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 Distinguish Merit title earned by a Manx was a female, Lupracan Mus Tillie of Nufurs, DM - who was actually a tailed Manx. It was eight years before the first male Manx would earn a DM when CH Tahame's Shamen, DM earned his title in 1993. To date, all the Manx Distinguished Merit cats have been shorthairs.
Manx Distinguished Merit Cats in CFA
Year |
Name |
Sex |
Color |
|
1984-85 |
Lupracan Mus Tillie of Nufurs, DM First Manx DM |
F |
Copper-Eyed White SH |
|
1986-87 |
Lupracan Mus Tel of Clacritter, DM |
F |
Tortoiseshell SH |
|
1988-89 |
GC Lupracan Mus Conemara, DM |
F |
Red McTabby & White SH |
|
1989-90 |
Nufurs Chenin Blanc of Shanacee, DM |
F |
Copper-Eyed White SH |
|
GC Kelsha Jill, DM |
F |
Copper-Eyed White SH |
||
GC Kelsha Lacy, DM |
F |
Brown Tabby SH |
||
GC, GP, NW Clacritter Claudell, DM |
F |
Dilute Calico SH |
||
1992-93 |
Nufurs Notions, DM |
F |
Copper-Eyed White SH |
|
CH Tahame's Shamen, DM First Male Manx DM |
M |
Red Tabby & White SH |
||
GC Tra-Mar Julie of Tahame, DM |
F |
Red Tabby & White SH |
||
1993-94 |
GC, NW Sinleo White Irish of Shelleo, DM |
M |
Copper-Eyed White SH |
|
GC Tra-Mar Different Look, DM |
F |
Reverse Brown Patched Tabby SH |
||
GC Tra-Mar Tatra, DM |
F |
Copper-Eyed White SH |
||
1995-96 |
Mendocino Roseanna Rodanna, DM |
F |
Copper-Eyed White SH |
|
1996-97 |
GC, GP Helle's Baby Blue of Tirion, DM |
F |
Blue Tabby & White SH |
|
1997-98 |
CH Blarney's Hapzibah of Lakatail, DM |
F |
Brown McTabby & White SH |
|
GC, PR Tra-Mar Fancy Miss, DM |
F |
Odd-Eyed White SH |
||
1998-99 |
Cottori Josephine, DM |
F |
Tortoiseshell SH |
|
2000-01 |
GC Rhetoric's Chicago Hope of Kelsha, DM |
F |
Calico SH |
|
2004-05 |
Cottori Sophie of Fuzzy-Foot, DM |
F |
Brown Patched Tabby & White SH |
|
2005-06 |
CH Cottori Ruby of Fuzzy-Foot, DM |
F |
Red Tabby SH |
|
Labearer Red Hot Tumalle of Karello, DM |
F |
Red Tabby & White SH |
||
2006-07 |
GC Tra-Mar Irish Dancer of Fuzzy-Foot, DM |
M |
Odd-Eyed White SH |
|
2009-10 |
GC Fuzzy-Foot's Pattycakes, DM |
F |
Brown Patched Tabby & White SH |
|
CH Tynwald's Bernard of Katskans, DM |
M |
Blue Tabby & White SH |
||
2010-11 |
GC Tynwald's Ditto, DM |
F |
Black & White SH |
|
2013-14 |
Tynwald's Summer Moon, DM |
F |
Brown Tabby & White SH |
|
2015-16 |
GC, NW Kiomichi's Margo of Briar-Mar, DM |
F |
Odd-Eyed White SH |
|
2017-18 |
CH Mistysprings Artic Rose, DM |
F |
Odd-Eyed White SH |
|
GC, RW Kiomichi's Just Sayin of Ocigatos, DM |
F |
Brown Tabby & White SH |
||
2020-21 |
GC, RW Faerietail Dark Opal, DM |
F |
Silver Patched Tabby & White LH |
|
GC Tynwald's Peaches 'N Cream, DM |
F |
Blue Patched Tabby & White SH |
||
** 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. |
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