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 1985, the first Distinguished Merit title earned by a Korat was a female named GC Jena's Tu-Thai, DM. 8 years later, in 1993, the first male Korat to earn the Distinguished Merit title was CH Jaltari's Jazz Singer, DM.

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Korat Distinguished Merit Cats in CFA

Year	Name	Sex
1984-85	GC Jena's Tu-Thai , DM First Korat DM	F
1991-92	CH Marleigh Misty Moonlight, DM	F
1992-93	CH Jaltari's Jazz Singer , DM First Male Korat DM	M
1995-96	GC, BW Kiriki Washushe, DM	F
1999-00	GC Mytai Once In A Blue Moon of Soigne, DM	F
2000-01	GC Skookumchuck's Snippet of Mowl Sima, DM	F
2002-03	CH Mowl Sima Heat Fulobluz, DM	F
	GC Jing's Valentine of Gentlegift, DM	F
2003-04	GC, BW, RW Mowl Sima's It's Like You Know, DM	F
	GC Kiriki Camas Lily, DM	F
2008-09	CH, GP Jadeye's Arrogance of Kal-Lee, DM	F
2010-11	GC, BW, RW Mowl Sima's Sathira of Gentlegift, DM	F
** 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.