Preserving Genetic Diversity in the Cat Fancy
April 15, 2025
Careful Planning is Crucial For All Breeds
Laurie Coughlan & Kathi Hoos
Genetic diversity and hybrid vigor are terms tossed off easily even by people with only a cursory knowledge of breeding. The concepts seem simple, yet they are maintained only through constant awareness and action at all levels of the cat fancy. There are those who incorrectly believe that breeders of pedigreed animals are not sufficiently aware of (or don’t care about) the consequences of severe inbreeding, resulting in unhealthy animals. In fact, cat fanciers are very aware that genetic diversity is in the best interest of breeders, pet owners, and – most importantly – the cats.
When most people think about the breeding of pedigreed animals, they think of trying to produce a specific physical type. Each breed’s standard identifies the ideals for such factors as head shape, ear set, eye size, shape and color; coat: color, contrast or texture; body size, proportions and musculature, etc. These factors, added to temperament and activity levels, are what people come to expect from a specific breed. This is true for someone trying to produce a faster Thoroughbred, a smarter Shetland Sheepdog, or a more elegantly-boned Siamese cat.
In order to create and fix type in breeds, breeders must practice a certain amount of line breeding, perhaps even inbreeding. For example, a breed that is developed from a specific mutation in a single cat or one litter has to be developed initially by breeding related cats, as those were the only cats with that breed’s characteristics. Working with breeds that have relatively small gene pools requires repeated but careful outcrossing.
A Top-Down Approach to Diversity
Maintaining diversity is a goal that has been identified and acted upon on many levels within the cat fancy, from the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) Board of Directors down to the individual breeder. Before concentrating on breed characteristics, the responsible breeder has to consider producing healthy animals. CFA set the standard, quite literally. This priority is set out in the before any individual breed descriptions are defined.
“In order to embody the aesthetic qualities of beauty, grace and agility that epitomize the cat, the ideal show cat reflects excellent health and sound structure. Variations in structure help differentiate and distinguish the pedigreed cat breeds. Though individual breed standards sometimes describe unusual physical traits, the ideal show cat is free of any characteristics, exaggerated or otherwise, which cause discomfort or jeopardize health and well-being.”
The Breed Definition Report defines “breed” and addresses the classification of types of breeds, and the possible ways to maintain healthy populations within breeds.
A breed is a group of cats (subspecies felis catus) that the governing body of CFA has agreed to recognize as such. A breed must have distinguishing features that set it apart from all other breeds. The definition presumes the following:
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- At the time of recognition for registration CFA will assign a new breed into one of four classifications: Established, Hybrid, Mutation or Natural.
- No breed of any classification may be merged in whole or in part with a Natural or Established breed.
- For those breeds who do not have any other source of new bloodlines; i.e., importation, other registries or current outcrosses to other recognized breeds; and for whom the need to outcross for health and vitality appears necessary, the CFA Board will grant approval of an outcrossing plan when 60% of the voting breed council membership approves such a proposal.
To gain approval for a breed outcross, any breed council outcrossing proposal needs to include a summary of the problem(s) to be solved; relevant statements for veterinary and/or genetic professionals recommending outcrossing as the best option; a statement that no other sources of new bloodlines are available to the breed; a source of the outcross; and a statement that the offspring will not be returned to the breed used as outcross for registry or show. Finally, registration procedures must be established and approved by the CFA Executive Director.
Established outcross and import programs are identified in the allowable outcrosses for each breed, if any, are identified at the end of that breed’s standard.
An outcross program is not without risk. It is possible to introduce a genetic problem heretofore unknown in the breed. Outcrosses may include both recognized CFA breeds and unregistered domestic cats with appropriate traits. Domestic cats, whose pedigrees are unknown, may themselves be seriously inbred and may carry hidden traits not wanted in the breed. Some breeds used for outcrosses are known to have health issues, and in some cases, breeders have cooperated with researchers to develop DNA tests to help screen out the undesirable traits.
DNA testing is an especially useful tool, and grows more important as screening for additional traits is developed.
Ideas for Individuals
The CFA Board establishes rules and policies and standards, and the breed councils advise the Board and recommend solutions to problems caused by limited gene pools. What can an individual breeder do?
First, check the CFA Breed Standards for your breed. They detail allowable outcrosses and dates by which these outcrosses expire or will continue, pedigree requirements, foreign cat requirements, AOVs (if any) and cats that may not be accepted for reasons such as coat length, color, etc. They may also include Breed Notes, such as more specific allowance of outcrosses and importation.
