American Shorthair Associations

There are hundreds of cat associations that recognize American shorthairs as pedigreed cats. Joining an association requires an application form and yearly membership fee. When registering your cat, choose recognized associations. These associations follow the same guidelines for judging and showing cats. They also adhere to specific breed standards when judging. Recognized associations award substantial cash prizes to winners, so showing your cat can be very profitable.

  1. American Association of Cat Enthusiasts

    • American Association of Cat Enthusiasts recognizes 47 breeds including the shorthair. To register your purebred American shorthair, you must detail your cat's pedigree on a pedigree chart that covers four generations. You can print out or hand-write the chart. You can find application forms in the "Forms and Publications" section of the website, aaceinc.org.

    American Cat Association

    • The American Cat Association, or ACA, is the nation's oldest cat registry. The association does not hold cat shows, but its lengthy history makes it a solid choice for cat owners who want to be part of one of the original cat associations. ACA does not have a website, but you can call them at (818) 781-5656.

    American Cat Fanciers' Association

    • The American Cat Fanciers' Association, or ACFA, is a large, highly recognized cat registry that holds a number of cat shows. You can register your cat online at www.acfacat.com, and you must document three generations on the pedigree chart. If the dam and sire are registered with ACFA, you must get their owner's signature on your application form.

    The Canadian Cat Association

    • The Canadian Cat Association, or CCA, offers cat registrations to Canadians. You can fill out a registration form at the website, www.cca-afc.com. You do not need to give your cat's pedigree; simply click the breed, choose the membership type, and pay the yearly fee. However, you must provide the pedigree when you enter CCA cat shows.

    The Cat Fanciers' Association

    • The Cat Fanciers' Association, or CFA, is the world's largest cat registry, with more than 1 million registered cats. CFA recognizes 40 breeds. To register your American shorthair with CFA, you need the blue or yellow slip from the breeder. Fill out the form following the guidelines at the website, www.cfa.org, and submit the form. CFA mails or emails your certificate using the email or mailing address you provide.

    Cat Fanciers' Federation

    • Cat Fanciers' Federation, or CFF, is an established association accepting registrations for full litters or individual pets; its website is www.cffinc.org. CFF requires pet owners to print out the forms and mail them to the address on the application. Once the application is approved, there are many cat shows available for kittens and adult cats.

    The International Cat Association

    • The International Cat Association, or TICA, accepts members from around the world. TICA's online registration form makes it easy to enroll; the website is www.tica.org. You must agree to the terms of membership before you're taken to the online application. Pet owners do not need to detail their pet's pedigree, but breeders must. Pedigree paperwork is required to enter shows.

    The National American Shorthair Club

    • The National American Shorthair Club is an association specifically for breeders. To register with the National American Shorthair Club, your cat must also be registered with the Cat Fanciers' Association. Members enter cat shows specifically for American shorthairs. The website is www.ashclub.org.