Breeding & Welfare
The GCCF Breeding Policy states:
"This policy applies to all breeds recognised by the GCCF and is intended to provide guidelines to
ensure healthy breeding practice.
The GCCF is committed to the breeding of healthy pedigree cats of whatever registered breed,
type or conformation. Our policy is to recognise only breeds that are able to live a healthy, contented
and “normal” life – able to jump, climb and pursue normal cat behaviour, physically able to mate
unaided and to give birth normally, without relying on major medical intervention (unless exceptional
and unforeseen complications occur), and without genetic anomalies that impair the cat’s ability to live
and behave in accordance with a cat’s nature.
Code of Ethics
Registered owners of all GCCF registered cats/kittens accept the jurisdiction of the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy and undertake to abide by this general code of ethics. The GCCF's Code of Ethics can be seen here
The Breeding Policy for the Asian Group:
This breeding policy accompanies and supplements the Asian Registration Policy and should be read in conjunction with that document.
The aim of the breeding policy is to give advice and guidance to ensure breeders observe what is considered “best practice” in breeding Asians. The over-riding objective is to improve the Asian cat, working to meet all aspects of the Asian Standard of Points, which describes the ideal for each of the five recognised varieties in the Asian Group.
The origins of the Asian are well documented and can be traced from a mating of a Chinchilla (Jemari Sanquist) and a Burmese (Bambino Lilac Faberge) in 1981. During the 1980s and ‘90s other matings between these two breeds took place, along with some matings between Burmese and domestic (non-pedigree) cats; the descendents from these matings form the basis of the Asian Group of cats we now recognise and admire.
The Asian is now well established in the UK, and over 25 years of breeding has developed and fixed good phenotype in the breed along with a wide and diverse gene-pool. The Asian breed has one of the largest numbers of gene variations of any breed of pedigree cat recognised by GCCF. The combination of genes which affect colour, pattern and coat length makes it possible for a total of 816 permutations that we recognise in the Asian Standard.
Having successfully “fixed” the type and specific appearance of the Asian, breeders need to pay more regard to further improving other aspects of the breed such as colour, coat and notably pattern.
The only permitted outcross is to a Burmese (but see Registration Policy)
Download the Asian Group Breeding Policy here (PDF 910kB)
The DEFRA Code of Practice for the Welfare of Cats
This document is published by the department of Environment, Food and Rural Affiars. The Code of Practice (COP) is based on the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and provides practical guidance to help owners of cats to comply with the provision of the Act.
The Code of Practice for the Welfare of Cats in Wales
This document is published by the Welsh Assembly Government giving guidance on the legal responsibilities to ensure walfare meeds of cats are met.
View a copy of Part 1 here (PDF 1.2MB)
View a copy of Part 2 here (PDF 2.4MB)
The Animal Welfare Act 2006
The Act can be viewed here (PDF 240kB)