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CFA Rules for Registration
Effective February 2008

The following are basic general rules for registration. For more detailed instructions regarding each service, please refer to the information printed on each application and certificate. Please call the Central Office at the phone number above with specific questions and/or areas not covered in these rules.

Page Last Updated: Monday, March 03, 2008.
This file is available in a PDF format.

The Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc.
1805 Atlantic Avenue, Manasquan, New Jersey 08736

Phone: 732-528-9797
Fax: 732-528-7391
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (eastern time)

ARTICLE I - FEES

Section 1 - Fees

Please refer to our Price List.

CFA has a wide variety of books, videos, and pamphlets available for purchase. Contact the Central Office with your specific needs and interests.

Section 2 - Payment: Domestic Orders: Payment for services and publications can be made by personal check, bank check, money order or credit card (VISA/Mastercard/American Express, include expiration date). Foreign Orders: Payment can be made with an international money order in U. S. funds drawn on a U. S. bank or credit card (Visa/Mastercard/ American Express, include expiration date).

Credit Slips: CFA Credit Slips, issued previously due to an over payment of fees, may be applied to the fee for any CFA service or publication. The original credit slip must be returned to the Central Office when applying for credit or a refund.
PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH THROUGH THE MAIL.

ARTICLE II - REGISTRATION

General: a breed may have specific policies regarding allowable ancestry, import requirements, colors and other characteristics. For complete registration information regarding a breed, contact the CFA Central Office.

Section 1 - Litter Registration: A litter application MUST be completed and submitted by the breeder of the litter (see Section 11), with the following exceptions:

Both sire and dam must be registered or recorded with CFA. Only one sire may be recorded for any one litter (see Section 10).
Litter forms may be obtained at no charge from the Central Office.
CFA will question any breeding that takes place where a parent cat is under the age of 7 months (210 days).
Although there is no limit on the number of litters allowable per year from any one female, each litter must be at least 65 days apart.
The breeder of a litter is the registered owner of the dam at the time of mating, or the lessee of the dam.
LEASES. A lease must be recorded with CFA if the owner(s) of record leases a sire or dam to an individual(s) with the intent the registered owner’s name(s) be excluded from all transactions during the specified lease period. The lease recording fee and a copy of the lease agreement to include the name and registration number of the cat, name of lessee(s), lease period (from-to) and signatures of ALL registered owner(s) must be sent to CFA prior to or in conjunction with the processing of the first transaction.
If any or all of the registered owners are to be included as lessees on a litter registration, complete the lease section on the litter application form only, it is not necessary to file a formal lease for this purpose (no additional fee is required).

Section 2 - Individual Registration/Transfer: The name of the owner of a cat is limited to 30 spaces, including punctuation and blanks. Long names or more than one owner must be abbreviated as necessary.
Photocopied blue and/or yellow slip applications and cat certificates cannot be accepted for CFA services. See Section 7 for rules pertaining to obtaining duplicates.
The owner of a cat can be shown as actual persons only, no company names, Mr. and Mrs., or “and family.” The designation “and/or” may not be used when there is a co-ownership.
A cat/kitten will be registered as a breeding cat ONLY if the pin number is provided by the breeder in the appropriate section of the blue and/or yellow slip. If the pin number is not present, the cat will be registered as “Not For Breeding” regardless of whether the breeder is also the owner. The pin number or the breeder’s signed and notarized permission is required to remove a Not For Breeding restriction. The breeder’s signed and notarized statement is required to change an altered cat (neutered or spayed) to unaltered.
To ensure the correct recording of the owner for a cat leaving the U.S., CFA recommends that the U.S. breeder/owner complete and submit any registration or transfer application. The cat will then already be registered to the new owner when the papers are sent overseas. The Central Office will send the completed Certificate of Registration directly to the overseas owner, if requested by the applicant.

Section 3 - Registration via Certified Pedigree: Under certain circumstances, a cat registered with another recognized association may be eligible for CFA registration without prior CFA litter registration by the breeder.
Application for registration can be made via certified pedigree if the cat’s records meet the following requirements*:

A cat is not eligible for individual registration by pedigree if:

