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 an Oriental was GC Felitan Tabbyoca of Jenlyn, DM, an ebony tabby shorthair female. Eight years later, in 1993, the first male Oriental Shorthair to earn the Distinguished Merit title was GC Glor-Ee Sterling Silver, DM, a silver spotted tabby. The first, and only, Oriental Longhair DM to date was earned in 2004, by Balinan's Will-O'The-Wisp, DM, a seal lynx point female.
Oriental Distinguished Merit Cats in CFA
Year |
Name |
Sex |
Color |
|
1984-85 |
GC Felitan Tabbyoca of Jenlyn, DM First Oriental DM |
F |
Ebony Tabby SH |
|
1986-87 |
GC San-Toi's Tootsie, DM |
F |
Chestnut SH |
|
GC San-Toi's Tanqueray, DM |
F |
Lavender SH |
||
GC Felitan Silvanna, DM |
F |
Silver Shaded SH |
||
GC Ogimi Jaboulet of Seareef, DM |
F |
Blue SH |
||
1987-88 |
GC Felitan's Chelsea of Kaybill, DM |
F |
Ebony Spotted Tabby SH |
|
1988-89 |
CH Temeluphil's Argent of Glor-ee, DM |
F |
Silver Spotted Tabby SH |
|
GC Ciara's Kahlua-N-Cream, DM |
F |
Chestnut Cream SH |
||
1990-91 |
CH Tihan Passion of Nataraja, DM |
F |
Ebony Tortoiseshell SH |
|
GC, RW Kaybill's Gingersnap of Kulta, DM |
F |
Ebony Patched Tabby SH |
||
GC Seareef Sailor Girl, DM |
F |
Blue SH |
||
GC Felitan Sea Witch of Seareef, DM |
F |
Ebony SH |
||
1991-92 |
GC Vanpaws Gremlin One, DM |
F |
Ebony Tortoiseshell SH |
|
GC Blkcyn Kenya of Purrteecats, DM |
F |
Ebony SH |
||
GC Felitan Amanda of Ymei, DM |
F |
Ebony SH |
||
GC Kulta's T.N.T., DM |
F |
Ebony Tortoiseshell SH |
||
GC Derry Downs Summer's Special, DM |
F |
Ebony Spotted Tabby SH |
||
CH Robandi Mi-Tiger of San-Toi, DM |
F |
Ebony Spotted Tabby SH |
||
1992-93 |
CH Alchemic's Alice Atlas, DM |
F |
Chestnut Tortie SH |
|
GC Glor-Ee Sterling Silver, DM First Male Oriental DM |
M |
Silver Spotted Tabby SH |
||
CH Eastridge Ice Ice Baby of Sujonz, DM |
F |
Blue SH |
||
GC Jandj's Jazzelle of Kulta, DM |
F |
Chestnut Patched McTabby SH |
||
1993-94 |
GC Kulta's Ginger Girl, DM |
F |
Ebony Patched Spotted Tabby SH |
|
CH Jazzpus Sister Sadie of Technicats, DM |
F |
Lavender Ticked Tabby SH |
||
Jazzpus Peggy Lee, DM |
F |
Lavender-Cream SH |
||
CH Cinshe Cachet of Khalil, DM |
F |
Ebony Patched Spotted Tabby SH |
||
1994-95 |
GC El-Dia Dakota, DM |
F |
Ebony Silver Spotted Tabby SH |
|
GC Nataraja Mishana of Camberwell, DM |
F |
Seal Tortie Point SH |
||
CH Bel Canto Allegro of Nataraja, DM |
M |
Blue McTabby SH |
||
Leggs Winter Wind of El-Dia, DM |
F |
Blue Point SH |
||
1995-96 |
CH Nataraja Spider Lady of Atonre, DM |
F |
Ebony SH |
|
CH Ruru's Victoria of Piddypat, DM |
F |
Chestnut McTabby SH |
||
GC Topol's Bit O Black, DM |
F |
Ebony SH |
||
GC Eeko's Keno, DM |
F |
Ebony McTabby SH |
||
Aleeba's Winkin, Blinkin N Nod, DM |
F |
Seal Lynx Point SH |
||
GC Kulta's If I Only Had A Brain, DM |
F |
Ebony Tortoiseshell SH |
||
GC Talorien's Buxom Delight, DM |
F |
Odd-Eyed White SH |
||
GC, BW, NW Sujonz Icebreaker, DM |
F |
Ebony Ticked Tabby SH |
||
GC, RW Kulta's Red Alert, DM |
M |
Red McTabby SH |
