Glossary

Cat registry

An organisation that records cats' ancestry, issues pedigree certificates, defines breed standards and licenses cat shows.

Also called: cat association, cat fancy, cat club, breed registry, stud book

A cat registry is a private organisation that keeps a stud book, which is a record of cats and their parents. When a breeder registers a litter, the registry issues each kitten a number and a pedigree certificate that traces its ancestry. Registries also write breed standards, decide which breeds and colours they recognise, license judges and shows, and set rules for breeders and catteries.

The best-known are the CFA and TICA in North America, the GCCF in the United Kingdom and FIFe across Europe. There are many smaller national and regional bodies. Each runs on its own rules, so a breed can be fully recognised by one and not accepted by another. The collective world of breeders, exhibitors and judges is often called the cat fancy.

A registry is not a government agency, and it does not guarantee a cat's health or the conditions in which it was raised. Papers show ancestry only. When you buy a kitten, check that the registry is genuine and that the breeder follows its code, see the parents, and ask for veterinary and health-test results. Beware of lesser-known bodies that register any cat for a fee without checking ancestry.

Last reviewed November 7, 2026

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Related terms

CFA The Cat Fanciers' Association, a United States-based registry of pedigree cats founded in 1906 that sets breed standards and runs cat shows. TICA The International Cat Association, a worldwide registry founded in 1979 that registers pedigree and household pet cats and recognises many newer breeds. FIFe The Fédération Internationale Féline, an umbrella body of national cat clubs, mainly in Europe, founded in 1949, that sets shared breed rules. GCCF The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy, the main registry for pedigree cats in the United Kingdom, formed in 1910 from several cat clubs. Pedigree A cat whose parents, grandparents and earlier ancestors are recorded by a registry, showing it belongs to a recognised breed. Breed standard The written description of the ideal cat of a breed, covering head, body, coat, colour and temperament, used by judges and breeders.

Related guides

How to choose a cat breed How to match a cat to your home by size, energy, coat, voice and health, and when a mixed-breed cat is the better choice. How to tell a reputable breeder What to look for and ask when buying a pedigree kitten, which health tests matter, when kittens should leave their mother, and the signs of a scam.