# Are These Cat Breeder's Conditions Enforceable in Ontario? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 20, 2018, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-cat-breeders-conditions-enforceable-in-ontario/810887 "2018-03-20T14:24:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2018, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-cat-breeders-conditions-enforceable-in-ontario/810887/61 "2018-03-26T20:24:04Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > . . . That said, the fact that you say if anyone had an interest that they have to impress you before you would deign to let them into your club, is really sickening. > . . . Right, because what responsible breeder would be so uppity as to make sure their animals only go to good, kind, people with the knowledge, values and resources to care for them? What do you think the criteria are? We’re going to stop by their house to make sure their wine goblets are Waterford or better? We won’t give them a puppy if their silverware is plate?? Give me an ever-loving break. Exactly what sick scenario have you concocted to support you snobbishness theory? Good breeders “like” people who understand dog temperament and genetics. We like people who fence large areas for the dogs to exercise in. We like people who consider their dogs family and will be discerning about the homes to which puppies are released. And we like people who will train the puppies to stack and bring them to shows to support the brood bitch and the quality of the line. Yes, you have to “Qualify” for my “Little Club” to get breeding stock from me. And no, an SUV and a Country Club membership won’t qualify you. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2018, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-cat-breeders-conditions-enforceable-in-ontario/810887/62 "2018-03-26T22:00:30Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > Forgive my ignorance but then how does one become a breeder of pure-bred animals? Hope to stumble upon a pair in the wild? Sounds as if all existing pure-bred breeders can form a cabal in which they refuse to ever allow anyone to buy an animal for breeding thus cornering the market. I have great trouble with monopolies. > [@araminty](#): > > You become a breeder by befriending other breeders and indicating your willingness to adhere to the rules. You learn about cat/dog showing and you participate in the breed societies and you study your breed standards and you register your cattery/kennel. Display good intentions and current breeders will sell you breeding stock, at appropriate prices and without spay/neuter contracts. > > Again, if you’re not interested or disapprove of this model, don’t buy a purebred animal. Yeah, I think it’s corrupt, and I think some of the breeder cabals, while well-meaning, are doing damage to the animals (or to their descendents.) There’s this weird racist thing where “good” breeders won’t breed their pure-bred animal to an animal of a different breed (think cockerdoodle) because it violates the purity of the breed or something. When in fact, outbreeding generally leads to healthier offspring. That being said, those contracts may well be enforceable. When I wanted cats, I shopped around for a shelter with less onerous requirements. They spayed/neutered all their kittens before selling them, which was fine with me since I didn’t want to be a breeder, I just wanted a pet cat, and I would have gotten it fixed anyway. The shelter does come with an offer to take back the animal if I can’t keep it, which is a nice feature, not that I anticipate exercising that option. When my pets have died, I have buried them in the back yard. I have no documentation, except I guess when I told the vet that the animal was dead and so didn’t need it’s booster shots. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2018, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-cat-breeders-conditions-enforceable-in-ontario/810887/63 "2018-03-26T22:05:43Z")
Fortunately, my tastes run to “mutt” cats, which are easy enough to come by. Also, cats live a long time, so I’m not in the market very often. I do think it’s sensible for a breeder or a shelter to make sure that prospective buyers have the space and other resources to care for the animal. And dogs require more care and training than cats. If I bred dogs, I would want to know my puppies were going to a home that could care for them emotionally as well as physically. But “you can’t ever give or sell this animal to anyone else” seems like an over-the-top restriction. My daughter is planning to move out soon. She is very close to one of the cats. If she moves to a place where she can keep a cat, she will take it. I’m not going to tell the shelter, and I’m glad I never signed a contract promising to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2018, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-cat-breeders-conditions-enforceable-in-ontario/810887/64 "2018-03-26T22:39:54Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Allowed by government agencies charged with enforcement of whatever anti-trust statutes. Major League Baseball had to get an exemption. Are cat breeders not for-profit enterprises (which would be more likely to allow them to operate like a private club)? Anyone is allowed (by those government agencies) to start their own cat-breeding business, and sell their cats for a profit. Just like anyone can start their own baseball team, and sell tickets. Just like anyone can open a food stand, and sell hamburgers & fries. No anti-trust limits involved. But if you try to label them as ‘purebred’ registered cats, or ‘Major League Baseball’ tickets, or as ‘Big Mac’ burgers, you will indeed face legal sanctions from the real owners. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2018, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-cat-breeders-conditions-enforceable-in-ontario/810887/65 "2018-03-27T00:35:21Z")
Didn’t they strike down the “guild” that ran film projection in movie theatres. I believe you had to be born into a family to be allowed to be a projectionist. That was bullshit. I believe you want to protect these animals from exploitation by people who don’t know what they’re doing. I have no issue with that. It’s just that I expected the breeder world to be codified (education/certification/licensing) and open to all who could pass the qualifications, and not a “good ole boys club” which is the vibe I got from your description of the breeder world. I also expected there to be a board that can do genetic evaluation on an animal to determine its status as purebreed, not that purebreeds are some sort of trademark. I find the concept of any living thing being intellectual property to be abhorent. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2018, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-cat-breeders-conditions-enforceable-in-ontario/810887/66 "2018-03-27T06:19:25Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > It’s just that I expected the breeder world to be codified (education/certification/licensing) and open to all who could pass the qualifications, and not a “good ole boys club” which is the vibe I got from your description of the breeder world. That’s exactly what we’ve described. There’s not a formal apprenticeship or training program to become a registered breeder. Instead, it’s done informally, by those who have an interest in maintaining and improving their chosen breed of pet. That’s the “club” you’re objecting so vehemently to. > [@BwanaBob](#): > > I also expected there to be a board that can do genetic evaluation on an animal to determine its status as purebreed, not that purebreeds are some sort of trademark. That’s… not how genes work. That’s not even how purebred-ed-ness works. When you paid for your nice purebred registered corgi, part of what you were paying for was the efforts in administration and record-keeping that went into ensuring its ancestors were all nice corgis. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2018, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-cat-breeders-conditions-enforceable-in-ontario/810887/67 "2018-03-27T12:08:19Z")
> [@araminty](#): > > That’s exactly what we’ve described. There’s not a formal apprenticeship or training program to become a registered breeder. Instead, it’s done informally, by those who have an interest in maintaining and improving their chosen breed of pet. That’s the “club” you’re objecting so vehemently to. > > That’s… not how genes work. That’s not even how purebred-ed-ness works. When you paid for your nice purebred registered corgi, part of what you were paying for was the efforts in administration and record-keeping that went into ensuring its ancestors were all nice corgis. Well then, I stand corrected. Ignorance fought big time. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2018, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-cat-breeders-conditions-enforceable-in-ontario/810887/68 "2018-03-27T13:35:49Z")
> [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](#): > > I’ve started looking into getting another cat. Many shelters are now charging over $100, and I’ve seen as high as $150 adoption fee. Don’t tell me they aren’t selling their cats. Most of the adoptable cats I’ve seen around here have around a $125 adoption fee that includes a spay/neuter, first round of vaccinations, and general medical checkup. I think it’s generally pretty hard to get all of that done for under $100, so I don’t think the fee is remotely excessive. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-cat-breeders-conditions-enforceable-in-ontario/810887.md?page=3)