What are breeding rights for cats?

Answer 1

When purchasing a pedigreed cat, "breeding rights" means that the offspring may be registered with one or more of the registering associations (TICA, CFA, GCCF, FiFE, ...). If you purchase a cat without breeding rights, you can exhibit it in competition, but you cannot register its offspring.

Breeders typically sell cats without breeding rights when they feel that the cat does not represent the breed well enough to be used in a breeding program. The cat may still be a beautiful example of the breed and make a wonderful pet. A pedigreed cat without breeding rights is generally much less expensive than one sold with breeding rights.

Due to the prevalence of "backyard breeders", who don't care about registration or pedigrees, reputable breeders increasingly rely upon early spay/neuter, rather than withholding breeding rights, to prevent unauthorized breeding from their lines.