Perhaps the most coveted title a cat can be awarded in CFA is that of Distinguished Merit or DM.
To be awarded the Distinguished Merit title in CFA, a male cat must sire a minimum of 15 cats who have earned at least one of three titles: Grand Champion, Grand Premier or Distinguished Merit. Effective April 30, 2021, the number of qualifying offspring was reduced from 15 to 10 for males. A Female DM must have produced 5 or more offspring who earn at least one of these titles. Regardless of how many titles it earns, an individual cat can count only once towards the DM title of each of its parents.
Often called the “Breeder’s” title, the DM represents how well a cat has contributed to the next generation of its breed… and it is the recognition of this impact on future generations that makes this award such a special accomplishment.
A first in Exotic Breed History was written in the 1980-81 show season, when a blue female, GC Bryn Mawr Funny Girl, DM, became the first Exotic to earn the title of Distinguished Merit.
Fourteen years later in 1995, the first male Exotic earned the title when Desmin Double Dilemma, DM produced his 15th Grand. His accomplishment was all the more impressive as he was a Long-Haired Exotic and so could only produce showable offspring when bred to a SH female.
Exotic Distinguished Merit Cats in CFA
Year | Name | Sex | Color | |
1980-81 | GCBryn Mawr Funny Girl, DM First Exotic DM | F | Blue | |
1983-84 | Desmin Dawne of Kapa, DM | F | Blue | |
1992-93 | Telone Plain Jane, DM | F | Tortoiseshell | |
1994-95 | GP Becton’s Miss Behavin, DM | F | Tortoiseshell | |
GC, NW Jovan Miss USA of Bryn Mawr, DM | F | Brown McTabby | ||
Ziegfelds Barette of Luvlypurr, DM | F | Red Tabby | ||
Desmin Double Dilemma , DM First Exotic Male DM
First Exotic Longhair DM | M | Van Blue & White LH | ||
Graukatz Sunshine Bear of Desmin, DM | F | Dilute Calico | ||
CH Zoticats Petunia of Desmin, DM | F | Blue Patched McTabby & White | ||
GC, RW Becton’s Summer Jackpot, DM | F | Cream Tabby | ||
GC Becton’s Desert Daze, DM | F | Tortoiseshell | ||
1995-96 | GC, RW Bryn Mawr Murphy Brown of Benzac, DM | F | Brown Tabby | |
1997-98 | GC Del Adene J’Bustopher Brown, DM | M | Brown Tabby | |
1999-00 | CH Scots-Zots Tatiana of JKZoo, DM | F | Calico | |
GC, NW Bryn Mawr Bugsy Malone, DM | M | Black | ||
GC, NW Jovan Buster Brown, DM | M | Brown McTabby | ||
CH Mashhad Asayo of Kuorii, DM | F | Brown Tabby | ||
2001-02 | GC, RW Becton’s Forget Me Knot, DM | F | Brown Patched Tabby | |
2002-03 | Spellbound Stormy, DM | F | Black Smoke | |
GC Mint Hill Magic of Desmin, DM | F | Van Black & White | ||
CH Aegaeon’s Munchkin of Wickens, DM | F | Brown Patched Tabby | ||
CH Desmin Desert Five-Spot, DM | M | Cream Tabby & White | ||
JKZoo’s Callie Purr, DM | F | Calico | ||
Wickens Brooke of Aegaeon, DM First Exotic Longhair Female DM | F | Brown Patched Tabby LH | ||
2003-04 | GC Aegaeon’s Billie Jo, DM | F | Brown McTabby | |
GC, RW Aegaeon’s Jo-El, DM | F | Blue-Cream | ||
CH Becton’s Bo Jangles of Calivan, DM | M | Black | ||
CH Beauetchere’s Beatrice of Verlaine, DM | F | Brown Tabby | ||
GC, RW Dancecat’s Cha-Cha of Beauetchere, DM | F | Brown Patched Tabby | ||
2004-05 | CH Beauetchere’s Butterfly Kisses, DM | F | Brown McTabby | |
CH Calivan’s Camille of Pensfordhill, DM | F | Black | ||