*Except Selkirk Rex. A Selkirk Rex registered in another cat registry is eligible for CFA registration. A copy of the registration certificate must be provided to CFAwith the request for registration. The “registration via pedigree” fee applies.
To obtain registration for cats eligible under this policy, a 5-generation certified pedigree (see “Note” for exceptions to the 5-generation requirement), issued by the registrar of the association in which the cat is currently registered, must be submitted for CFA files. Pedigrees used for this type of registration will be accepted only from previously certified associations.
RECORDED CATS: Cats may be individually recorded for breeding purposes only. The requirements for recording are identical to those for individual registration via pedigree, except that one less generation of ancestry is required. Recorded cats may not be shown at CFA shows.
NOTE: The following breeds require certified pedigrees for the number of generations indicated in parentheses after the breed name: Abyssinian (8), American Wirehair (4), Balinese* (3 or 5), Burmese (8), Chartreux (4), Devon Rex (3), Javanese* (3 or 5), Korat (3), Ragdoll (3), Russian Blue (8), Scottish Fold (4), Selkirk Rex (no pedigree required, see * at beginning of Section 3), Siamese (8), Siberian (3), Sphynx (3), Tonkinese (3) and Turkish Angora (3). All other breeds require 5 generations.
*Only certain outcrossed Balinese and Javanese are eligible to be registered using a 3 generation pedigree. Contract the CFA Central Office for details.
Individuals planning to import a cat or register a cat from a domestic association should contact the Central Office for information regarding requirements and documentation needed to begin the registration process.
Titles and awards won in other associations will not be recorded or shown on CFA records.

Section 4 - Cat Names: A cat’s entire name, including cattery prefix and suffix (see Section 6), if any, letters, punctuation, spaces, numbers, and words such as “of,” “de,” “the,” etc., may not exceed 35 spaces.
Changes to a registered cat’s name may be made only if: 1) The cat has never earned a title (e.g. CH, GRP, DM) or received a National/Regional award; 2) No national/regional points have been earned in the current show season; 3) No litters have been CFA registered listing the cat as a parent; 4) You are the current registered owner of the cat. If the cat was previously individually registered in the breeder’s name, you must provide CFA with a signed statement of agreement from the breeder allowing the name change.
Exceptions: Addition or deletion of a cattery name suffix and, under certain conditions, when a correction is being made to a cat’s sex and/or color.
The words “Champion” and “Champ” may not be used in a cat’s name.
Profanity is not permitted.
CFA makes every effort to issue the first choice cat name whenever possible. The issuing of the second choice name, and/or changes made to the first or second choice name, is done only when the chosen cat name conflicts with CFA Rules For Registration regarding cat name and/or cattery name usage.
Titles – One or more official CFA titles, as outlined below, may appear as part of a cat’s name.
CH: Champion, the title given to an adult cat which competed at CFA cat shows and received 6 winners ribbons. This is the first title a cat can achieve.
PR: Premier, an altered (neutered or spayed) adult cat which received 6 winners ribbons at CFA cat shows. Equivalent to the title of Champion.
GC: Grand Champion, the title awarded to an adult cat which continued to compete at CFA shows and received 200 points in its competition category.
GP: Grand Premier, equivalent title to Grand Champion for an altered cat.
NW: National Winner, the highest and most prestigious title a cat (adult cat, kitten or altered cat) can achieve by competing at CFA shows.
BW: Breed Winner, similar to the title of National Winner, but for adult cats which have achieved a best of breed win (not 2nd or 3rd).
RW: Regional Winner, similar to the title of National Winner but at a regional level.
DW: Divisional Winner, similar to the title of Regional Winner but reserved for cats competing only in the CFA International Division.
DM: Distinguished Merit, the title given to a cat which has produced the required number of Grand Champions, Grand Premiers or Distinguished Merit Cats (5 for females and 15 for males).

Section 5 - Cattery Names: The purpose of a cattery name is to identify the breeder and/or owner of a cat or kitten and to identify the line of breeding.
Cattery names will not be duplicated. A newly registered cattery name must be at least a minimum of two letters different from any existing registered cattery name. Double letters (tt, ee, ss, etc.) count as one letter. The use or nonuse of an “s” indicating plural at the end of a word does not constitute a letter difference.
A cattery name, including punctuation and blanks, may not exceed 12 spaces.
An official CFA cattery name application form is required to apply.
A given (Christian) name - Marie, John, Frank, Helen for example - cannot be used.
Titles, such as Princess, Earl, or Madam may not be used.
A cattery name may not be the name of a recognized breed.
Words or names that have been used extensively in naming individual cats, such as “Ming” or “Pyewacket,” may not be used.
Profanity is not permitted.
A cattery name may not be registered in the possessive, with ’s at the end of the name.
Cattery names will be registered and shown on all certificates in capital letters, no lower case.
For cattery names issued on or after January 1, 1988: Once a cattery name is registered, a breeder(s) other than the original applicant(s) may be added to the registration upon submission of a new cattery application signed by ALL current registered owners of the cattery. Payment of the fee in effect for a cattery registration will apply. The registration period will extend for five years from the date of re-registration. For cattery names issued before January 1, 1988: A breeder(s) other than the original applicant(s) may be added to the registration upon submission of a letter signed by ALL current registered owners of the cattery. Payment of the fee in effect for a cattery registration will apply, however, the cattery will not be subject to renewal rules.

