The Cat Fanciers' Association was established in the United States in 1906. The CFA is currently the world's largest registry of pedigreed cats and known as the most prestigious pedigreed cat registering association in North America. Originally headquartered in Manasquan, New Jersey the CFA moved to Alliance, Ohio in 2010. The association's stated mission is preserving and promoting pedigreed breeds of cats while also enhancing the well-being of all cats. CFA's first licensed cat shows were held in Buffalo, New York and Detroit, Michigan in 1906. The association today has a known presence in Europe, China, and Japan along with its well-established activity in the United States and Canada. CFA has grown during the last century and celebrated its centennial in 2006. In May 2016, CFA recognized 42 breeds for its Championship Class and one in Miscellaneous Class. Current president is Mark Hannon.
The CFA offers a number of services to catteries, purebred feline owners, and the general public. One service the CFA offers is certified pedigree lists for registered cats. Registered cat pedigrees going back from three to six generations are available.
Other activities
CFA recognizes 42 pedigreed breeds for showing in the Championship Class and 1 breed as Miscellaneous. Since 1994, the CFA has hosted the CFA International Cat Show, described as the "Rolls-Royce of cat shows", the largest of its kind in the U.S.. Despite being cancelled in 2007 and 2010, the CFA International made a comeback in 2011 as the CFA World Show in Indianapolis, Indiana and has boasted renewed entries and interest since its re-branding and the acquisition of corporate sponsorships. In 2015, the show's name was restored to the CFA International Cat Show. Other activities of the CFA include setting breed standards and offering breeding guidelines, training show judges, promoting and inspecting catteries, supporting and publicizing research on cat health issues, influencing legislative issues, providing disaster relief and breed rescue programs, publishing books and magazines and informing the general public on topics relating to cats.
Description of CFA Cat Shows and Titles
While no two shows are identical, CFA cat shows follow certain procedures and guidelines: A CFA cat show actually consists of a number of simultaneous cat shows running at the same time within the same place. Depending on the size of the show, there are anywhere from 4 to 12 "rings" which generally run 1 to 2 days in length. Each "ring" has its own judge who independently scores cats and awards the top 10 places. Rings are of two kinds:
"All Breed" rings allow cats of every breed approved by the CFA to be judged... From Sphynx to Persian and everything in between.
"Specialty" rings separate out cats into one of two types: the "Longhair" category include cats like Persians, Maine Coons, and other long-haired cats, while the "Shorthair" include Burmese, Sphynx, American Shorthair and other short-haired cats.
Points are awarded to cats based on percentages of the number of cats "beaten" in the ring, determined according to their placement in the final or out of the number of champions/premiers in show.
At the end of each show season, the top 25 cats in the organization with the most points for the show season are awarded the coveted title of "National Winner".
Cats in the top 25 of their "region" are awarded the prestigious title of "Regional Winner". There are 9 regions in CFA, with regions 1-7 consisting of various American states and Canadian provinces, divided by geography and relative population, while regions 8 and 9 consist of the entirety of Japan and Europe, respectively. All other countries compete under the International Division.
Adult cats who are not neutered and achieve a point ranking of over 200 points are awarded the title of "Grand Champion".
Neutered cats can be shown in a class called "Premier" and achieve the title of "Grand Premier".
Cats which meet the standards of the breed as confirmed by six judges at one show are awarded "winners ribbon" by each judge and are awarded the lowest title of "Champion".
Kittens from the age of 4 to 8 months compete in a separate "Kitten" class, and are also able to achieve the title of "National Winner" and "Regional Winner", but can not become Grand Champions or Grand Premiers until reaching adulthood at 8 months of age.
Adult cats being shown at a show with no existing title are referred to as "Open", although they are still eligible to compete for gran points.