||
1996-97 |
CH La Krys Wild Fire of Sujonz, DM |
F |
Cinnamon Spotted Tabby SH |
|
CH CSA's Autumn Leaves, DM |
F |
Chestnut Ticked Tabby SH |
||
GC Atonre's Kizzy Kat of Sukhotai, DM |
F |
Ebony SH |
||
CH Andiescats Ariel of Celestecats, DM |
F |
Blue-Eyed White SH |
||
GC Imakat's Banshee of Summermorn, DM |
F |
Ebony Spotted Tabby SH |
||
1997-98 |
GC Kulta's Angel Hair, DM |
F |
Chestnut Patched Ticked Tabby SH |
|
CH Cjkatz Suzy Wong of Begbie, DM |
F |
Ebony SH |
||
GC, NW El-Dia Anniversary Waltz, DM |
F |
Ebony Silver McTabby SH |
||
GC, RW Sujonz Cold As Ice, DM |
F |
Blue SH |
||
GC, BW, NW Leggs Whiter Shade of Pale, DM |
M |
Blue-Eyed White SH |
||
GC, GP Algebra's X Marks The Spot, DM |
F |
Ebony Spotted Tabby SH |
||
GC Aleeba Ddly Nightshade of Sukhotai, DM |
F |
Ebony SH |
||
1998-99 |
GC El-Dia's Nick-Of-Time, DM |
M |
Ebony Spotted Tabby SH |
|
CH, RW Kulta's Cajun Sprinkles, DM |
M |
Red Ticked Tabby SH |
||
Jemwyck Silkience, DM |
F |
Seal Lynx Point SH |
||
1999-00 |
CH Piddypat Silvanna, DM |
F |
Ebony Silver Spotted Tabby SH |
|
GC El-Dia's Elegance of Blacktie, DM |
F |
Green-Eyed White SH |
||
GC Piddypat's Steel A Kiss of Eeko, DM |
F |
Chestnut Ticked Tabby SH |
||
Sujonz Ice Follies of Sandollar, DM |
F |
Green-Eyed White SH |
||
GC Semyah's Trillian of Talisyn, DM |
F |
Blue-Eyed White SH |
||
Hiway Storm, DM |
F |
Ebony SH |
||
GC, RW Lokikats Witchy Woman, DM |
F |
Chestnut Silver Spotted Tabby SH |
||
GC Bojen's Sprinkled With Red of Kulta, DM |
F |
Ebony Patched Ticked Tabby SH |
||
CH Algebra's Betsy Ross of Kattalyst, DM |
F |
Ebony Silver McTabby SH |
||
2000-01 |
Tomahe Abilene of Lumax, DM |
F |
Ebony Ticked Tabby & White SH |
|
GC Bojen's Brandy, DM |
F |
Ebony Patched Ticked Tabby SH |
||
2001-02 |
CH Tintadel Caramella Keepsake of Tlu, DM |
F |
Cinnamon Tortie SH |
|
CH 7Th Heaven's A Zillion Stars, DM |
F |
Ebony Silver Spotted Tabby SH |
||
GC, RW Kulta's Angel Dust of Injoi, DM |
F |
Chestnut Patched Ticked Tabby SH |
||
GC, BW, RW Sujonz Cool Million of 7Th Heaven, DM |
F |
Blue SH |
||
B-Jay Valkyrie of Mystic Quest, DM |
F |
Ebony McTabby SH |
||
CH Jmagz Itsgoodtobequeen of Whistful, DM |
F |
Ebony Spotted Tabby SH |
||
2002-03 |
CH Csa Julia Thomas Jackson of O2Bblue, DM |
F |
Chestnut SH |
|
2003-04 |
CH Felitan Girlfriend of Compass Rose, DM |
F |
Ebony Silver Ticked Tabby SH |
|
GC, RW Felitan Mithril Magic, DM |
M |
Ebony Silver Tabby SH |
||
GC, RW Shosan Chatoyant Noir, DM |
F |
Ebony SH |
||
GC Tiadela's Creme Caramel, DM |
F |
Lavender Spotted Tabby SH |
||
Balinan's Will-O'The-Wisp, DM First Longhair Oriental DM |
F |
Seal Lynx Point LH |
||
GC, BW, NW Myrlyn Plain White Wrapper of Jmagz, DM |
M |
Blue-Eyed White SH |
||
GC Cjkatz Jackie O of Sydsu, DM |
F |
Blue-Eyed White SH |
||
CH Ultramotion Torrie, DM |
F |
Ebony Tortoiseshell SH |
||
Kattalyst Life's A Beach, DM |
F |
Blue Silver Lynx Point SH |
||
GC, RW Casadecano's Diablo, DM |
M |
Ebony SH |
||
Skan Starina of Casadecano, DM |
F |
