Cat Owner Reference Directory
Cat Information and Breed Club Locator
A selected directory of established organizations that provide general cat information, breed descriptions and standards, breed clubs, registries, and resources for pedigreed and household cats.
Original Site Article
Cat Breed Disease Predispositions, Inherited Disorders and Congenital Conditions
A veterinarian-authored feline reference organized by breed and variety, with breed predispositions, inherited and genetic disorders, congenital and developmental conditions, current evidence notes, and an alphabetical disease glossary.
General Cat Information
These organizations provide broad owner-oriented information about choosing a cat, responsible ownership, behavior, grooming, breed characteristics, showing, and everyday life with cats.
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The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA)
One of the world's major pedigreed-cat registries, with breed profiles, feline education, breeder and exhibitor information, cat shows, breed standards, and club resources. -
The International Cat Association — Cat Care
General owner information on feline behavior, communication, grooming, nutrition, travel, senior-cat care, genetics, microchips, and responsible cat ownership. -
Governing Council of the Cat Fancy — Choosing a Cat
Guidance on selecting a breed, deciding between pedigree and rescue cats, choosing a responsible breeder, finding a kitten, and understanding breed characteristics. -
Cats Protection — First-Time Cat Owners
Practical owner information about choosing a cat, preparing the home, introducing a new cat, behavior, household relationships, basic care, and responsible ownership.
Breed Information and Standards
These are strong starting points for learning about individual cat breeds. Breed pages generally include some combination of history, temperament, size, coat, grooming, activity level, accepted colors and patterns, and official breed standards.
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Cat Fanciers' Association — Breeds
Official CFA breed directory with photographs, breed characteristics, personality descriptions, coat length, recognized colors and patterns, and links to breed standards and related resources. -
The International Cat Association — Browse All Breeds
Searchable directory of TICA-recognized breeds. Filters include temperament, size, activity level, and grooming needs, and individual breed pages provide breed characteristics and standards. -
Governing Council of the Cat Fancy — Cat Breeds
Breed profiles for GCCF-recognized cats, with owner-oriented descriptions and links to standards, registration policies, and related breed information. -
Fédération Internationale Féline — Breeds
International breed directory with breed profiles and official standards. Particularly useful for European and internationally recognized breeds and for comparing recognition among registries. -
American Cat Fanciers Association — Breed Directory and Standards
Active U.S. registry with a breed directory, breed standards, show information, registration resources, and current organizational material.
Breed Club Locators
Breed clubs and breed councils can be useful sources for breed history, temperament, grooming, showing, breeder contacts, rescue information, and local or regional events. Central directories are generally more reliable than maintaining hundreds of individual breed-club links that can change over time.
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Cat Fanciers' Association — Breed Councils
CFA maintains a Breed Council for every championship breed. Breed councils help maintain breed standards and breed profiles and provide a route to experienced breed representatives. -
Cat Fanciers' Association — Member Clubs
Directory and information for CFA-affiliated cat clubs, including breed-oriented and regional clubs. -
The International Cat Association — Find a Club / Regions
Worldwide TICA club locator organized by region, with club names, locations, contacts, and websites where available. -
Governing Council of the Cat Fancy — Member Cat Clubs
Extensive alphabetical list of GCCF member clubs, including many breed-specific clubs. Each listing identifies the breed or area represented and provides a website or contact where available. -
Fédération Internationale Féline — Member Organizations
International directory of FIFe member associations by country. Member organizations commonly provide links to affiliated regional and breed clubs.
National and International Cat Organizations
These organizations maintain breed registries, standards, club networks, educational resources, and cat-show programs. Recognition and breed standards differ among registries, so comparing more than one organization can be useful for uncommon or international breeds.
- The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) — Major North American registry with breed standards, breed councils, clubs, shows, registration, and feline education.
- The International Cat Association (TICA) — International registry recognizing a broad range of breeds and household pets, with breed profiles, clubs, breeder resources, and shows.
- Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (United Kingdom) — UK registry with breed profiles, standards, breed clubs, breeder information, and cat-show resources.
- Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe) — International federation of national feline organizations with breed standards, member associations, breed councils, and shows.
- American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) — Active U.S. registry with breed directory, standards, registration, awards, and shows.
- Associazione Nazionale Felina Italiana (ANFI) — Italy's national feline organization and a FIFe member, with recognized breed standards, registration, clubs, and shows.
- Klub der Katzenfreunde Österreichs (Austria) — Long-established Austrian feline organization with breeder, registration, club, and show information.
- Traditional Cat Association — Long-standing specialty registry focused on traditional and classic cat types and household pets.
Household and Non-Pedigreed Cats
Most companion cats are not members of a recognized pedigree breed. Several major feline organizations include household, mixed-ancestry, rescue, or non-standard cats in their programs.
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TICA — Household Cat
Information about household-pet cats, including mixed-breed and random-bred cats and pedigree cats that do not meet a breed standard. TICA household pets can participate in shows and club activities. -
CFA — Companion Cat World
CFA program for non-pedigreed, shelter, rescue, mixed-breed, and other companion cats, whether or not they are shown competitively. -
GCCF — Household Pets
Information about the GCCF Household Pet section, including Non-Pedigree Pets and Pedigree Pets that compete separately from recognized pedigree breed classes.
Feline Genetics and Coat Color
These resources are included for owners and breeders interested in breed inheritance, coat color, parentage, and the scientific study of feline genetics rather than for individual medical diagnosis.
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UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory — Feline Coat Color
University resource explaining the major genes responsible for feline coat colors and patterns, including agouti, brown, colorpoint restriction, dilution, dominant white, and breed-specific color traits. -
UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory — Cat DNA Tests
Searchable university resource for feline genetic tests involving coat color, coat type, parentage, and breed-related traits. -
FIFe — Breed Standards and EMS System
International breed standards and standardized EMS breed/color coding useful for understanding how breed, coat color, pattern, and eye color are described internationally.