A breeder's pedigree versus registration papers
A breeder's pedigree is the breeder's own written, signed record of an animal's ancestors. Registration papers come from a registry after its own checks: for rabbits and cavies a licensed registrar examines the animal in person, checks a complete three generation pedigree, and marks the right ear. Every registered rabbit has a pedigree, but a pedigree alone does not make a rabbit registered. Pedigrees from the pedigree maker are breeder's pedigrees and say so.
Side by side
| Breeder's pedigree | Registration | |
|---|---|---|
| Who makes it | The breeder | A licensed registrar, for the national registry |
| Animal seen in person | No | Yes, examined and weighed with the owner present |
| Requirements | None beyond honesty | Owner is a member; at least 6 months old; senior weight; accepted variety; complete three generation pedigree of one breed |
| Mark on the animal | The breeder's tattoo, left ear | Registration mark, right ear |
| Needed for | Selling, showing the line, planning | A grand champion certificate, and buyers who ask for papers |
How the two connect
The pedigree is the input to registration. The registration instructions say a typed or computer printed three generation pedigree can be attached to the application instead of copying it into the pedigree section, while a handwritten one, or one shown on a phone, has to be copied onto the application by the registrar. A clean printed pedigree saves everyone time at the registrar's table.
Grand champion certificates sit on top of registration: the rabbit must be registered before one is issued, even if it has all its legs. Legs come from at least three shows under at least two judges, with one won as a senior or 6/8.
Cats work differently. Registries register a litter and then each kitten from registered parents, and issue their own certified pedigrees from their records. A cattery's pedigree records the line as the breeder knows it; the certified one is the registry's statement.
Worked example: is this pedigree ready for the registrar?
The pedigree maker runs a three generation check before you print: every box must have a name (the ear number will do), the ear number, a variety and a weight, and every ancestor must share the animal's breed. On the demo doe Clover it finds 0 gaps, so her pedigree has what the registration instructions ask of the paper.
On the demo cavy Bean it finds 8 boxes without an ancestor, because his grandparents were bought without pedigrees. That is the answer a breeder needs before driving to a show: not ready yet, and exactly which ancestors to find. The check describes the records; only a registrar decides whether an animal is registered. Run it on your own animals in the pedigree maker.
Common mistakes
- Selling a rabbit as registered when it only has a pedigree. Say pedigreed, and let the buyer register it.
- Expecting a pedigree to prove anything by itself. Its value is the breeder's honesty and the records behind it.
- Printing a pedigree that looks like a registry's certificate. Use your own layout and say what it is.
- Assuming a registered rabbit cannot be shown without papers, or the reverse. Showing needs the ear mark; registration is separate.
Make the pedigree now
Type one pedigree by hand and print it, or explore the demo herd to see ancestors fill themselves in. Your herd stays in this browser; nothing is uploaded and there is no account.
Frequently asked questions
Does a pedigree mean a rabbit is registered?
No. A pedigree is the breeder's record of the ancestors. A registered rabbit has also been examined by a licensed registrar and carries a registration mark in its right ear.
Can I register a rabbit with a pedigree printed from a computer?
The registration instructions allow a typed or computer printed three generation pedigree to be attached to the application. The registrar still examines the rabbit and decides.
Why does every pedigree from this site say it is not registration papers?
Because it is true, and because a buyer should never mistake a breeder's own record for a registry's document. Hutchline is not a registry and is not connected to one.
Sources
Last reviewed 27 September 2026 against:
- How to Register a Rabbit or Cavy, American Rabbit Breeders Association, revised 17 July 2023, read 27 September 2026. Used for: What registration asks of the animal and of its three generation pedigree, the registrar's examination, the right ear registration mark, and typed pedigrees attached to the application.
- Instructions to Registrars, American Rabbit Breeders Association, revised February 2009, read 27 September 2026. Used for: The same breed rule for all three generations, the minimum age, and the registration mark in the right ear.
- Grand Champions, American Rabbit Breeders Association, undated how-to sheet, read 27 September 2026. Used for: How grand champion legs add up to a certificate, and that the animal must be registered first.
- Registration Overview, Cat Fanciers' Association, undated page, read 27 September 2026. Used for: Litter registration by the dam's owner with both parents' numbers, individual kitten registration, and registering cats from other associations with a certified pedigree.
This guide is our own summary, not a registry's rule book. If it disagrees with the current documents, the documents win. Hutchline is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the American Rabbit Breeders Association, the American Cavy Breeders Association, The International Cat Association, the Cat Fanciers' Association or any other registry or breed club.