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 1988, the first Distinguish Merit title earned by a British Shorthair was CH Anesa Siobahn of Jedi, DM, a blue female. Two years later, in 1990, the first male British Shorthair to earn the Distinguished Merit title was a blue named GC Brynbuboo Georgypeorgy of Jedi, DM.
British Shorthair Distinguished Merit Cats in CFA
| Year | Name | Sex | Color | |
| 1987-88 | CH Anesa Siobahn of Jedi, DM First British Shorthair DM |
F | Blue | |
| 1989-90 | GC Brynbuboo Isawinner of Jedi, DM | F | Brown Spotted Tabby | |
| 1990-91 | GC Brynbuboo Georgypeorgy of Jedi, DM First Male British Shorthair DM |
M | Blue | |
| CH Anesa Merry Poppins of Furrscats, DM | F | Blue | ||
| 1991-92 | GC Beaufort Snow Bunting of Tigerlily, DM | F | Copper-Eyed White | |
| 1992-93 | CH Jedi Baby Jr Blue Too of Brithaven | F | Blue | |
| 1993-94 | GC Jedi Azurene', DM | F | Blue | |
| 1995-96 | GC Denimar's Cordelia, DM | F | Copper-Eyed White | |
| CH Catirene Summer Cloud of Jedi, DM | F | Blue Spotted Tabby | ||
| GC, RW Jedi This Blues 4 U of Earendil, DM | F | Blue | ||
| 1996-97 | CH, GP Cantagree Lady Sarah, DM | F | Blue | |
| GC Maou Party Girl, DM | F | Blue-Cream | ||
| CH Sugarbabes Chelsea Faire of Belnute, DM | F | Van Calico | ||
| 1997-98 | CH Belle-Luna Victoria of Stonehaven, DM | F | Blue & White | |
| 1998-99 | CH Atrebates Myosotis of Truebrit, DM | F | Blue-Cream | |
| CH Castlkatz Sarah Burnheart, DM | F | Blue | ||
| 1999-00 | GC Castway's Chauncey of Purrdelis, DM | F | Dilute Calico | |
| 2000-01 | GC, RW Earendil Betty Davis Eyes 4U, DM | F | Blue | |
| GC Big Meow Mariah of Stonehaven, DM | F | Blue | ||
| 2001-02 | Lordsnooty Gai's My Darling, DM | F | Tortoiseshell | |
| GC Maou Am I Blue?, DM | F | Blue-Cream | ||
| GC Castlkatz Richard Lionheart, DM | M | Blue | ||
| CH Maou Blazing Starr, DM | F | Blue-Cream | ||
| 2003-04 | GC Brithaven U Go Girl of Britzohoney, DM | F | Blue McTabby | |
| 2004-05 | GC Stonehaven Sloane, DM | F | Blue | |
| CH Truebrit Cadeauje of Rustling, DM | F | Black & White | ||
| GC Truebrit Positively Crazy For You, DM | F | Red Spotted Tabby | ||
| GC, RW Earendil Hokulea, DM | F | Blue | ||
| GC Ms Positively Ceridwen of Truebrit, DM | F | Cream Spotted Tabby | ||
| GC Maou Elizabeth of Rumietum, DM | F | Blue | ||
| GC Castlkatz Siobhan, DM | F | Blue | ||
| 2005-06 | GC Maou Let's Party, DM | M | Blue | |
| GC, RW Mr Positively Pencampwr Coch, DM | M | Red McTabby | ||
| GC Stonehaven Serendipity, DM | F | Blue | ||
| CH Rumietum's Miss Callie, DM | F | Blue | ||
| CH Brittasweet Valerie Muscari Nthesun, DM | F | Blue-Cream | ||
| CH Sunami Party Again of Maou, DM | F | Blue & White | ||
| GC Windmillrose Lyric of Chelsea Rose, DM | F | Blue-Cream | ||
| 2006-07 | GC, RW Stonehaven Stop The Train, DM | F | Blue | |
| GC, NW Castlkatz Harry Potter, DM | M | Blue | ||
| GC, DW Marshallpark Oakford of Autumnleaf, DM | M | Blue | ||
| 2007-08 | CH Brittasweet Blu Achillea, DM | F | Blue | |
| CH Truebrit Positively Mountain Laurel, DM | F | Tortoiseshell | ||
| CH Caradoc Minerva, DM | F | Dilute Calico | ||
| 2008-09 | CH Snomyst Blue Bayou of Coupari, DM | F | Blue | |
| GC Autumnleaf Adora, DM | F | Blue | ||
| CH Chloeadores Sweet Summer Surprises, DM | F | Blue-Cream | ||
| GC, RW Windmillrose Gina of Amber Snow, DM | F | Blue & White | ||
| 2009-10 | GC DivineDesign L'Archangel, DM | F | Blue-Cream | |
| CH Autumnleaf Alyssa of Bluebabe, DM | F | Blue | ||
| GC, DW Atzelhof's Blue Velvet, DM | F | Blue | ||
| 2010-11 | GC Stoneheaven Southern Dancer, DM | M | Blue | |
| GC Autumnleaf Affaire D'Amour, DM | F | Blue | ||
| CH, GP Castlkatz Miss Helga Hufflepuff, DM | F | Blue | ||
