Hi Bob- As you know I breed persians so all my cats have papers, my nana(who I live with) has a domestic shorthair called "Diamonds" , she's very sweet. I have never owned a domestic cat.
There so very few ethical breeders here in Israel, that buying a pedigreed cat is often more trouble than its worth. I have even had ragdolls with aggression problems come for treatment (I do behavior counselling). I think the important thing with purebreds is to buy one that comes from an ethical breeder. An ethical breeder would also supply you with papers, but that is not to say that any breeder that had papers for his cats is also an ethical breeder.
With purebreds, because the genetic pool is relatively small, it's very important that the breeder knows his/her job well. Otherwise you end up with cats that are more prone to health and behavior problems - not less. Again, papers are no proof that the breeder is a good breeder.
Of course, I'm all for rescuing from shelters - mixed breeds or purebreds. The above is just a general warning. People tend to think that with purebreds you get a cat or dog that is in better health and has a more predictable behavior. This is true - but only if the breeder is a good one and not a backyard breeder.
Same reason why you should never breed your purebred cat, even is she is pedigreed (i.e. has papers) unless you're a professional breeder with a good breeding plan.
I was able to fulfill my fondest wish. And, I purchased a beautiful sealpoint Himmie Bonnie Bell. I looked high and low for a daddy and finally found HIMSELF - a manly bluepoint. My Bonnie presented me with six perfect sealpoint treasures. I caught them in my hand and cut their unbilical cords and sterile scissors! Bonnie had a large box which I wallpapered with tiny pink roses LOL. I was REALLY into this! Anyhow, it was sooo painful to sell the kittens that I got Bonnie fixed soon after. I had not intended to let her have more than one litter anyway. I kept her daughter April Dawn,. If I can ever figure out how to get pictures in HERE I will show them to you. I lost them to old age 2 years ago, they were 13 and 14. They were the dearest to my heart, even tho' all of my kids are very loved!
I have 2 petigreed Siamese cats, and a petigreed Persian. My elderly Siamese, Snoopy has the sweetest disposition of any cat I've ever met. He's practically perfect in every way, but my 6 year old Siamese, Shane does have some agression problems. I don't know if it's bad breeders, or what. My Persian is pretty typical of all Persians, he's very laid back.
Nakita is 100% Russian Blue (but she is much more adventurous than the breed description suggests)! Previous to Nakita, my family had three non-pedigree cats, one being a mixed seal point Siamese named Kissa who lived till her early twenties.
I have 3 purebreds with papers, 2 without, and 1 non-pedigreed kitty.
The two without are a mother and daughter that I cannot get papers on because CFA keeps telling me that you cannot have a flame point female, and I'm too stubborn to list her as a tortie(she is white w/flame points and no third color ).
Never had a cat with pedigree. I would love to get a Ragdoll. There's a breeder about 20 minutes from me, but I just can't justifying spending the money on one when there are so many unwanteds. One of these days tho ....
Closest I ever had was a Manx - no papers, a rescue from a shelter. Boy, talk about a wide body on that boy - he was able to lay on our chests with his arms easily on either side of our torso. Of the 30+ cats that I've had in my lifetime, he ranked up near the top of my favorite list.
He was very maternal to any kitten we brought into the house, even to the point that he would nurse them, and yes, long enough to actually draw milk (the vet was stunned).
We had a Manx when I was a child. We loved him. My parents allowed him to be an indoor/outdoor cat, and right about the time he was 2 years old, someone stole him from us.