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How can you tell if you have a purebred cat? Pedigree, official registration, and the dangers of crossbreeding
- Les Aristocoons
- 5 days ago
- 9 min read
The enthusiasm for so-called "purebred" cats continues to grow. Maine Coon, Bengal, Ragdoll, and Sphynx cats attract attention with their spectacular appearance and well-defined temperament.
We often see the famous question on social media: " Do you think my cat is a Maine Coon? He was found in a shelter. " Or we see "breeders" selling... "Mixed breed" kittens . This philosophy is often due to a lack of understanding of the role of pedigree, registration with recognized feline associations, and the consequences of crossbreeding.
This capsule aims to help you better understand what truly defines a purebred cat, why registration is essential , and why crossbreeding between breeds should be avoided when preserving the health and integrity of feline breeds.
What is a purebred cat, in the official sense?
If you are wondering about your cat's breed, it's probably because you don't have a purebred cat unless it arrived at your door with all its papers and information.
A purebred cat is not a cat that "resembles" a breed. It is a cat:
Born to parents who were themselves registered
Selected according to a precise official standard
Registered with a recognized feline association
Possessing a traceable pedigree spanning several generations
Furthermore, it must possess physical characteristics that conform to its breed standard. Each feline breed has a detailed standard that defines:
general morphology (height, bone structure, musculature),
the shape of the head, eyes and ears,
the type and texture of the coat,
permitted colours and patterns,
sometimes even desired behavioral traits.
More specifically, for the physical characteristics of the Maine Coon, you can see them here.
Without a pedigree or papers, there is no guarantee as to the cat's true genetic origin. Therefore, you officially have a cat called "domestic." Your domestic cat may exhibit physical characteristics, such as coat color, resembling a particular breed without being a purebred. This doesn't detract from the fact that you have a beautiful cat; it's just not a "purebred."
Can DNA tests definitively determine your cat's breed? The short answer is: no. To learn more, we invite you to read this article:
The pedigree: the only proof of a purebred cat
A pedigree is an official document issued by a feline association. It serves as the birth certificate of a purebred cat. It allows you to:
Verify the identity of parents and grandparents
Tracing lineages over several generations
Avoid excessive inbreeding
Confirm conformity to the breed standard
Guaranteeing official recognition of the cat
A cat without a pedigree, even if sold as "purebred", is legally and genetically considered a cat of type or domestic cat.
Terms like "undocumented", "purebred homebred", "Maine Coon type" or "resembling" have no official value.
This is what an official TICA pedigree looks like. As an example, this is the pedigree of LesAristocoons Peter Pan, a Red Smoke Maine Coon born in our cattery.
As you can see from the pedigree, it states:
3 to 5 generations of ancestors, all registered as Maine Coon;
The name of his breeding in front of his name ( LesAristocoons );
The registration name;
Its official color of dress and eyes;
Her gender;
The kitten's registration number as well as all the registration numbers of the kitten's ancestors;
His microchip number;
His date of birth;
The signature of an official representative of the feline association.
The pedigree may not be automatically issued when you purchase your kitten. However, You should have seen the official copies of your kitten's parents' registrations and have your kitten's official registration certificate when purchasing a purebred cat . With this certificate, you can request the pedigree from the cat association at any time.
Recognized feline associations: their fundamental role
Feline associations are not simply administrative bodies. They play an essential role in the preservation of breeds.
Among the most recognized:
TICA (The International Cat Association)
CFA (Cat Fanciers' Association)
FIFe (International Feline Federation)
CCA-AFC (Canada)
Their mission includes:
The definition and updating of breed standards
Regulation of livestock farming practices
The management of genealogical records
The organization of cat shows
Promoting animal welfare
A registered breeder is subject to strict regulations, which protects adopters from unethical commercial practices and questionable practices. However, a cat registered with a feline association does not automatically mean that the breeder in question is ethical; further research is necessary to verify this.
Although a registered breeder does not automatically equal an ethical breeder, an unregistered breeder automatically equals a domestic cat breeder.
Why do crossbreeds between breeds pose a problem?
Crossbreeding is often justified by marketing arguments: originality, rarity, novelty. However, these practices go against the fundamental principles of responsible cat breeding.
1. Lack of standards and loss of identity
A cat crossed between two breeds does not conform to any official standard. It becomes impossible to predict:
adult size,
the final morphology,
the type of coat,
temperament.
This inability to predict automatically means that adopters cannot rely on the temperament of a particular breed or the appearance of another, since there is no indication that the kitten will exhibit these characteristics as it ages. This therefore completely diminishes the joy of owning a purebred cat. Remember that most adopters want to opt for a purebred cat because their size, morphology, temperament and coat are predictable; an unpredictable mixed-breed cat does not meet this desire.
2. Increased genetic risks
Many people mistakenly believe that mixing two cat breeds will improve the kitten's overall health. This also stems from the common belief that domestic cats are healthier than purebred cats because their gene pool is larger. These beliefs are flawed. Poor breeding practices are what diminish the health of a cat breed.
Each breed has its own genetic predispositions. Uncontrolled mixing of two breeds can:
to accumulate hereditary diseases,
masking problematic recessive genes,
to make screenings less reliable.
It's important to understand that when a breed is "created," extensive scientific research is conducted on the animals to identify hereditary diseases, isolate genes responsible for potential illnesses, and uncover possible pathologies that can occur throughout a cat's life. Once the research is complete, tests are developed to help prevent these diseases.
