International organizations of cat lovers

 The very first cat show was organized in Winchester (Great Britain) in 1598 in the era of Shakespeare, who adored these amazing animals and considered them “harmless and absolutely necessary in people’s lives.” And the official premiere took place almost three centuries later. It was organized by Garrison Weir, a judge who developed the standards for all the breeds participating in the demonstration. The victory was won by a Persian kitten.  In the United States, a similar initiative was made in 1895 by James T. Hyde. In New York, the Maine Coon became the triumph of the insertion. Since then, the creation of organizations began, which were in charge of developing the rules for holding cat shows, checking pedigrees, creating breed standards. Today, in the vast majority of countries there are associations of cat lovers, and at least one of which it is a member of the international organization FIFe, established in 1949 and claiming to be the largest felinological association in the world. WCF (World Federation of Cat Fanciers) and FIFe (International Felinological Federation) are represented in Belarus

ACF – Australian Cat Federation

Australian Federation of Cat Fanciers

Created in 1969

Address: Mrs Carole Galli, 257 Acourt Road, Canning Vale WA 6155 Phone: 08 9455 1481 Website: http://www.acf.asn.au E-mail: [email protected]Official language: English The tasks of the organization include registration and control of breeding of thoroughbred animals, organization of exhibitions.  

WCF — The World Cat Federation

World Federation of Cat Fanciers

Founded in 1988 Address: Geisbergstr. 2, D-45139 Essen, Germany Phone: +49-(0)-201-555 724 Website: http://www.wcf-online.de E-mail: [email protected]Official languages: English, German, French. Created in Brazil, it includes more than 540 cat lovers clubs. The tasks of the organization include the international registration of animals and nurseries, the development of standards, the training of judges of the international category, international relations. 

GCCF – The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy

British Administrative Council of Cat Fanciers

Established in 1988 Address: 5 Kings Castle Business Park, The Drove, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 4 AG, United Kingdom Telephone: 01278 427575 Website: http://www.gccfcats.org E-mail: [email protected]Official language: English The tasks of the Council include checking and registering pedigrees, supervising the breeding of pedigreed cats, as well as monitoring compliance with the rules for their maintenance. Currently, more than 30 purebred animals are registered per year. 

FIFe – Federation Internationale Feline

International Felinological Federation

Established in 1949. Address: Eric Reijers — FIFe General Secretary, Na Vršku 470/11, CZ-67167 Hrušovany nad Jevišovkou, Czech Republic Phone: +420 541227824 Website: http://fifeweb.org/index.phpE-mail: [email protected]Official languages: English, German, French The FIFe considers itself the “United Nations” in relation to national clubs and associations. Includes organizations from over 40 countries, based in Luxembourg. All FIFe members adhere to a single system of standards and names, uniform rules for breeding cats and organizing exhibitions. 

CFA – The Cat’s Fanciers’ Association

Association of Cat Fanciers

Created in 1906 Address: 260 East Main Street, Alliance, OH 44601, USA Phone: +1 (330) 680-4070 Website: http://cfa.org E-mail: [email protected]Official language: English The organization is responsible for the registration of animals, litters, names of catteries and the correct reflection of names of catteries in animal names, resolves disputes related to registration of pedigrees and awarding champion titles, issues certificates. Since 1909 he has been publishing the Cat Journal. 

TICA – The International Cat Association

International Association of Cat Fanciers

Established in 1979 Address: PO Box 2684 – Harlingen, Texas 78551, USA Phone: (+1) (956) 428-8046 Website: http://www.tica.org E-mail: [email protected]Official language: English The organization adheres to the principles of a new approach to cat breeding and exhibitions, taking into account the latest achievements in the field of genetics. Cats are registered by genotype, but at exhibitions they are judged by phenotype, that is, by appearance. 

ACFA – The American Cat Fanciers Association

American Cat Fanciers Association

Created in 1955 Address: PO Box 1949, Nixa, MO 65714-1949 Phone: +1 (417) 725 1530 Website: http://www.acfacat.com E-mail: [email protected]Official language: EnglishFirst organization to allow non-standard cats to fight for the title of champions and introduced written examinations for judge candidates.