Glossary

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.

Also called: Governing Council of the Cat Fancy

The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy, or GCCF, is the main body for pedigree cat registration in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1910 by a group of cat clubs that wanted a shared stud book and set of rules. Today it keeps the register, publishes breed standards, licenses shows run by its member clubs, and lays down a breeding policy that its breeders sign up to.

The GCCF registers kittens from the breeder's records and issues a pedigree certificate. It also has a process to introduce new breeds, with a trial stage before a breed can be shown for full status. Its policy on some breeds differs from other registries. For example, it does not register Scottish Folds, and it sets limits on certain colour and coat combinations.

For a buyer, a GCCF-registered kitten shows the paperwork is in order, and GCCF shows can be a good place to meet breeders. The registry does not inspect homes or guarantee health, so ask about veterinary checks and tests for the breed. Outside the UK, other bodies such as CFA, TICA and FIFe apply their own rules, and a breed or colour can be recognised by one and not by another.

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. Cat registry An organisation that records cats' ancestry, issues pedigree certificates, defines breed standards and licenses cat shows. Breed standard The written description of the ideal cat of a breed, covering head, body, coat, colour and temperament, used by judges and breeders. Cat show An event where cats are judged against the written standard for their breed or, in a household pet class, on condition and temperament.