Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA)
Joshua's Story - The Unspoken Truth
The continuation of Joshua's Story within this chapter is focused on the Cat Fanciers' Association, the world's largest registry of pedigreed cats. When I was searching to add to my persian family in 2006, I viewed the CFA with great regard. An organization that not only was the coordinator of the most pedigreed cat shows worldwide along with establishing breed standards, but also one that demonstrated a positive involvement in various programs.
Unfortunately, due to Joshua's medical challenges that I have been faced with since 2008, I chose to research this organization more closely. I will begin with my findings on the use of CFA logos or logo buttons as it pertains to website catteries' use which includes this disclaimer, in part, and reads as follows:
If I choose to use the trademark of The Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc. (CFA) in connection with an Internet web page, I acknowledge that CFA has not, and does not endorse any product or service that I provide, not any opinion that I hold, not statement(s) that I may express, and I agree fully to indemnify and defend CFA, and its officers, directors, and agents from and against all claims, demands, causes or action or proceedings of any nature whatsoever, in whatever forum or venue any such matters may be brought, judicial or otherwise, arising or allegedly arising in any way out from my products, services, opinions or statements, or out of my use of said trademark.
I also discovered that the actual cattery may seek to be registered with the CFA for the cost of $50.00 which covers a five (5) year period. However, CFA is very specific with detail instructions on what a cattery website can or cannot state relative to this. It is only the cattery "name" that is registered, rather than the cattery itself being associated with the CFA as a "registered CFA cattery". This is also a prerequisite for any breeder that wishes to pursue a Breed Council Membership at a later date according to CFA's published By-Laws.
Needless to say, if anyone does actually read these By-Laws they were lacking relative to addressing good breeding practices. So my search continued to find that there is a CFA's Breeder Code of Ethics which was passed, by resolution, at the Cat Fanciers' Association Annual Meeting, in June 2000, and ratified by the CFA Board of Directors, October 7, 2000 and is as follows:
-As a breeder who uses the services of the world's largest registry of pedigreed cats, I understand I have certain responsibilities to pedigreed cats and to the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA).
-I will maintain appropriate cattery records and will correctly register litters and cats.
-I will work honestly with my fellow breeders and provide timely and correct litter registration information to those who use my cats for breeding.
-I will mentor new breeders to ensure they have a solid information foundation.
-I am aware that I am representative of CFA breeders in my community. I will breed my cats with the intent of improving the breed and to produce healthy, happy kittens. I will deal honestly with the purchasers of my kittens and cats. To the best of my knowledge and ability I will not, without prior disclosure, sell any kitten/cat that is sick or has been exposed to an infectious disease. I will not sell or place kittens prior to their attaining a proper level of immunity against common infectious diseases.
-I will strive to house my cats in a manner exceeding the CFA Minimum Cattery Standard. I will ensure my cats are kept in a healthy environment and I will ensure they receive the proper veterinary care as needed.
If you have reached this reading point within this article without losing interest, you may be asking yourself what does this have to with Joshua? It has a great deal to do with Joshua since he was purchased from a breeder that not only had 25 years of experience but who also was a CFA Persian Breed Council Member. Someone who should, to say the least, have understood her responsibilities to the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA).
Whereas CFA's Breeder Code Of Ethics appears to have relatively high standards, what remains unpublished is a step program (how many offenses) when CFA does actually take disciplinary action when a breeder does not abide by their standards. What has been confirmed is, when an inquiry was made via e-mail relative to finding out if any complaints were filed against one of their CFA's registered breeders, the written response received was that this information cannot be given out.
Today, and now having an understanding of CFA's operating procedures and legal disclaimers, CFA serves no other purpose to the general public other than being a registrar, or in otherwords, a collector of registration fees.
It certainly does make me reconsider this situation and ask myself, who should I have researched first? The Cat Fanciers' Association? Or the breeder, as I did? And furthermore, we need to ask ourselves how any other buyers can be made aware of situations like substandard breeding if breeder complaints are kept confidential from the general public?
Perhaps the time has arrived where CFA needs to revisit their procedures with respect and regard to pedigreed cat buyers as equally as they legally protect themselves against their own registered breeders.
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