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 Distinguished Merit title earned by a Turkish Van was a tortie & white female named CH Santir Candy Kiss of Pairodocs, DM. 3 years later, in 2002, the first male earned a Distinguished Merit award - a red & white named GC Pekivanokie's Katvandu of Invanity, DM.
Turkish Van Distinguished Merit Cats in CFA
Year |
Name |
Sex |
Color |
|
1998-99 |
CH Santir Candy Kiss of Pairodocs, DM First Turkish Van DM |
F |
Tortie & White |
|
1999-00 |
GC, GP Invanity's Vanessa Redgrave, DM |
F |
Brown Patched Tabby & White |
|
CH Talorien's Vantastic Voyager, DM |
F |
Black & White |
||
CH Goblen Sonbahar of Desert Jewel, DM |
F |
Tortie & White |
||
2000-01 |
CH Invanity Savana B. of Caravanserai, DM |
F |
Red Tabby & White |
|
CH Invanity's Savantha, DM |
F |
Black & White |
||
2001-02 |
GC Pekivanokie's Katvandu of Invanity , DM First Male Turkish Van DM |
M |
Red & White |
|
GC Caravanserai Jenni of Pairodocs, DM |
F |
Tortie & White |
||
2003-04 |
CH Pekivanokie's Kadin of Caravanserai, DM |
F |
Red Tabby & White |
|
CH Invanity's Evangeline, DM |
F |
Red Tabby & White |
||
2004-05 |
Vansdelmar Alleranth of Pairodocs, DM |
F |
Red & White |
|
CH Pairodocs Perihan of Caravanserai, DM |
F |
Tortie & White |
||
CH Artemis Van Kedi Von Alexis, DM |
F |
Tortie & White |
||
Caravanserai Bindi, DM |
F |
Tortie & White |
||
2005-06 |
GC Caravanserai Talico-Of-Borg, DM |
F |
Brown Patched Tabby & White |
|
GC Wishnwhisker Lord-Of-The Rings, DM |
M |
Red & White |
||
2006-07 |
Pairodocs Betty Boop, DM |
F |
Tortie & White |
|
GC Invanity's Sevanth Heavan, DM |
M |
Red Tabby & White |
||
2007-08 |
CH Pairodocs Crystal Singer, DM |
F |
Dilute Tortie & White |
|
CH, PR Pairodocs Quiana, DM |
F |
Dilute Tortie & White |
||
GC Invanity's Vannabel Lee, DM |
F |
Tortie & White |
||
2008-09 |
CH Pairodocs Melek, DM |
F |
Cream & White |
|
2010-11 |
GC Wishnwhisker Selim of Caravanserai, DM |
M |
Red Tabby & White |
|
2017-18 |
Pairodocs Franco, DM |
M |
Cream & White |
|
** 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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