CH JKZoo’s Kyoko of Highlander, DM | F | Red Tabby & White | ||
GC, RW Spellbound McGyver, DM | M | Brown McTabby & White | ||
CH Jobara’s Spice Girl, DM | F | Silver Patched McTabby | ||
2005-06 | GC JKZoo’s Rustic Purr Motor, DM | M | Red Tabby & White | |
2006-07 | GC Calivan’s Call Girl, DM | F | Brown Tabby & White | |
JKZoo’s Bodacious Ta-Tas of Richson, DM | F | Van Black & White LH | ||
GC Panei’s Dominique, DM | F | Copper-Eyed White | ||
GC Ben-Mar Shoebutton of Fox Hara, DM | F | Black | ||
CH Ormeryds Karina, DM | F | Brown Tabby | ||
2007-08 | CH Calivan’s Tuff Tabitha, DM | F | Brown McTabby | |
GC Cat-A-Poltz Evelyn of Joyville, DM | F | Brown Patched Tabby & White | ||
CH Calivan’s Tuff Tina of Pensfordhill, DM | F | Blue Tabby | ||
GC, RW Desmin Dawn Maiden of Cotn Hill, DM | F | Blue Patched Tabby & White | ||
CH JKZoo’s Celeste, DM | F | Calico | ||
CH Calivan’s Liz Claiborne of Arrow, DM | F | Brown Tabby | ||
GC, RW Heida Hello Dolly, DM | F | Van Calico | ||
CH Panei’s Lady Camille, DM | F | Cream Tabby & White | ||
Yellicle Baby Belle of Howlz&Meowz, DM | F | Brown Tabby | ||
Heida Olivia, DM | F | Black & White LH | ||
2008-09 | GC Grandaries Tuxedo Sam of Panei, DM | M | Black & White | |
CH Calivan’s Hello Kitty, DM | F | Brown McTabby | ||
GC Dega-Bulu’s Lil’Dutch Boy of Heida, DM | M | Cream McTabby & White | ||
Latin Lover Pap Shulss, DM | M | Blue Spotted Tabby | ||
GC Calivan’s Tootsie, DM | F | Copper-Eyed White | ||
2009-10 | GC Ladiluck’s Tatiana, DM | F | Brown Patched McTabby | |
GC Laureden Magically Delicious, DM | F | Tortie Lynx Point | ||
GC Desmin Dixie Summer of Cotn Hill, DM | F | Brown Patched Tabby & White | ||
Grandaries Topaz of Coolook, DM | F | Brown McTabby | ||
GC Starbourne’s I Hope You Dance, DM | F | Brown McTabby | ||
GC Calivan’s Pretty Woman, DM | F | Calico | ||
2010-11 | GC, RW Calivan’s Captain Hook, DM | M | Black | |
GC, RW Floricats Painted Doll of Ladiluck, DM | F | Blue Patched McTabby & White | ||
2011-12 | GC Calivan’s Dirty Harry of Allalux, DM | M | Black | |
GC, RW Perfikatz Sweet Legacy, DM | F | Brown Patched Spotted Tabby | ||
GC, BW, NW Desmin Driving Miss Daisy, DM | F | Van Dilute Calico | ||
2012-13 | GC Panei’s Duchess Emma, DM | F | Blue-Cream | |
GC, NW Heida I Luv Rock N’ Roll, DM | M | Van Black & White | ||
GC Maradan Castanuela of Proventus, DM | F | Brown Patched Tabby | ||
GC Latin Lover Rich of Wishes, DM | F | Brown Tabby | ||
GC, GP, RW Calivan’s Tinkerbelle, DM | S | Tortoiseshell | ||
Maradan Mri Pili, DM | F | Brown Patched Tabby LH | ||
CH Parti Wai Ex Autum Bloom of Morado’, DM | F | Brown Patched Tabby & White | ||
2013-14 | D’Mediterran Pink Fish | F | Blue Tabby | |
GC, NW Argentovivo Juliet of Wishes, DM | F | Brown Patched McTabby | ||
CH Calivan’s Taxi Dancer of Arrow, DM | F | Brown Tabby & White | ||
CH Beauetchere’s Shimmering Jewel, DM | F | Silver Tabby & White | ||
CH Nanc-C Bizzy Betzy of Berryhill, DM | F | Brown Tabby & White | ||
GC Latin Lover Vodkazot, DM | M | Blue McTabby | ||
GC Morado’ Hakuna Matata, DM | F | Silver Patched McTabby & White | ||
GC, DW Maradan Penelope of Justonewish, DM | F | Brown Patched Tabby | ||
CH Hatsumi Rhea, DM | F | Blue Tabby & White | ||
2014-15 | Aimee of Q Star, DM | F | Silver Patched Tabby & White | |
CH Moominpapa Mommin Papa Diana, DM | F | Tortoiseshell | ||