Section 6 - Use of Cattery Names: PREFIX: The breeder’s registered cattery name, if any, is required as a prefix to a cat’s name. At no time can a cattery prefix be removed or changed even with the permission of the breeder.
SUFFIX ADDITION/DELETION: The new owner of record of a cat may add his/her cattery name as a suffix (preceded by “of ”) provided that the cat’s name will not then exceed the limit of 35 spaces. An already existing suffix will automatically be removed at the time the new suffix is added or if a new owner(s) is not the owner of the existing suffix.
No more than two cattery names (one prefix, one suffix) are permitted with any cat name.
An identifying word or name may not be used as either a cat name suffix or prefix unless registered with CFA as a cattery name.
Abbreviations or variations of a registered cattery name are not permitted.
The word “of ” must be used with a cattery name suffix, and cannot be shortened or changed to “de” or other foreign designations denoting “of.” To avoid misinterpreting certain phrases as a cattery name suffix, dashes are used in conjunction with the word “of” in a cat’s name (e.g. Duke-of-Earl).
When the dam of a litter is co-owned by two or more breeders each having a registered cattery name, only one cattery name prefix may be used in naming ALL kittens in any one litter.
RENEWAL: Cattery names issued after January 1, 1988, are subject to a renewal fee every 5 years. Cattery names not renewed by the required date will not be eligible for use as either a cat name prefix or suffix until the renewal fee has been received by the Central Office. Cattery names not renewed are subject to reissuance to another breeder. Application for a permanent cattery name can be submitted.
PERMANENT CATTERY NAMES: The owner(s) of an existing CFA registered cattery name can apply for permanent registration if the following criteria is met:

This information accompanied by the $100 filing fee is to be submitted to the CFA Central Office.

Section 7 - Corrections/Duplicate Certificates: When a certificate is issued that is incorrect due to Central Office error, or if the cat name issued is different than the two choices requested by the registrant, the certificate should be returned with corrections noted. If possible under the CFA Rules For Registration, the changes will be made and a new certificate issued. Request for correction should be made as soon as possible after the date of issue. Correction without incurring a fee cannot be guaranteed after 6 months from the date of issue.
Correction to an existing CFArecord due to changes from the original application may be made by the applicant by contacting the Central Office detailing the changes to be made, returning the incorrect documents, submitting corrected documents and signatures where required, and paying the appropriate correction fee.
DUPLICATE BLUE and/or YELLOW SLIP: If lost or destroyed, a duplicate may be requested from the Central Office by the breeder at no charge. A duplicate will be issued to the breeder only and not sent to any other person, even with the permission of the breeder.
DUPLICATE CERTIFICATE: A duplicate cat certificate may be requested only by the registered owner of the cat accompanied by the appropriate fee.
When a request is submitted for a correction to a litter record, CFA will issue new blue slips only in the number of slips submitted to the Central Office for correction.

Section 8 - Certified and Reverse Pedigrees/Cattery Offspring Reports: A Certified Pedigree will be issued only when three or more generations of ancestry are registered or recorded with CFA.
A Certified Pedigree will be issued on an individually registered cat only, not on a litter. A Certified Pedigree can be issued to any applicant. The owner’s permission is not required.
A Reverse Pedigree can be produced for an individually registered cat and can be issued to any applicant. The owner’s permission is not required.
Only the registered owner of a cattery may obtain a Cattery Offspring Report, except with signed permission of the registered owner.

Section 9 - Signature Requirements: LITTER REGISTRATION: Litter applications must be signed by both the owner of the sire and the owner of the dam. If a parent cat is co-owned, the signature of only one owner is required.
When the sire of a litter is on lease, a copy of the lease agreement, signed by the registered owner of the cat, must accompany each litter application.
TRANSFER: All owner signatures are required to effect the transfer of a cat.

