The Cat Fanciers’ Association, Inc.® World’s Largest Registry of Pedigreed Cats 260 East Main Street • Alliance, Ohio 44601 Phone: 330-680-4070 • Fax: 330-680-4633 • www.cfa.org Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (eastern time) Rules for Registration© (Effective February 2020) A vertical line next to a section indicates a change/addition. A double vertical line denotes a deletion. The following are basic general rules for registration. For more detailed instruc- without prior CFA litter registration by the breeder. Application for registration can be tions regarding each service, please refer to the information printed on each appli- made via certified pedigree from an approved organization*** with the appropriate cation and certificate. Please call the Central Office at the phone number above number of generations included with the application.* Note: these rules apply only to with specific questions and/or areas not covered in these rules. See CFA website cats being transferred to CFA from other associations/registries recognized by CFA. for service pricing. *Except LaPerm and Selkirk Rex. LaPerm and Selkirk Rex registered in another cat ARTICLE I - REGISTRATION registry are eligible for CFA registration. A copy of the registration certificate must be General: a breed may have specific policies regarding allowable ancestry, import provided to CFA with the request for registration. The “registration via pedigree” fee requirements, colors and other characteristics. For complete registration information applies. To obtain registration for cats eligible under this policy, a 5-generation certi- regarding a breed you may visit our website http://www.cfa.org/Registration/Online fied pedigree with the required number of generations for the breed, (see “Note” for Individualregistration.aspx or contact CFA Central Office exceptions to the 5-generation requirement), issued by the registrar of the association Section 1 - Litter Registration: A litter application MUST be completed and submit- in which the cat is currently registered, must be submitted for CFA files. Pedigrees ted by the breeder of the litter (see Section 11), with the following exceptions: used for this type of registration will be accepted only from previously certified asso- Exception #1: A litter application may be submitted by the new owner of record of ciations. The parents of the cat to be registered are considered to be ‘generation one.’ the dam of the litter, provided the proper breeder information and signatures are com- Note: these rules apply only to cats being transferred to CFA from other associa- pleted on the application. tions/registries recognized by CFA. Except LaPerm and Selkirk Rex. LaPerm and Exception #2: Someone other than the breeder may submit a litter application if Selkirk Rex registered in another cat registry are eligible for CFA registration. A copy a letter of permission and instruction, signed by the breeder, accompanies the litter of the registration certificate must be provided to CFA with the request for registration. application. The “registration via pedigree” fee applies. Both sire and dam must be registered or recorded with CFA. More than one sire To obtain registration for cats eligible under this policy, a 5-generation certified can be recorded for any one litter (see Section 10). pedigree with the required number of generations for the breed, (see “Note” for Litter forms may be obtained at no charge from the Central Office. exceptions to the 5-generation requirement), issued by the registrar of the association CFA will question any litter where a parent cat is under the age of 7 months (210 in which the cat is currently registered, must be submitted for CFA files. Pedigrees days) at the time the litter is born. used for this type of registration will be accepted only from previously certified asso- Although there is no limit on the number of litters allowable per year from any one ciations. The parents of the cat to be registered are considered to be ‘generation one.’ female, each litter must be at least 65 days apart. RECORDED CATS: Cats with one less generation of ancestry than required The breeder of a litter is the registered owner of the dam at the time of mating, or for the breed may be individually recorded for breeding purposes only. The the lessee of the dam. requirements for recording are identical to those for individual registration via pedi- LEASES RECORDED: A lease must be recorded with CFA if the owner(s) of gree, except that one less generation of ancestry is required. Recorded cats may record leases a sire or dam to an individual(s) with the intent the registered owner’s not be shown at CFA shows. The following breeds require the full number of gen- name(s) be excluded from all transactions during the specified lease period. The erations for registration by pedigree (recording for breeding