Well, maybe not "99.99%"
Here's an example of an ad in our local paper: "PERSIAN KITTENS & CATS, CFA, grand champ. bloodline., $50-$150. Call ***-***-****" You and I both know that "Grand Champion Bloodlines" is really not worth the paper it's printed on, unless it's a Grand Champion sire. I could as well say my boys have "Grand Champion bloodlines" since a great grandsire is a GC (go back another generation and it's easily most of the cats in that generation, but really, getting back that far, what good is it?)
And another ad; "PERSIAN Our Tom was very active. 2 kittens, 8 wks & mom 14mos. White, thoroughbred, gorgeous, female pets. $275. ***-****" The kittens are too young, there's no mention of registration at all.
These types of ads in our local paper (a fairly large Southern city) are easily 75% of the ads you'll see here for cats. OTOH, this one MIGHT be legit: "MAINE COON, CFA Brown tabby, Male, 12 weeks, shots. $400. ***-**** or ***-****" since the kitten is 12 weeks old and the price is about right for a pet quality Maine Coon male for this area although a little on the low side (a comparable cat in your neck of the woods would run $6-700,) this one is a lot more likely to be from a local hobby breeder as opposed to a BYB. (The above examples are from the online version of our local paper, I can't remember when I bought an actual newspaper!)
As in anything else it's caveat emptor, but for someone without the relevant knowledge or just the instincts for what would be a reputable breeder, the local paper is still not the best place to look. I'm not saying it can't be done, I'm mostly saying it just takes a bit more experience and a heckuva lot more work.