CATTERY: The signatures of all current registered owners are required in order to add an owner to an existing cattery record. The notarized permission of the person being removed is required in order to remove an owner from the record.
In the case of a deceased person, CFA can complete a service at the signed request of the person handling the estate upon receipt of proof of authority to sign and/or proof of death, which can include:

Section 10 - Registration Screening: Registration for a kitten of an accepted characteristic (such as color, pattern, coat length) for that breed, but occurring from parents whose genetic makeup would not be expected to produce that characteristic, will be issued a restricted Not For Breeding registration.
Registration requested for a kitten demonstrating a recessive characteristic not accepted within the breed will not be registered based upon the assumption that recessive characteristics demonstrate hybridization other than that permitted for that breed.
Registration requested for a kitten demonstrating a dominant characteristic which would not be expected to occur within a specific breed will not be registered. However, littermates with permissible characteristics within the breed will be registered, but those kittens will be registered with a Not For Breeding restriction.
When a double breeding has occurred, one male should be chosen as the sire of record and only those kittens that could genetically have been produced from that male should be registered. The remaining kittens should not be registered.

Section 11 - General: The Cat Fanciers’ Association, Inc. reserves the right to cancel or correct any registration erroneously recorded or recorded in violation of these rules, together with any registrations that have been issued for any descendants of said cats.
Application for registration must be made on the official CFA application form. Other documents required for registration, such as export certificates, certified pedigrees, and lease agreements, must be originals and must be attached to the CFAapplication form. Keep a copy for your records. If you wish the return of an original document other than the CFA application, the original plus one photocopy should be submitted. Notarized photocopies will also be accepted. Documents requiring signatures will not be accepted via fax or email.
CFA has made every effort to protect the purity of bloodlines through its system of registration, but the purity of bloodlines for cats registered by certified pedigree from other associations and their descendants cannot be guaranteed. The possibility does exist that a throw-back to another breed or color will occur. In such cases, the throw-back is non-registerable. The remainder of the litter that does conform to the accepted standard is registerable.
When the ancestry of a hybrid litter might permit registration of the kittens in more than one breed classification, the breeder must list the breed under which the kittens are to be registered, and all kittens in that litter and future litters will be registered under the originally designated breed.
Incorrect or incomplete applications or applications with insufficient fees will be returned uncompleted by the Central Office. In the case of insufficient fees, the Central Office may complete as much as possible given the fees received without returning all applications.
There are no rules against closely related breedings of any kind nor any restrictions on the pedigree relationship of the prospective sire and dam. This includes mother/son, sire/daughter, siblings, etc.
There is no rule pertaining to the maximum age allowable for breeding.
There is no time limit requirement for the submission of cat registration applications, litter applications, or transfer requests.

ARTICLE III - BREED CLASSIFICATION

The word BREED is used in all these rules to mean natural breeds, established breeds, mutations, and hybrids.
General: a breed may have specific policies regarding allowable ancestry, import requirements, colors and other characteristics. For complete registration information regarding a breed, contact the CFA Central Office.
Section 1 - Natural Breeds: Both parent cats and all ancestors must be of the breed as the cat to be registered. The following natural breeds are recognized for registration: Abyssinian, American Shorthair, Chartreux, Egyptian Mau, Japanese Bobtail (shorthair and longhair), Korat, Maine Coon Cat, Manx (shorthair and longhair), Norwegian Forest Cat, Persian, Russian Blue, Siamese, Siberian, Singapura, Turkish Angora, and Turkish Van.
Section 2 - Established Breeds: The result of the mating of two or more specified breeds that may be continued by breeding between specimens of the particular established breed. Both parent cats must be specimens of the established breed, and the pedigree may show only specimens of the established breed and/or breeds used to produce the established breed. The following established breeds are recognized for registration: Birman, British Shorthair, Burmese, European Burmese, Havana Brown*, Ragdoll and Tonkinese (for Tonkinese, kittens born before January 1, 1984 may also show Siamese or Burmese). *Certain limited outcrossing is permissible for the Havana Brown. Contact the CFA Central Office for details.
Section 3 - Hybrids: The result of the mating of two or more breeds specified or unspecified in the rules, whether mediately or immediately. The pedigree may show only the breeds listed used to develop the particular hybrid and/or specimens of the hybrid.

Balinese:

Bombay:

Colorpoint Shorthair:

Exotic:

Ocicat:

Oriental

Ragamuffin:

Section 4 - Mutations: The natural offspring of a natural breed showing definite characteristics that may be continued by breeding between specimens of the mutation and/or the natural breed from which it originated. A pedigree may show only the breeds listed.

American Bobtail

American Curl

American Wirehair:

Balinese:

Cornish Rex:

Devon Rex:

LaPerm

Scottish Fold

Selkirk Rex

Somali:

Sphynx:

If you have any questions regarding the registration of your cat, please send email to registration@cfa.org