only does not apply): lease recording fee and a copy of the lease agreement to include the name and reg- Abyssinian, Bengal, British Shorthair, Colorpoint Shorthair and Persian. istration number of the cat, name of lessee(s), lease period (from-to) and signatures NOTE The following breeds require certified pedigrees for the number of gener- of ALL registered owner(s) must be sent to CFA prior to or in conjunction with the pro- ations indicated in parentheses after the breed name: Abyssinian (8), American cessing of the first transaction. Wirehair (4), Balinese* (3 or 5), Chartreux (4), Colorpoint Shorthair (3 or 5*), Devon LEASES NONRECORDED: Complete the lease section on the litter application Rex (3), European Burmese (8 from North American registries; 5 from all other reg- form only, it is not necessary to file a formal lease for this purpose (no additional fee is istries), Korat (3), LaPerm (no pedigree required, see * at beginning of Section 3), required). All current registered owners of dam to be included. Oriental (3), Persian (8), Rag doll (3), Russian Blue (8), Scottish Fold (4), Selkirk Rex Section 2 - Individual Registration/Transfer: The name of the owner of a cat is lim- (no pedigree required, see * at beginning of Section 3), Siamese (8), Siberian (3), ited to 35 spaces, including punctuation and blanks. Long names or more than one Tonkinese (3) and Turkish Angora (3). All other breeds require 5 generations. owner must be abbreviated as necessary. *Only certain outcrossed Balinese/Javanese and certain Colorpoint Shorthairs The owner of a cat can be shown as actual persons only, no company names, are eligible to be registered using a 3 generation pedigree. Contract the CFA Central Mr. and Mrs., or “and family.” The designation “and/or” may not be used when there Office for details. is a co-ownership. Individuals planning to import a cat or register a cat from a domestic association A cat/kitten will be registered as a breeding cat ONLY if the pin number is provid- should contact the Central Office for information regarding requirements and docu- ed by the breeder in the appropriate section of the blue and/or yellow slip. If the pin mentation needed to begin the registration process. number is not present, the cat will be registered as “Not For Breeding” regardless of Titles and awards won in other associations will not be recorded or shown on CFA whether the breeder is also the owner. The pin number or the breeder’s signed and records. notarized permission is required to remove a Not For Breeding restriction. The breed- Section 4 - Cat Names: A cat’s entire name, including cattery prefix and suffix (see er’s and a veterinary signed and notarized statement is required to change an altered Section 6), if any, letters, punctuation, spaces, numbers, and words such as “of,” “de,” cat (neutered or spayed) to unaltered. “the,” etc., may not exceed 35 spaces. To ensure the correct recording of the owner for a cat leaving the U.S., CFA rec- Changes to a registered cat’s name may be made only if: 1) The cat has never ommends that the U.S. breeder/owner complete and submit any registration or trans- earned a title (e.g. CH, PR, GC, GP, DM) or received a National/Regional award; fer application. The cat will then already be registered to the new owner when the 2) No national/regional points have been earned in the current show season; 3) No papers are sent overseas. The Central Office will send the completed Certificate of litters have been CFA registered listing the cat as a parent; 4) You are the current reg- Registration directly to the overseas owner, if requested by the applicant. istered owner of the cat. If the cat was previously individually registered in the Section 3 - Registration via Certified Pedigree: Under certain circumstances, a breeder’s name, you must provide CFA with a signed statement of agreement cat registered with another recognized association may be eligible for CFA registration from the breeder allowing the name change. 1 of 3 Exceptions: Addition or deletion of a cattery name suffix and, under certain condi- istration upon submission of a new cattery application signed by ALL current regis- tions, when a correction is being made to a cat’s sex and/or color. tered owners of the cattery. Payment of the fee in effect for a cattery registration will The words “Champion” and “Champ” may not be used in a cat’s name. apply. The registration period will extend for five years from the date of re-registration. Profanity is not permitted. For cattery names issued before January 1, 1988: A breeder(s) other than the original CFA makes every effort to issue the first choice cat name whenever possible. The applicant(s) may be added to the registration upon submission of a letter signed by issuing of the second choice name, and/or changes made to the first or second ALL current registered owners of the cattery.