The CFA Rules for Naming Cats

When you purchase a pedigreed cat from a professional breeder, you need to register your new feline friend with the Cat Fancier's Association if you want to professionally show or breed her through this organization. Once the breeder gives you the CFA paperwork containing all of the registration information for your new kitty, you'll have to pick a name for her that conforms to the CFA naming rules.

  1. The CFA

    • The CFA is a not-for-profit organization that registers pedigreed cats, licenses professional cat shows and establishes the standards for 42 cat breeds. Reputable breeders register their catteries with organizations like the CFA and report all of their pedigreed litters to them. When you purchase a kitten from a CFA-registered cattery, the breeder gives you a blue or yellow slip listing all of the information you need to register your little one. You either mail the completed slip itself to the CFA or enter the information online on the CFA website, including the name that you choose.

    Naming Structure

    • According to the CFA, your cat's name can't exceed 35 characters, including spaces and punctuation. The first part of a cat's name, referred to as the "prefix," is the cattery name from which you obtained the cat. The second part is the actual name that you choose for her. If you own a cattery, then your cattery's name will appear as the third part of the name known as the "suffix." For example, say you purchase your kitty from the "Star Rose" cattery and want to name her "Bootsie," then the name would appear as "Star Rose's Bootsie" with the CFA. If you own a cattery named "Pretty Paws," then the cat's name would appear as "Star Rose's Bootsie of Pretty Paws."

    Choosing a Name

    • If the cattery you purchase your kitty from has already registered another cat by the name you choose, you cannot use the name. Consult with the breeder before you choose a name to prevent duplicating a name already registered with the cattery. You can't choose names that are any form of profanity or that include phrases like "champ" or "champion," both of which could be confused with the title "champion" a cat can obtain through professional showing. The CFA allows for two name choices on their registration form, in case one of them isn't acceptable.

    Naming Considerations

    • When devising your cat's name, keep in mind that each cattery name cannot exceed 12 characters in length. Cattery names won't include given names, breed names, award titles or titles like "Princess," because the CFA forbids them. Once you choose a name as the registered owner, you cannot change it unless the kitty has never won any awards or points during shows and never had a registered litter. If you purchase a cat who's already named by the breeder and registered with the CFA, you'll need the breeder's written permission to change the name with the CFA.

    Household Pets

    • In 2011, the CFA began accepting registration applications for household pets under their CFA Household Pet Recording Program. The only rule for the selection of household pet names is that they cannot exceed 35 characters.