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.
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.
In 1999, the first Distinguish Merit title earned by an American Curl was a brown patched tabby longhair female, GC, BW, RW Procurlharem Lauren Bacurll, DM. 5 years later, the first male to earn the title was a cameo mackerel tabby & white longhair named Daywarhim Apocurlypse Meow, DM.
American Curl Distinguished Merit Cats in CFA
| Year | Name | Sex | Color | |
| 1998-99 | GC, BW, RW Procurlharem Lauren Bacurll, DM First American Curl DM |
F | Brown Patched Tabby LH | |
| 2000-01 | GC Procurlharem Samantha of Magicurl, DM | F | Brown Patched Tabby & White LH | |
| 2001-02 | GC, BW Procurlharem Sandy Hooks, DM | F | Silver Patched McTabby & White LH | |
| GC DBCats Blue Rose, DM | F | Blue Silver McTabby LH | ||
| 2002-03 | GC Procurlharem Louisa May Alcurll, DM | F | Tortie Lynx Point LH | |
| CH, RW Procurlharem Faye Curlaway, DM | F | Cream McTabby LH | ||
| GC Curlniques Lil Two Bits of DBCats, DM | F | Silver McTabby LH | ||
| 2003-04 | Daywarhim Apocurlypse Meow, DM First Male American Curl DM |
M | Cameo McTabby & White LH | |
| GC, RW Procurlharem Drew Curlymor of Wimpl, DM | F | Silver Patched McTabby LH | ||
| 2006-07 | CH Hunters Glen Desert Willow, DM | F | Brown Patched McTabby & White LH | |
| 2007-08 | GC, BW DBCats Flutterbye Rose, DM First Shorthair American Curl DM |
F | Silver Tabby SH | |
| GC, BW, NW Procurlharem Curl Hand Luke, DM | M | Red Spotted Tabby & White LH | ||
| 2009-10 | GC, BW, RW Procurlharem Steve McCurl of DBCats, DM | M | Brown Tabby & White LH | |
