Cat Fanciers Association - Purebred Cat Registry

For those in the know, the initials CFA are very important when they are looking for a cat. The initials CFA represent the Cat Fancier's Association. For cats to be proclaimed as a pedigree, they must be certified by CFA. CFA is the largest association for the registry of purebred felines and only forty one breeds of felines are certified by them.

This association came into existence in order to maintain breed standards and to register kittens from pedigree cats. The CFA pays close attention to the breeds to maintain the standards of the cats, checking that the cats comply with the standard specific traits when showcasing them at the annual cat shows.

In order to better the breed characteristics, a breeder must register a litter of purebred kittens with the Cat Fancier's Association. At this time, it is the breeder's decision as to whether these kittens will be allowed to breed or not. The only method to ensure that future descendants of the cat are able to be registered, is to get a pin number for the cat's application form. New owners should note that they would have to personally register the kittens of this particular cat, as their pets after this registration.

There are three specific categories into which each breed is placed by the Cat Fancier's Association; they are the Championship Class, Provisional Class and the Miscellaneous Class. The forty one breeds of pedigree cats recognized by the CFA are grouped stringently according to one of the following three categories. For purposes of showing the cats, the breed must win the first place title of its particular class in order to be judged for the title of Best in Show.

Any breed with a strong, established background is placed in the Championship Class, while breeds that have only recently become recognized and are being closely monitored to ensure that they adhere to the new standards are placed in the Provisional Class. Cats, who are still working on a set of standard specifics, are placed in the Miscellaneous Class. Placement in this class means these cats may not yet compete for the title of Best in Show.

The CFA is not the only cat registry in the world. In Canada, cat owners may register their purebred felines with the Canadian Cat Association. This association was established by native Canadians who wanted to register their purebred breeds with an association in their own country.

Another cat registry found around the world is The Traditional Cat Association. This registry does not recognize today's trends in characteristics and adheres to the original breed specifics. Additional registries include the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy, which is located in the United Kingdom and the Fdration Internationale Fline, which is the association for purebred cats in Europe.

With the variety of feline breeds being many, they all share one commonality; they are all considered either long hair or short hair. Common breeds found in the shorthair classification include Abyssinian and the British Shorthair. For the long hair classification, breeds such as the Norwegian Forest Cats and Turkish Angoras are represented.

The most commonly known breed of cat of the forty one recognized by the Cat Fancier's Association is the American Shorthair. This particularly popular breed has been in the United States for over three hundred years. With the common cat looking rather similar to this specific breed, the American Shorthair has been carefully bred over time to ascertain that all kittens shown special traits. In addition to the American Shorthair, other popular breeds include Siamese, Rex, Main Coon, Persian and the Ragdoll.

All cats whether pedigreed or not are a loving and wonderful companion. If you wish to experience the thrill of showing your cat, and are looking for a certain display of characteristics, then a pedigreed cat is the perfect choice for you.