What's the deal with pure breed cats?

[Adina P]

For some random reason Clark is looking at photos of Maine Coon cats on his computer right now.  No we're not getting a cat any time soon.  But I am curious about breeds with cats.  I understand buying dogs from a breeder, but is there any reason to buy a cat from a breeder vs. adopting a random cute cat from the pound?  Do pure breed cats have a slew of health issues depending on breed?  Are cat breeders as likely to be BYBs as dog breeders or is the climate different in catdom?  What knowledge or insight do my doodle peeps have on this topic?

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Love, love, love!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Gorgeous photos of gorgeous animals! 

[Miss Ellie]

This is so precious...melts my heart!

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

What a wonderful picture.  I had two that were BFF's and I would come home and find them embraced on the couch or on the bed. They were always cuddling and or playing.  Their game of hide and seek was always a crowd pleaser. 

We found Tiger (dog) abandoned in a parking lot, the vet said he was a cockapoo (?) Princess Leia Star (cat - you can pretty much guess what era I got her) was from a home that had 23 kittens in a rural area in Washington State.  She slowing worked her way across the room through all the kittens and cats and climbed into my lap, I was hooked!   Homeowner said it was the runt and wouldn't survive (she litterally fit in the palm of my hand).  I had just lost my other cat and was heartbroken so I was determined to give her the best life albiet how ever long that was?  She was with us for 17 years and had the personality of a dog, even walked me to school everyday!  She was my world and got me through all those awkward phases and difficult times from the age of 8 to the birth of my daughter (single mom). 

Still to this day when I reconnect with school friends they all still remember Star and ask about her.

I have this pic on my cubical at work, ignore the hideous nails (it was a phase)!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Tiger and Star must have been adorable together :)  That's a wonderful photo! Princess Leia Star looks like she was pretty special (I love the name :)

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Thank you!

[Kyoko]

Gorgeous....

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

DH and I would both LOVE to have a cat... but he is quite allergic so no cat for us :(

My dream cat would be a shorthair grey tabby.  I just love grey tabbies!  They show up at shelters all the time too!

Something like this:

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Sweet, J
I'm so sorry for you allergy sufferers ;(

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

I had a landlord that was allergic and my vet told us to bath her in head and shoulders or selsom blue.  My landlord never knew we had a cat until we moved out?  Not sure if it really worked or if it was just dumb luck???  Yes we snuck her in, dogs were fine but no cats, I was a rebel!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

THAT is cute!!

[Julie and Max]

That's why I have a ragdoll, my daughter has mild cat allergies, the ragdoll doesn't bother her. We have also been looking at the siberian and the devon rex for that reason. Of course we need to have her be around both breeds to see if they are okay for her, because not everyone's allergies tolerate the less allergenic cats.