Studbook regulations
(For more practical information see the information about pedigrees)
Belgian Cat Fanciers vzw registers in its studbook - if desired - the details of the kittens born in their cattery and provides proof of the registration on paper (pedigree) (if the conditions are met).
If requested Belgian Cat Fanciers NPO will register details of kittens born in the catteries of its members in its studbook and provide registration and proof on paper (pedigree).
In order to be able to fulfil this registration, BCF NPO must have:
a statement from the breeder confirming when the kittens to be registered with him/her were born in the cattery
if the male is not owned by the breeder's cattery, a fully and correctly completed and signed certificate of breeding is required. Signed off by owner cat and owner of the male.
Incorrectly completed breeding certificates will give rise to a parentage check via DNA testing.
the kittens details - name, breed, colour, sex and date of birth
the details of both parents and proof of their parentage with a header of an oridinal pedigree or pedigree certificate. Issued by an association recognised by us.
Following registration in our studbook, proof of origin(pedigree) is printed which - if known - describes the origin of the cat over 5 generations, and features a unique number (pedigree number).
Pedigrees can only be requested by members of BCF vzw who have also registered their cattery name with BCF vzw.
If you wish to request pedigrees as a non-member, this is also possible, but an additional cost will be charged per pedigree and registration cattery name.
Pedigrees for kittens must be applied for and paid within four months after the birth of the kittens. Under exceptional circumstances (for example where there is doubt about the colour of a kitten) the studbook may be asked to postpone the final delivery of the pedigrees.
If required (e.g. for sale abroad) a document for transfer of ownership can be requested.
If a pedigree needs amending, this should be done through the studbook, after which a new - improved - pedigree will be delivered. The old pedigree must be destroyed.
If desired, a cat registered with another non-recognized association can be re-registered in our studbook. The pedigree number then states the pedigree number of the first club, preceded by BCF and ending with "HER" (re-registration).
In exceptional cases, a re-registration can also be requested for problem cases. This is discussed case by case by management.
If requested a duplicate of a cat’s pedigree that is registered with BCF can be requested by the breeder (for example in case of damage, loss of the original copy, etc.).
In the event of death (or loss) of the cat, the pedigree must be destroyed (or if the owner of the cat wishes to keep the document, be invalidated). Care must be taken to ensure that the pedigree can no longer be used to request pedigrees of kittens.
If requested and if possible, additional information can be listed on the pedigree (for example, chip number, HCM/PKD tests of the parents, not for breeding, etc.)
As far as recognition of breeds and varieties is concerned, BCF NPO follows LOOF’s (Livre Officiel des Origines Félines) guidelines.
Non-recognized breeds, varieties and unauthorized crossbreeds can also be included in the studbook by BCF NPO if required. "exp" (experimental) will then be listed on the pedigree number.
Pedigrees that don’t state "exp" are issued if the origin is recognized in at least three generations.
The BCF NPO studbook recognizes all pedigrees from other cat associations at home and abroad. The BCF NPO studbook has the right to consider the descendants of parents with such pedigrees (for example in case of doubt of authenticity of data listed) as experimental (exp reference on the pedigree number)
BCF NPO registers cats and issues pedigrees on the basis of the information provided by its members. The association - and the authenticity of the data on the pedigree - depends on the judiciousness and honesty of the requestor.
The BCF NPO may come and check litters. This is always done in consultation with the breeder.
The breeder can also request that the BCF NPO studbook come and check the litter. Any related expenses are borne by the breeder.
BCF NPO is of the opinion that the pedigree belongs to the cat, and in the event of the cat’s transfer the pedigree should also be transferred.
In order to prevent disputes, BCF NPO recommends that a clear contract be drawn up for the transfer of a cat.
When verifying a pedigree request, it turns out that the requested colors are impossible by the parents’ combination, it is the breeders’ responsibility to optionally have the pedigrees of the parents adjusted after a DNA test of the parents. We could request a DNA test for you.
Samples will need to be taken by a veterinarian of the parents and all kittens, to prove that the submitted parents are the actual parents.
The costs for the DNA tests are fully at the expense of the breeder who requested the pedigree.
Payment of requested pedigrees is mandatory and under no circumstance will they be refunded, unless there is proof of death (by the veterinarian) of one or multiple kittens.
The BCF NPO studbook will determine its position and actions in consultation with the association’s management.
This cattery name should be unique. The requestor is responsible for checking this. BCF NPO will, where possible perform another check.
If the cattery name is already being used by another breeder at home or abroad, it will not be registered by BCF NPO. The applicant must then make another choice.
In order not to delay the registration unnecessarily, we ask for a 2nd and 3rd choice along with the request.
In the event of two identical cattery names, the oldest existing cattery name must be retained, and the owner of the newest cattery name must select a new name.
Pedigrees already issued with the erroneous cattery name must be remade with the new cattery name at the expense of the breeder.
