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The Australian Cat Federation

The Australian Cat Federation (Inc.) was set up in 1972 to act as the National Cat Body in Australia in order to achieve uniformity across Australia in certain aspects of showing and breeding Pedigree Cats.

The Federation is an Australia wide, recommendatory body with affiliates in five States and in the Northern Territory.

We promote the welfare of all cats, the responsible breeding and showing of all recognised breeds of cats in Australia, and the showing of desexed domestic cats.

 

The objects of the Federation include:

  • To recommend to members the adoption of common standards and practices for all aspects of the breeding and showing of cats, while in no way abrogating the autonomy of members to conduct their own affairs as they shall determine. The Federation, with help from its Judges' Association, The ACF (Inc.) Judges' Guild, determines standards for each recognised breed of cat and prints and distributes these standards to Affiliates, updating them regularly, usually annually to ensure their currency.
  • To recommend to members the adoption of common policies on any matter connected with or incidental to the showing of cats and the conduct of championship cat shows, including the definition of classes for shows, the award of Challenge Certificates, Merit Certificates and other awards or titles. The Federation also awards its own titles, including Award of Excellence through 7 levels, Champion/Premier and Grand Champion/Premier and Distinguished Merit Award. Rules for the conduct of National Shows are also determined by the Federation.
  • To recommend to members the adoption of common policies on the accreditation of cat show Judges and the establishment of a national panel and register of Judges. The Federation has a Judges' Training Scheme which is followed by Affiliates. It also has a Judges Panel listing senior Judges recommended by Affiliates and an International Panel of Judges listing Judges overseas assignments.
  • To promote co-operation between ACF (Inc) member bodies so as to protect the rights and interests of all ACF (Inc) members, and members of other organisations within Australia, in all matters affecting a common standard for the registration of cats within their State or Territory of birth.  All Affiliates are represented on the Federation’s Executive Committee.
  • To encourage co-operative action by members in all matters of common interest affecting any aspect of promotion, breeding and showing of cats in Australia.
  • To promote the breeding and showing of all recognised breeds of cats in Australia.
  • To maintain standards of all breeds of cats in Australia recognised by the Federation.
  • To maintain a register of the ownership of cattery prefixes. All Affiliates’ Prefixes are cleared by the Federation through a National Register of Prefixes.
  • To issue export certificates for cats registered in the Australian register of breeding stock.
  • The ACF (Inc) Judges Guild is recognised as a recommendatory body by the Federation.
  • To receive from member bodies matters of business and notice of motion.

 

The Federation is also enthusiastic in its contribution to the World Cat Fancy, through the World Cat Congress, and the betterment of cats.

A recent initiative was to highlight the use of cat fur in many products available in Australia and to lobby governments for the banning of the importation of any products made from cat fur.