American Cat Breeders Association / For Breeders
For Breeders
Codes, names
and the rules.
Everything a FIFe breeder uses day to day: the EMS code system, cattery name registration through the American Cat Breeders Association, the official rules and forms, and FIFe’s breed councils.
Every cat, in a few letters.
The Easy Mind System (EMS) identifies cats with short codes, and each code means the same thing in every breed. Mrs. Eva Minde of Norway developed it in the 1980s, and FIFe adopted it in 1990. It’s a registration system, not a genetic one. Codes are separated by spaces, with the numbers in ascending order.
The code sheet.
Colours
- n
- Black (also seal, brown, ruddy or tawny in some breeds)
- a
- Blue
- b
- Chocolate
- c
- Lilac
- d
- Red
- e
- Cream
- f g h j
- Black / blue / chocolate / lilac tortie
- o
- Cinnamon
- p
- Fawn
- q r
- Cinnamon / fawn tortie
- t
- Amber (NFO only)
- w
- White
- s y u
- Silver / golden / corin
- m
- Dilute modifier, e.g. am = caramel based on blue
White · pattern · points
- 01
- Van
- 02
- Harlequin
- 03
- Bicolour
- 04
- Mitted (RAG only)
- 05
- Snowshoe (SNO only)
- 09
- Any other amount of white
- 11
- Shaded
- 12
- Shell
- 14
- Charcoal (Bengal)
- 21
- Unspecified tabby
- 22
- Blotched tabby
- 23
- Mackerel tabby
- 24
- Spotted tabby
- 25
- Ticked tabby
- 31
- Burmese
- 32
- Tonkinese
- 33
- Siamese
Tail · eyes · ears · coat
- 51
- Rumpy
- 52
- Rumpy riser
- 53
- Stumpy
- 54
- Longie
- 61
- Deep blue
- 62
- Copper / deep orange
- 63
- Odd-eyed
- 64
- Green
- 65
- Golden yellow (Burmese)
- 66
- Aquamarine (Tonkinese)
- 67
- Intense deep blue (Siamese)
- 71
- Straight ears
- 72
- Curled (ACL / ACS only)
- 81
- Longhair
- 82
- Shorthair
- 83
- Brush (DSP / PEB only)
- 84
- Straight or non-roan (by breed)
Non-recognised breeds use their three-letter code plus “non” (e.g. ABS non). XLH and XSH cover other non-recognised longhairs and shorthairs. A trait a breed allows in only one form is left out of that breed’s code. Full rules are in the EMS System document and Quick Reference Card.
Your cattery name, protected.
FIFe’s rule
Only individual members of a national FIFe member can apply to register a FIFe cattery name. In the United States, that member is the American Cat Breeders Association. The rules are in article 5.2 of FIFe’s Breeding & Registration Rules.
Check the list
Search FIFe’s online list of cattery names: first the exact name, then parts of it, then phonetic variations. No match means the name is possibly free. The final decision is made by FIFe’s Cattery Name Administration.
The list shows each registered name, its acceptance date and the country where it was first registered. It doesn’t show whether the breeder is still a FIFe member.
How to apply
Get in touch with the name you have in mind, and we’ll walk you through FIFe’s application steps.
Rules & forms.
FIFe publishes its official documents in its online library.
Breed councils.
FIFe’s 35 breed councils give a voice to experienced people with an interest in a breed. Their Breed Council Administrator represents them at the General Assembly and presents their opinions on relevant proposals. A council can send its own proposals to the Assembly once it has members from at least eight national FIFe members.
Who can join
- A FIFe-registered cattery name
- Aged 25 or over
- At least 5 years in good standing with a national FIFe member (2 years for breeds not fully recognised)
- At least 5 litters of the breed bred and registered (1 for breeds not fully recognised)
- For fully recognised breeds: a Grand International Champion or Premier bred, or your own cat shown at FIFe shows at least 3 times a year over the last 3 years
How to apply
Send the official Breed Council Application form to your national FIFe member (that’s us), not to the council secretary. Membership runs from 1 January to 31 December, needs renewing every year and carries an annual fee. National members can make exceptions to some requirements. Contact us for the current fee and deadline.
Breed under
one standard.
Questions about cattery names, EMS codes or breed councils? We’re happy to help.
Get in touch→