kay - we stopped showing for those reasons too. My husband really loved his dogs - he lived for his dogs & had 7 bullmastiffs when I met him, but after a number of years showing it all got too political & was getting less enjoyable. We continued showing the bullys & Border terriers for a few years, but then gradually slowed down & when I went back to work after having our children we gave it up completely. Hubby doesn't miss it one bit & won't even come to crufts with me anymore.
We have never been to a cat show (yet)