GC, DW D’Eden Lover Coriandoli of Bhakti, DM | F | Brown Patched Spotted Tabby | ||
2015-16 | CH Toxicate Dream Star, DM | F | Black & White | |
Bigi’s Arriba of Freedow, DM | F | Brown Tabby & White LH | ||
GC D’Eden Lover Alexandria, DM | F | Copper-Eyed White LH | ||
CH Chun Lap Duoer Athena of Dov’er, DM | F | Red Tabby & White | ||
D’Eden Lover G’Ella, DM | F | Brown Patched McTabby LH | ||
GC, NW D’Eden Lover Gypsy of Parti Wai Ex, DM | F | Brown Patched Spotted Tabby & White | ||
CH, GP Chun Lap Nadia, DM | F | Tortoiseshell | ||
GC, DW Zoticats Buddy Love of Chun Lap, DM | M | Red Tabby | ||
GC Amfion’s Iriska of Black Pearls, DM | F | Brown Patched Tabby & White | ||
CH Mimihouse Dancing In The Rain, DM | F | Calico | ||
2016-17 | GC Bella Mia Lola, DM | F | Calico | |
GC, DW Cat Need Jessica, DM | F | Brown Patched Tabby & White | ||
Coujee Oyone, DM | F | Blue Tabby | ||
CH Dai & Lou Myrtle, DM | F | Cream Tabby & White | ||
DW Freedow’s Hope | F | Brown Patched Tabby & White LH | ||
GC Latin Lover Marco Polo, DM | M | Red McTabby | ||
Maradan Otelina, DM | F | Tortoiseshell | ||
Maradan Pacifica, DM | F | Black | ||
GC Maradan Velociraptor, DM | M | Red Tabby & White | ||
CH Ohmyown Glamoroux of Phoenix, DM | F | Dilute Calico | ||
Panei’s Choux A’La Creme, DM | F | Cream & White | ||
GC Panei’s Marquessa Magdalena, DM | F | Black | ||
GC Panei’s Tangelina Sunrise, DM | F | Red Tabby | ||
GC Peking Tessa of Toxicate, DM | F | Calico | ||
Satin Ex Love At First Sight, DM | F | Calico | ||
GC, DW Satin Ex Super Hero, DM | M | Blue McTabby & White | ||
Stars R Us Isadora of Topknot, DM | F | Copper-Eyed White | ||
** GC, DW Bigi’s Desert Storm, DM | M | Red McTabby & White | ||
** GC, RW Perfikatz Trademark, DM | M | Brown Spotted Tabby | ||
** Ydem Serial Lover of Maradan, DM | M | Blue Tabby & White | ||
2017-18 | Latin Lover Celebrity, DM | F | Tortoiseshell | |
GC, RW Laureden Love of Mipaws, DM | F | Blue Lynx Point | ||
GC, RW Divinity SMokin Hottie of Jazzycats, DM | F | Blue & White | ||
CH Bigi’s Karena, DM | F | Brown Tabby & White | ||
GC D’Eden Lover Vavilon, DM | M | Red McTabby & White | ||
CH Panei’s Lady Sakura, DM | F | Black & White | ||
GC Panei’s Riding On A Sunbeam, DM | M | Red Tabby | ||
CH Callyn’s Skittles, DM | F | Tortoiseshell | ||
GC, BW, NW Ivy Cat Black Ice of Purr Elli, DM | M | Black | ||
GC Thaidan Bitter Sweet of Pearl Lover, DM | F | Brown Patched Tabby | ||
Romaneecoti Tempranillo, DM | F | Dilute Calico | ||
GC Ruslana’s Autumn Sunset, DM | F | Cream & White LH | ||
Joycat Ex Regina 66, DM | F | Blue McTabby & White | ||
Chun Lap Co Co Chanel, DM | F | Brown Patched McTabby | ||
CH Love’Baby Chloe, DM | F | Calico | ||
** GC Bhakti Honey, DM | M | Cream Tabby | ||
** GC Bhakti Le Grand Bluff of Shiny Star, DM | M | Copper-Eyed White | ||
** GC, DW Bigi’s Kiss-Of-Cupid, DM | M | Brown Tabby & White | ||
** CH Calivan’s Sgt. Pepper of Kobano, DM | M | Black & White | ||
** Chun Lap & Simon of Aita, DM | M | Brown Tabby & White | ||
** GC Dov’Er Chicly, DM | M | Red Tabby & White | ||
** GC Laves Ichiro of Coujee, DM | M | Brown Tabby | ||
** GC, GP, RW Maradan Bandolero, DM | N | Brown Tabby | ||
** GC Maradan Corazon De Melon, DM | M | Blue Tabby & White | ||
** GC, BW, NW Parti Wai Ex Jackpot, DM | M | Cream Spotted Tabby & White | ||
2018-19 | CH D’Eden Lover Gigolo of Wishes, DM | M | Brown Spotted Tabby | |