New members who already have a registered cattery name can have them (re) registered at BCF NPO free of charge.
For the above reason (double cattery name) it is advisable to keep the first proof of registration of the cattery name in order to prove the date of the first request.
Management decides in matters in which these regulations cannot provide any definite answer.
Belgian Cat Fanciers vzw registers in its studbook - if desired - the details of the kittens born in their cattery and provides proof of the registration on paper (pedigree) (if the conditions are met).
If requested Belgian Cat Fanciers NPO will register details of kittens born in the catteries of its members in its studbook and provide registration and proof on paper (pedigree).
In order to be able to fulfil this registration, BCF NPO must have:
Following registration in our studbook, proof of origin(pedigree) is printed which - if known - describes the origin of the cat over 5 generations, and features a unique number (pedigree number).
Pedigrees can only be requested by members of BCF vzw who have also registered their cattery name with BCF vzw.
If you wish to request pedigrees as a non-member, this is also possible, but an additional cost will be charged per pedigree and registration cattery name.
Pedigrees for kittens must be applied for and paid within four months after the birth of the kittens. Under exceptional circumstances (for example where there is doubt about the colour of a kitten) the studbook may be asked to postpone the final delivery of the pedigrees.
If required (e.g. for sale abroad) a document for transfer of ownership can be requested.
If a pedigree needs amending, this should be done through the studbook, after which a new - improved - pedigree will be delivered. The old pedigree must be destroyed.
If desired, a cat registered with another non-recognized association can be re-registered in our studbook. The pedigree number then states the pedigree number of the first club, preceded by BCF and ending with "HER" (re-registration).
In exceptional cases, a re-registration can also be requested for problem cases. This is discussed case by case by management.
If requested a duplicate of a cat’s pedigree that is registered with BCF can be requested by the breeder (for example in case of damage, loss of the original copy, etc.).
In the event of death (or loss) of the cat, the pedigree must be destroyed (or if the owner of the cat wishes to keep the document, be invalidated). Care must be taken to ensure that the pedigree can no longer be used to request pedigrees of kittens.
If requested and if possible, additional information can be listed on the pedigree (for example, chip number, HCM/PKD tests of the parents, not for breeding, etc.)
As far as recognition of breeds and varieties is concerned, BCF NPO follows LOOF’s (Livre Officiel des Origines Félines) guidelines.
Non-recognized breeds, varieties and unauthorized crossbreeds can also be included in the studbook by BCF NPO if required. "exp" (experimental) will then be listed on the pedigree number.
Pedigrees that don’t state "exp" are issued if the origin is recognized in at least three generations.
The BCF NPO studbook recognizes all pedigrees from other cat associations at home and abroad. The BCF NPO studbook has the right to consider the descendants of parents with such pedigrees (for example in case of doubt of authenticity of data listed) as experimental (exp reference on the pedigree number)
BCF NPO registers cats and issues pedigrees on the basis of the information provided by its members. The association - and the authenticity of the data on the pedigree - depends on the judiciousness and honesty of the requestor.
The BCF NPO may come and check litters. This is always done in consultation with the breeder.
The breeder can also request that the BCF NPO studbook come and check the litter. Any related expenses are borne by the breeder.
BCF NPO is of the opinion that the pedigree belongs to the cat, and in the event of the cat’s transfer the pedigree should also be transferred.
In order to prevent disputes, BCF NPO recommends that a clear contract be drawn up for the transfer of a cat.
When verifying a pedigree request, it turns out that the requested colors are impossible by the parents’ combination, it is the breeders’ responsibility to optionally have the pedigrees of the parents adjusted after a DNA test of the parents. We could request a DNA test for you.
Samples will need to be taken by a veterinarian of the parents and all kittens, to prove that the submitted parents are the actual parents.
The costs for the DNA tests are fully at the expense of the breeder who requested the pedigree.
Payment of requested pedigrees is mandatory and under no circumstance will they be refunded, unless there is proof of death (by the veterinarian) of one or multiple kittens.
The BCF NPO studbook will determine its position and actions in consultation with the association’s management.
Cattery names
This cattery name should be unique. The requestor is responsible for checking this. BCF NPO will, where possible perform another check.
If the cattery name is already being used by another breeder at home or abroad, it will not be registered by BCF NPO. The applicant must then make another choice.
In order not to delay the registration unnecessarily, we ask for a 2nd and 3rd choice along with the request.
In the event of two identical cattery names, the oldest existing cattery name must be retained, and the owner of the newest cattery name must select a new name.
Pedigrees already issued with the erroneous cattery name must be remade with the new cattery name at the expense of the breeder.
New members who already have a registered cattery name can have them (re) registered at BCF NPO free of charge.
For the above reason (double cattery name) it is advisable to keep the first proof of registration of the cattery name in order to prove the date of the first request.
Management decides in matters in which these regulations cannot provide any definite answer.