The 2026 World Cat Congress took place from 23 to 27 April 2026 at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool.
What is the WCC?
The World Cat Congress (WCC) is the international alliance of the world’s leading cat organisations, including the GCCF. It promotes cooperation on pedigree and companion cat welfare, responsible breeding, and the advancement of the global cat fancy.
The WCC was conceived in June 1994 at a cat symposium held in Venice, attended by the presidents of the world’s major cat organisations:
- World Cat Federation (WCF)
- Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe)
- Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA)
- Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF)
Two years later, in Sirmione, Italy (1996), the mission of the WCC was formally agreed.
This year the GCCF will be hosting two special events for the WCC, The World Cat Congress Seminar 2026: “Safeguarding the Future of Cats” and the GCCF Gala Dinner.
Book your tickets now as they are limited and will sell out fast!
”“The object of this Congress is to work openly and honestly together in a spirit of co-operation to improve the health and welfare of all cats and encourage the sharing of resources to promote the interests and to educate the participants of the ‘Cat Fancy’ throughout the world.”
More Information about World Cat Congress
Areas of Cooperation
The WCC collaborates internationally in areas that support cat welfare and responsible breeding:
- Open Shows
- Cooperation in Registration
- Health & Welfare of Cats
- Legislation relating to Cats
- Promotion of educational material and scientific research
- Pedigree recognition
- Coordination of show dates
Membership
The WCC membership represents the world’s major cat fancies:
- Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe)
- Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA)
- The International Cat Association (TICA)
- World Cat Federation (WCF)
- Australian Cat Federation (ACF)
- New Zealand Cat Fancy (NZCF)
- Co-Ordinating Cat Council of Australia (CCC of A)
- Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF)
- Southern African Cat Council (SACC)
Although these organisations may be competitors internationally, they collaborate through the WCC to promote welfare, education, and best practices.
Extract from the WCC Constitution
“The purpose of this organisation is to provide harmony within the cat fancy worldwide and to include as members those organisations with similar philosophies on the health and welfare of cats, standards, judge training, registrations, titles, and respect for the constitution and by-laws of the WCC.”
Members agree, in principle, to mutually recognise judges and registrations, provided that this does not conflict with their own rules and accepted breed standards.
Annual Meetings
The WCC meets annually, hosted by a different member organisation each year. The event typically includes:
- An educational seminar with public access
- A cat show
- A formal WCC business meeting
Delegates may also be invited to judge at the host show, sharing expertise and strengthening international collaboration.
Royal Canin Partnership – Choose Health Coalition
The WCC is sponsored by Royal Canin, and as such they have developed a statement for members to add to their website:
In November 2024, Royal Canin took a significant step forward in advocating for the health and welfare of pets by forming the Choose Health coalition. This initiative brings together a select group of organizations, including the World Cat Congress (WCC), the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), FOUR PAWS, the ICECDogs (International Collaborative on Extreme Conformations in Dogs), the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA).
These key organisations are already actively engaged in addressing critical issues related to low welfare pet production practices and extreme conformation. Through the Choose Health coalition, we aim to leverage the collective knowledge, experience, and activities of our members to create a cohesive program that drives meaningful change for pet health and welfare, as well as the related ecosystem.
By working together, we believe we can make a substantial impact on the future of pet health and create an environment where every cat and dog can thrive.
Choose Health for Pets – Pet Health Advocate | Royal Canin UK – download pdf here