GC Yueguangguan’s Amy, DM | F | Calico | ||
CH Toxicate Blu Bari, DM | F | Blue Patched Tabby | ||
GC Grace Angel Beizi, DM | F | Brown Patched Tabby & White LH | ||
CH Coujee Shimacco, DM | F | Brown Spotted Tabby | ||
Shou Shou Goddess, DM | F | Calico | ||
GC, NW Toxicate Sundae Bonnet, DM | F | Brown Spotted Tabby & White | ||
GC Purfurvid Pistol, DM | M | Red McTabby & White | ||
Perfikatz Sweetstuff of Purfurvid, DM | F | Brown Patched McTabby | ||
Bhakti Cocaina of Forsycat, DM | F | Copper-Eyed White | ||
GC Dar-Liz Doll, DM | F | Red Tabby & White LH | ||
** GC, DW Atc Black Carbon of Moon Dancer, DM | M | Black LH | ||
** GC D’Eden Lover Gossip of Pearl Lover, DM | M | Brown Spotted Tabby & White | ||
** CH Hatsumi Takuya, DM | M | Cream Tabby & White | ||
2019-20 | Scirocco Morgana of Dark Diamond, DM | F | Brown Tabby | |
One-More-Cat Baby Doll, DM | F | Red Tabby | ||
D’Eden Lover Amanda, DM | F | Brown Tabby & White | ||
GC Grace Angel Nancy, DM | F | Dilute Calico | ||
D’Eden Lover French Kiss, DM | F | Blue | ||
2020-21 | GC, RW Leo Star Vega, DM | F | Tortoiseshell | |
** NOTE: Effective April 30, 2021, the number of qualifying offspring needed for a male cat to earn his DM title was reduced from 15 to 10. See our DM History article for more details. The cats receiving a retroactive DM award have been added to this list in the show season they would have been awarded their DM title. The cat’s name appears on a light gray background. | ||||
2021-22 | GC, NW Purfurvid Tommy Gun of Toxicate, DM | M | Blue Spotted Tabby & White | |
CH, RW Toxicate Nat Win Cho, DM | F | Copper-Eyed White | ||
2022-23 | GC Callyn’s Good & Redy, DM | M | Red Tabby | |
GC Kuorii Yohji of D’Eden Lover, DM | F | Tortoiseshell | ||
CH D’Eden Lover Colomba, DM | F | Blue Spotted Tabby | ||
2023-24 | GC, RW Steadham’s Jake Sully of Starbourne, DM | M | Blue McTabby | |
GC Catillak Vyadore of Furrshurr, DM | F | Brown Patched Tabby & White LH | ||
GC, RW Jazzycats D’ Lila, DM | F | Black | ||
GC, NW D’Eden Lover Lili of Parti Wai Ex, DM | F | Blue Patched McTabby & White | ||
CH San-Fe Hamilton of D’Eden Lover, DM | M | Cream Tabby & White | ||
CH Uozumi Kanon of Cutietabby, DM | F | Tortoiseshell | ||
2025-26 | D’Eden Lover Rastacouere, DM | F | Tortoiseshell | |
One-More-Cat Super Dream, DM | F | Tortoiseshell | ||
GC, GP, RW Impero Bess, DM | F | Brown Spotted Tabby | ||
CH J&K Him Se Se, DM | F | Blue Tabby | ||
GC, GP Panei’s Honey Bee, DM | F | Cream Tabby & White | ||
GC, RW Ydem Musashi of D’Eden Lover, DM | M | Blue | ||
Chun Lap Honey Baby of Buddies, DM | F | Tortoiseshell | ||
PR Panei’s Shirayukihime, DM | S | Copper-Eyed White | ||
GP J&K Him Mui Mui, DM | S | Blue Patched Tabby LH | ||
GC, RW Purfurvid Derringer of Purring Army, DM | M | Red Spotted Tabby & White | ||
GC Single Christmas of Star Empire, DM | M | Brown Spotted Tabby & White | ||
GC Star Empire Katyusha, DM | F | Brown Patched Spotted Tabby | ||
CH, GP Vinlovestar Bernays, DM | S | Brown Patched McTabby & White | ||
J&K Him Fung Fung, DM | F | Blue-Cream Point | ||
CH Cagemi Dola, DM | F | Cream Tabby & White | ||
GC, PR, BWI Chun Lap Sweet Heart of Buddies, DM | S | Tortoiseshell | ||
Misty.Meow Barbie, DM | F | Brown Patched Tabby & White LH | ||
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