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.
The first white DM was earned in 1972, by a copper-eyed white female named GC Skyway’s Gai Doll of Simbelair, DM. The first white male Persian DM wasn’t earned for another 7 years, when CH Skyway’s Rajah of Simbelair, DM, a copper-eyed white male, earned the title.
White Persian Distinguished Merit Cats in CFA
Year | Name | Sex | Color | |
1971-72 | GC Skyway’s Gai Doll of Simbelair, DM First White DM | F | Copper-Eyed | |
1978-79 | CH Skyway’s Rajah of Simbelair, DM First White Male DM | M | Copper-Eyed | |
1984-85 | GC Maggie-Ann’s Popcorn, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | |
1986-87 | GC Sun-Thunder Wind Star of Windborne, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | |
1987-88 | CH Fountainhead’s Claim To Fame, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | |
GC Sierra’s Diamond Chip, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | ||
CH Adelweis Easi-To-Be-Me, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
1988-89 | GC Fuzzy-Foot’s Lippizan, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | |
GC Kitty Charm’s Classique, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
GC, NW Ann-Ge’s Cool Million of Windborne, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | ||
1989-90 | GC South Paw Moonlighting, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | |
1990-91 | GC Anona Diamond Jack of Windpegs, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | |
1991-92 | GC, NW Jonala’s Chaz, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | |
GC, NW South Paw Starlight, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
GC, NW South Paw Wish Upon A Star, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | ||
CH Emeres Chrysalis of Woodspirit, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
1992-93 | GC Kitty Charm’s Ice Revue, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | |
GC South Paw Spotlight, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
Katrina’s Holly of Toshika, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
1993-94 | GC, NW South Paw Cloud Nine, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | |
GC South Paw Starstruck, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
Cacao Kate, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
Kitty Charm’s Diamond Delite, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
Olympian Moonsinger of Marsamis, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
1994-95 | CH Windpegs Simply Beautiful of Skyhy, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | |
GC Kitty Charm Diamonds Are Forever, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | ||
1995-96 | GC Cattrax Duke-O’-Earl, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | |
D-Jon Jasmine of Hapajo, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
Windpegs Marcia Mellow of Soesthill, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
Junjuahya Cupid Face, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
1996-97 | GC Fountainhead’s Theme Song, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | |
1997-98 | CH Marsamis Heartbreaker of Lacey, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | |
GC Spellbound Crusade, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | ||
GC Derrboux Passion And Me Travelin On, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
GC Laves Tomoko, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
1998-99 | GC Hiatts Jennifurr of Deran, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | |
GC South Paw Sterling of South Park, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
GC Anona Passionate Kisses, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
CH Royal Lace Bit-Of-Honey of Cattrax, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
1999-00 | GC, NW South Paw Bless My Soul, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | |
Softmagic’s Just Imagine of Araho, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
GC Teahs Frosty, DM | M | Blue-Eyed | ||
2000-01 | CH Panei’s Whispurring Windsong, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | |
GC Burnbrae’s Romancing The Stone, DM | M | Blue-Eyed | ||
2001-02 | CH Teahs Frosted Ice, DM | F | Blue-Eyed | |
2002-03 | CH Chez Mana Meringue, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | |
CH Budmar’s Moonglow, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
2003-04 | GC, RW Vashlyn Sinfully Sweet of Inthewind, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | |
GC, NW Kitty Charm Windchill, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | ||
2004-05 | CH Artemis Margarita-Of-Starfire, DM | F | Odd-Eyed | |
CH Ebonez Forbidden Passion, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
CH Ebonez Forbidden Ecstasy, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
2005-06 | GC Allthatjazz Chinese Fireworks, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | |
CH, GP Tanglebox’s Pointless, DM | F | Odd-Eyed | ||
President’s Valentine of Angelspur, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
Penobscot’s Ooo-La-La of Jomarkat, DM | F | Odd-Eyed | ||
GC, NW Young-Uns Belladonna, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
2006-07 | GC, RW Nook Nimbia Alba of Dlfkatz, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | |
GC, RW Revillion Double Trouble, DM | F | Odd-Eyed | ||
2007-08 | Morinoo White Diamond, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | |
2009-10 | CH LTCH Carousel, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | |
2010-11 | CH Agonistes Grace Kelly of Exceed, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | |
GC Kitty Charm Moon Maid, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
GC, DW Artemis China White of Zenithi, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
GC, BW, NW Melositos White Owl of D’Eden Lover, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | ||
2011-12 | GC Alexland Catsanova, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | |
CH Godz TotalWhiteout of Fultonblue, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | ||
GC, RW Parti Wai Ops Forgot My Party Dress, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
2012-13 | GC Artemis Shes The One of Genasaqua, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | |
2013-14 | Topcattery Pearl of Cinema, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | |
GC, GP, RW Purrinlot Takes My Breath Away, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
CH Lil Luv Lyns Diva, DM | F | Blue-Eyed | ||
2014-15 | CH Sunny Ridge Es Complicado of Cinema, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | |
GC, BW, NW Artemis Stardust Memory of Cinema, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | ||
Artemis Crystal Gale of Zukadream, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
GC Genasaqua’s Lydia, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
2015-16 | Topknot’s Edward, DM | M | Odd-Eyed | |
GC Heart’nSoul Snow White, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
GC Akalanka White Panda Star, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
Validian Vanilla Sky, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
2016-17 | GC, NW Cacao Xcitement, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | |
GC, NW Cinema’s Chanel of Wishes, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
D’Eden Lover Atomic Bomb, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
Dreem Weever’s Twinkle of Joker, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
2017-18 | GC Genasaqua’s Enchantress, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | |
CH Suavere’s Prae Dulcis, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
** GC Validian Take My Breath Away, DM | M | Blue-Eyed | ||
2018-19 | ** GC, RW Eastcloud Schumacher, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | |
2019-20 | GC I-Catchers Glamour Me, DM | F | Odd-Eyed | |
GC Jovan White Tomcat of Woodspirit, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | ||
GC I-Catchers Odyssey of Woodspirit, DM | F | Odd-Eyed | ||
** 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 Boberan Better In Time of Siam Aqua, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | |
2022-23 | GC Suavere’s Veni Vedi Vici, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | |
2023-24 | Beaubarr Lam Lam of J&K Him, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | |
GC D’Eden Lover Number One of Hurayra, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | ||
2025-26 | GC Double Take Hemingway, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | |
CH Aliya’s Frozen Assets, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | ||
CH Aliya’s Phi, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
GC Jovan Miss Thomasina, DM | F | Copper-Eyed | ||
GC, NW Woodspirit’s Gentry of Carzibel, DM | M | Copper-Eyed | ||
