecked in a coral-colored shirt and bow tie, Myers had the crowd laughing as he bobbed a silver toy in front of a silvery colored Egyptian Mau. As the cat pawed furiously, Myers explained in a soft Southern drawl that Egyptian Maus come in three colors: bronze, silver and smoke.

During a break in the judging, Myers - who hails from Leesburg, Va., and breeds Japanese Bobtails - reflected on his 12 years within the ring.

"I love cats and being with cats," said Myers, whose job has taken him to Hong Kong, Australia, Japan and The Netherlands. "It's exciting to find a beautiful cat that represents the breed perfectly. Sometimes one cat will make you tingle. It's exciting when you find that cat."

Now for a little cat show etiquette. Yes, there is such a thing. The golden rule of cat shows: Don't touch the cats. Really. You see, many owners prepare for the show weeks in advance by giving frequent baths and brushing their cats often. A stray hand petting their kitty may just be enough to put a kink in that beautiful fur.

Some owners will allow spectators to give a little pet, but for the most part it's always wise to ask permission.

That's why showgoer Alison Mueller, 9, of North Attleboro brought her own stuffed kitty along to the Mansfield show. When temptation struck, Alison gave her cream-colored cat a pet and allowed others to do the same. "Lots of people want to pet the cats," she said.