CATZ elected to create a Breed numbering system in COMBINATION with the cat's full REGISTRATION NUMBER, similar to those numbering systems used by CFA. With this in mind, breeds were grouped to allow for gaps, so that there was allowance made for Breeds not currently recognized or which were genetically possible. (i.e, Longhair or Shorthair versions of existing breeds which are not currently in existence).

SEE Breed Numbers

COLOUR NUMBERING

In Colour Number Charts, you will note that cats of the same basic genetic makeup, are allocated similar numbering attributes.

SEE Colour Numbers (Series 00)   Colour Numbers (Series 50)
For Colour Descriptions SEE Standards of Excellence

Example One:
Let's take the obvious. Note that ALL MALE CATS have colour numbers ending in an EVEN number, while all FEMALE CATS have colour numbers ending in an ODD number. So by reading a Breed & Colour number and noting this, you will automatically know if the cat is male or female.

Example Two:
Now look at a specific COLOUR. Say RED. Note that in the Solid Number list a Red male has the colour number 014. You then find that ALL RED MALES, regardless of breed, ALL end with the colour number 014. ie. An Oriental Red is 52014, a Persian is 10014, a Manx is 80014 and so forth. Similarly all Red Females end with the number 015, so an Oriental Red female is 52015, a Persian Red female is 10015 and so forth.

Example Three:
Taking the above sample further. Now add another genetic factor. Lets say we are talking about RED TABBIES. All Tabby colours are prefaced in the colour numbering system in the 100 series of numbers. So while a Red Solid male carries the colour number 014, a Red Tabby male carries the colour number 114. So lets stick with one breed and see where this takes us. A Persian (Breed Number 10) Red self male is 10014, a Persian Red-self female is 10015, a Persian Red Tabby Male is 10114 and a Persian Red Tabby female is 10115.

Example Four:
Now let's add other genetic factors.

SOLID COLOURS

Red Persian Male

10014

Red Persian Female

10015

TABBIES

Red Tabby Persian Male

10114

Red Tabby Persian Female

10115

SMOKES

Red Smoke Persian Male

10414

Red Smoke Persian Female

10415

Example Five:
Then just when you think you have the hang of it, we add another layer of factors, the pointing gene. So for every colour number so far, add 50 to the colour number to get the corresponding POINTED COLOUR NUMBER.

Red Oriental Male

52014

Redpoint Siamese Male

50064

Red Exotic Male

11014

Redpoint Exotic Male

11064

Red Exotic Female

11015

Redpoint Exotic Female

11065

Example Six:
Now combine the POINTING FACTORS in Example Five with the COLOUR COMBINATIONS in Example Four.

Red Exotic Male	11014	Redpoint Exotic Male	11064
Red Exotic Female	11015	Redpoint Exotic Female	11065
Red Tabby Exotic Male	11114	Red Tabbypoint Exotic Male	11164
Red Tabby Exotic Female	11115	Red Tabbypoint Exotic Female	11165
Red Smoke Exotic Male	11414	Red Smokepoint Exotic Male	11464
Red Smoke Exotic Female	11415	Red Smokepoint Exotic Female	11465

So as you can see, the combining of Breed Numbers with Colour and Pattern numbers gives us a huge range of identifiers with which we can become familiar.

PATTERN MARKERS – WHITE SPOTTING FACTOR

In practice, Breed and Colour numbers by themselves are not enough. It is important also to allow for PATTERN MARKERS to indicate other genetic factors in the marking of cats. The White Spotting factor, which is random, is a case in point. To show this, instead of using numbers, we use SECONDARY APLHABETICAL PATTERN INDICATORS. These alphabetical indicators follow the first set of numbers, which are the primary Breed, Colour and Pattern indicators.

Example One:

Black Oriental Male	52006	Black Oriental Female	52007
Black Or. Bicolour Male	52006W	Black Or. Bicolour Female	52007W
Black Or. Harlequin Male	52006Q	Black Or. Harlequin Female	52007Q
Black Oriental Van Male	52006V	Black Oriental Van Female	52007V

Then add additional colour or pattern factors

Example Two:

Blue Tabby Oriental Male	52018
Blue Tabby Oriental Bicolour Male	52018W
Blue Tabby Oriental Harlequin Male	52018Q
Blue Tabby Oriental Van Male	52018V

BREED SPECIFIC PATTERN MARKERS

PATTERN MARKERS may also be BREED SPECIFIC. A good example is RAGDOLLS, where the White Spotting Factor is involved and where the BREED is recognized in 3 pattern groupings, POINTED, MITTED (pointed with minimal white spotting) and BI-COLOUR, (pointed with Bi-colour grade white spotting factor). Another example is the BENGAL, where the pattern may be SPOTTED (including rosetting) or MARBLED.

Example One:

Seal Colourpoint Male Ragdoll	16056
Seal Mitted Male Ragdoll	16056M (M for Mitted Specific to Ragdoll)
Seal Bi-Colour Male Ragdoll	16056B (B for Bi-colour, Specific to Ragdoll)

Example Two:

Brown Spotted Bengal Male

78106S

(indicating Breed 78, Bengal, a Brown Tabby Male 106, and “S” for spotted)

Brown Marble Bengal Female

78107M

(indicating Breed 78, Bengal, a Brown Tabby Female 107, and “M” for marble)

REGISTRY MARKERS (VARIANTS)

It is also sometimes necessary to indicate whether the cat is a Breed Variant. The marker for BREED VARIANT is VT and will appear after the cats breed & colour number. Good examples of these are tailed MANX, or perk-ear SCOTTISH FOLDS.

Example One:

Brown Tabby Manx Male

80106

(80 indicating Manx Breed, 106 indicating Brown Tabby Male)

Brown Tabby Tailed Manx Male

80106VT

(80 indicating Manx Breed, 106 indicating Brown Tabby Male and VT indicating it still has a tail)

Example Two:

Blue Bicolour Scottish Fold Male

30008W

(30 indicating FOLD, W indicating Bi-Colour pattern)

Blue Bicolour Perk-eared Scottish Fold Male

30008WVT

(W indicating Bi-Colour pattern and VT indicating straight ears)

GENETIC MARKERS

Genetic Factors also come into play with the Registration System. These may be to indicate:

• Whether a cat is carrying Longhair or has a cat carrying LH within 6 generations.
• Whether a pointed cat has Solid outcrosses within 6 generations.
• Whether a solid colour cat has a pointed cat within 6 generations.
• Whether a non-Bicolour cat has White spotting factor within 6 generations.
• Whether a non-silver cat has a silver parent or silver within 6 generations.

These are just SOME of the factors which are recorded at the time of initial registration or noted against the cat's original registration when breeding exposes genetic factors which were hitherto unknown. These markers are ALPHABETICAL and usually come AFTER the litter number at the very END of the individual cat's registration number.

If you have any further queries regarding your Certificate of Registration or your cat's registration number, contact the Central Registry registry@catzinc.org