CLAN CHATTAN, or the "Clan of the Cats," was a very ancient confederation of clans. Originally composed of the Mac Kintoshes, Davidsons, Mac Phersons, Mac Gillivrays and Mac Beans, it was later strengthened by the addition of other clans including the Farquharsons. Gillechattan Mor is claimed to have been the first authentic chief, and from him descended Eva, only child of Dougall Dall, 6th chief. Eva married in 1291, Angus, 6th Laird of Mackintosh, who thus became Captain of Clan Chattan.
The chiefs of Clan Mac Pherson claimed the chiefship of Clan Chattan on the grounds that they were descended from Muireach, the Parson of Kingussie (1173), who was also Chief of Clan Chattan. Muireach's eldest son was Gillechattan Patrick, grandfather of Eva, and his second son, Ewan Ban, was the progenitor of Clan Mac Pherson. It is now accepted, however, that the chiefship of Clan Chattan was a heritable honour and that the chiefship was conferred on Eva by her father.
For 200 years the two clans feuded over the chiefship and in 1672 Cluny Mac Pherson matriculated arms as "the laird of Cluny and the only true representer of the ancient and honourable family of Clan Chattan." The chief of Mac Kintosh protested and the arms given to Cluny were withdrawn. He was given new arms as a cadet of Clan Chattan.
The 28th chief of Mac Kintosh who died in 1938 without male issue, had nominated his successor as Chief of Clan Mac Kintosh but not of Clan Chattan. His death separated the chiefship of both clans and, in 1947, Duncan Alexander Eliott Mac Kintosh, descendant of the Daviot branch of the Mac Kintoshes, was granted the arms of Clan Chattan by the Lord Lyon.