Ebony Spotted Tabby SH |
||
GC, RW Leggs Beyond The Pale, DM |
M |
Ebony SH |
||
Crystabel French Vanilla of Sydsu, DM |
F |
Blue-Eyed White SH |
||
GC Crystabel's Carmina Frosty White, DM |
F |
Blue-Eyed White SH |
||
CH San-Toi Snow Bird of Casadecano, DM |
F |
Blue-Eyed White SH |
||
GC Klazeekats Dixie Chick, DM |
F |
Ebony Silver Tabby SH |
||
CH Eeko's Winter Elegance of Leggs, DM |
F |
Blue-Eyed White SH |
||
CH El-Dia Guinivere of Winterfrost, DM |
F |
Ebony Patched McTabby SH |
||
2004-05 |
CH Klazeekats Fleur of Kuan Jin, DM |
F |
Ebony Silver McTabby SH |
|
GC, RW Injoi's Blushing, DM |
F |
Chestnut Patched Ticked Tabby SH |
||
GC Injoi's Blushing Angel, DM |
F |
Chestnut Patched Ticked Tabby SH |
||
GC Talisyn's Nightshade of Nytwing, DM |
F |
Ebony SH |
||
CH Bel Canto Bourree, DM |
F |
Chestnut Silver Ticked Tabby & White SH |
||
GC Eireannach Is Fearr Ina Deireanach, DM |
F |
Ebony & White SH |
||
GC Leggs Cabaret, DM |
F |
Ebony & White SH |
||
GC El-Dia Mardi Gras, DM |
F |
Seal Lynx Point SH |
||
2005-06 |
GC Klazeekats Lady Di, DM |
F |
Blue Silver Spotted Tabby SH |
|
CH Gonfer Camiflage Kitty of Nacada, DM |
F |
Chestnut Tortie SH |
||
GC Kamu Mad Magda, DM |
F |
Odd-Eyed White SH |
||
CH Casadecano's Gypsy of Maracai, DM |
F |
Ebony & White SH |
||
2006-07 |
CH 7th Heaven's Aries Rising, DM |
F |
Ebony McTabby SH |
|
GC, RW Injoi's Aria, DM |
F |
Chestnut Patched Ticked Tabby SH |
||
GC, RW Casadecano's Playgirl, DM |
F |
Ebony SH |
||
GC, RW Compass Rose Amber Dragon of Oyate, DM |
F |
Cinnamon Spotted Tabby SH |
||
GC, RW Skan Sebring, DM |
M |
Lavender Ticked Tabby SH |
||
2007-08 |
Moonsrakers Only One, DM |
F |
Blue-Eyed White SH |
|
GC Kat Attack's Liberty For All, DM |
F |
Blue-Eyed White SH |
||
Elizabethcat Calm Ruby of Conte, DM |
F |
Seal Point SH |
||
CH Felitan Nicoal of Nacada, DM |
F |
Ebony SH |
||
GC Kat-Tres Fay Wray, DM |
F |
Ebony Spotted Tabby SH |
||
CH Sinergia Ruby Tuesday of Tlu, DM |
F |
Cinnamon Patched McTabby SH |
||
CH Rakiscats Zareta, DM |
F |
Tortoiseshell Silver SH |
||
GC Kattalyst Blue Fiesta of Leggs, DM |
F |
Blue-Cream SH |
||
Templeton More Than This, DM |
F |
Calico |
||
2008-09 |
GC Compass Rose Ivory Ice, DM |
F |
Odd-Eyed White SH |
|
CH Leggs A Walk On The Wild Side, DM |
F |
Tortie & White SH |
||
CH Ti Shebi's Moonshadow, DM |
F |
Ebony Smoke SH |
||
GC Leggs Devil Or Angel of CSA, DM |
F |
Blue-Eyed White SH |
||
2009-10 |
CH Felitan Sassy of Syncitykitys, DM |
F |
Ebony Silver Tabby SH |
|
2010-11 |
Purrmatix Witchy Woman, DM |
F |
Ebony SH |
|
Compass Rose Jaded Sky of Oyate, DM |
F |
Chestnut SH |
||
GC, NW Injoi's Hot Gossip, DM |
F |
Ebony Patched Ticked Tabby & White SH |
||
GC, RW Kat-Tres Borderlion of Howiewood, DM |
M |
Ebony SH |
||
2011-12 |
CH Delphy Melano Dione, DM |
F |
Ebony SH |
|
GC 7th Heaven Athena of Skan, DM |
F |
Lavender Silver Tabby SH |
||
CH Delphy O-Nyx, DM |
F |
Ebony Smoke SH |
||
GC Delphy Creme De Peche of Suigyoku, DM |
F |
Lavender Tabby SH |
||
2012-13 |
