CAT stands for Category. It is the race class your pigeon belongs to and helps determine which races that pigeon can enter. In simple terms, category is part of how VPR keeps competition balanced.
A pigeon’s category also matters for progression. As pigeons gain experience and level up, they can move upward in category over time.
What category means
Each pigeon belongs to a numbered category.
Category 6 is the lowest category
Category 1 is the highest category
This means a lower number represents a higher class.
How category affects race entry
Category controls which races a pigeon can enter. For example: a CAT 6 pigeon enters CAT 6 races. This system helps group pigeons into the right race class instead of mixing everything together.
How category affects growth
Category is not only about race access. It also affects how far a pigeon can develop. As a pigeon moves into a higher category, its growth potential increases. That means higher-category pigeons can grow further in their abilities than lower-category pigeons.
A pigeon in a lower category starts with a lower ability-point base. As it progresses into higher categories, it gets more room for development over time.
How a pigeon moves up in category
A pigeon can move up in category through progression.
The basic flow is:
the pigeon races and gains XP
XP increases its level
after reaching the required level threshold, the pigeon can move up to a higher category
So category is tied to long-term development, not just to race access.
Why category matters
Category matters because it affects:
which races your pigeon can join
how your pigeon progresses over time
how much room it has to grow in its abilities
This makes category an important part of long-term pigeon development.