Complexity of import policies varies widely; contact the CFA Central office for specific breed import requirements. For Japanese Bobtails, the process seems relatively simple: “Imports from Japan may be registered with unknown or unregistered parents. Two photos of the cat should be submitted and kept with the application. The OK of the Breed Council Secretary is required. Proof of import, including travel documents, is required for cats residing outside of Japan.” The process for importing Egyptian Maus is quite a bit more complex, requiring multiple generations of microchipped identified cats from specific countries, as well as inspection before acceptance.
An individual breeder may not be in the position to import cats, or even to acquire outcrosses. Many are working with very limited space and are keeping numbers down to ensure each cat receives appropriate attention and socialization. What can cat fanciers do, as individuals or by working together, to avoid creating increasingly smaller gene pools in our breeds, and to preserve healthy genetic diversity?
Understanding the Breed Council’s Role
Because the breed council is the main method through which breeders communicate to the CFA Board, joining the appropriate breed council is an important way of having a voice in the future of a breed. A breed council meeting allows breeders from around the world to discuss concerns and possible solutions to problems. A breed council vote expresses the opinion of the breeders to the CFA Board, and may trigger a standards change or a new policy for a breed.
Even before meeting the requirements for breed council membership, however, one can play a role in preserving genetic diversity through individual actions. Study pedigrees to avoid excessive inbreeding. Use DNA testing as appropriate to screen out undesirable traits or genetic defects. Spay, neuter and place as pets kittens that do not meet the standard or that have health issues, and be prepared to provide lifetime care for any that cannot be placed. Work with responsible breeders to share lines.
Cooperation with other responsible breeders and sharing of lines within a breed can make a huge difference. In an expensive hobby and at a time when local pet limit laws discourage breeders from keeping more than one or two breeding animals, it is a good idea to consider sharing stud services and establishing satellite catteries. With satellite catteries of compatible people (friends or relatives) willing to keep a female cat and raise some kittens, a breeder is able to work with more lines, including outcrosses or imports. The satellite catteries may have their own cattery names or use that of the primary breeder; some may alternate cattery names on litters. This is a great way to get someone started in breeding, as the experienced breeder provides mentorship to the newer one. Successful examples exist in multiple breeds in the US and especially in Europe. As in any cooperative arrangement, contracts are highly recommended to be sure each party understands what is expected and required.
Finally, consider that without responsible breeders, there would be no breeding programs at all. It is important to support the cat fancy in general through encouragement of spectators and new exhibitors who may someday turn into breeders.
Outcross Example:
The Havana Brown Outcross Program
In an attempt to increase the gene pool, along with sharing lines, the Havana Brown breeders have worked through the breed council to establish a CFA-approved outcross program. We may breed a registered Havana Brown to the following outcrosses: chocolate or seal point Siamese, certain colors of Orientals, and black domestic shorthairs.
The kittens resulting from these breedings are considered F1 kittens; these kittens are to be bred back to a full Havana Brown, and the resulting BROWN kittens are F2 kittens that may be shown without restriction.
Outcrossing is not without concerns. Diseases and conditions from other breeds can be introduced into the gene pool. We are particularly concerned with feline Amyloidosis, for which there is no available genetic test, as well as progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) which can be tested for. Even introduction of carriers to our gene pool could be disastrous for the breed.
While the F2 kittens may be shown, some do not meet the breed standard well. Some may have a different profile, with less of a stop at the eyes, an ear set that is not correct, or a body that is too long. Working with an outcross program takes time and dedication: It is not a quick fix for a limited gene pool. Occasionally the stars align just right, and an F2 kitten does maintain all the proper characteristics of the breed and is not only showable but capable of winning Regional Awards.
More detailed information on the outcross program is available on the CFA website.
Outcross Example:
Excerpts from the Egyptian Mau Import Policy:
The Egyptian Mau is a natural breed that has no allowable outcrosses. Cats may be imported from any of the countries listed below as defined by their geographical borders: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Republic of Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
It is the policy of the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) Egyptian Mau Breed Council to accept native Egyptian Maus into the CFA Egyptian Mau registry that:
- Have been imported from any of the countries listed above.
- Have satisfied the Requirements for Identification/Approval of Imported Native Egyptian Mau.
- Have satisfied the General Requirements for Registry, including a three-generation pedigree of known ancestors as documented by DNA parentage testing. It is the policy of the CFA Egyptian Mau Breed Council to accept domestic Egyptian Maus into the CFA Egyptian Mau registry that are the fourth generation (great-grand) offspring of one or more imported native Egyptian Maus of unknown ancestry, i.e., have a three-generation pedigree of known ancestors, at least one of which is a native Mau of unknown parentage. The native Egyptian Mau(s) must have been imported from the accepted countries as listed above.