GC Kattalyst Pretty Penny, DM |
F |
Red Tabby SH |
|
GC Nacada Shades-Of-Jammer, DM |
F |
Lavender Tabby SH |
||
GC Felitan Pokadot, DM |
F |
Ebony Tabby SH |
||
GC Injoi's Small Town Dude, DM |
M |
Chestnut Ticked Tabby SH |
||
CH Balimoor LoveIsChocolate of Catajam, DM |
F |
Chestnut Spotted Tabby LH |
||
GC, RW Bebopcats Blue Moon of Purrmatix, DM |
F |
Dilute Calico SH |
||
CH Noxx Rockin'Rosie of Purrmatix, DM |
F |
Ebony Silver Tabby LH |
||
Gaban Minncy, DM |
F |
Chestnut Spotted Tabby & White SH |
||
2013-14 |
GC Saroko Snow White of Towleroad, DM |
F |
Blue-Eyed White SH |
|
GC Versace Exotic Beaute, DM |
F |
Chestnut Tabby SH |
||
GC CasaDecano's Swan Song, DM |
F |
Ebony SH |
||
GC Kat Attack's Better Than A Jetta, DM |
F |
Chestnut Ticked Tabby SH |
||
2014-15 |
GC Kuan Jin GirlsJustWantToHaveFun, DM |
F |
Chestnut Tabby SH |
|
GC Winterfrost Dreamweaver, DM |
F |
Blue Ticked Tabby SH |
||
GC Leggs A Girl In A Chorus Line, DM |
F |
Blue Ticked Tabby & White SH |
||
GC, BW Elegant's Tip The Boat Over, DM |
F |
Chocolate Tortie Lynx Point SH |
||
2015-16 |
GC Winterfrost Penny, DM |
F |
Blue Ticked Tabby & White SH |
|
GC, NW Injoi's Calypso of Perfection, DM |
F |
Ebony Spotted Patched Tabby & White SH |
||
GC Nudawnz Sticks And Stones, DM |
F |
Ebony Tortoiseshell LH |
||
Nudawnz Uninvited, DM |
F |
Blue Point LH |
||
GC Varmika-Happy Rahat-Lukum, DM |
F |
Red Tabby & White SH |
||
GC Compass Rose Donnakaran of Quincess, DM |
F |
Blue-Cream Point & White SH |
||
** Hu*Okonor Michael of Chi's House, DM |
M |
Ebony Spotted Tabby SH |
||
2016-17 |
GC Classicori's Icey Impulse, DM |
F |
Blue Spotted Tabby SH |
|
GC Injoi's Asia of Chperson, DM |
F |
Chocolate Tortie Point & White SH |
||
CH Touch Too Much Honky Tonk of Conte, DM |
F |
Blue-Eyed White SH |
||
** GC Shagio-Chen Curry, DM |
F |
Cream Spotted Tabby SH |
||
2018-19 |
GC Elemental's Drama Queen, DM |
F |
Green-Eyed White SH |
|
** CH Balimoor Snowdrift of Sacchidanand, DM |
M |
Blue-Eyed White LH |
||
2019-20 |
Imladris Indil Garfield, DM |
M |
Red McTabby SH |
|
GC, RW Kat Attack's Q-Tip of Art Deco, DM |
F |
Blue-Eyed White SH |
||
GC Compass Rose Karlie Rat of Quincess, DM |
F |
Green-Eyed White SH |
||
2020-21 |
GC Xiu Juan Sis Scarlett of Stella, DM |
F |
Chestnut Spotted Tabby SH |
|
** GC, RW Compass Rose Deal Me In of Quincess, DM |
M |
Chestnut Ticked Tabby 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. The cats receiving a retroactive DM award have been added to this list in the show season they would have been awarded their DM title. The cat's name appears on a light gray background. |
||||
2021-22 |
Winterfrost All of Me of Pegasi, DM |
F |
Ebony Patched McTabby SH |
|
CH Pegasi Meekah of Faeryfire, DM |
F |
Chestnut Patched Spotted Tabby SH |
||
GC, RW Touch Too Much Issa, DM |
M |
Ebony Spotted Tabby SH |
||
GC, RW Hidcote Bolshoi of Bershar, DM |
F |
Ebony Tabby & White SH |
||
GC, RW Klazeekats Olivia of Swancamelot, DM |
F |
Ebony Silver Patched Spotted Tabby & White SH |
||