What is a responsible breeder?

[Sol]

Is it not how the cat world works? Going to shows and researching a good quality line that you want and then pursuing that line and only breeding the best of the litters to improve the breed?

I wish it was that easy. An excellent looking cat is not necessarlily a good breeding cat. Breeding is so much more than just looks. It's about matching breeding pairs, avoiding inbreeding, avoiding blood lines with many defects, testing for diseases, maintaing or even adding genetic variation etc.

Don't most breeders show their cats? Otherwise how are they going to know what is the best of the best to breed?

Most breeders show their cats some time, but not necessarily all of the time. Cats, not being pack animals, are more susceptible to infectious diseases than dogs are so it's a big risk showing your breeding animals. One small infection can mean the end of a breeding career. But of course we need to get show experience in order to know how the breed standard currently is interpreted.

I choose not to show my studs since all my breeding cats live normal indoor lives and there's nothing better than a cat show to get your stud to start spraying. In my home spraying equals neutering.

Also, wouldn't the stud and queen need to be registered with some organization in order to advertise and sell the kittens and purebred cats?

Of course.