For example, with Maine Coons, we must DNA test each breeding cat to screen for healthy cats, carriers, and those affected by certain diseases, ensuring longevity and improving the breed's health. One of the diseases present in Maine Coons is HCM (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, which involves thickening of the heart walls, reducing blood flow efficiency and causing sudden death). This disease has several identified strains. We can detect it through DNA testing, but we must also test our breeding cats with echocardiograms because, even if the DNA test reveals nothing, the echocardiogram can detect a different strain. Despite all these tests, the risk of a kitten developing HCM is not 0%, as research is ongoing to identify other strains.
Now imagine the result of a Maine Coon father with a Ragdoll mother... Knowing that Ragdolls also carry a risk of HCM (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy), what new strains will emerge from this pairing? It's impossible for a breeder to predict. It requires years of scientific research. Therefore, tests performed on the parents are no longer meaningful.
3. No official pedigree possible
Cat associations refuse to register cats resulting from unauthorized crossbreeding. These kittens:
cannot be recognized as purebred cats.
cannot participate in official exhibitions,
do not contribute to the preservation of the breed.
One of the major reasons for the refusal to recognize mixed-breed cats is primarily due to the health problems affecting kittens of experimental breeds. This decision, made by various cat associations, should be taken into account when purchasing a purebred cat. If the breed you have chosen is not registered with the different cat associations, it is probably not a true breed, a fact that adopters should consider.
4. Negative impact on livestock ethics
Crossbreeding between breeds often prioritizes financial considerations or trends over:
long-term health,
the well-being of breeding animals,
respect for lineages.
When dealing with a "breeder" who crossbreeds different breeds, there are two possibilities for registering your kitten;
The kitten you bought is registered
If the kitten is registered, the breeder will lie about the pedigree and will have to make a false declaration to the cat association or change the kitten's parents . This practice is particularly disturbing because it goes against all the goals of a good, ethical breeder, which should be to produce healthy, high-quality kittens . New health problems related to crossbreeding, even if they are not listed, will spread through the bloodlines and weaken the overall health of the registered cat breed.
The kitten you bought is not registered
If the breeder confirms that your kitten isn't registered because "they don't want to pay extra fees for worthless paperwork" or even "they don't believe in cat associations," that should raise a red flag. In this case, you need to investigate the reasons for the registration refusal. If it's a mixed breed, it's crucial to consider all the health risks associated with crossbreeding and ensure the adoption price reflects this, rather than being based on the breed's characteristics. Officially, you've purchased a domestic kitten .
How to avoid unpleasant surprises during adoption
Before adopting a cat presented as "purebred", it is essential to ask the right questions:
Is the kitten registered with a recognized association?
Will the official pedigree be provided?
Are the parents tested for breed-specific hereditary diseases?
Does the breeder work with only one breed or does he respect the compatibility rules?
Is the farmer transparent about his practices?
A serious breeder will never hesitate to respond and provide evidence of tests performed on the parents, pedigrees and records. For more advice on choosing a good breeder:
The role of the responsible farmer
A responsible breeder doesn't "produce" kittens. They:
carefully selects its breeding stock,
plans its matings according to precise genetic criteria,
limits the number of litters,
Respects standards and health before aesthetics.
supports adopters long after the kitten has left.
Cat breeding is a long-term commitment, not just a business opportunity or simply putting two cats together to produce litters. Our role is much more important than that and should always take precedence over opportunities.
It's also important to know that if a breeder fulfills all their responsibilities, it's easy to register their kittens to ensure best practices are followed. Registering litters of purebred kittens shouldn't be optional, but mandatory.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
My cat looks like a Maine Coon, is it necessarily a purebred?
No. A cat can have physical characteristics similar to a breed without actually being one. Without an official pedigree issued by a recognized association, a cat is not considered a purebred cat, but a cat of a certain type or a domestic cat.
Can a cat without a pedigree be recognized later?
No. A pedigree cannot be issued retroactively. It is established at the kitten's birth by the breeder through a recognized feline association.
Why is pedigree so important?
The pedigree guarantees:
• the genetic origin of the cat,
• adherence to the breed standard,
• the traceability of lineages,
• a structured and responsible selection process.
It protects both the adopter and the cat.
Are crossbreeds between breeds allowed?
In the vast majority of cases, no. Feline associations prohibit or severely restrict crossbreeding between breeds in order to preserve the health, genetic stability, and identity of feline breeds.
Can a mixed-breed cat have a pedigree?
No. Cats resulting from crossbreeding between unauthorized breeds cannot obtain an official pedigree.
Why avoid farms that crossbreed several breeds?
Farms that multiply breeds or crossbreeds:
• compromise genetic selection,
• increase the risk of hereditary diseases,
• do not always comply with official standards,
• often prioritize the commercial aspect at the expense of animal welfare.
How to recognize a reputable breeder?
A responsible farmer:
• works with a specific breed,
• is registered with a recognized association,
• provides an official pedigree,
• tests its breeding stock,
• remains available after adoption.
Conclusion: preserving breeds means protecting cats
Determining whether a cat is purebred relies on clear, objective, and verifiable criteria. Pedigree, registration with recognized associations, and adherence to breed standards are the cornerstones of ethical and responsible breeding.
Avoiding crossbreeding between breeds helps preserve:
the health of cats,
the identity of races,
transparency towards adopters
and the future of cat breeding.
Choosing a purebred cat also means choosing to respect the work, rigor and ethics that lie behind each pedigree.
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